Summer Girl

Summer Girl - Chapter 11

Chapter ELEVEN 

I was back in my bedroom, passing time, feeling sorry for myself, when I heard someone call up for me. It was just after four o'clock, another hour until I was expecting Cay. I had already showered and gotten dressed - just a plain blue sun dress - and I left my hair down to dry.

   "Izzie!" It was Tom calling me, which was strange because he rarely talked to me at all. "You have visitors."

   Maybe Cay was early. Maybe Tom was just playing a trick on me. I jumped up anyway and slowly came down the stairs. At the front door, still outside, were Max and Harley, both of them smiling at me. They had just showed up at the beach house, without even telling me? I should have told them never to do that.

   Tom was still standing nearby.

   "Thanks," I said to him. He nodded, but didn't go anywhere.

   I stepped out the front door, forcing the boys to step back. I closed the door, so we were all outside, away from Tom. Away from everyone.

   "What are you doing here?" I asked them, anger rising.

   "Uh, surprise?" Max grinned, then wrapped his arms around me. "We couldn't wait til later."

   "But I said... I couldn't see you guys."

   "But why?" Harley asked, shrugging.

   "Because I said so," I snapped.

   Max looked hurt, Harley annoyed. "Well, Happy birthday then."

   "Izzie?" Max asked, but didn't say anything else.

   I did not want them to go. I wanted to run away with them. But I wanted to keep them a secret, just for me. If Clara saw them, it would all be over. She would never believe that I was capable of making my own friends.

   The door opened before I could say anything else, and there was Cora, smiling at me. She glanced at the boys, then back to me.

   "Hello."

   "Cora... hi," I said slowly.

   "So, these are the boys you've been spending time with?" she asked, intrigued. I wanted to know what she was thinking.

   I nodded. "Yeah."

   "Hello ma'am. I'm Max. This is my brother, Harley," Max stepped forward.

   "Well, it is nice to meet you both," she said, but looked skeptical.

   "You too," Harley said, "we just came to say Happy Birthday to Izzie."
   

   "Well, that's very nice. I was sad to hear that you can't make it for our picnic," Cora said. I wished she would just go away.

   Max gave me a weird look. "Right. Yeah, sorry."

   "I'm glad I got to meet you today. Keep her out of trouble while I'm away, will you?" Cora finished, smiling at Max.

   "Of course," Max said, nodding

   Once Cora was gone and the door was closed, I couldn't apologize fast enough.

   "I'm sorry. That was stupid," I said, looking at my bare feet.

   "The fact that you didn't invite us to your birthday picnic?" Max suggested.

   "Yes, and-"