The Bond That Built Us (4 page)

             
I look over into the living room and see Kellan’s eyes on me. He knows I’m pissed about something and he raises his eyebrows almost as a ‘do it’ gesture. So, I do.

             
“How come you didn’t get what I asked?” I interrupt.

             
MJ swirls her head around and gives me a dirty look. “Because there was no way in hell I was going to buy Sour Cream and Onion potato chips. Seriously, AJ, talk about bad breath and grease.”

             
“But you said if I put it on the list you’d get it. Do you have something against cereal and coffee?”

             
“No, but you are the only one who asked for them so I went with the majority. Get over it.” She turns back to face everyone else and continues her conversation. “Anyway, there is a spa a couple blocks away-“

             
I leave their perishables on the counter and storm to my bag and grab my purse then leave. I don’t know where I’m going or what I’m going to do once I get there but I don’t want to be near my cousin. What was I thinking? Of course she isn’t going to change because of one little vacation. Especially since Cara is here.

             
As I wander, I stop in front of an American market. I peruse the shelves and throw a few things into my little hand basket.The majority of customers in here are hung over college kids searching for ibuprofen and Gatorade, while a select few are older adults thankful they don’t have to translate everything on the packaging.

I walk down the pharmacy aisle, passing Q-tips, toothpaste, and vitamins until I stop behind a really ol
d couple examining a box ofcondoms. I can hear their amused chatter, surprised at how the box claims the double ridges guarantee a better orgasm for both him and her. A shiver travels down my spine, then a slight taste of vomit in my mouth. I pivot on my heels and try to drive the thoughts of my own grandparents out of my head.

After I check out I smile the whole way back to the
villa. When I walk in, Kellan immediately stands up and sighs. Josh snaps at me for leaving alone, while Cara and MJ seem completely unaffected, maybe even a little disappointed that I am back.

             
I yank out the few food items I bought for myself and then chuck the last box straight at MJ’s head. “You forgot to pick that up for yourself.” I hold back a grin as she eyes the box of Preparation H in her hands. Kellan and Josh laugh hysterically while MJ looks completely mortified. She and Cara leave shortly after.

             
I call my parents and assure them that I’m okay. I forgot to call them when we landed and my mom is pissed. I hold the phone a few inches away from my ear while she tells me how worried she had been and how she got zero sleep just thinking about the awful things that could have happened to her only child.

             
“Mom, I’m sorry. We got in late and I was so tired I just forgot.”

             
“I know, but you need to give me some peace of mind. Your poor dad was pacing around the room late last night freaking out about you, too. We kept checking our phones making sure you didn’t call.” I can hear my dad in the background, saying “let me talk to her” over and over again.

             
“Mom, I said I’m sorry. I’ll make sure to call you from now on.”

             
She sighs heavily, and I know she is nodding, even though I can’t see her. It’s something she does, she gestures a lot when she’s on the phone, though the other person can’t see. “You’d better. Now your father wants to speak with you, hold on. Love you, AJ!”

             
“Sweet Pea?” My dad asks as soon as he grabs the phone. “How is it down there?”

             
“It’s nice, dad. I haven’t been able to be outside much yet, just to go to the store this morning. But I’m definitely happy I’m here and not there.”

             
Dad chuckles in the phone. “Right after you left the temp dropped another fifteen degrees. It’s nearing the single digits now. And you’re in shorts and a swim suit. I can’t say I blame you.”

             
“And just to make you even more jealous, I’m about to go outside and lay out by the beach. It’s weird wearing sunglasses for the sun and not the bright glare off of snow.”

             
“Listen, Sweet Pea, I don’t want you running around out there alone. Please tell me someone is going with you.”

             
“Um, yeah, dad,” I lie. I hate lying to him but the beach is right there! I can see it from here, and there are people all around, so I’m sure I’m safe.

             
“Good. Now call us when you get a chance, no matter what time it is,” he says sternly before we say our goodbyes.

             
After the brutal verbal beating from my parents, I finally grab my swim suit so I can go to the beach for some reading and sun. In the hall bathroom I change and rub the tanning oil on my skin, letting the smell of coconuts fill the small space. I dab some extra SPF on my face and reach for the door handle but pause. I can hear the boys in the living room. I forgot my cover-up in my bag. Suddenly I feel extremely self conscious. I assess my body in the mirror and double check for any unwanted stray hairs I missed. I scrutinize my thighs, pinching areas and sucking in my gut.

             
I fiddle with the top of my bikini, making sure all is covered. I also make sure the knots are tight, just in case the world wants to play a cruel trick on me. Okay, there is nothing else to do now but walk out there. It’s not like they won’t see me in a bikini the rest of the week, right? I grab the handle, close my eyes, let out three long breaths, and open the door.

             
I grab what I need out of my bag. I can’t look at anyone in fear that I will see their amused faces. I don’t know why I’m so self conscious but it probably stems from the fact that MJ and Cara have told me numerous times that bikinis aren’t meant for girls with curves. I didn’t realize that I had any, but compared to Cara’s waif figure I guess it’s true.

             
I walk out before they can say anything to me. I manage to make my way down to the sand and I pluck open my book and begin to read. But when I have to read the same paragraph three times to understand it, I know my mind is elsewhere. I know Kellan was watching me when I walked out of the bathroom. The way he makes me feel is nothing short of annoying. I hate feeling flustered around someone.

I have only had two boyfriends; one was in high school when I was still best friends with MJ. It wasn’t serious at all, I mean how serious can a fifteen year old couple get? I broke up with him when he got mad at me for spending too much time with MJ.

