Chapter 30 The Boys Are Back in Town
The Boys Are Back in Town
You know, as someone who stays under the radar during her high school years, I will never understand the concept of teenage boys walking out of a room in unintentional slow motion with Rihanna blasting through invisible speakers.
Or in this case, out of a car and into Jake’s garden and the whole street.
I’m not spying or anything. I’m already here because I’m hanging out by the pool with Allison, and spilling everything about how Amanda and Jake are about to be a thing again.
“Jesus, I feel like I’m cheating on Tanner just by looking.” Allison mutters while the boys get one by one out of the car.
Graham gets out first, his polo that must cost more than my apartment wrapped around his shoulders.
Then Riden, his fingers going through his almost white blonde hair, and then Aaron, who’s smoking with one hand and getting his bag out of the car with the other.
And then there’s Jake. Like the nutcase he is, he’s still holding on to the wheel while rapping Jay-Z’s part in Talk That Talk.
And somehow I’m more attracted than ever.
“Allison, slap me.” I mutter sideways.
She one-ups me and pushes me into the water to then drop beside me.
The contrast of the cold with the heat outside leaves my body in shock. But also, nowadays, there’s not much of anything that can truly shock me; we’re past that.
I stay inside the water for a few seconds, pushing my body to stay inside and feel the cold envelop my face and turn into medium temperature water.
I let out a big, slow breath worth of bubbles and then shake my head, allowing my hair to float around me like a mermaid’s.
I feel its texture, and when I realize I’m getting out of breath, I return to the surface.
I feel splashes on my face, and Let Me Love You by DJ Snake and Justin Bieber starts playing through a massive speaker standing near the pool’s side.
I look to the side, and Aaron’s already on top of Alana’s fairy-inspired float, which should not be dismissed because I can tell you that’s the most resisting float I’ve ever seen. But it is still ironic that someone as punk as Aaron is on top of that.
Jake’s friends intimidate me in the same way I would be intimidated by Allison if we weren’t friends.
Popular people kind of scare me. On one hand, I think of them as empty-headed people due to my secret-rooted jealousy to be part of their group, but on the other hand, I just think they couldn’t give a shit about me; therefore, we never have that many interactions.
Allison does sometimes; their groups cross-match and date each other all the time.
But out of all of them, the one who has the nastiest reputation is Aaron, who, surprisingly, is the one who intimidates me the least. I respect him and the fact that he was also adopted by extroverts who live to party and for girls.
“You should cut out his vocal cords.” He remarks and catches me off guard. “Those were the most painful 30 minutes of my life, and I was beaten up last year.”
Who doesn’t remember that? Being beaten up by four guys is definitely something worth remembering in that school.
“I don’t know how he wants to be a singer.” He places his arms behind his head, and I’m still kind of surprised at how he’s still talking to me and engaging. Usually, he has a limited use of words for other people other than his friends, and he doesn’t choose to speak them often.
Wait, Jake wants to be a singer?
“What?” I frown, and Aaron’s eyes widen while he ruffles his hair.
“Oh, this is precious. Don’t tell me you haven’t seen his notebooks filled with love songs straight out of a 90s indie movie.” He chuckles, and I glance at Jake, laughing and speaking with Graham. “My personal favorite is Golden Eyes, although Only Yours is a fan favorite.”
“I thought he only played the guitar.” I let out and hear Riden joining us.
“Nope. When he really tries, he actually can be talented. I’ve heard his demos, he’s good.”
“Demos?” Who is he?
“Although I have to disagree, man, Swinging in The Moonlight is definitely his best work.” Riden jokes with Aaron, but I’m sure my face is still in permanent shock.
Jake jumps into the pool and then shakes his head. Aaron and Riden start giggling like schoolboys while Jake comes our way, and I’m still in shock.
“Shh, shut up, my favorite show is on, she’s gonna annihilate him.” Aaron slaps Riden, and when Jake comes closer, my instinct is to swim away or something.
I hate discovering things that make him human. God, I just can imagine his eight-year-old self writing songs with the cutest face and enthusiasm.
“Hey.” He greets with the easiest smile on his face, and I glance between the water and him, stuttering.
“Hey.”
“What’s happening? This is not what I paid for.” Graham, who apparently heard the conversation, joins the boys in the back, and Jake just frowns.
“They hooked up.” Aaron says through gritted teeth. “Well, show’s over, wrap it up, nothing to see here.”
