Page 6 of Collins
CHAPTER 3
johnnie
THEN
The past weekI’ve discovered something unexpected. I really enjoy living with Nan. And it has absolutely nothing to do with my new obsession of staring out my bedroom window trying to catch a glimpse of the neighbors. Well,oneneighbor in particular. Why can’t I get those dang toffee-brown eyes out of my head? And that smirk? The slightly gapped front teeth?
Okay, it has everything to do with him.
Bea, my lifeline, is leaving tomorrow for the rest of the summer. Every summer she goes to stay with her dad in Florida. So, tonight we’re going to soak up every last minute together.
It’s the first weekend in June, and that means Laken Fest. Small town sidewalk sales, craft stands, food vendors, rides, boat races, fishing derbies, a parade through town, fireworks. The town goes all out.
I’m supposed to meet her down at the lake shortly. It won’t take me long to walk there, I can see the water from the end ofNan’s street. Another thing I’ve come to love about being here, the lake is my safe haven. It gives me peace; I find myself down there writing in my journal most days.
After a quick shower, I let my light brown hair air dry before gathering it in a messy bun and tying a white ribbon into a perfect bow around the loose strands trying to escape in every direction. Sitting on the rug in front of my full length mirror, I lay out all my makeup and jewelry then reach back and press play on my Dierks CD. My already good mood instantly escalates. Several swipes of mascara and some bronzer later, I clasp my three-layered gold necklace around my neck and spritz some Cotton Candy Calgon.
Ripping off my oversized T-shirt to reveal my naked body, my eyes catch in the mirror. My chest is filling out, curves are forming. The girl I used to be, replaced with the woman I’m growing into.
My thoughts immediately drift back to Collins.
Ring!
I jump at the sound of my cordless translucent blue VTech phone on the nightstand, quickly picking it up to answer.
“Johnnie! You ready?” Bea’s voice is dancing with enthusiasm as we agree to meet by the lake.
I hang up and try to regain the normal rhythm of my heart.Geez.
I lean down and grab my pink thong, quickly stepping inside, followed by my extra destroyed jean shorts, matching fuchsia bra, and my favorite white Weezer tee.
Sliding my black and white checkered Vans on, I grab the brown leather fringe crossbody off my doorknob and throw it over my head, fling the door open, and practically run down the hall.
Nan is in her usual spot in the mauve recliner in the corner. Feet propped up, book covering her face, and a cigarette that’s turned to mostly ash lying in its tray on the end table beside her.
“I’m heading to the fest at the lake. Bea is waiting for me. Want me to bring you back some fried cheese? Elephant ear?”
Nan smiles and peers up at me over her readers, lowering her current romance novel with some sort of Fabio and heroine on the cover. “No, that’s okay, sweet pea. You girls have fun. Just be careful and don’t come back too late.”
“Will do.”
I lean down and give her a kiss on the cheek and make my way out. I hear commotion from inside the Combs trailer as I pass by. Loud music and laughter from multiple females. I roll my eyes and pick up the pace.
Three single, abnormally good-looking guys live there, Johnnie, of course they get a lot of female attention. Irritated at my own annoyance, I reach into my purse and swipe on some lip gloss, probably more aggressively than necessary.
An hour later, Bea and I have our feet kicked up on the large rocks lining the water in front of us, while we lean back on a bench, making more room in our stomachs for the smorgasbord of fried food sitting between us.
“Bea, do you really have to leave? You’re my best—my only friend—and every summer I’m stuck here alone.” The thought of her being gone brings an instant sting to my eyes and heaviness settles over me.
Straightening up and rubbing a hand on her belly, she winces slightly. “With any luck, I’ll start barfing up all this junk and convince Mom I’m not well enough to travel. Honestly, I would much rather spend the summer with you than listening to my dad and stepmom moaning through the floorboards every night like last summer. Their room is right below mine and it’sdisgusting. Thank god I have roof access out my window. I made a bed out there multiple times when I couldn’t fall asleep.”
I know Bea doesn’t exactly love her life at home with her mom either, so it’s a lose-lose situation. I don’t ask a lot of questions. I know it makes her uneasy, but I’ve always gotten the impression some not so nice things go down at the Miller household. Looking at her, you’d never guess, though. Bea is the kind of beautiful every girl wishes she could be. The quintessential Barbie with her blonde hair, blue eyes, tanned skin, and utterly perfect figure. I’ve always been jealous of her, although things are slowly starting to shift for me now.
With a sigh, I shove an entire breaded baton of cheesy goodness in my mouth.
Just as I’m surely resembling a chipmunk mid nut heist, I notice a group of people approaching us out of the corner of my eye. My eyeballs bounce quickly back to Bea, whose sapphire irises have already caught the group of guys and they go from nickels to fifty cent pieces in a blink.
“What’s up, ladies?”
