Ocean City Youth Weekend
"HEY! It's five O'clock on this B-E-A-U-tiful Friday afternoon. It's sunny all over the Philadelphia area. It's a warm eighty-four degrees in Bensalem, and on Philly, it's always ninety-two-point-five."
"YO! Nick!" "What do you want?" "Well... If you're taking orders... I want a number two large with iced tea." "Shut up!" I paused a moment and shrugged. "Where did you put the box with my laptop and stuff in it?" I asked. "I didn't." "What...?" "I didn't have it. You put it in the trailer?" he asked. "Yea." I answered. "Well... if it's not in the living room... I don't know where it got to." "Thanks..." I stated sarcastically. "I could have figured that one out!" Nick shot a sarcastic remark right back. "No problem, Justin!"
I went into the living room and looked for the box. There was everything there. Every box that was in the trailer... well... except one. My laptop and computer stuff box.
"Justin," nick said. "You know that if you go buy a new one, that the one you're looking for will show up." "Yea. I know that. That's why I'm not buying a new one." "Then what are you gonna do 'bout your project?" "I'm gonna hand it in off someone else's computer." "Ah. Your gonna use your pen drive!" I just nodded my head. "I am so smart! S-M-R-T!" he sang aloud. "You're an idiot, Nick." "Nick am an idiot!" I just laughed. "I mean... 'Nick is an idiot.'"
I walked into the bedroom to see if it was put in there, but it wasn't. I thought to my self "If it got put in the hallway closet... someone's gonna get hurt!" I walked out of the bedroom and into the hallway. As I opened the closet door, Nick yelled to me from the living room. "Justin!" "What?" "Did you look in this living room closet? Cause that's where it is!" "Nut uh!" I yelled. "Yup!" He yelled back as I walked into the living room. "See?" he asked as he pointed into the closet. "Yes, but why would someone put my computer in there?" I asked as I picked it up off the floor. "I don't know. Why are you asking me?" "Because you're the only other person living here!?" I stated in question format. "Well, it wasn't me."
I shook my head as I put my lap top on the TV stand that, well, was supposed to be for our TV (don't worry... we had our TV on an end table). I logged on and proceeded onto the internet and AIM. Within two seconds, twenty people IM'd me. (Ok, maybe not twenty people... maybe like five or six) Most of them wanted to know about Saturday. Ocean City Youth Weekend. My church (my old church from my old home) wasn't 'officially' going, so I thought that Gwen and I would go down to Ocean City for the day. Gwen IMed me and asked if we were still going. Jayne and Ally, from St. Pete's Church, wanted to know if I was still coming. My friend Morgan from school wanted to know if I was ever coming back for a visit. I told her that I would be down, but already had plans. "Tomorrow isn't going to be fun." I thought to myself.
I knew it was going to be a long next day, so when that clock on the wall said "ding" nine times, I went to sleep.
When I woke up, it was six thirty (like I was used to from working during the summer) and after that particular waking up, I couldn't get back to sleep. I got up and, like I've made a habit of doing every time I get up from a long nights sleep, I went to the bathroom. Just then, I started to smell bacon. That got me into the kitchen faster then Jimmy Johnson on a Sunday afternoon. And what did I find; Nick sitting, eating eggs and bacon.
"I want some!" I said, very mean I must add. "Well, if you look there on the counter..." I interrupted him. "You made some for me!?" "Yup! Just for you." He paused. "Well... It was for Becky, but she doesn't live here... Yet!" By this time, I was already feeding my face with bacon.
After "breakfast", got online to see if Gwen had emailed me about today's plains.
Baby!!
Call me when you wake up! idc if its 6 or 8! Just call! I
have the phone in my room!
I love you!! x infinity to the infinityth power and then
some!
<3 me-
So I got off the internet and called Gwen.
"Hey!" "Hey, Baby Girl!" "What's up?" "Nothing much. What time can I pick you up today?" "Aunt Karen said just to let her know when I'm leaving and what time I'll be home. Oh, and Jesse said that he'd find me sometime today." "You know that I don't like him. If he does anything... ANYTHING, he's eatin' curb." "Justin, he won't do anything." "Yeah?" I questioned. "You really think so?" "I know so." she said. "Well... You know what will happen if he does." "I said 'he won't', so he won't!" she said reinforcing a previous comment. "If you think so. So, about two hours for me to pick you up?" "Why two hours? It takes you forty-five minutes to get here!" "Yea, well. I have to take a shower, go pick up my boots from getting resoled, then come back home and get something." "Get what baby?" she asked. "I don't know. But I do know that I will forget something." Gwen just laughed. "Ok. I love you!" she said. "I love you more, Baby Girl." "Bye." "Bye."
