It is Graduation Day at Ensign Academy. The ceremony has begun, family and friend of the student have gathered in the auditorium to watch as their loved ones receive their diplomas. The graduates enter the auditorium in pairs of two. Diana Carter enters just after her friends Tracey Altman and Francis “Fox” Woodlawn who walk arm in arm. Diana and Tracey had always planned to walk together at graduation, Besties before Boys, but since it was Diana that finally brought Tracey and Fox together she felt she couldn’t come between them now.
Since Prom Fox and Tracey had been spending all their time together and Diana had barely seen them. It was only a few days ago that Tracey lined up her cousin Eric Altman to walk with Diana at the ceremony. Diana had known Eric for most of the time she went to Ensign Academy but they never really hung out at all. He was a nice guy and fairly good looking in Diana’s book. He was on the boy’s track team so she had something in common with him. He had been dating a girl a year ahead of them in school that he had broken up with around Christmas and he had been single since.
Diana held Eric’s arm as they walked down the aisle. She searched the auditorium for her Aunt and Uncle. She couldn’t miss her Aunt Jean who was standing and waving to her. Jean was about seven months pregnant now but that hadn’t calmed down her enthusiasm. There was an empty seat next to her Uncle that was for her father, who was of course a no show. Uncle Zac had insisted that he would make his brother come to the graduation, but Diana did not blame her Uncle for her father’s expected behavior. The students find their seats in folding chairs set up on the stage as the speeches begin.
Diana’s mind wanders as the Dean begins his long winded speech. She looks around the auditorium at the faces of her fellow graduates. She sees both people she liked and disliked. So many of them have had an effect on her life since she came to Ensign Academy. Her time at this school made her life almost bearable. She giggles to herself at the sight of smelly Ryan Stout sits with his new girlfriend Molly Heckler. She must have a high tolerance for bad odors she thinks.
As she turns her thoughts back to herself, she has no intention of staying in her father’s house for much longer. At the end of July she will be leaving to start Law School at Stanford University in California. She can hardly wait for this ceremony to be over because Tracey’s parents have a beach house in Brigantine, New Jersey that they are all going to for three weeks. There are only a hundred and twenty-five in her class but the list seems to go on forever as the Dean announces names.
Diana looks over at Eric’s hands on his legs. They are dry, cracked, and callused. He works at a locate construction company part time obviously not wearing gloves. Tracey told Diana that Eric was going full time at the company after the summer. Eric is a nice guy but he is different than his cousin. He is very religious, he gets it from his mother. He also has two older sisters, the oldest is Sara, she was married young and has a couple of kids. His younger sister, Mary has been a Catholic Nun, since she graduated High School. Diana has often thought if Eric knew what she could do, he would think it was Satan’s work.
“Are you nervous?” Diana asks leaning over to Eric.
“A little,” he whispers. “You?”
“No, more eager to be done with High School to get on with my life,” Diana replies. “I can’t wait to get to the beach.”
“Yeah, it should be fun if things don’t get too out of hand,” Eric said showing Diana his high moral compass again. Diana ended the conversation there before it got too heated. She knew Eric didn’t approve of some of the things Tracey did.
After the reception that followed the ceremony the eight kids going to Tracey’s parents in Jersey met in the parking lot. Tracey, Diana and Eric piled into Fox’s beat up, brown Volkswagen, Rabbit. Sitting in the back seat with Eric, Diana had a clear view of Tracey holding Fox’s hand as they drove. She has almost been living vicariously through them for the past month. Their happiness makes her feel good inside.
“Don’t you think you should have both hands on the wheel,” Eric commented. Tracey glared back over the seat at her cousin as Fox let go of her hand to hold the steering wheel. Tracey didn’t even want Eric to come on this trip. She is sure he is going to be a wet blanket the whole three weeks. If not for her parents forcing her to bring him by saying, “If Eric doesn’t go, no one does,” Eric would be sitting at home alone as usual. She is sure he is meant to be their chaperone of propriety. Eric would be riding with the others if it weren’t for her knowing what a tool he is.
The other friends that were coming to the beach house ride in a Ford Taurus station wagon that tailgated them. Fox’s friend from the Basketball team, Randy is the driver of the station wagon that is packed full with most of their stuff. In the passenger seat was his girlfriend Trish. Randy Wilson and Trish Jones had been dating for about a year. Tracey first met Trish when she dated Ryan Stout awhile back. Something none of them dare talk now. In the back seat is Bonnie Rivers a friend of Trish’s that really wanted to date Eric but he would never give her the time of day. She is sure this is her chance for him to get to know her better. The fourth kid in the car was Brain Andrews who also played on the Basketball team. Brian has a completely different plan for this vacation the rest of the group. Brian was the happy party guy that everyone always wanted to have around. The others thought he was just along for a fun summer, having no idea of his plans.
