Jail Bird. by Em. Z. (best free ebook reader .txt) 📕

I'm going to get your Mom." I said softly.

I had Logan hold her hair back, and I stood up, waving frantically to the two that were now searching for Lindsey. "Hey! Over here!" I yelled.

They jogged toward us, and her Mom breathed a sigh of relief, that quickly turned to worry as she saw Lindsey vomiting.

"Too much sugar, and I think she has a bit of a fever." I said.

"Oh gosh, I'll take her home. Come on, Harry, we have to go!" The little boy had leaned down beside his sister, his face creased in worry.

The mother turned to me. "I'm so sorry about that! She just got away from me! She told me her stomach was hurting, but I just thought it was from all that spinning. Is there anything I can do?" She asked me, gesturing to my shirt.

I shook my head, waving my hands in front of me. "Don't worry about it. It's fine." I assured her.

"Are you sure?" She seemed extremely apologetic.

"I'm very sure." I insisted.

She sighed in relief. "Thank you, I can't imagine what I would have done if you hadn't found her."

We watched as they helped her up, and she replaced my leather jacket with her sweater, giving it back to me with a grateful smile.

We walked back home, and I got fed up with the smell and ripped my shirt off. Before Logan's mouth could drop at my exposed bra, I pulled on my jacket and zipped it closed.

"This will be the third time today I've changed clothes." I said thoughtfully as I dropped my soiled shirt in the trash.

Logan chuckled. "Well the first time was your own fault, you shouldn't have killed Green." He pointed at me.

I shrugged. "Green is evil and deserves to die for killing Blue."

"I have no idea what we're talking about." He said.

"I know." I smiled sweetly.

"You know, being as catastrophic as this was, this could be considered a date." He pointed out.

I paused for a moment in the middle of the beach, staring at him. "This was not a date." I said, beginning to walk again.

"Well how about we have an official one, then? Friday?" He offered.

I raised my eyebrows. "No."

"Oh, come on, Jane! You know I'm hot." He teased, slinging an arm around my shoulder.

"I'm not dating you." I said flatly.

"You will, though. You will fall for my charms." He laughed maniacally.

I looked at him like he was crazy. "Okay." The word was drawn out, as I picked up his wrist and took his arm off of my shoulder.

We reached the house in about ten minutes, bickering about our taste in music. When we arrived, Kent was sitting on the porch, he frowned at Logan's arm slung casually over my shoulder. I hadn't even noticed he'd put it back. Logan had more of a brotherly feel to him.

"Nicki Manaj sucks." I said, taking his arm off my shoulder again.

"No, she doesn't. She's the shit." He said.

I rolled my eyes. "Etta James is the shit, Nicki Manaj is more like the shit on the bottom of my shoe." I said.

He glared at me as we walked into the house, ignoring Kent. "What, were you born in the fifties or something?" He asked me.

"Yes." I said, skipping over to the stairs.

"Yeah, right." He grumbled.

"Where'd you guys go?" Victor asked, coming in from the kitchen.

"Went to the Bay, got thrown up on by hyper kid, came home." I said.

"Eventful." Vic muttered.

"Very." I agreed, walking up the stairs.

Swimming Lessons, Followed by...Exploration.

 

Sitting in my room, I munched on cookies as I watched TV, having settled on an infomercial on the Magic Bullet when I couldn't find anything else. At first I thought it was one of those bullets from the cartoons, which would find it's target, even if he was behind a wall or in a house or something, but then I find out it's a stupid mini blender.

"Come on, two payments of twenty nine ninety nine? Are you nuts?" I yelled at the screen through a mouthful of cookies, "That thing's not even worth one payment of twenty nine ninety nine!" I complained, a cookie crumb flying out of my mouth.

A knock on the door frame made me look up. "Hey, ah, can I talk to you?" Kent asked, looking like he was in pain.

"What, did you start your period or something?" I asked him, swallowing my cookie.

He glowered at me. "I'm a man, Jane." He said.

"Really? You could have fooled me, what with that long hair and all." I said, gesturing to his chin length, tousled hair.

He snickered at that. "Yeah, I have to get it cut soon. Anyway, I wanted to apologize, you know, about the water incident. You know I never would have done it if I knew that you had aqua-phobia." He said.

I gave him a dry look. "Dude, blood is thicker than water, literally," I laughed at my joke, he didn't. Fine then, at least I think I'm funny! "I forgave you, like, hours ago." I said.

"Hours ago? It's been three days since it happened!" He was joking, and we both knew it.

"Well I have to hold a grudge at least three days before I can let it go." I informed.

We both laughed. "Well, I'll leave you to your important infomercial. I heard the Magic Bullet is pretty cool." He said.

I snorted. "Yeah right. sixty bucks plus tax and shipping and handling, it better be phenomenal."

