3Okay, so sorry it took me so long to post this chapter. But I really hope you all like it :)
And thank you Dill Wilson for reviewing, I really appreciate your helpful advice, and I am trying to apply it in this story and other stories I am working on.
I reached out my hand to shake Austin`s, "it is lovely to meet you." And lord let me tell you, he was lovely. If Jerrod was the definition of tall, dark and handsome, the boy in front of me was the polar opposite (except for the handsome part). He had blonde hair that covered a bit of one beautiful blue eye. Light freckles graced his cheeks and he had a little smile that just made you want to smile too. He was wearing a blue and white baseball shirt that highlighted his muscles but didn't brag about them, kakis covering the tops of his gray vans. He was equally beautiful, however in a way all his own. He had a presence that just made you want to tell him all your secrets, and he wouldn't judge you, or interrupt you, he`d listen, locking his brilliant blue eyes with yours and smiling at the goofy things you have done. He was so very real, everything about him, he didn't have the unnatural bleach blonde hair, or some dumb muscle tee, and he was just him. He has said five words to me and it already seems like I have known him forever, but I just want to know him even better.
"Likewise," he said with a smile. "You girls are excellent dancers. And may I say you both look fabulous tonight."
Harper and I both thanked him, he nodded and looked to his friend.
"You girls come here often?" Jerrod asked.
I explained how we had never been here and were staying the summer at the beach.
"Seriously?" Austin`s face lit up. "We are staying the summer here too, we are both juniors. We spent a weekend up here with the football team last summer, and we just had to come back."
"I`m glad you did," I say with a smirk, he raises his eyebrows in response.
"Well, I`m beat, what do you girls say to something to drink?" Jerrod asks.
Harper looks at me and smiles, "that sounds good," I respond for her.
We weave our way through the crowd and over to the food and beverage table. I reach for the punch spoon, suddenly a hand is on top of mine his deep voice so close to my ear, "this one is on me, the next one is on you," he is trying to be serious, but I can hear the smile in his voice.
I release the spoon and his golden hand picks it up, he tries to be so seductive by pouring it while staring into my own blue/gray eyes, but he winds up spilling it all over his hand, "shit," I laugh as he grabs a napkin and attempts to clean up his mess.
"Now what is so funny, Miss Jen?" He says between his own chuckles.
"You, Mr. Smooth." The music is still bumping, even after Derek took a break, there were no lyrics in the song, just bass and auto tune, and to be honest, all the music, and light, and damn fog were starting to give me a headache. I checked my phone for the time. 11:45.
How the hell did time go by so fast?
"You got a hot date?" The voice that interrupts my thoughts reminds me, boys, why do they have to be so damn distracting, and so damn cute.
"Yeah actually we do."
"Wait, we are already going on a date?" Austin asked with new-found excitement.
"No, Harper and I, a date with my parents, and my grandma." We had only been standing on the sidelines sipping our drinks for a few minutes, but I realized how bad my feet hurt, I saw the sweat on Austin and Harper and Jerrod, and my damn strapless bra is going to be the death of me. I could tell we were all exhausted, and although I didn't want to leave his side, I knew we should all probably be getting back home. I turn to Harper, who is deep in a conversation with Jerrod, smiling from ear to ear. "Hey, I know we are all having a really great time, but we should probably call it a night. Its 11:45," I say, looking at Harper.
Harper and I have been friends for so long we can read each other`s facial expressions and this one said I know, I wanna stay home, but we both know we got to go.
"Yeah, I know. Well it was, really nice meeting you Jerrod, but we really do have to head home."
"Aw, come on girls, there hasn't even been a slow song," Jerrod pleads, hopeful to convince.
"Bro, we better get going too, my mom`s dragging our asses to church tomorrow morning anyway," instantly Jerrod agrees, they must have a friendship like Harper and I.
"Fine," Jerrod says, "but at least let us buy you some ice cream, we know this great place down on the boardwalk, it stays open with the club, and Johnny owns `em both."
I look to Harper and shrug "deal."
We get our ice cream (with sprinkles) to go. The cool cream and the wind from the beach is refreshing after being in the warm and stuffy club. We start to say our goodbyes, Austin pulls me to the side, "you got ice cream, now I get something."
"Excuse me?" I say with accusation and start to pull away, "who the hell do you think you are? Or better yet, who do you think I-"
The smile immediately fades from his face "No, god no. Sorry that came out way worse than it sounded in my head. I meant, I get you ice cream, and you give me your number."
Relief floods my body, I don't know why I jumped to such a conclusion, idiot. "Yeah, yeah, here, give me your phone."
He reaches into his pocket and hand me an iPhone, the case is a picture of him and Jerrod when they were much younger, they are all decked out in football gear and have their arms around each other's shoulders, they are probably half the height, but with the same big smiles. I just smile at it, when Austin breaks my concentration with a slight cough. "Oh, yeah, here hold this, I hand him my ice cream cone."
"Umm… Ok?"
I flip the phone over, and unlock it. No password, hmm, not very good theft protection. I eneter my info into the contacts, not even thinking about giving him a wrong number, I actually really hope he calls."I added my last name, it is Sanders by the way." I look up from the phone only to find Austin licking the sprinkles off my ice cream. "What the hell, boy?"
"Umm… I can explain?" He says with a huge smile on his face.
"Forget it. Ugh," I hand him his phone back and snatch my ice cream from his grasp.
"Jen Sanders?"
"Yup, that's me, what's yours, Austin?"
"Bishop, Austin Bishop."
I smile at him as I throw my braid over my shoulder. I realize how messed up it must look, pieces are falling out, and others are plastered to my head. I quickly remove the elastic, trying to match his own jaw-dropping looks.
He steps closer to me, taking a strand of my long hair in his hand, I can feel myself blushing, he takes one step closer and he is seemingly towering over me, "you know, I don't think I mentioned how truly beautiful you are."
I smile like a goof, what else can I say, "ditto?" No. I swear my heart is beating so fast I swear he can her it.
Just then "Jen," Harper hollers. He immediately drops my hair and takes two big steps back, both of us blushing like crazy, "are you ready to go?" She and Jerrod hand in hand are next to us before I realize.
"Yes, of course."
"Which way is your house?" Jerrod asks her. She gestures to the right and he starts walking.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," she says, "where are you going?"
"Walking you home," he responds.
"No, no, we just met, you could be a creepy stalker, and then you would know where we live."
"Yeah, and when else are we supposed to talk about those two cute guys we met if you are glued to our hip the whole way?" I chime in.
"Fine, fine." Jerrod surrenders.
"I`ll call you," Austin says with a wink.
I smile back and raise my eyebrows, "I`ll think about answering."
With that, we part ways, Harper and I head right, and they boys left.
God I hope he calls.
So it is a pretty long chapter, I like it, but I really want to know what all of you think! If it seems too rushed, or too slow, or whatever. Please, any feedback is highly appreciated.
forevernever33