The ride from New York City to Brigantine, New Jersey was a long one for the group. They stopped for dinner at a Denny’s along the way. As they group was seated Bonnie pushed her way in as they slid into the curved booth bench to get next to Eric. The group of friends joke as they order. When the waitress comes to Bonnie she smiles and sits up straight to say, “I’ll just have the Cesar Salad.” “I’m a vegetarian, you know,” she says leaning against Eric.
Eric orders last, “I’ll have the T-bone steak with Mashed Potatoes and gravy, Large coke.” Tracey smirks as Bonnie gives her an evil glare.
Diana leans to Tracey to whisper, “What is going on?”
“I told Bonnie that Eric is a health food nut,” Tracey whispers back.
By the time they got to the house it was late. After unpacking the groceries they group decide to turn in for the night. The house was set up with a large great room on the first floor, that was made up of a kitchen, dining area, and a television lounge. There is a full bathroom and laundry room off the kitchen. On the second floor there is another full bathroom and four bedrooms.
Heading up stairs for the night, Eric made sure the sleeping arrangements were appropriate. Diana and Tracey would share a room, as would Fox and Randy, Eric would bunk with Brian leaving Trish and Bonnie in the last bedroom.
Diana and Tracey lay in twins beds talking for awhile once they were alone in their room. “Eric better not spoil everything for us!” Tracey complains.
“What are you talking about?” Diana asks.
“I have big plans for Fox this summer,” Tracey tells her friend.
“I know what that means,” Diana grins to herself in the dark. “Are you guys planning to go all the way?”
“If my jerky cousin does ruin it!” Tracey grumbled. “Trish, Randy and I worked it all out to switch rooms tomorrow night.”
“Aren’t you forgetting someone?” Diana asks. “Doesn’t Fox know about this plan?”
“It’s called a surprise,” Tracey replies.
“Do you really think that is wise?” Diana asks.
“Come on what guy doesn’t want to get laid?” Tracey retorts.
“Do you love him?” Diana asks.
“I’m not ready for that,” Tracey answers.
“When will you be ready for that?” Diana asks.
“Afterward,” Tracey says softly.
In the next room Brian and Eric get ready for bed. Brian strips off all of his clothes onto the floor and pulls back the sheet on the twin bed by the window. “What are you doing?” Eric asks lifting his suitcase onto the other bed as he looks over at the nude boy.
“Going to bed,” Brain says jumping between the sheets.
“Like that?” Eric says in a disgusted tone. “That is gross, you have no idea if those sheets are even clean.”
“I sleep nude, always have,” Brian replies as he snuggles up in bed to watch Eric. Eric takes a set of perfectly folded pajamas from his suitcase. He places the pajamas on the bed next to his luggage. Brian watches his roommate unbutton his starched shirt to remove and fold it. Then the pants come off, to be folded and placed back in the suitcase with his shirt. Brain continues to watch as Eric puts on his pajamas. Lifting his suitcase off the bed he places it on the floor against the wall. “You really do have quite a big stick up your ass don’t you?” Brian comment.
“Excuse me?” Eric says looking over at Brian. “What does that mean?”
“You are too young and hot to be so uptight,” Brian says turning out the light.
Across the hall Fox and Randy lay on their backs sharing a double bed. “You and Tracey are getting along better than ever I see,” Randy states.
“I can’t believe any of it is happening,” Fox confessed to his friend. “Diana kept telling me this is what I wanted but I didn’t believe her, I kept lying to her and myself.”
“Sounds serious,” Randy comments. “How serious?”
“Dude, why all the questions?” Fox asks his curious friend.
“I just want to make sure,” Randy says.
“Make sure of what?” Fox asks.
“I have known you for a long time, since we were eight,” Randy says. “When we were twelve we started at Ensign.”
“I know all of that,” Fox says.
“I’m not done,” Randy tells him rolling over onto his side to face Fox. “Meeting Tracey changed you.” “I didn’t see it right away but over the years I realized what it was too, just like Diana did.” “You love Tracey don’t you?”
Fox is silent in the dark before taking a deep breathe, “Yes, I do.” “I have loved her for a long time,” Fox sighs. “It feels good to finally say it out loud.”
