The Ocean (8 page)

“Two nights in a row; I could get used to this.” He smiled.

“It’s been nice having you here.” I took my final bite.

“I’m glad to hear that.” I was, too.

“Does Mason like Abby?” I asked.

“I’m not sure. It seemed like it at lunch, didn’t it?” He leaned forward on the table.

“I just don’t want my friend to get hurt,” I sighed as I cleared the wrappers and got the washcloth to wipe down the table. He looked nervously at the clock that hung above the bay window.

“Do you need to go home now?” I asked, hoping that he didn’t.

“I do have a little homework to do.” He paused.

“I didn’t get a chance to read your letter, so I don’t have one for you yet.” I hoped that I wasn’t disappointing him.

“That’s OK.” He smiled and stood and stretched. “I’l see you tomorrow.” He began heading toward the door. I trailed behind him. He opened the door and turned to give me a bril iant smile. My heart skipped. It was almost like he had a secret from me. He opened the storm door, and he was gone. I closed the door as he pul ed away. I went upstairs to my bedroom. I found the note in the bottom of my bag. I sat on my bed, put in my ear buds, and turned on my music.

Gia,

I have a confession. I’ve never written any one person in my life as much as I’ve written you in the past two days. I really like it though. I feel a special connection with you. I’m sure your mother has forgiven you for the things you said. You were young, and believe it or not, we all say things we regret. Whether we tell someone that we love them when we don’t, that an outfit looks OK, or say something because we’re mad. I bet your mom knew you regretted it. I have a feeling that you learned your lesson, and it was reinforced when she went ahead and got you the jeans.

Am I right?

Answers to your questions:

(1) What is your favorite color? If I say green, you will think I’m smart right? Well, it is one of my favorite colors, but also orange. Don’t ask me why. I guess it’s because it’s a cross between yellow and red and reminds me of the sunrise and being in the ocean surfing.

(2) What is your favorite kind of music? I like classic rock and rock mostly, but I’m getting turned on to classic rap.

(2b) Who is your favorite band? I like the Beastie Boys, Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Seger, and the Eagles.

(2c) What is your favorite song? I don’t really have a favorite song. In the classic rock genre, I’d have to say “Simple Man,” and by the way, just because you put an a, b, and c on it doesn’t mean that it’s one question. It was seven simple questions, Sweetie.

(3) What is your favorite movie? I really like Russell Crowe. Gladiator was a good movie.

(4) What is one of your favorite childhood memories? Despite the challenge of being raised by a single mom, I had a really good childhood. I was involved in all kinds of sports. I also had a lot of freedom, so probably running around the neighborhood with flashlights playing tag with my friends, and playing football in the street. I was able to be a kid. I think it’s important for all kids to be able to just be kids. You know?

(5) Where is your favorite place to be? This is a hard question to answer because it changes. If I were being honest, my favorite place to be is anywhere that you are. It’s still scary to me to feel this strongly about you when I met you four days ago. And maybe the only reason I can tell you this is simply because I’m writing it in a letter. I’d never be able to admit this to your face.

So I give you these seven questions back and add (6) Tell me about you in Indiana. What were you like? (6b) Where did you and your friends hang out? (6c) What music did you study?

I can’t wait to read your next letter.

Travis

I lay in my bed and read the words over again and again. “If I were being honest, my favorite place to be is anywhere that you are.” And, “I’d never be able to admit this to your face.” What was happening here? I didn’t understand it. I grabbed my phone.

Just read ur letter. I texted.

Really? Did u like it?

Very much.

Then I took out my notebook. I wanted to write him when it was stil fresh in my mind.

Travis,

I definitely agree with a few of your points. It’s easier to tell you things this way. I can say what I’m feeling right now. I can only imagine what your reactions will be, but it’s OK. You seem to confirm the way I feel with every letter you give me. It makes me happy that we are on the same page, so to speak. I have two favorite colors: grey and green. I really like that combination. My mom painted my bedroom those colors when we first bought our house, and since then they’ve been my favorite colors. You know what my favorite kinds of music are. You went through my phone that night on the beach, remember? I’d have to say my favorite song is “Dangerously in Love with You” by Beyoncé. It has such a beautiful melody and the words take my breath away. My favorite movies would be ones about action heroes: Spiderman, Ironman, and Transformers. I went through a comic book stage from the time I was ten ‘til I was thirteen. My favorite childhood memory was probably when we moved to Indy.