I quickly got into the shower, took a shower, exited the shower, got dressed and went to pick up my boots. And, as I said, I forgot my hat. I went back and switched boots, then I left for Gwen's house.
When I parked my truck in front of St. Pete's Church, Jayne and Ally had just walked out the doors. "Justin!" Jayne yelled at me from the steps. Nick pulled in behind me. "Nick!" Ally yelled. "Jayne!" I yelled back as they walked to Gwen, Nick, and I. "What's up, girls?" I asked when they were within talking distance. "Not much." Jayne said. "How bout you, Nick?" Ally asked. "I'm ok." Nick stated. "And you two?" Jayne asked Gwen and me. "I'm good." Gwen said as she was standing next to Jayne in our newly formed circle-ish shape. "I've been good. Been better, but also worse!" I added in after Gwen. "How's the apartment, Justin?" Jayne asked. "Ok, not much to do but eat, sleep, be on the computer, talk to Gwen, and shower." "You say that like talking on the phone with me is a bad thing!" Gwen said. "I didn't say that, I just said that that's one thing, of very few things, that there is to do during the day besides school." I defended myself. "Well... what are we just standing here for? I'm getting hungry!" Ally said. "Anyone for Burger Construction?" Jayne asked. We all agreed and started on 7th street towards the boardwalk.
The weirdest things came up on our way to lunch. Almost everything, including 'Everything' (by Pillar) came up. We talked about today's wind (yea, it was that bad), belly button lint, belly button lint flying in the wind, music (mostly Pillar as I said earlier) and flashlights. We walked into Burger Construction Co. and sat in the back, trying to escape the wind that was whipping around outside.
"Wouldn't have been funny if Nick flicked his belly button lint and it blew back in his face?" Jayne asked. Everyone laughed. "Hey! I don't have any belly button lint." Nick tried to defend himself. Ally wasn't going to let that happen. "That's because he flicked it out and it flew back and hit him in the face!" Everyone was cracking up. Even Nick thought it was funny.
"Everyone ready or do you need a few more minutes?" A tall, blond girl asked. Everyone nodded and ordered. "All right. It'll be a few minutes." she said as she walked away.
Jayne turned to Ally. "Is that Joe's sister?" "I think so, why?" "Joe said that he always gets 'don't you know your sister's so hot?' I don't even see how she is at all attractive." Nick begged to differ. "I think she's hot. Not that I'd go out with her, but she's hot." "Why wouldn't you go out with her if you think she's hot?" "I think she's just not my type." After a few seconds, Nick looked at me. "What do you think, Justin?" "I think that I've got what I want right here!" I put my arm around Gwen. "Liar!" Nick said sternly. I just gave him the "shut up, Nick." look.
If I didn't know any better, I would say that Nick got Gwen thinking. "Well, Justin?" she asked. "Well what?" I asked back as I turned to face her. "You know what." "Why would I think she is 'hot'?" I asked. "Because you think Jayne and Ally are hot, you think that girl that we saw at Wawa on the way here was hot. Why should this girl be any different?" "Woah! One; I do not think Ally and Jayne are 'hot', and two; this isn't the time or the place to discuss this!" "So you do think that the girl in Wawa is hot?" "Ok, I don't think Jayne, Ally, or the girl in Wawa are 'hot'!"
"Justin, go take a walk. It might help you clear your mind." Nick said in the silence. "'F' this! I'm out! Just bag my burger and fries. I'll be at the Wawa on forth street." As I walked away, Jayne ran up to me. "Wait." "For what?" I asked. "My cousin messed up my relationship not only with my girlfriend, but my best friend." "And is this the first time?" "No!" I stopped. I saw what she was getting at. We walked about it for about five minutes. By this time, we were on forth and Wesley, about a block from the Wawa.
"What did you come here for?" she asked. "It was the first place that I could think of." "Don't you know there is a Wawa between 9th and 10th on Central? And that's much, much closer then this one." "As I said, this is the first place I thought of." Just then, Nick came driving up.
"Next time, no deliveries! Shut up, Nick! You just effed up my whole effing relationship by opening your effing mouth!" I was interrupted. "Justin. Go! Now!" Jayne yelled. I walked into the Wawa and to the drinks. About a minute later, Nick and Jayne walked into the Wawa.