“You need to tell her,” Randy says rolling onto his back. “When I told Trish it made all the difference in the world.”
The last bedroom at the end of the hall is Trish and Bonnie. “I can’t wait for Eric to see me in my new string bikini,” Bonnie says as they lay together in the other full size bed in the house. “His eyes are going to pop fight out of his head!”
“That teaser of a swimsuit you brought is great but I wouldn’t expect too much on the first day,” Trish tells her friend. “I think you are going to have to take it slow.” “Fox told Randy that Eric is very religious.” “I didn’t know that when we were planning this match up.”
“What does that matter, a hot guy like him and a hot girl like me, God would want us to be together,
Bonnie says vainly. “I have no problem praying with him, right here in this bed!” “OH GOD!” “OH GOD!” Bonnie mocks thrashing around under the sheets. Both girls laugh for a few minutes.
Next morning the situation in the kitchen is rather chaotic as eight people try to fix themselves breakfast. Fox is at the stove trying to cook bacon and eggs with Tracey over his shoulder the whole time. Trish and Bonnie search threw the refrigerator for breakfast smoothies they brought along. Randy is making a complete mess on the island, trying to mix pancake batter in a far too small bowl. Diana sits back at the table eating a simple bowl of cereal, enjoying every chaotic moment of the show the others put on as Brain comes over to spill a carton of OJ on the table. Diana jumps up to try to help stop the escaping juice across the table.
Eric stands back in the living room area watching the whole scene before announcing, “We need some kind of system here.” “I think we need a schedule to take turns, so only one of us makes our meals at a time.” The other’s look to him from the messes they have created and the answer comes quickly.
“NO!” five voices shout in unison, before they turn back to their tasks.
Bonnie on the other hand has a different answer, “I think that is a wonderful idea, Eric,” she says, smiling as she walks over to him only wearing a long t-shirt. Her nipples visibly poking against the thin fabric as she passes by him. He glares down at her as she rubs against him slightly trying to elicit some reaction.
“NO!” Tracey confirms. “This is my parent’s house and we are here to have fun not listen to you make rules!” No one else says a word as Eric sits down at the table next to Diana to pour himself a bowl of cereal she is eating.
After breakfast and some clean up they head to the beach. Diana and Tracey sit under an umbrella on beach chairs in the sand. Tracey wears a two piece flower print suit but tries to keep her fair skin hidden under the umbrella. Diana wears a red one piece suit with a t-shirt over it, to hide her breast that she is self-conscious over. They watch as the boys throw a football back and forth not far away. Fox, Randy, and Brain are all shirtless only Eric still wears a t-shirt. They all got a big surprise when Brian emerged from the house not long ago wearing only a small bikini suit.
“I can’t believe he is wearing that,” Diana says to her girlfriend.
“I think he looks cute in it, but that doesn’t mean I would let Fox were one,” Tracey replies sipping soda from a bottle through a straw.
“I don’t think Fox would fit in one,” Diana comments.
“What do you mean by that?” Tracey asks annoyed at her friend.
“You mean you haven’t seen it, you’re joking,” Diana replies.
“And you have?” Tracey asks getting angry.
“Relax, he wasn’t naked in front of me,” Diana says trying to calm her friend. “When we when clothes shopping I made him put on a pair of pants that were too small.” “One thing for sure that boy is packing!” Diana giggles. Tracey is quiet for a while after that until Trish and Bonnie come walking down the beach. The sight of Bonnie causes Fox to throw the football hitting Randy in the head.
Bonnie is wearing the smallest string bikini ever made! “That slut,” Tracey whispers under her breathe. Tracey has never been a fan of Bonnie and Diana is surprised that she even let her come along on this trip.
“Is it me or are those triangles all the same size, very small?” Diana laughs.
“I can’t believe her,” Tracey says. “I told Trish to make sure Bonnie didn’t pull something like this!”
“Why what’s the big deal, so she’s flirting,” Diana says. “Not jealous are you?”
“No, she is coming on to Eric,” Tracey tells Diana. “If he gets pissed off and goes home, we all go home!” “Take off you shirt and give those puppies some sun!” Tracey tells Diana.
“What?” Diana replies. “Take off my shirt, why?”
“To distract the boys, those D cups will do the job,” Tracey tells her.
“Forget it, it isn’t happening,” Diana assures.
Tracey jumps up to stomp across the sand. From where Diana sits she can hear everything Tracey says to Trish. Trish calls Bonnie over to them. Bonnie is not happy with what the other two girls tell her as she gets an idea that only she likes.
