The Lifeguard Hates You (Completed)

June Chapter 14

I'm not going to lie, I've surprised myself today. Firstly, once I realized that Rory hadn't arrived the customary twenty minutes early, I called her to find out where she was and found out that she hadn't even started walking. Once I realized that she wasn't going to make it on time, I offered to go and pick her up... at Earth and Body. I don't think you realize how big a deal that is. Secondly, I realized that Rory was sick, she had been drinking the night before and was really frazzled and out of sorts when I came and got her. I figured she was hung over so I once again offered to be the one to go in the water for her. Thirdly, she smelt of guy. What I mean by that is she smelt of left over cologne and sweat, the kind of smell you get from sharing a bed with a man and I've never been filled with such a burning jealously before that I'm actually concerned she's made me sick or something.

So that's how I've end up in the water today, watching Rory who is sitting on the dock nursing a cup of tea that Maggie made for her. I should be on alert, watching these kids like hawks seeing as Rory can barely keep her eyes open but I'm not. I'm watching her.

Her hair's a mess, she has no make-up on. She's wearing an orange sweater that's three sizes too big for her (not to mention it says head guard on the back so I'm more than positive it's not hers) and a pair of black leggings. I shouldn't find her attractive. She should look like a hot mess but for some reason this look just makes her look so beautiful I'm sporting a semi the whole time I'm in the water.

It doesn't help that as soon as I'm out of the shower, she's offering her towel and it smells just like her. I will forever associate the smell of vanilla and cupcakes with her. As we walk towards the shower, I find myself moving slowly but that might just be because I'm really pretty cold

"I don't know how to thank you for covering for me today," she whispers to me.

Honestly, we should be rotating the water duties and it's kind of sad that she's so used to just always being the one in the water that it's weird to her that someone else did it. Instead I say: "Now you can't say no when I ask you out for lunch."

She surprises me by giggling. "Alright fine, we can go for lunch and it'll be my treat. I just can't go today, I have a shift I need to get to."

"When's your next day off then?" I ask her. This is usually where I'd shoot my girl of choice a smug smile, a knee melting one that would make her quit work to see me she'd be so desperate. Instead my smile is a genuine one and it seems to be doing the job of the smug one even better.

She opens her mouth to tell me the day but all I hear is a very deep and manly scream of: "Rory!" and both of us turn.

Jay is heading towards us and I can't help but be confused. It was my understanding that Jay didn't care about Rory in any way and yet here he was glaring us down and storming towards us. Granted she didn't really talk about Jay and Jay super hates me so this could be for any reason.

Rory is sheet white stiff as a pole, but by the time Jay reaches us she's found her voice again and manages to ask a very shaky: "What are you doing here?"

"You didn't bring lunch with you so I figured I'd pick you up so you can get home in time to make something," he says. He's not even looking at her though, he's looking at me. I can't help but notice that he didn't bring her lunch, I would have brought her lunch. "Why is he here?"

Rory's eyes are on the ground but she doesn't say anything. It's up to me to snarl: "I'm working the permit."

"Since when?" Jay growls.

"Since my step-dad decided I was going to take over Polished Elite," I shoot back.

"Bullshit!" Jay near screams. "What the hell do you want with Rory?"

"Why do you care Nishiyama? You dating her?"

Jay's face screws up like he bitten into a lemon. "That's none of your business!" he spits out sounding like he's disgusted. I notice Rory flinch at this and I realize that part of the reason she's impervious to my flirting is because she still likes Jay.

Jay's eyes are on Rory now, "Come on, let's go," he says and she falls into step behind him. "Are you wearing my sweater?" he hisses at her once he thinks I'm out of earshot but Rory doesn't answer him but it answers my question about the owner of the sweater.

She turns back and says: "Friday," to me and I know what she means, even if Jay has no idea. I don't have to ask her to know that she won't be telling Jay what she meant by that. I've officially become her little secret, and I think I know how to get her to leave Earth and Body and join us over at Polished Elite.