"Dude. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have opened my mouth." Nick said as he walked up to me. "Yea! Isn't that the truth!?" "Justin!" Jayne yelled at me again. "Sorry, Dude." "Its ok, I'd say the same thing if we swapped spots." "Now if it was that easy." I muttered under my breath. "What?" Jayne asked. "I just wish Gwen would forgive me like that!" "She will." Jayne said. "No she won't. You don't know Gwen like I do. She won't. It'll take us more then a few hours to 'kiss and make up'." I paid for my drinks and walked out. I started to walk back to the boards as Nick and Jayne drove past.
I walked back to the music pier. It was about three and Ally called me. "Hello?" "Justin." "Yes?" It's Ally. All of us are standing just off the boards by the music pier." I wasn't going to tell her where I was, I still needed a few minutes to myself. "Ok. And you want me there?" "Yea." "I'll be there in a few minutes." "Ok. See ya." I just hung up.
I walked into the bathroom. I splashed cool water on my face then stood there for a minute or so. After that, I walked to the rail and jumped over onto the beach. Ally, Jayne, Nick, and Gwen all fell back and screamed. I turned around and asked, "What the hell are you doing under the music pier?" "Waiting for you." Nick said. Ally gave Gwen a nudge and she got up. "Justin." "Gwen." "I'm sorry." I knew that I would get yelled at by one of the two girls for being a hard ass, but I did it anyway. "For what?" "Justin! Stop being a hard ass." Ally yelled. I looked at her and she gave me "the look", then I looked back at Gwen. "I'm sorry for thinking to much. I tend to a whole lot. Ally and I talked about it and I promised her that I'd promise you that I'll try to stop." Gwen said. "Shh-WHAT?" Gwen smiled and started talking again. "I promised her..." She paused a second, then continued, "...that I would promise you..." She paused a second time and continued, "...that I would try and stop thinking to much." "I think I got that." "I love you, Justin." "I love you, Baby Girl." She looked at me and smiled.
"We got to get going." Ally said. We all said our goodbyes and Ally and Jayne left. Nick wanted to go get some things from his mom's house, so he left.
As we were walking down the boardwalk, and talking things out, (out of the corner of my eye, may I add) I saw Jesse. I saw him before he saw us, but it was close. He threw out his burger and soda and started our way. I turned to Gwen and said, "Remember what I told you! One smart remark, one 'slip of the hand', and he's dead!"
Before Gwen could get anything out, Jesse walked up. "Gwen!" "Jesse..." "What's up? Haven't seen you in forever!" Jesse's back was facing me and Gwen was looking over his shoulder as to say "Don't you try anything, Justin!" I just shook my head. Jesse went in for the hug. "I've been ok." "That's good." He didn't let go. I could see in Gwen's eyes the fear: That if Jesse didn't let go, I was going to kill him. After a second, she kinda nudged him away. "Well..." He started, then leaned into Gwen's ear and said something. "Jesse!" Gwen pushed him away hard. I stepped next to Gwen. "What was that about, Baby?" I whispered to Gwen. "Nothing. Don't worry bout it." she said back.
"Oh! wanna know our little secret?" Jesse asked. "To bad!" He started laughing. "It had nothing to do with taking her virginity!" "What?!" I grabbed his shirt with two hands. "You leave my girlfriend alone or..." "Or what?" he asked sarcastically as I let go with my left hand. "That's what I thought!" I started to turn my back to him still holding on with my right hand. "Just cause my dad's a cop..." I twisted my body and left hand towards him and brought him in with my right hand. Down to the boards he went.
"Your dad being a cop has nothing to do with it!" I pointed to Gwen. "She, on the other hand, has everything to do with it! Now get you ass outta here and never talk to her again!" Within ten seconds, he was gone.
"Jesse's dad is gonna come looking for you!" "I don't give a shit! I'll kick his butt, too!" "Well..." she thought a moment. "You didn't have to hit him. I wouldn't have gone with him anyway" "What? What did he say?" "He said something like, 'we should go under the boardwalk and make some love'. "That's it!" I went in the same direction he ran off in. "Justin!" Gwen yelled as she pulled me back. "I told you that if he did anything... ANYTHING that I didn't like, he was eating curb! I don't care if he just ate! I'm going after him!" I started running the way he went again. Again, Gwen grabbed me before I got to far. "Well... We should get outta here in case his dad does come looking for you." "Where are we gonna go?" I asked. "Liz's house! I told her that if it rains, we'll give her a call. Its not raining, but I could still give her a call."