Strutting back over to the boys Bonnie says, “Eric sweetie could I have your shirt, the girls here have reminded me how easily I burn.” This has been the most entertaining vacation Diana has ever had as she watches Eric pull off his shirt to give to Bonnie. Eric has a good build that he usually hides and it pleases Bonnie to see it at last.
As the girls argue a guy in a bathing suit as skimpy as Brian’s jogs down the beach past them. Brian makes eye contact with the stranger and they smile at each other. “Hey, I’ll see you guys later,” Brian says throwing Fox the football and running after the guy in the bikini. Eric decides to take a run as well in the opposite direction. Bonnie tries to keep up after him but he was on the track team and leaves her in his dust quickly.
The football toss is officially over and the couples go for a swim. Diana decides to spread a towel on the beach for a nap. It wasn’t long before the laughing and screaming at the water brings Diana’s attention. She goes back to the chair to watch as Trish climbs on Randy’s shoulders and Tracey onto Fox’s. Diana is surprised to see Eric jog back over to the umbrella to sit on a chair next to her.
“So where is your biggest fan?” Diana asks.
“Oh you saw her too at those last few track meets?” Eric says.
“It would have been hard to miss her jumping up and down in the stands calling your name,” Diana smiles.
“I sent her for some Gatorade.” “You know Tracey’s parents forced her to bring me.” Diana just nods. “She thinks I’m a spy for them.” “What she doesn’t know is my parents forced me to come.” “They want me to have some fun.”
“That doesn’t sound like such a bad idea,” Diana comments.
“Awwl,” Eric sighs.
“What’s wrong,” Diana asks.
“It’s my hands, they are bleeding again from the football catch,” Eric says rubbing his hands together.
Diana has sympathy for him and she has an idea. “I’ve got just the thing for that,” she says. Diana turns to go through Tracey’s bag to find some expensive looking body lotion. “Here give me your hand,” she tells him. Diana squirts some lotion on her hands then taking his left hand and began rubbing it with the lotion.
“Tracey thinks I’m some kind of fanatic.” “Oh, that feels good,” he says having no idea the tingling he feels in his hand is not the lotion but Diana’s healing power on his hand. “I just have strong believes is all.” Diana’s eyes drift up to his bare chest as she heals his hand. He has been working out beyond just running.
“There you go, good as new,” Diana tells him letting go of his hand. “There is nothing wrong with having strong beliefs.” Taking more lotion Diana says, “Give me your other hand.” She smiles at him as she begins to massage the lotion into his hand secretly healing it.
“Bonnie wants to be my girlfriend, but that is something I don’t need,” Eric says as she rubs the lotion into his palm.
“How about a friend,” Diana smiles looking into his eyes.
“A friend might be nice,” Eric replies.
“Tell you what, why don’t we take a run on the beach tomorrow morning, just the two of us, a couple of track stars,” Diana suggests.
“I think I’d like that,” Eric tells Diana smiling.
“What is going on here?” Bonnie asks coming up behind them not at all sounding happy.
“Diana’s giving me a cure for my cracked hands,” Eric grinned. “She’s got an amazing touch.”
Diana releases his hand, “You do have an evil streak after all,” Diana says tossing the bottle of lotion back in Tracey’s bag as she gets up from the chair. “So do I,” she says starting to walk back to the house.
It is six am when Diana stretches on the back deck that opens onto the beach. “You’re ready to go early,” Eric says walking out onto the deck drinking a Gatorade.
“Early bird, you know,” Diana replies finishing her stretches. “Better get limbered up!” Eric steps off the deck to put his leg up on the edge of the rail, He stretches out, taking hold of his ankle. Diana tries not to watch but she finds herself watching the muscles in his leg flex. When he moves to switch legs he looks over at her and she turns to look down to the water.
“Are you okay?” Eric asks.
“Yeah, yeah, great,” Diana replies feeling her heart beat a little faster in her chest. “Ready to get going,” she asks turning as he bends his leg to cause his shorts to bag giving her a view up. She turns to jog down the beach.
“Hey wait up,” Eric calls as he runs after her. His strong Christian beliefs don’t prevent him from noticing her sweet ass as she runs in front of him. “He runs up beside her, “What is your hurry?”
“Morning’s half over,” Diana tells him as they run.
Back at the house Randy spots Diana and Eric on the beach out the bathroom window. Giving him the okay to head to Trish’s room. He knocks before opening the door to say, “You girls descent?”
