Teach Me

Teach Me

Teach Me

A Novel By

Amy Lynn Steele

Teach Me

For my high school sweetheart and the love of my life.

Thank you for being the magic in my world.

Dedicated to all those who know that love
is
a lesson learned.

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Teach Me

3

Teach Me

Challenges make life interesting; however, overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.

Mark Twain

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Teach Me

Teach Me

One

Allison

I didn’t know it was possible, but falling for someone was easier than I expected. I have heard of summer love and all that—I mean who hasn’t seen
Grease
?—but to experience it myself is a whole other story. He was right there in front of me, running with his surfboard into the waves. His sandy blonde hair flapped in the ocean breeze as his legs hit the first of the water, his skin tanned by hours under the California sun. I watched him, jaw open, as he made it look effortless.

I hadn’t realized that I watched this stranger the entire time he was on his surfboard, but I did. When he exited the water, he glanced in my direction and smiled at me. I think I smiled back, but shock does funny things to a person’s face. I watched every step he took as he made his way to a white truck in a nearby parking area. He put his surfboard in the bed and took out a towel. I watched as he dried off, his back to me. Suddenly, he turned around and caught me staring at him. I quickly lifted the book I had been reading to try to hide my face before Surfing Boy came splashing into view. Over the cover, I could see him smirk before he climbed into the cab of his truck.

             
It was impossible to focus on my book now. He was insanely cute, and he totally saw me checking him out. Oh well, it was a big beach, and the
chances of seeing him again were slim to none. The next day, I went back to what I considered my usual spot, ready to focus on my book. I had been reading my way through some of the classics before I started my AP English class in the fall. I brought eight books with me, one to read each week of my vacation. At the time, I was reading Bram Stoker’s
Dracula
. I wanted to forget about the really cute guy, and I thought a bloodsucking psychopath should do the trick. I opened my book to where I’d left off before the previous day’s distraction.

             
Lucy was telling Mina how she had gone from no prospects of marriage to having three men to choose from. All three were great, but she loved one more than the other two. Lucy sent Mina word of her choice—the handsome and wealthy Lord Arthur
Holmwood
. If I had the choice, I would have picked Quincy Morris, the Texan cowboy. He may have been rough around the edges, but he was brave and had a heart the size of his home state. Yes, I would have picked Quincy, but unlike Lucy, I have no prospects.

My last boyfriend and I broke up before school ended. I knew he wasn’t “the one,” no matter how cute he was or how well we got along. Jeremy and I had dated exclusively during our junior year, and for the most part, it had been pretty fun. He was smart, funny, and everyone liked him. He had been more or less just a really good friend to me, and he wanted something more. Something I couldn’t give him. I really wish I could have because he is a really great guy, just not my guy. He didn’t understand why
we couldn’t stay together, and I still hear from him once a week. My friends thought I was crazy, but when your heart talks, you have to listen.

I sat on a beautiful beach trying to forget a beautiful stranger. It’s not easy since I had seen him the past four days in a row. Each day I sat there, trying to read my book, unable to focus on anything but
him
. He always smiled at me, and I just stared back. Just as the thought that I hadn’t seen him crossed my mind, sand was kicked up into my face. I jumped to my feet and dropped my book.

“Sorry about that,” a hidden voice said. I knew it was male, but his face was covered as he was pulling his shirt over his head. I was lost staring at his abs until his shirt was off. My eyes widened as I was now staring at Surfer Boy. He smiled at me, and my surroundings seemed to disappear. I stood mute, and he continued, “Sometimes the wind kicks up, and the sand will go where it will go.” He said this simply as he dropped his shirt on top of his towel.

He didn’t wait for me to respond, which was a good thing because I’m not sure I could have said anything even if I wanted to. I brushed the sand off myself and watched as he turned and made an easy jog to the water. Slowly I sank back onto my towel in a trance. From a distance, he was good-looking; up close, he was unreal. I shook my head, determined to focus on my reading. I don’t remember how long I had been looking over the top of my book, watching him. It seemed I stared as long as he surfed because too soon he was emerging from the water and making his way back
to his towel. At first he kept his eyes to the sand, then quickly glanced at me and smiled.

