"Come on! It's 4th of July! We can't just sit at home and do nothing tonight," Amy complained.
"Well, how about we go watch the fireworks on the beach tonight," Nick suggested.
"Sounds good to me but what about right now?" Amy asked impatiently.
"How about we have a barbecue on the beach and just hang," AJ suggested.
"Now we're talking! Let's get changed and head over to the beach," Amy said as she started to head up the stairs.
I had stayed silent throughout this whole conversation because I guess I still felt a little shy and uncomfortable around the guys even after a week of living with them. Especially Nick. The more I saw, heard, or talked to him the surer I was that I had a major crush on him. It was starting to get to the point where I tried to avoid him as much as possible figuring that the less I saw of him perhaps my feelings for him would begin to diminish.
I knew I was only fooling myself deep down but I refused to believe it. I felt so transparent and fake and scared that Nick would be able to see right through my little act that I was almost afraid to look at him. He probably has a girlfriend, I had tried to tell myself but that thought didn't console me very much. I still had to live with him for almost another two months. How would I survive the summer at this rate?
It was just to days ago when I had come up with the perfect solution to my problem. I would leave. I would go back home and forget all about Nick.
When I approached Amy about my idea she had exploded! "You want to leave?! Are you crazy?!" she had ranted.
"No, I'm just not like you Amy. I can't be all bubbly and perky like you are. I'm just having trouble adapting," I had told her but without the conviction in my voice that was there when I had practiced my whole little speech in my mind.
"You are going to change this summer Lyssa, whether you like it or not! You have to begin to realize that you are 18 and not 11 anymore and I know if you just give it a chance this summer will change you!" Amy tried to tell me.
I didn't have much choice but to stay, I thought glumly as I headed upstairs to pick out a bathing suit. Being my usual boring unspontaneous self I pulled out my normal purple one piece Speedo and put it on. Ugh, I thought as I turned to look in the mirror. I really do look about 11!
15 minutes later we were all finally ready to go. The cool thing about the beachouse was we could go right outside and have our own private beach but if we wanted to we could also drive to the public beach which wasn't to far away. For today we decided just to hang on our own beach since the public beach would probably be way overcrowded.
As soon as we set everything up Nick suggested a game of volleyball.
"Good idea just let me set up the net," Amy agreed as she went off to get it. A few minutes later we were ready to play.
"I get my baby on my side," AJ announced as he grinned towards Amy.
"I guess that leaves me with Lyssa then," Nick said. Was it my imagination or did he sound kind of disappointed? Well, soon he'll find out how awful I am at volleyball and then any slight chance I had with him will be ruined. I swear sometimes I think there's a magnet in my head that attracts volleyballs because I always manage to get hit with one even when I'm not playing.
"Sorry you got stuck with me," I apologized before we even started to play. "I stink."
"I'm sure you're not that bad," Nick tried to assure me.
"Trust me, you've never seen me in action. Why don't you serve first?" I suggested as I tossed him the ball.
He served and the ball made it over the net easily. I was surprised when the ball landed on the other side untouched. amy was usually a super volleyball player and she had an easy shot but then again in that bikini of hers I don't think anyone would be able to play.
She was definitely keeping the theme of red, white, and blue. Her bikini was patterned like the American flag with red and white stripes and blue and white stars. Unfortunately it was also about two sizes to small so it made movement very difficult.
The game was mostly between Nick and AJ because of my lack of skill and Amy's lack of a bathing suit. When it was all over Nick informed me that we had won.
"We won!" he told me.
"Yea, no thanks to me," I mumbled as I stared down at my feet and started kicking the sand with my toes.
"Don't worry about it. You'll get better. All you need is some practice," he said trying to make me feel better.
"Yea, I guess," I muttered as I walked away.
After that I had managed to successfully avoid Nick all day until the fireworks that is.
The fireworks were about to start any moment and I had just spread out a blanket and was staring at the water waiting for them to start. I had no clue where Amy and AJ had gone. They probably had found a cozy, secluded spot perfect for making out.
My thoughts were interrupted when I heard a noise behind me. I quickly turned around and realized that it was only Nick coming out of the house.
"Hey," he said as he dropped himself beside me on the blanket.
OK, Lyssa. Don't freak out, I tried to tell myself calmly even though my heart was literally pounding like crazy. "Oh hey," I greeted him as calmly as possible. "The fireworks are about to start any minute."
"I know. That's why I came outside," he told me.
"Oh yea," I said sounding totally retarded.
Just then the fireworks began and the two of us were quiet for a few minutes. "They're beautiful," I remarked not realizing I was speaking out loud.
"Yea, they are," Nick agreed.
I turned to look at him and saw his face was illuminated by the light from the fireworks and the moonlight. I probably shouldn't have turned towards him like that because he turned towards me too. I hoped he hadn't noticed me checking him out. When the next set of fireworks exploded in the sky I jumped in surprise. I was so wrapped up in him I had almost forgot where I was. How stupid could I be!
"Are you OK?" Nick asked me with a chuckle as he comfortably draped his arm over me.
"Oh, umm yea. I was daydreaming and forgot about the fireworks." I told him, my heart racing from just the simple feeling of his arms around my shoulders. I was so busy trying to calm myself down that I didn't realize the closeness of our lips. Any closer and our lips would be touching, I thought nervously. Is he about to kiss me? Or am I just imagining things again? Part of me yearned to reach up, wrap my arms around his neck, and pull his face closer to mine. That would be what Amy would do. But another part of me was telling me no, don't. He isn't really into you. Your imagination is running wild again. That was the part that won out. I quickly turned my head away and began coughing like I had something stuck in my throat.
"Are you all right?" Nick asked looking very concerned.
"Yea, I just have a tickle in my throat. I think I'm going to go inside now to get a drink and go to bed," I told him doing my best to fake a hoarse voice. Before I could hear his reply I ran inside the house leaving him alone on the blanket. Was he really about to kiss me? I wondered. I probably would never know but perhaps it was better not knowing.