That was when we actually got new furniture for our house. I remember my mom telling Alex and me to go play outside, and we asked if she wanted us to do our chores first. She said “No, go play.” And we did. You really touched my heart when you told me your favorite place to be was with me. I find myself anxiously counting the minutes until I can see you again. You wanted to know what I was like in Indiana; well for the most part I was happy. I played the piano and guitar. I haven’t played in a long time, but then music was my life. The day my mom told me and Alex that she had cancer, we argued that the doctors were wrong. She assured us that they had been testing for weeks. Her annual visit with the doctor had revealed an abnormal test result. Then she’d had a biopsy. They had tried to remove it, but it seemed to be too late. Watching her go through chemo was really tough. I stopped playing; I just didn’t have the heart for it. Instead I escaped into my play lists and tried to understand why this had to happen to us. She was so strong though. She really fought even until the end. I grew up really fast in the last six months. It’s not like I didn’t have to grow up before, but I think every time I relaxed, boom, catastrophe.

I have two best friends still in Indiana, Gracie and Melissa. I showed you pictures of them. Do you remember? Gracie is crazy and says inappropriate things all the time. Melissa is reserved and smart. I think I’m a combination of the two of them. We usually hung out in our bedrooms and listened to music and read magazines.

I must sound really depressed. I’m not; I’m just trying to deal with the loss of the only person who cared enough about Alex and me to make a difference. I worry about him too. He seems to be adjusting well, but it’s only the surface. I just hope that he doesn’t lose it and I can’t get to him to help him. He refuses to talk about her, even about his memories of good times. Anything at all.

I understand if after this letter you think that I’ve got too much baggage for you to deal with. I sometimes don’t want to deal with it, but I have to.

But if you can hang in there with me, I might be worth a shot.

-Gia

The next morning I performed my usual routine, sneaking into the bathroom so as not to bother Oliver. Picking out three outfits and final y deciding on one. I’d never put this much thought into what I would wear. Today I wore a black short A-line skirt and a lavender scooped neck cotton shirt. I put on my strappy sandals. I did my make-up and put a couple of skinny headbands in my hair and was down the stairs. Alex was tying his shoes and gave me a low whistle as he surveyed me.

“You’re real y going al out for this guy, huh?” He grabbed his bag as we went out the kitchen.

“I always try to look my best you know that,” I said, as I grabbed two Pop Tarts out of the box and fol owed him.

“The heels are new,” he smirked, as he started the truck.

“I’m a junior, growing up.” I passed him an open package, rol ing my eyes.

“Not too fast. Do I need to have a chat with Travis before your first date ever on Friday and tel him to keep his hands to himself?” He kept his eyes on the road.

“You’d better not!” I said, feeling the heat in my face.

“It’s OK, Gia. I already had the talk with him. Yesterday. Actual y.” He paused for dramatic effect before he laughed.

“You’d better not,” I repeated.

“We’l see, I guess.”

When I got to school, he wasn’t at our lockers. I slid the note into his and went to class. I would see him closer to lunch, and that was OK.

Travis

I waited as long as I could by my locker. She had already put the note in it, and I figured it would be a long shot to see her again, but I waited still. With minutes to spare, I finally took off toward my first period. I took my seat as the teacher asked for homework. I snatched it out and passed it forward. I took out the letter and read it. Jill eyed me suspiciously. I was thrilled that Gia shared so much with me. I understood that she was sad. I didn’t think she was depressed, and if she was giving me an out, I wasn’t going to take it. I was going to tell her that when I saw her. Everything about her was goodness. She was hurting, and I’d have to find a way to help her heal her broken heart.

Gia was talking with Abby by our lockers when I came up and put my things in my locker. She radiated as I stepped beside her and took her hand.