Bonnie opens the door fully dressed, “I was just leaving,” she says. “Gotta catch Eric before his run.”
“You missed him he’s already gone,” Randy says. “Give us an hour.” Randy closes the door as Bonnie runs for the stairs. “Big Daddy’s home,” Randy says letting his robe fall to the floor.
“Get your sexy ass over here!” Trish says from the bed pulling back the sheets. Randy kicks off his boxers and he springs for the bed and his lover’s arms.
Coming from the bathroom Tracey can hear the squeak of the bed springs coming from Trish and Bonnie’s room. Diana had told her that she and Eric were going for a run this morning, they must already be gone. Tracey makes a bee-line for Fox and Randy’s room. Going right in she finds her boyfriend still asleep in the full size bed. She quickly slips beneath the covers to cuddle up next to Fox.
“Come on get on your side of the bed,” Fox says pushing Tracey away.
“Babe, it’s me,” Tracey says moving to kiss him on the mouth. Her hand moves down his chest toward his waist.
“Shit, Trace what are you doing,” he says startled as she takes hold of him through his shorts.
“What does it feel like I’m doing?” she asks kissing him again.
“Stop, stop,” Fox protests pulling her hand away. “I don’t think we are ready for this,”
“I do,” Tracey says, “Come on, you know you want to do it!” she insists.
“I do want to do it, with the girl I love and who loves me,” Fox explains. “Trace I love you, I have loved you for a long time, but I don’t trust you.”
“What does that mean?” she asks rolling away from him in the bed.
“It means that you have broken my heart so many times,” Fox says getting up from the bed. He stands with his back to her trying to hide his tears. “I love you and I’ve told you that.”
“I know, I’ve apologized for the stupid things I did, so why don’t you trust me?” Tracey asks sitting up in bed folding her arms over her chest in anger.
“The past month and a half has been a dream come true to me,” Fox says still not looking at her as he pulls on his pants. In that time I have told you that I love you but you have never returned that emotion.”
“Fox, I do…,” Tracey starts to reply.
“No, don’t say it now,” Fox interrupts turning to face her at last. “If you say it now I will never know if it was only to get me to have sex with you.” “I need for you to say it when you feel it, not to get what you want.” Fox opens the bedroom door and leaves Tracey sitting alone in the bed.
The sun is rising through the window of Diana and Tracey’s room as Diana finishes dressing. “Are you getting up today or what?” Diana asks her roomy who has her head under the blankets. Tracey does not reply. Diana goes over to the bed and pulls down the blankets. “What’s with you?” she asks. “You have barely spoken since yesterday, that’s not the Tracey Altman I know.”
“Fox broke up with me,” Tracey tells her as she pulls the covers back over her head to block out the sun.
“Bullshit!” Diana exclaims pulling the blanket and sheet completely off her bed. “He would never do that!”
“He says he doesn’t trust me!” Tracey shouts sitting up in bed. “It sounds like a break up to me!”
“Can’t say I blame him,” Diana replies. “You have a history of treating guys shallowly.” “Fox was there for all of that, remember?”
“Why can’t anyone give that a rest!” Tracey retorts flopping back down on the bed.
“Fox loved you through all of that, I know he did, You just need to prove to him that he is different than the other boys were to you.” “I don’t blame him.” There is a silence between the two friends as Diana sits down on the edge of the bed to put on her running shoes. “When I went running with Eric yesterday you made your move on him didn’t you?” Diana asks.
“Yes and he shut me down even though he was read to go,” Tracey reveals. “I didn’t think a guy could do that.”
“Only the good ones,” Diana says getting up from the bed. “I asked you before if you loved him, how do you feel now?”
“I….. “I do,” Tracey sobs.
“Do what?” Diana pries.
“I love Fox!” Tracey announces.
“Fox is one of the good ones, don’t let him get away,” Diana insists. “Prove to him, he can trust you.” “Show him you love him,” she said pulling her hair into a ponytail. “I’ve got to go.”
“Hey wait a minute,” Tracey calls to Diana sitting back up. “You know so much about my love life, what is going on with you and my cousin?”
“He’s a much nicer guy than you make him out to be,” Diana replies from the door. “He likes to run and so do I, so we do it together.”
“That better be all you’re doing, one Bonnie is enough!” Tracey threatens.
Diana ignores her friend’s comments as she heads down the stairs to the kitchen. Trish, Randy, Fox, and Bonnie fix breakfast. Bonnie hadn’t been up this early before today, she gives Diana a dirty look. Eric is the next one down the stairs. “I need to change roommate!” he announces.
