CHAPTER 17

"Yes, I admit it. I like him. I shouldn't but I do. And I am currently working on killing these feelings. I hate having them. It totally sucks and turns me into a bumbling fool." I said to Daisy, who in turn patted me on my arm and was quietly sympathetic.

"We can't help whom we like Addy... I mean, Wes had been opening up to you and even hanging out with you a lot. And he didn't look depressed like he did the first time I met him. You changed that. Of course you would be affected. That's only natural." Daisy said sensibly. Yeah, she's right.

"I don't know Daisy... I wish I don't feel like this. It's so awful!" I cried in frustration.

We were done for the day and was waiting for Josh to pick me up. Daisy was driving her own car but she's keeping me company until Josh shows up. I was a little nervous in case Wes was with Josh. He hadn't been hanging out with me since he met the redhead. I missed him. It's been a few days and it seemed like the pair was spending all their time together. I always see them at the beach and they even came by the corn dog kiosk, but I was out. Okay, I wasn't out. I was crouching at the back, peeping at them at the counter. They looked happy and Wes didn't look like he asked about me at all. Which made me feel a little relieved but hurt at the same time. And I admit, I missed him so much. I missed our magical weekend when he spent the whole weekend with me. Sometimes I wonder if the weekend did happen? It was too unreal. Maybe it was all in my head. It was too weird that a hot, popular guy like him would waste his time with a nobody like me. Oh God, I probably need therapy. But wait, even Daisy said he had been spending a lot of time with me. So maybe he had been. But I was probably just there. Now he has better-looking company. yeah, can't fault him there.

It was a restless night. I dreamt silly, weird dreams like Wes suddenly marrying the girl, me suddenly having a physical altercation with the said redhead, Daisy smacking Wes for leaving me to marry the redhead..oh God, the list goes on and on until I woke up weary and tired at 8 am. Crap. I have to go to work.

I need a life. Seriously. I need a distraction. And work was not much of a distraction. I got up with a groan and grabbed my towel to take a shower. When I was downstairs, putting on my sneakers, I heard Josh's car ambling into the driveway. I vehemently prayed that Wes was not in the car as well, like yesterday. But all hopes were dashed when I saw him in the car, fiddling with his phone. I took a deep breath, adjusted my cap and walked resolutely to the car. Josh had a brilliant smile and greeted me warmly.

"Good morning sweetheart!" Josh was just being Josh. Honestly, my crush on him had fizzled out. I guess I had grown out of it and started accepting him as the big brother I never had. I gave him a brilliant smile and climbed into the back seat, behind Josh. I didn't say anything to Wes as he was busy texting. Probably texting the redhead, I mused grudgingly.

"Hey Addy." Wes said distractedly as he continued texting. I didn't say anything, like I didn't hear him. And since he was busy reading the text on the screen, he didn't even notice I was ignoring him. I could feel Josh glancing at me from the rear view mirror and I gave him a look. He just raised his eyebrows and continued riving. I leaned against the car seat and ignored both guys. I have to get over this. It's getting pathetic. And Wes might suspect that I like him. And then he would laugh at me and then he would get all grossed out and proceed to humiliate me. Urgh, not looking forward to that.

I was at the corn dog stand. It was after lunch hour, so the crowd had thinned out considerably. I was day dreaming and looking out to the sea. It was pretty crowded at the beach today. Suddenly, somebody knocked on the counter, jolting me out of my day dream. Wes! I straightened up, my eyes looking for the redhead. Humph, she's strangely absent today.

"Hey Addy. What's up?" Wes asked as he sat on the stool in front of me. I took a deep breath and said casually without looking at him.

"Nothing much. Where's your girlfriend?" I asked before I could stop myself. Yikes!

"What girlfriend?" Wes asked as he looked at me strangely.

"The redhead. Weren't you joined at the hip before?" Mayday! Mayday! Where's the lightning when you want it to strike you?!

Wes looked surprised. Then he leaned closer and peered at me, a smirk on his lips. He put both arms on the counter and looked at me with a naughty look on his face. I was panicking, but I remained expressionless.

"Addy..Are you jealous?" Wes asked carefully, looking at me straight in the eyes. I didn't not even glance at him, but I could feel my cheeks starting to heat up. My heart was beating wildly and threatening to burst out of my chest. Damn him! Of course he would think I was jealous! When you look as delicious as that, you kinda have the license to assume that people are jealous if you start spending time with other people instead of that particular person. My stomach churned at the embarrassment that I was feeling. Wes kept looking at me.

