Down the Shore (4 page)

"So, are we going to find a boyfriend to play with this summer? You are going to try, right?"

I laughed out loud, “Gee, Mac, thanks for the vote of confidence."

She shrugged. “I'm just saying."

"Of course, I'm gonna try. Besides I'm eighteen. Enough is enough."

She grinned ear to ear. “Absolutely.” Her arm wrapped around mine and we headed farther down the boardwalk.

As we walked, we noticed mostly locals and the kids of summer, also known as shoobies, as the locals like to call them, who work down the shore. There were very few families. The season being still early, not many people had arrived for a summer packed full of fun.

"Oh, my God, do you remember when you brought me down here when we were like twelve or something and we played pac-man until we ran out of quarters?"

"How could I forget?
You
spent the last of my weekly funds for one stuffed animal.

"
So
not true. I got you some candy...pixie sticks, remember?"

"Do you remember that roller coaster we went on like fifty times because of the guy who ran it?"

"He was worth those tickets,” I said.

"Mmm, hmm, he was."

Every year, teens like me come down in the summer to earn some money and have a summer filled with fun. I remember wanting to be one of them when I was little, and here I was doing exactly that. Then there are teens like me, college teens trying to make enough money to get through one semester. Boys and girls come from all over the world to work here, teens from Russia, Ukraine, England, Ireland—all looking to earn money. I can remember as a child the different accents coming from the waiters and waitresses, the people running the rides and reading name tags that were placed so neatly on their shirts. Names like Alygna, Gerhardt, Zara, Colm, etc. All those years I'd seen them working hard for the almighty American dollar, but never once had I given any thought that one of those people could change my life forever.

We stopped at the concession stand and grabbed some cotton candy to share for the walk. It was a beautiful night: the stars twinkled in the sky and the moon bounced off the ocean. We easily picked out the Big and Little Dipper in the sky. We walked in silence, picking at the pink fluff. Occasionally we heard a child scream or people laughing on their decks while playing cards and enjoying the breeze. We had to be at work by ten in the morning for training, so we wanted to turn in early, plus we didn't know a soul.

As I ripped another piece of cotton candy, I turned to Makenna.

"I'm so tired. I can't believe it's our first night and we're going home to bed! We are sooo lame,” I joked.

"I know, we are the lamest eighteen year olds in the history of all mankind,” Mac responded with a giggle.

"Don't worry, it's not like we don't have all summer to get super crazy,” I reaffirmed our goal for the season.

"Are you really gonna let your hair down this summer?” she teased.

"Anything's possible! I guess we'll have to find out together, huh?"

"This is going to be so great, you'll see."

We got back to the house, both exhausted and lips sticky from the mound of cotton candy we had gobbled down. We said our goodnights and went into our rooms. I was a little scared to be sleeping in the house alone with no parents, but I knew it would be something I needed to get used to. After all, college was only a few months away. That's when I would officially be considered an adult in my folks’ eyes. I quickly turned around and headed back out to the front entrance, checking to make sure I had locked the door.

I put my pajamas on, finished brushing my teeth and leaped into bed. I flipped my cell phone open and dialed.

"Hi Daddy, it's me, just checking in."

I promised I would call often, and I wanted to make sure they weren't worried about me. After we talked for several minutes, I hung up the phone and placed the earphones to my iPod into my ears. I lay there just listening to the music I had downloaded before leaving home. I couldn't help but get excited for the next day to come. I grew impatient just thinking about it, but eventually sleep won over.

I must have rolled over accidentally on my iPod, because I woke up startled, around three a.m. I bolted up, jumping out of my bed. “Holy crap!” I yelled. I pulled the wires out of my ears and just sat there, dazed and confused, running my fingers forcefully through my hair.

My throat parched from the day's activities, I swallowed. I made my way out to the kitchen to get a glass of water. As I walked out of my room, I noticed the television still on and Makenna sleeping peacefully on the couch. Not sure if I should wake her, I decided to turn the television off and let her be.

I bent over, then heard Makenna's voice softly from behind, “Hey, wow! I must have fallen asleep.” She sat up from the sofa, “What time is it?'