I choke in the non-existent water on my mouth, and they all swim away, sending us dirty looks.
“They enjoy watching you destroy me. They think my life is too easy, and you’re the only thing standing in my way, which personally I don’t mind either.” He winks, and my instinct is to immediately splash his face. He was not expecting it, and to be honest, neither was I.
We blink at each other for a few seconds, but that’s all it lasts.
He throws himself on top of me, and I let out a little scream of surprise.
Next thing I know, I’m underwater, and he is too.
I hate opening my eyes underwater, but I have to, to live.
I try kicking him, and he avoids my leg, taking his chance to grab it and keep me here for more time.
I manage to grab his hair and start pulling, which makes him release me.
I rush to the surface, hair sticking to my face, and I quickly wipe it away.
“West, I couldn’t breathe!” I push him while he also pushes his hair out of his face, and his face is indignant.
“You started it! I mean- Can I help you breathe?!”
I throw water into his mouth, and he chokes.
“Cheers, boys.” Allison is clinking her glass against all the boys’ glasses until I startle her.
“Allison!”
She almost spills her drink and moves to come to me, as I’m already grabbing my clothes and going towards the gate.
“Where are we going, ‘cause I was actually enjoying the pool-”
“The beach.” I mutter quickly, trying to keep my composure.
“We’re going to the beach, bye!” She bids them goodbye, and that’s when I hear Jake shouting.
“Meet you there because we’re a couple, Amanda’s gonna be there, and we’re gonna be adorable!”
* * *
We lay our stuff in the sand, and I take off my clothes, determined, heading for the water. And yes, Jake was right, Amanda is here right in her daddy’s VIP section, close to where I decided to drop our stuff.
“Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?” An unknown male voice shouts, and I’m ready to nut-attack someone when I see it’s Tanner.
Allison rolls her eyes and then practically throws herself at him, having their little couple snuggling session in front of the whole beach. That’s my cue to leave.
I go near the water and touch the water with my feet, seeing if it’s cold or not. Laughter is heard all around me, from small children to their grandparents. Water splashing around, everyone happy and tan, Jake sprinting my way- Wait-
I’m left with my mouth wide open, my hair a mix between wet and dry and tangled, and my hands in the air as someone who was expecting it, but at the same time was not.
“You are so predictable.”
I already knew he was going to do that. He always does that.
“Ah, but did you get out of the way? No.” He opens his muscled arms as if he is daring me to do the same thing. And now I’m screwed. In the sunlight, his torso is even more- I can’t even describe it. “You just love my belly area, don’t you?” He laughs, getting too close and making my cheeks burn.
I groan and push him away, turning around and crossing my arms.
He touches my arm, and I side-eye him.
“Showtime.” He gently pulls me towards him and moves his mouth close to my ear, surely pretending to say something in my ear, but good gracious, if I didn’t just lose my self-respect as soon as he got down to my height to do that.
“Master has given Dobby a sock. Dobby is a free elf.” He mimics Dobby’s high-pitched voice perfectly, and because I wasn’t expecting it, I snort and then release a laugh, covering my mouth immediately after making such an inhuman sound.
He laughs right with me, and it’s like all the exaggerated childlike anger we felt for each other five minutes ago dissipates into thin air.
I make the mistake of inching a bit closer, and our eyes make the mistake of looking at each other’s lips.
“Is… Is Amanda watching?” I glance between his eyes and his mouth while he, on the other hand, doesn’t even look around while saying, “Probably.”
“They seriously have to do this in front of the whole beach? There are kids here…” Riden says, indignant, making us push each other just enough to realize what we were about to do.
I search for Amanda, and she’s absolutely looking over, eyes full of hatred.
“Jake, up top!” Graham throws a football in Jake’s direction, and I immediately avoid it, like my life depends on it.
They start throwing it around, and I just dive next to them, and while trying to come back to the towel, Graham calls me.
“Hey, Madelaine, wanna join?”
Is he being serious right now? Has he seen me with a football in my hands?
Jake just shrugs, and Aaron tilts his head, waiting. Riden side eyes me, knowing very well how my motor functions work.
“Sure.” Might as well enjoy this, right? In the spirit of adventure.
He throws me the ball, and I surprisingly catch it and unintentionally smile, like a child.
I throw it to Aaron, and he receives it, impressed.
“Good throw.” He compliments, and I utter a thanks.