He laughed as he went down the hall. I grabbed another cookie, shoving it in my mouth. Mmm, cookies. I wished that infomercial with Mr. T was on. I loved that one. 

"I pity the fool who don't like chocolate cake!" I said, in my best impression of Mr. T.

Which was horrible. I sounded like Yoda on steroids. 

A chuckle came from the doorway, and I looked up. Oh God, I had the worst timing with my stupid Yoda/Mr.T impressions. Victor stood in the doorway, leaning on the frame.

"Should I be worried that Yoda was the padawan of Mr. T?" He joked.

"Can I help you?" I asked, my cheeks flushing.

"Get your bathing suit on, we're going to the Bay." He said.

I raised my eyebrows. "Um, I'm busy watching how I can get a second Magic Bullet container absolutely free, so..." I gestured to the screen.

He rolled his eyes. "Just get your bathing suit on."

I watching him turn and leave, glaring. What a jerk. I should just sit here eating cookies, just to piss him off. 

Of course, if I went with him and the rest to the Bay, I could see him shirtless.

Never look a gift horse in the mouth, I suppose. I thought as I jumped up from the bed, closing my door so I could change into my yellow and white vintage style bikini. The top was a giant yellow and white polka-dotted bow, while the bottom was black and white polka dots. I tied the strap around my neck and slipped on some shorts. I grabbed my sunglasses from the faded blue nightstand beside the bed, glancing out the window at the ocean. I shuddered. No way was I getting into that water.

I put on my black sandals with the yellow straps, and skipped down the stairs. I looked in confusion at Logan, Mom and Kent, who all sat at the couch, Mom reading a magazine, Kent and Logan watching TV.

Weren't they going to the Bay?

Victor walked downstairs, wearing a white shirt and swim shorts. He stopped short when he saw me, standing at the bottom of the stairs.

I felt my cheeks warm as his eyes raked over my body, and I glanced at the others, sure enough, they didn't even notice our presence.

"Let's ah...let's go." Victor muttered.

Without a word, I followed him out the door, my puzzlement growing as we walked down the stairs. "Why aren't Mom, Kent and Logan going?" I asked.

"Because...they didn't want to." He said, glancing at me.

I raised my eyebrows, and then shrugged. "Okay."

He took my hand, and I felt my pulse quicken, as he led me down the beach. God, what was I, a love-struck teenager?

As if reading my mind, I heard a song playing from the little Diner up at the Bay. It was 'Why Must I Be a Teenager In Love?' By Dion and The Belmonts. A classic. I hummed along, as we neared the Bay, smiling to myself as I remembered my Dad playing this on the radio.

I was surprised when Victor stopped me in the middle of the beach, pulling me close to him. "What are you doing?" I asked, alarmed.

"I'm dancing with you." He said, taking my hand.

I raised my eyebrows, watching as he lifted my hand to his shoulder, putting his other hand on my waist. We swayed to the music, and I found that he was actually a pretty good dancer. It was a bit corny to dance in the middle of the beach, but...it was nice. I found myself relaxing, and actually laughing as he spun me around and pulled me back into him.

I can't remember how I ended up like this, lying my head on his chest, with my arms wrapped around his neck, and his own wrapped around my waist, but...I didn't seem to care. For the first time since I came here, I was relaxed, and genuinely having a good time.

I sighed softly in content, my eyes closed.

As the song ended, we slowly stopped swaying. I was surprised at myself, as I was reluctant to let go of him. I knew if I didn't, though, it would be a bit awkward for the both of us. So I lifted my head, released my hold on his neck, and took a step back from him, making him release his hold on my waist as well. I smiled, a bit awkwardly, as we stood there, staring at each other, not sure what to say.

"Um...would you like to go get some cotton candy?" He asked.

"Would I!" I exclaimed suddenly, my smile growing as I jumped up and down like a small child.

He chuckled and took my hand, leading me to the cotton candy stand. I watched as he got me blue and pink swirled, my favorite. I was amazed. No one had ever gotten me my favorite before!

"I hope you don't mind," He said as he handed me the cotton candy, "I wasn't sure what to get, so I just got both." He shrugged.

I smiled. "It's awesome, thank you." I said genuinely.

He smiled back. "You're welcome."

We walked up to the dock, leaning on the railing as we ate our cotton candy in content silence. I watched as people splashed each other in the ocean, laughing, while others were content to anchor themselves in the sand and tan until they looked like fake'n'bake. 

"Do you want to swim with me?" He asked, making me look at him.

I shook my head. "No."

"Come on, Jane. I'll never let go of you, I promise." He begged.

"No." I insisted again.

He sighed, throwing his cotton candy stick in the trash and turning to me, his golden-brown eyes holding mine. "I won't let go of you." His voice held a seal of promise, as he took my hands.

"Victor..." I paused to sigh, "I can't. The last time I tried to swim I almost drowned...three times." I said, looking away