"Three,” I told her.

"I couldn't sleep so I came out here to watch a little television. I guess I dozed,” she murmured.

I giggled. “I know. I fell asleep with my iPod still in my ears.” We both laughed. I walked back into the kitchen and poured myself more water.

"I'm going back to bed. I'll see you in the morning.” I retreated slowly back to the darkness of my room.

She yelled out, “Okay, see you tomorrow."

I woke up to the sound of seagulls calling and the bright light of the sunshine pouring into my room. The alarm on my bedside table blinked, letting me know it was nine and we had to be at work in one hour for training. It didn't leave us much time to get ready. I ran out to wake Makenna, and found her still fast asleep on the sofa.

I started to shake her lightly. “Hey, rise and shine, sleepy head. We have to be at work in one hour."

"Ugh,” she growled as she jumped off the coach and sprinted toward the bathroom. I tried to beat her, but she got there first.

"Hurry up. I need a shower, too,” I yelled to her.

She reminded me, “Use the shower outside, girlfriend."

I shrugged my shoulders in defeat. “Fine, but next time you're outside,” I insisted. I heard the shower already running and I could hear a faint response, “Deal!"

I loved the outside shower when I was hot and sweaty, with sand stuck all over my body, but in the morning I kind of preferred the comforts of the inside shower.

Normally we could walk to work since it wasn't too far, but since we were unable to get ready as fast we liked, we couldn't do that today. We slammed the door behind us and hopped into the Honda, or ‘Betty,’ as we liked to call the car, and drove with the music blasting.

We arrived right on time. Clancy's was already jumping with the waiters and waitresses, busboys and bartenders Joey had employed for the summer. He had handpicked each one of us. Clancy's sat on the boardwalk between the Twelfth and Thirteenth Street entrance. Clancy's had only been open for one summer, so it was a relatively new establishment. There were a host stand, a long wooden bar, and at least twelve tables for guests to sit outside and enjoy the view of the ocean while they dined. The inside was painted with light gold walls; stencilled pictures covered the walls and low-lit sconces scattered throughout the interior of the restaurant. The atmosphere Joey had created would make anyone feel cozy and welcomed upon arrival. It was also the only place to sit and enjoy a meal other than pizza or sandwiches.

The other bar on the inside had several large screen televisions hanging from the walls and different size glasses hanging upside down waiting to be filled. Shakers of salt and pepper, wedges of limes, lemons, cherries and oranges were neatly placed in containers. The inside had at least fifty tables, of which five would be my responsibility.

The town of Ocean City is dry, meaning that no alcohol is served at any establishment and there are no liquor stores on the island. If you want beer or wine, you have to buy it before crossing over the bridge; most people did that in Somers Point or Sea Isle. Any bars in Ocean City were merely for waiting customers, watching sports and drinking frozen virgin concoctions.

As I looked around, there had to be at least thirty or so people all waiting for instructions. Joey had hired quite a few of us from New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and a handful or two from abroad. Everyone's name tags stated their name and where they were from.

As I glanced around the room, I saw his face almost immediately. I recognized the Irish guy from the night before. I couldn't believe he was standing there, twenty feet from me. It was like someone opened the door and let the sun shine on his face, and on his face alone. He was absolutely gorgeous with his square jaw, his big brown eyes, his lips and his tousled black hair.

My eyes focused on him and I suddenly realized I had been staring, when his eyes met mine. He looked straight through me, grinning in the most mischievous, playful way, like he knew exactly what thoughts filled my head. He ended the staring game with a confident wink that I knew would cause my face to redden. I had to force my eyes away and down to the ground, to look at anything but him. I almost felt the blood rushing to my face. I knew that when I blushed, my face turned an embarrassing shade of pink.

Joey had asked us all to go around, introduce ourselves and state the position for which we had been hired. I heard people all around me saying their names and jobs. The introductions flowed smoothly, moving around the room. I heard names like Megan, Michelle, Becky, David, Jimmy, Maddy, Aidan, and then my turn came around.