Crap. I almost smashed the thick book against my head. Close by I could hear muffled laugher.
Great.
Just freaking great.
Maybe I should just introduce myself as the freakishly clumsy stalker. I am every man’s dream woman, right? I sighed and kept the book so close to my face that I couldn’t make out any of the words. A shadow stretched over me. I dared to look up and found him, cute Surfer Boy, standing over me. I stared at him over the rims of my sunglasses.

“Reading that way will strain your eyes,” he commented. My tongue swelled and dried in my mouth. I don’t know what expression my face wore, but it made him smile. He nodded and smiled even bigger. “I’m Cooper, by the way,” he offered. My eyes widened as I took a sharp intake of breath. I couldn’t speak, which is annoying because I am a fairly outgoing person. Cooper laughed into his hand, trying to hide it as a cough.

“Okay, Book Girl,” he finally said after a few moments. “Well, just in case you decide you want to tell me your name or”—he looked down the beach, then back to me—“or speak at all,” he added. “I surf this beach every day, just so you know.”

Of course I know, Cooper, I have watched you for five days now
. He smiled at me again, and my mind went blank.

“Well then,” he said as he gathered his things and turned to leave, “I hope to see you tomorrow.” With this, he turned and made his way to his truck. I watched him put his surfboard in the bed and climbed into the cab. He rolled down the windows to let the heat out. I took a few quick steps toward the parking area. Cooper was backing out, so I needed to steady my nerves. I only had this one chance to make a better first impression.

“Ali!” I yelled as he drove past. Cooper tapped the brakes of his truck and then suddenly pulled into an open parking spot. He leaned out the window and looked at me, almost quizzically. I cleared my throat. “My name,” I said loudly. “It’s Ali.
Or uh . . . Allison.”

The truck door opened, and Cooper got out. He ran his hand through his salt-matted hair and took a few steps toward me. I took inventory of him as he moved closer. He was tall, at least six feet. He has a swimmer’s build, defined muscles hidden behind a scrawny frame. His hair looked browner at the roots, the top bleached by the sun. His eyes were light blue and crystal clear. It was like the summer sky had found its inspiration in this boy’s eyes. I couldn’t look away from his gaze.

“Allison,” he said an arm’s length away. I nodded woodenly.

“Or Ali,” I repeated, feeling a slight blush rise to my face. “That’s what my friends call me.” Cooper nodded and studied me.

“Ali is easier to say than Book Girl.” He shrugged and moved closer. The thrill of hearing him speak to me and move closer was like nothing I have ever felt before.

“Book Girl does have a charm to it,” I commented. Cooper laughed, and I felt more relaxed.

“You’re not from around here, are you?”

“Am I that obvious?”

“You are
that
obvious,” Cooper said with double meaning, and the relaxed feeling was gone.

“I better get going,” I said quickly and turned to gather my things.
I am stupid
, I decided.
So obviously stupid!
I rushed to jam all my beach things into my bag. I noticed a second pair of hands next to mine, and I glanced up to find Cooper squatting next to me. He picked up my copy of
Dracula
and ran his finger over the spine of the book.

“This is a great book,” he said quietly. I stopped what I was doing and turned to look him. “I get
Dracula
, you know? Why he does what he does.” I shook my head.
No, he sucks blood from people
.

“I haven’t finished it yet.”
Because I’ve been too distracted watching the way your body works in the waves
. He handed it back to me, and our fingers brushed together. The book tumbled softly to the sand, and we both moved forward to pick it up. Naturally, our heads collided. I started to fall
backward, and Cooper grabbed my arm, pulling me level. Once I was stable and able to take in my surroundings, our faces were just inches apart.

“
Ow
,” I mumbled and took a much-needed breath.