Oh my god, I’m throwing a ball, and it’s going well. For approximately five whole minutes.
“OW!” The ball hits me right in the face, and I immediately see Jake all up in my face.
“Are you okay? Are you bleeding? I swear to god, Riden-”
“It just- It’s sore.” I remove my hand from my nose and gently try twisting it. Still hurts a little, but it was mostly impact.
Jake sends a fulminating stare towards Riden.
“So sorry, Mads.” Riden tries, but Jake interrupts him with his hand.
“Don’t you think you’re over-”
He picks me up, bridal style, and I’m left speechless. I look behind at the boys, and they’re grinning and shaking their heads.
He’s determined, taking me to the towel, I assume, but he takes me to see the lifeguards.
“West, I swear it’s nothing, it doesn’t even hurt anymore-”
“If Riden broke your nose, I will throw hands.” He says, narrowing his eyes, and I just give up.
“What happened?” A girl a bit older than us hurries to us, and before I can utter a word, Jake starts rambling.
“She might have a broken nose or something, even though it’s not bleeding, it can have some sort of hidden damage we don’t see-”
“She’s fine.” The girl dismisses, looking at me closely. “If she had broken her nose, she wouldn’t be moving it right now, and it would probably be bleeding…”
“Sorry for wasting your time-”
“It’s her job, Brown.” He interrupts again. “Thanks for everything.” And then he takes me to the towels and lays me there, finding a spot right next to mine.
“Are you sure it doesn’t hurt?”
“Yes.”
I can’t even feel it anymore, to be honest. I see the guys coming closer, and then my conversation with Aaron in the pool emerges in my head.
“Since when do you wanna be a singer?” I ask while he takes out a freshly cut watermelon from his bag.
“Since ever, I guess. I don’t know, only playing guitar wasn’t enough for me.” He shrugs, stuffing his mouth with watermelon and passing me some.
“Why don’t you perform at the talent show? I mean, one of your songs.”
“How do you know that?”
“I-” By mistake, I give it away by looking at Aaron as he’s sitting in front of us, the rest of the boys forming a circle.
“Dude! You told her about my songs?” He smacks Aaron on the chest, and the latter smirks.
“What don’t tell me she hasn’t heard Golden Eyes?” He asks sarcastically, knowing damn well I haven’t.
Jake grabs his face like he’s faced his own personal rock bottom, and for the second time since I’ve known him, I watch him squirm. I think this is one of those few things he’s insecure about, like having to repeat the first grade, which he did.
“I think it’s cool.” I interject, and the boys all look at me like I came out with a wild statement.
“Look, personally, I’m just a little worried that someone who listens to DJ Khaled unironically aims to be a rockstar, but that’s just me.” Aaron puts his hands out, never a serious bone in his sarcastic body.
“That was a phase.” It really wasn’t. I still hear him playing him sometimes.
But why are they all being jerks? I do think that’s awesome. It’s like he’s closing up before my eyes, but boys are always so used to bullying each other that I bet they don’t even realize Jake is feeling like this.
“No, really, it takes some real self-discovery to know what you wanna do for the rest of your life so clearly.” I shut them up in no time, and they all drop the discussion.
I start eating my watermelon piece, while looking at each of them, while they just stare at me, slightly wide-eyed.
“Guys, I think he wants me to be his girlfriend.” Allison bursts in, sitting next to me in her towel.
Jake’s eyes widen, Riden gasps and lets out an indignant Huh?!, and I make a not-so-pleased face. Jake hits me in the ribs with his elbow, and I stop making that constipated face.
“Oh wow!” I fake enthusiasm. “That’s- Great!”
“I mean, I don’t know, isn’t it too soon? He’s going to town now to prepare for this special date. He said that from 6 PM I can go to town, because it will all be ready.”
“Okay…”
Everyone stays quiet, taking it all in.
“But do you want to date him?” I break the silence, and everyone turns to her.
“I don’t know…” She shrugs, and I purse my lips.
I’ve always thought Allison should slow down the dating scene and just…
Spend time with herself. Learn to live with herself instead of burying herself in a trashy guy and just never being alone.
But I just don’t go around throwing unsolicited advice, especially considering I’ve had zero boyfriends, my dad’s a single dad, and I base all my knowledge on romance novels and movies.
When we later get to the town square and drop Allison off, she throws me a tilted smile, and I let out for only Jake to hear.
“One day, she’ll realize she’s worth more than just being someone’s girl.”