"Excuse me, hi." A voice came suddenly. I looked up and saw two guys looking expectantly at me. I straightened up quickly and ignored Wes.

"Oh, hi! How can I be of service today?" I asked chirpily as the two guys looked like potential customers.

"Yeah, I'd like 4 corn dogs, 4 fries and 4 pink lemonades." The guy said with a smile. I smiled back.

"Ok, sure. Let me get them for you." I proceeded to fill four cups of lemonade while Lola served the corn dogs and fries. Daisy was doing inventory with June at the back. When his order was ready, I put all the food in 2 trays and smiled at them readily.

"Uhm, so 4 corn dogs, 4 orders of fries and 4 lemonades. That'll be $20." I said with a smile and ready to take the money. The guys smiled at each other. Suddenly I had a bad feeling. Uh-oh...

"Say, um, I think you're cute. Can I have your number so we can get to know each other better." One of the guys said as he handed the moneywhile the other stood there leering. Lola stared open-mouthed at the scene that was unfolding in front of her. I sighed as I put the money in the till. Okay, here we go.

"Sorry, we're not allowed to fraternize with customers. Have a good day sir." I said as politely as possible.

"Wait, are you saying no?" The thick-headed numbskull asked me again, his face full of disbelief. I kept my face serious and just stared at him as I nodded my head.

"You..are saying no to me? That's a bit rich, seeing as you're just a fat dyke anyway!" He stared at me, angrily. The heck was his problem. The two guys then walked off, talking to each other. Suddenly I heard them.

"See, told you she's a dyke. Pay up!" The other guy said. My heart plummeted. Of course. How original. I sighed and went to the back, not caring about Wes who was calling me.

I went to the back and told Daisy I need a break. She was just about done with the inventory and was going to the counter when I heard something.

"What the fuck, man?! What did I do to you?!" The annoying voice of the guys before whined and groaned. I went to the back door and opened it. I saw Wes looking angrily at the two guys. They were cowering since they were significantly smaller than 6'1 Wes.

"You do not talk to a woman like that! If I see you around here, spewing that kind of bullshit, I will shove your head up your ass! Get it!?" Wes said angrily in that dangerous low voice he used to threaten somebody. The two guys gulped and nodded quickly as they scrambled up and ran off. I saw Wes took a deep breath and skulked off towards the opposite direction. I stared at him from behind, not sure what I was feeling.

"Feels good, doesn't it? All fluttery and warm because your hero defended your honor there." Daisy said as her head appeared beside mine out of nowhere, almost freaking me out. I turned to stare at her as she looked at me with a stupid smirk on her face. Damn her!

After witnessing what Wes did, I felt it was unfair to punish him just because he was more attracted to other girls than me. It's not his fault I was not pretty enough for him. It's a matter of taste and I wasn't his taste. That's all. At least he's a friend. I sighed and felt a little ashamed at how I treated him before.

That night, when Josh picked me up, Wes was there at the front seat and lo and behold, the shameless redhead was in the backseat, behind him. Daisy squeezed my arm and stared at the girl. She glanced at me and hugged me.

"Good luck Addy! Fight for your man. You can do it! Good night sweetie." Daisy said and then she walked off to her jeep, waving at the guys in the car. Taking a deep breath, I walked to Josh's car and opened the passenger's door behind Josh. I slipped in and didn't even glance at the girl beside me.

"Hey Addy! Wanna go get something to eat?" Josh asked as he slowly started driving the car.

"Hi, Addy, right? I'm Sierra. I think I saw you at the beach before, right?Nice to meet you." Sierra said with a smile. Aw crap! She's nice! Just my luck! Now I can't be a bitch to her without making the guys hate me. I decided to just play along. I could always make a voodoo doll of her later and stick pins into her head.

"Yeah, hi." I said, fighting hard to be cordial. I could feel the guys looking at me. I sighed and leaned back in my seat.

"So, supper?" Josh asked again. I sighed resignedly.

"Yeah, sure. Fine, ok..." I said and just kept quiet after that.

All through the journey, I kept quiet. Sierra didn't even try to talk to me again. I guess I freaked her out. Just then, Josh stopped at a diner. after he parked his car, I took a deep breath and prayed all will go well and I don't accidentally stabbed her or Wes with a butter knife. I opened the car door and stepped out. Okay, let the games begin...