Gwen called Liz and they talked for thirty or forty minutes, and finally, Liz said that it was ok for us to come over. Gwen and I got in my truck and took off for the main-land. Within ten minutes, we were in Liz's driveway. When we got out, Liz was waiting in the doorway. "What's up you guys?" Liz asked like she hadn't talked to Gwen in days. "I'm ok. My hand is starting to hurt a bit, but you should know why." I said before Gwen could say a word. "I can't believe you, little Justin, would even think if taking a swing at humongous, fat Jesse." "Well, I did. And I will never regret it." I interrupted her. "I give you mucho kudos for that!" Liz added. "Liz?" "Yea, Justin." she answered. "Where's your bathroom?" I asked. "Oh." She pointed to her left. "It's down this hall, third door on the right." "Thank you." I said as I walked by.
I was in there no more then five seconds and I heard Gwen and Liz talking about me in the next room over. The 'I bet if he gets that way when he's angry with someone else, he's gonna get that way with me.' gave it away. I walked out of the bathroom and acted like I didn't hear anything. I walked into the living room and acted like I was looking for them.
"Where are you Baby Girl?" I yelled. "We're in the den. Its the back-most room." Gwen answered. I walked back and knocked on the slightly open door. "Come in, Baby." Gwen said. "What are you guys doing hiding back here?" I said as if I didn't know already. "Just talking. Why?" Liz got defensive. "I just wanted to know why you picked back here and didn't sit on the couch in the living room. That's all."
We sat and talked, Liz showed us most of the thousands of pictures she took in the last week, and we walked through the woods behind her house. Back inside, this time in the living room, we sat talking. As Liz and Gwen were talking about make-up and stuff like that, I got up and found a pen and some paper. I wrote Gwen a note.
Gwendolyn Joy Hays,
I love you so much! I hope that your not mad at me for
earlier. Both the argument and hitting Jesse. I really need
to talk to you. And not just "We shouldn't talk about it".
Tell Liz that you have to leave and you will call her later
tonight. I love you. Please, PLEASE! I need to talk with
you!
I love you!
Your Baby!
Justin
I folded it up and, on the top, I wrote, "For Gwen's eyes only!" I walked in and threw it on her lap. She picked it up and read the top. She turned to me standing there by the door. She stood up, walked by me and into the bathroom.
About two or three minutes later, she came out and grabbed her purse. "Liz, I have to go." Liz gave Gwen a weird look and she just shook her head. They said their goodbyes and Gwen and I got in my truck and drove off. We didn't say a word until I pulled off onto a dirt road ten minutes after leaving Liz's house. "Where are we going?" Gwen asked as I started off into the woods. "We're going back here." "What's back here?" she asked again. "Somewhere where we can talk things out." I answered. "Where the hell are we?" "Stop asking questions. Just wait. Know what?" "What?" she asked. "Close your eyes until I tell you to open them. Got it?" "Why?" "Just do it." I told her. She closed her eyes and I drove around for a few minutes.
I stopped the truck facing the water on the east side of a lake. Being about seven, the sun was setting. "Open your eyes now, Baby Girl." "Wow! How the hell did you find this place?" "Walking around." "What's this all about? Why did you bring me back here?" I paused a moment. "When we get angry at each other, I want us to think about God. Just..." "Baby." she interrupted. "What?" "Two things. One; I love you." "I love..." She put her hand over my mouth. "Two; I'm not mad at you." "Then what was the 'I bet if he gets that way when he's angry with someone else, he's gonna get that way with me' about?"
"You heard that?" "How couldn't I?" "You were practically talking right in my ear." "We were in the other room, though." "I was in the next room. I heard every word you said about me." "It was just Liz trying to get me to break up with you." I interrupted her, "You don't listen to your best friend, but you listen to someone that you totally despise and that despises you even more then that?" "It wasn't that." she said. "It was just me over thinking things." "Well. Promise me again that you will try to stop over thinking things." "I promise." "I love you." I told her. "I love you more then you will ever know."
After talking for a wile, we decided that we would take a walk around the lake. By the time we made it back to the truck, the sun was down and gone behind the trees.
"Gwen." "Yes, Baby." "I love you." "I love you more." "I really love you." She just smiled without answering. We looked at each other, and just knew it was the perfect time. So we made love for the first time together in the bed of the truck.
When it became ten o'clock, we had to get going. I drove her home, and the whole ride, she was dead asleep on my leg. When I carried her inside, I laid her in her bed, gave her a kiss, and smiled. After standing there watching her sleep a moment, Aunt Karen walked in.
"That's one pretty girl you have there, Justin." "I know. I'm glad she's mine, no matter what happens, she is mine forever. She walked me to the door and bid me goodbye. "When she wakes up in the morning, just tell her I love her." I said before I walked off. "I shall. Goodnight, Justin." "Goodnight."
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