My second boyfriend, Corey, was during college. He really seemed to like me, and I did everything for him. This was during my ‘zombie doormat’ stage, even though I’m still technically that same doormat, and I think he liked it because I never talked back to him and I did everything he wanted and never questioned him. I was just… there, with him. I didn’t feel anything special, though we did have fun together.

But there wasn’t a
spark; there wasn’t a thrill whenever I saw him. I was with Corey for about six months and throughout that time I never had that intense attraction. I’ve known Kellan for about twenty four hours and my body is on overdrive. I never felt that way with Corey, so why is Kellan so different? Sure, he’s gorgeous and totally my type, but there’s something about
him
that makes me nervous. The way we talk to each other, the way he actually listens to me, the way he looks at me, it’s all a little overwhelming.

Kellan is a player. He picks up girls and doesn’t apologize once he uses them. I’ve heard the cautionary stories before so consider me warned. But considering how he makes me feel, I don’t know if I’m strong enough to keep him at arm’s length.

4

Kellan

              Fuck me. Why did I think coming to a beach with girls was a good idea? I am on the couch, Aubrey’s bed, with Josh talking about which clubs to hit tonight, when Aubrey comes strutting out of the bathroom with nothing on but a fucking bikini. It is black with blue strings that tie on her neck, back, and hips.

             
She doesn’t look at us, just bends down (perfect view by the way) and grabs a sheer thing out of her bag, a book, and a beach towel. She knots the material around her waist, making a cute little skirt. Then without a word she walks out the back door and down the stairs to the beach.

             
I hear Josh laughing so I come to and give him a questioning look.

             
“Shut your jaw before you catch flies, and wipe that drool off your chin there, buddy.”

             
“Whatever,” I mutter, but wipe the back of my hand across my chin just to check. Josh just laughs harder. “Shut the fuck up, Josh. You know if you weren’t with MJ you would act the same way.”

             
“Damn right I would.” We continue talking about clubs and end up mapping out where we want to go. MJ and Cara told us before they left that as long as it wasn’t a dump, they didn’t care. Unfortunately, not being a dump meant a cover at the door and drinks twice the normal price. I didn’t get a chance to ask Aubrey what she thought, but there was no way I was going down to the shore to ask. That would be asking for trouble.

              Aubrey comes back inside first, her shoulders and chest a little pink from the sun. The tip of her nose is a shade pinker, too. I notice her freckles for the second time. They spatter across her nose, making her look a lot younger. Cara and MJ come back about a half hour later, while Aubrey is in the upstairs shower.

             
“Maybe we can leave her here, she is so awkward I know she is going to embarrass us,” Cara says. “We can wait until she goes to the bathroom or something.”

             
“No, don’t be fucking rude, Cara,” Josh snaps. “She will be fine. Maybe you guys will even have fun together.”

             
MJ barks out a laugh. “Doubt it.”

             
I am starting to get pissed at how callous these two girls are. Granted I have only hung out with Aubrey for about a day, but I haven’t noticed anything
awkward
or
loser
about her. I’m sure it stems from jealousy and other stupid girl crap, but I am about a minute away from blowing up. I am glad Josh said something first, who knows what I would have said to them.

             
I hear the water shut off upstairs just as MJ and Cara invade the master bathroom. I have a feeling it will take forever for the girls to get ready and for some reason they
have
to get ready in a bathroom. It will be almost time to go before Josh and I get showers. I sit down in front of ESPN and wait my turn.

             
But Aubrey surprises me again and walks down the stairs. She is dressed in a t-shirt and shorts like she’s ready for bed. “Shower is free,” she says and sits down next to me, wringing a towel around her hair. I can smell her shampoo, it smells like apples. She is sans makeup and her wet hair falls down her shoulders and back in little strings. She is looking at the TV, and when she drops the towel on the floor she lifts up a leg and tucks her foot underneath her other thigh. I try and discretely look down in hopes of seeing some extra skin but her shorts are just tight enough for maximum coverage. I immediately chastise myself for even trying and stand up to go upstairs before I make a fool of myself.

             
By dinnertime everyone is ready to go. Cara and MJ spent three hours getting ready, as compared to Aubrey’s forty five minutes. MJ is wearing a short black skirt and a shimmery green halter top that shows her entire back and Cara has on a super short bright red dress that is like second skin. If she moves the wrong way too fast, it will tear to shreds. I look forward to when that happens.

             
Aubrey’s dress is lime green and not as tight as Cara’s. It is just body-hugging enough to make her boobs perfect, and it stops just above her knees. She slips on a pair of black heels that make her calves rock solid. It’s been about twenty minutes and I’ve already had to adjust myself a few times. I am in trouble. I need to find a random girl, and fast.

             
We go to a cantina a couple blocks away from our villa and have dinner. The five of us are crowded around a round wooden table that has green and gold tiles imbedded into it. There are streamers above our heads and our waiter is wearing a shirt that says ‘make tacos, not war’ on the back. After he takes our drink order, he comes back with a huge blue sombrero with silver sequins lining the edge. He raises his eyebrows a few times and drops it on Aubrey’s head, who squeaks and turns an adorable shade of red.

             
I snap a quick picture of her with my phone before she can take it off, but she keeps it on the whole time. Josh and I order platters that could feed a small world country, while MJ and Cara get salads. I don’t fucking get that at all. Aubrey orders four tacos and both Josh and I give her a skeptical look. She just grins and winks at us while she sips her margarita.