Chapter 11

I tried to play it cool, like the sand was really interesting all of a sudden. I heard shuffling, and then he appeared next to me.

“What?” I asked looking up at him.

“Let’s get in the water.”

“What? No.” I said.

“Come on,” he repeated.

I shook my head. No.

“Why not?”

I wasn’t going to tell him that the only reason (besides the fact that I was a bit insecure about my body) that I didn’t get in the water was that I didn’t know how to swim, and that I would probably drown.

“Either you take that dress off and walk on your own, or I will do it myself.”

“Fine.” I said.

I had no excuse for the erratic beating of my heart.

I stood up and nervously fiddled with the hem of my dress, before I pulled it over my head. He was watching me; I could feel his gaze boring into my skin. He was making me self-conscious.

He looked me up and down, before he smirked, pulling his bottom lip between his teeth.

We walked next to each other towards the water, before he dived in, reappearing a few feet away, where the water reached his nipples. Which meant that it would reach my neck.

I wasn’t going to take that risk.

“No thank you.”

“Come on.” he said smirking. “Don’t be a pussy.”

I frowned and stepped towards him slowly. The water was already reaching up to my neck, so I stopped.

He reached out for me, pulling me easily into him. There was a sudden grip into my hips and I was lifted up, so I had no choice but to wrap my legs around Nate’s small waist.

I blushed at our closeness and he smirked, his hands suddenly travelling down to cup my bum.

I wriggled out of his grasp. “Put me down.”

He did, but I found out that my legs didn’t touch the ground.

So I ended up pathetically gripping into his shoulders, and his hand took their previous position on my arse cheeks.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, because I had no idea what else to do with them.

“You’ve never been so close with a boy before, have you?” he asked and I blushed.

“You’re a hypocrite.”

“I’m hurt now.” he pouted. “Come with me to a party this Friday.”

I blinked, wondering if I heard right. Did he really just invite me to a party?

“What?”

“There’s a party an hour away from here, a mate of mine’s having it, and it’s going to be sick.”

“And why should I come?” I asked.

I wasn’t going to lie; I enjoyed the fact that he invited me to this party. I felt somehow special.

“Because I want to show you how a real party looks like.”

“Ha no thanks.”

“Why not?”

“Why don’t you invite Katherine or something?” I asked, and it sounded a lot ruder than intended.

He raised a brow, but didn’t comment on my tone. “Nah.” was all he said.

“I’m not in the mood of coming to a party outside of Mullingar with you, so you can get drunk and leave me there so you can go home with a girl.”

“I won’t drink.,” he said.

I wanted to laugh, but I didn’t.

“Yeah okay.” I said mockingly, but my breath hitched in my throat at the sudden closeness of his lips to mine.

“Don’t you trust me, Renee?” he breathed against my lips, drop-lets of water falling from his lips as he spoke, in a somehow mocking tone.

I looked into his eyes, and I knew that if I passed the opportunity, he would probably make fun of me together with Sean and Jake.

“Alright.” I agreed and he smirked at that, his teeth suddenly catching my bottom lip between them.

I shuddered when his tongue piercing lightly touched my lip, but then it was gone.

“It starts at nine.” was all he said.

“Can I go back to the shore now?” I asked because I was freezing.

“Yeah alright.” he agreed and let me go, just so I would cling onto his shoulders.

“Wait, I can’t reach the ground.” I said.

“So?” he laughed and put his left arm around my bum to lift me up.

“And…I can’t swim.” I continued connecting my hands around his neck.

I felt like a baby, clinging on his left side as he held me up by my arse.

“You can’t swim? What?”

I decided to ignore him as he walked towards the shore. He let me fall back on the sand next to my towel, just as Jade appeared with an ice cream cone in her hand, everyone else following behind her.

Nate was lying on the lounge chair and Katherine sat on his lap, before she laid against his chest, giving him his chocolate ice cream.

“Oh wow.” Sean said, as he looked me up and down. “You look bloody amazing.”

He laid down on his lounge chair and pulled me over his lap.

“Want some? Your stomach’s growling.” he said holding his ice cream up.

“Nah, I don’t like vanilla thanks.”

“So have you thought about who should take your virginity?” Sean asked.

I rolled my eyes. “No, and I’m not going to.”

A thunder was heard and Hannah suggested we should get back to the car if we didn’t plan on getting wet.

Everyone started packing their stuff. I pulled the dress over my head and the bag on my shoulder.

“You know you should wear bikinis more often.” Sean said putting his arm around my shoulder as we walked back.

I chose to ignore his words and went to stay in line to put my bag in the trunk. I was the last one to place my bag in the back, because Katherine took her time to block the way by snogging with Nate, who was interrupted from his ice cream eating.

When she finally decided that she had enough, she climbed in the backseat and I managed to stuff my beach bag between the other ones.

Nate slammed the door shut and held his ice cream out for me. I frowned.

“What?”