I kept my head down and looked at my feet nervously, “Hi, my name is Abby and this is my first summer waitressing.” I didn't look up.

I felt his eyes burning through the crowd, staring at me. In one moment he had the ability to make me so uncomfortable and scared, and in the next moment, butterflies nervously bounced around in my stomach. I felt like I was thrust back into the fourth grade, and having my first school girl crush. I only caught the tail-end of his speech, “....and I'll be your friendly neighborhood bartender.” I missed his name. Damn! I still had no idea who this dreamy boy could be. He was quite literally the most striking boy I had ever seen, with his eyes, his smile, and his dark wavy raven hair. His eyes were still fixated on me, and it made me so nervous, my body shook with excitement; goosebumps rose on my arms. I didn't meet his stare this time. I talked to the people around me, trying not to let him see the effect he had on me.

After all the introductions, we went over the menu and drink items, and Joey told us to memorize them. We walked through the kitchen carrying trays full of plates, filling ketchup bottles, learning the different bar drinks. It was a long, exhausting day. It was harder than I thought it would be and this had just been the training. But I had always been a hard worker and a quick learner; I knew I would be just fine.

The day finally came to an end. I glanced quickly down at my watch—just before four, time to head home. The restaurant had been open since Memorial Day for dinner only, but this group of trainees would be starting in two days. Joey told us we had done a great job and he would see us again tomorrow.

It wasn't hard for me to find him, as I had casually watched him all day, careful not to let him know that he piqued my curiosity. He approached a group of friends in the corner, the same ones I had seen him with at the pizza place. I couldn't hear what they said saying, but I could figure out what it was about. They had all glanced over at the same time, looking at me with sheer delight on their faces as if they knew something I didn't. I pretended not to notice, to not let it bother me. I quickly grabbed a menu from the stand to take home to study later. I looked up briefly at him, but they had already turned to leave.

I felt a slight stab of disappointment that he didn't talk to me, but I was relieved the staring game had ended for the day. It's a little nerve-wracking to have someone constantly watching you. I shook off the feeling and scanned the room for Makenna. She walked toward me with another girl we had met earlier—her name was Megan. She seemed nice enough; we trained alongside her all day. Tall, blonde and skinny, she oozed self-confidence.

"Whatta ya doing?” Makenna looked at me with a curious expression.

"Nothing. Just waiting for you. Why?"

She looked me over, “You look like you're in another world, that's why."

I bit my lip and said nothing, nodding.

"Hey, Megan! So whatta ya’ think so far?” Makenna asked, trying to change the subject.

"Not bad for the first day. It'll get easier, this is my second summer down here waitressing.” She added a reassuring pat on my shoulder.

Makenna said, “Megan's going to come with us, okay?"

"Sounds great!” I agreed as we walked out the doors onto the boardwalk. We walked along talking about our day, when I heard the voice that made my knees feel like Jello. I glanced ahead to look, making sure the voice matched the face. It did. I don't even know why I questioned it. His voice was something that made my body go into full goose bump mode. My entire body went numb. He stood around with several of his friends, smoking cigarettes and laughing. I grimaced—I didn't like the cigarette hanging out of his mouth. It turned me off almost instantly.
He was practically perfect
, I thought.

Makenna grabbed my arm, “Ah, Abby, oh my God, I think that guy from work is staring at you. Like freakishly staring."

"I know. It's kind of creeping me out. He's been doing it all day.” I looked into the storefront at the window display of T-shirts, trying not to pay any attention to him.

"He works the bar, his name is Colin,” Megan said. “Every girl is talking about him."

"Well, he is gorgeous! Hey, isn't that the guy from last night?” Makenna insisted as she grabbed my hand. “Lucky you. Maybe it will be a great summer, after all."

"No, I don't think so.” I shook my head. They both looked at me like I was crazy.

"Ew, he smokes, and you know how I feel about smokers,” I said in disgust. “Besides, there's something about the way he looks at me—his eyes are so serious, spooky, creepy.” I shook. “He's not my type,” I said as if trying to convince myself.