She smiled shyly at me as we went to lunch. We sat at our now usual table and were in a comfortable groove. I passed her the note I’d written to her under the table. We shared a smile that no one noticed. On the fold I’d written, “ To my favorite suitcase.” She smirked as she dropped it into her purse. I didn’t pay much attention to the conversation. I breathed her coconut scent. I watched her tilt her head to the side. I memorized the sound of her voice. I looked at her long fingers and imagined her playing the piano. My eyes were drawn to the ring that said LOVE. I would get that story out of her, too, soon enough.

We went to speech together, and we took our seats. El a was bouncing off the wal s about the pep ral y set for Friday. I groaned. I hated those things. They used to do them only for basketbal , but last year they began hauling everyone out to the footbal field to improve school spirit. Gia smirked at me quizzical y.

“You’l see.” I rol ed my eyes.

“Hey, if we get out of class I’m for it.” She giggled. Mr. Franklin came in with a large bouquet of wild flowers.

“Good afternoon, class.” We straightened up and turned toward him. “The first speech I want you to prepare for is a three-minute informative speech. I would like it to be on a relevant topic. I want to see your notes and references by Friday. Homework for tomorrow, though, I wil take your topic. Then tomorrow during class we wil be going to the school library so that you can begin to gather research. So let’s get into this. What is an informative speech?” I began to zone out. I tried to take notes, but my mind wasn’t choosing a topic for an informative speech.

I survived the class and as we made our way to her free period, we luckily weren’t interrupted by a blond head cheerleader. I made it through the rest of my day and into practice.

We ran our dril s, talked about plays, practiced the plays, and I dropped the bal . A lot. Mason threw the bal to me. I tried to focus on it because if I couldn’t get hold of it during the game, we would lose. I’d be embarrassed in front of the whole school, and worse yet, I’d be embarrassed in front of Gia. I shook my head as the bal went right through my hands. Again. The coach shook his head, threw down his clipboard, and blew his whistle. We al ran over to where he stood. His face was red, and he pointed at several boys but mostly me.

“This is NOT Little League. You guys are playing like toddlers out there. If you don’t get it together NICHOLS, you’re going to cost us this game.

Everyone else is giving a hundred percent, but you, you’re a fumbling, bumbling idiot out there.” Chiz smirked and nudged Alex. Alex looked annoyed. “Dixon, you get to run an extra round of tosses with Nichols.” Mason groaned. “You need to take your head out of your ass and get it in the game Nichols, or you won’t be starting on Friday night.” He was now in my face screaming. I just nodded. “Hit the showers everyone.” He waved everyone off, but was stil in my face. “You. Run plays until YOU get it right!” He poked me in the chest. I held his eye contact, and after a few long seconds, he turned away and fol owed the rest of the team into the locker room. I ran back onto the field where Mason and Alex were already.

Mason threw Alex the bal . He caught it perfectly. I was very envious of him. I fel into position. Alex threw the bal back to him. He had a good arm, too. He stayed where he was, but took a blocker position.

“Seventy-seven, thirteen, sixty-nine,” Mason chuckled. That wasn’t even a play; what a tool! “Hut, hut, hut.” Mason leaned back. I ran. I kept looking back at him and watching for Alex, who was charging me. He and the bal were coming at me at the same speed. They would reach me both at the same time. Alex hit me with his shoulder in my stomach just as the bal was on the tip of my fingers. It began to rotate out of my reach, as Alex pushed me back. I fel on my back, and he jumped to his feet.

“Sorry man, run it ‘til you get it, right?” Alex stretched out his hand to help me up. I took it and stood.

“Yeah, next time why don’t you bring it a little?” I only half-joked. I was angry that I couldn’t quite get it. I didn’t know what was wrong with me.

“Oh, you want me to bring it next time?” Alex smirked.

“Wil you girls stop flirting and let’s do this? I’m starving, and my mom is making lasagna tonight.” Mason’s hands were in the air.

“You’re always starving,” I snapped, as I hurled the bal toward him.

“One more time, dude,” he yel ed to me as he went back to his stance. “Ready. Set. Hut, hut, hut!” I had barely gotten back to my starting point as he was tucking back and throwing the bal . I ran and caught that bal right in my hands. Alex had stood off to the side, not even going for me.