“Have a bite.”

He held the ice cream to my lips and I licked it, making eye contact with him. It made me feel a bit weird.

I could feel the ice cream on my cheek and Nate’s thumb washed it away, before he licked his own thumb, smirking.

Then he circled the car and went to the drivers seat to get in.

***

I didn’t see Nate for the rest of the week, and Friday finally came by, which made me really nervous.

It was way past 7 pm, almost 8pm, when I got a text from Nate.

Nate: b at mine @ 8pm, dress hot

I really didn’t know what he meant by hot…or maybe I did. It meant short tight dresses that showed your ass and high heels that made your feet hurt like hell.

I didn’t know what to dress up with, because I didn’t want to disappoint, but it wasn’t like Nate was going to actually pay attention to what I was wearing. I spent the rest of my time left applying mascara, eyeliner and lip-gloss.

At 8pm sharp I was downstairs putting on my shoes. Katherine was having a sleepover at Jade’s, so I didn’t have to worry about her.

I managed to steal the emergency key from grandma’s room so I could sneak in after the party. I yelled to grandma and grandpa (who were watching The Bachelor) that I was leaving to go to sleep over at Kaylee’s, and all she yelled back was that I should make sure to close the door behind me.

I made my way across the street just as the sun was starting to disappear behind the clouds. I rang the bell and crossed my arms over my chest, waiting for someone to answer the door.

Katherine opened the door with a spoon in her hand. She was sur-prised to see me.

“Oh! Renee! How lovely to see you!”

She was definitely wondering what I was doing on her doorstep.

“I’m here for…uh, Nate?”

“Oh, he’s in his room…”

I nodded smiling and she smiled back, even if her eyes were anything but happy. She excused herself to go to the kitchen and continue cooking.

I discarded my shoes and walked up the stairs, before I pushed Nate’s creaked door open, to find him sitting on the bed. He was plying a video game.

“How many times have I told you to fucking knock?” he barked and I frowned.

“Uh, none?” I asked.

He looked up at me. “Oh, it’s you.”

Was that how he was going to talk to his mom? I mean I knew it wasn’t any of my business, but his mom (unlike mine) was so nice and caring, I was really sorry for her, she didn’t deserve Nate treating her like that.

“Yeah, I’m here.” I said awkwardly.

“I’m jumping in the shower quick then we’ll leave.”

He got up and left the room. I sat down on his bed, really interested by the material of my jeans.

He came back five minutes later, with a towel hanging low on his waist. His hair was almost brown and he looked…nice with his hair down like that, if you didn’t count all the tattoos that covered his chest and arms. Luckily his neck was tattoo free.

“I’m going to change, but you’re free to look.” he said cheekily and I covered my eyes with my hands.

I heard him drop the towel to the floor and shuffling clothes, before he assured me that it was okay to look. I removed my hands from my face and looked up to see him stand in front of the mirror, putting on his lip and eyebrow piercing.

He was dressed with a white V-neck, jeans and Supras. He put a snapback over his hair and a red vest-hoodie.

He finally turned around as I stood up. His eyes went over my choice of clothing.

“Is that what you’re wearing?” he asked.

I immediately got self-conscious. I knew he wouldn’t like it. I would dress…sluttier next time…IF there was going to be a next time.

“Is it…uh…not good?”

“It’s…nice.”

“I didn’t know what you meant by ‘hot’.”

“It’s fine.,” he said poking my exposed stomach.

“We’re late.” I said as we walked down the stairs.

“Important people arrive late, when everyone is already stoned and half passed out.”

“What?” I asked but he ignored me as he stopped in the hallway, waiting for me to put on my Vans.

“Where are you going?”

We turned around to see Katherine coming towards us, wiping her hands on her apron.

“Non of your business.” Nate said looking at his phone, before putting it in his pocket.

I shot Nate a warning look.

He sighed. “I’m going at a party.”

“When will you be home?” she asked.

I could clearly see in her eyes that she was concerned.

“Don’t wait up.” was all he responded, before he exited the house, leaving the door open for me to follow him.

When he realized that I didn’t follow him, he stopped and impatiently tapped his foot against the pavement, waiting for me to go.

“I’m sorry for his behavior Mrs. Harris.”

She fake smiled, her eyes expressing nothing but sadness.

“Just make sure he’s alright.” she pleaded and I nodded.

“No worries Mrs. Harris. Goodnight.”

“You too darling.”

She closed the door behind me as I approached Nate, who lead me towards his motorcycle.

“Stop talking to my mom.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s creepy!”

“Well someone has to be nice to her. You’re an asshole.”

“You don’t know me.”

“I know you’re rude.”

He rolled his eyes.

“Hop on it already.”

“Wh- on this?” I asked pointing at the motorcycle.

He nodded, taking the helmet off the handlebar.

“I’m not riding-no.”

“C'mon.”

I sighed and tried to climb on the vehicle, but it was too high.