“Sorry about that,” Cooper said and leaned a few inches back. But he doesn’t look sorry. He looks as dazed as I felt.

I ran my fingers over my forehead, saying, “I’m all right.” Not that he asked, but I needed to break away from his scrutinizing stare.

“Let me know when you do finish it,” he said. “I would love to know what you think about it.” I could smell the salt water on his skin, and I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath. A moment later, he released my hands and took a step back.

“I will finish it by tomorrow,” I blurted out. Cooper’s eyes widened.

“You still have, what, about three hundred pages left?” I shrugged and put the book in my bag and started backing away. Cooper took a step toward me and, in the process, stole the oxygen from my lungs.

“I’m a fast reader,” I tell him. “And I only have about
two hundred
pages left.” He arched an eyebrow. “Mina and Van
Helsing
are corresponding regarding Jonathan’s diary.” Cooper smiled and nodded. I found myself wondering if he had actually read the classic.

“You are halfway through,” he agreed. “Will I see you here tomorrow?”

I smiled. “I sure hope so,” I laughed and quickly turned to make my way down the path that led to my aunt’s house. I could feel Cooper’s incredible eyes follow me as I left.

As soon as I got home, I opened my book and got to work. Now I had to finish by tomorrow. I don’t know why I felt like I had something to prove to Cooper. Maybe because I had been checking him out for the past five days, and I wanted him to think I was more than a beach bunny. I had been reading for about an hour when my aunt came home.

“Ali!” she called from downstairs. I closed my book and made my way down to find her.

“Hey, Aunt Trudy,” I answered as I entered the kitchen. My aunt was a bit eccentric. She never married or had any children of her own, but she told me she didn’t want it any other way. She is outgoing and full of life. I stay with her every summer for at least a month, but this year, we decided on two months as one last hurrah before my senior year. Trudy is my father’s sister, and I have stayed with her every summer for the past ten years. A summer for every year my mom has been gone (it gives my dad a break).

“What would you like for dinner tonight?” she asked as she pulled her graying hair back into a loose ponytail. Aunt Trudy was not comfortable in
a kitchen and mostly used hers to display her art. During the summers, I would spoil her with home-cooked meals a couple of times a week.

“Do you want me to make something?” I opened the refrigerator to see what I could whip up. She started shaking her head.

“No.” She spun around. “Let’s go out tonight.” I smiled at her. I wondered why she would ask me if she already knew what she wanted to do. Maybe it is out of courtesy or just because of all those years she had been on her own. I agreed and went back to my room to freshen up. I looked at
Dracula
and decided that I would stay up all night to finish it if I had to. Ten minutes later, we were out the door and on our way to Aunt Trudy’s favorite Mexican food restaurant. We hadn’t eaten there that summer, but I had eaten there many times before. The hostess recognized my aunt and took us to a table in the center of the restaurant, where she liked to sit.

“I bet if you order a margarita, they’d bring you one,” my aunt said.

“I’m not twenty-one yet, Aunt Trudy,” I reminded her. “But I am almost eighteen.”

“Come on,” she encouraged me. “Let’s try.” Typical Aunt Trudy—life is just one big game. The waiter came up from behind me.

“Hey, Trudy,” he said, “would you like your usual margarita?” Trudy laughed and nodded her head.

“Well, yes, I would, Ryan,” she answered.
“And one for my niece.”
She waved her hand toward me. “She is visiting me for the summer.” I could feel the waiter shift to get a better look at me. I didn’t even have my driver’s license with me, not that it would’ve mattered since I was underage. I was immediately nervous and locked my gaze on to the table. I felt Aunt Trudy kick me in the leg.

“
Ow
!” I jerked my head up to scowl at her. She winked at me and then nodded toward the waiter. I reluctantly looked back, and my heart stopped in my chest.

It was Cooper from the beach.

“Well, Book Girl.” He smiled. “How are you going to get all that reading done if you are out partying with Trudy here?” I opened my mouth and closed it again.
Focus, Ali
, I told myself,
don’t act
like an idiot.