“What is wrong?” Bonnie says hurrying to him. Eric is still acting distant from Bonnie as she tries to grab his arm.
Brain comes down the stairs wearing only a towel heading for the bathroom. “Brian sleeps naked and last night…” Eric finds it hard to say the words. “Masturbated,” he says softly. Brian stops dead in his tracks to laugh.
“Jesus Brian, why are you doing that in bed?” Randy complains.
“I wasn’t in the bed the whole time,” Brian laughs as he goes into the bathroom and closes the door.
“Gross,” Fox says. “I don’t want him in my bed!”
“He can have my bed, I’ll move into Eric’s room,” Bonnie volunteers.
“NO!” Eric insisted. “You two figure it out, draw straws if you have to, I don’t care,” Eric gesturing to Randy and Fox. “Let’s go,” He says to Diana heading out the door. Diana follows after Eric a grin on her face.
“What does she have that I don’t?” Bonnie asks.
“Big boobs that look great running,” Randy says to annoy Bonnie.
“Don’t listen to him, Diana isn’t interested in Eric,” Fox adds as he takes the eggs out of the pan.
“Hey sleepy head,” Trish says as Tracey stumbles across the living room to sits down at the table. Tracey doesn’t reply as she pours herself a glass of orange juice. Fox walks around behind Tracey to sit a plate with an egg and some bacon on it in front of her to kiss her on the cheek. “What’s with you two?” Trish asks.
“Nothing,” Tracey announces.
Eric and Diana run down the beach, the same route that they have for the past couple of days. Then Eric changes direction to go through town. Diana follows after him no sure where he is going. The run has gotten much longer than it had been. The distance has no effect on Diana but Eric soon becomes winded.
They jog across and intersection toward a small park. Not far along the street two men sit in a parked car waiting for a customer. “I know that girl!” the man in the passenger seat says to the driver.
“Just looks like any other senior week kid to me,” the driver replies.
Then a young man walks up behind the car and gets in the back seat. “Brian,” the man in the passenger seat says, “You’re here on senior week, do you know who that girl is?”
Brian leaned over the seat to get a look at the young couple standing in front of a park bench. “Sure that’s Diana and Eric, two of my house mates,” Brian replies.
“Diana what?” the man asks.
“Diana Carter,” Brian tells him. “Now can I have some of that stuff?” “Please Luis?” The man in the front seat nods to the driver who tosses a small baggy over the seat at the young man. The baggy contains two green pills that the kid pops into his mouth before reclining back on the seat.
Diana trots ahead of Eric to stop at a bench pretending to rest. “Where are we going anyway?” she asks.
Eric stops, he is breathing heavy as he paces around the bench. “I don’t know how you don’t get out of breathe,” he pants at her.
Diana sits down on the bench, “Come on have a seat,” she says. Eric sits down next to her, sweat running down his forehead, his shirt drenched. “Did Brian really do that?”
“Yes,” Eric replies still panting sitting next to her. “He is a pig!” They sit silently except for Eric’s breathing. “You haven’t even broke a sweat,” he comments when he looks over at her.
“Guess you are just out of shape,” Diana laughs.
“I am not out of shape!” Eric argues.
“So I’ve noticed, you workout a lot for a religious guy,” Diana comments. “Isn’t vanity a sin or something?”
“That is pride, not vanity,” Eric answers. “So you think I’m vain because workout?”
“Not really,” Diana replies. “You are just different,”
“What does that mean?” he asks.
“You seem very sad,” she notices. “So you want to talk about it?” Diana interjects “I’m not being nosey, I swear!” Eric stares at the ground between his feet. “Okay then, let’s get going,” Diana announces standing up.
“No, wait,” Eric says grabbing her arm. “I’ve never talked to anyone about Haylie and me.”
“No really, you don’t have to, it’s none of my business,” she tells him sitting back down next to him putting her hand on his on her arm.
“I want to, I need to,” Eric tells her taking his hand from her arm. “We were in love, I wanted to marry her.” “That change when she went away to college.” “We agreed that we would wait until we were married to have sex.” “When she came home at Christmas, she wanted us to do it.” “I said no, we needed to wait.” “She wouldn’t stop asking.” “Then she told me that at school she had slept with someone else.” “I was heart broken hearted.”
“So you broke it off with her,” Diana suggests.
“I felt so betrayed,” Eric confesses, “I still feel that way.” “I feel like I can’t trust anyone.”
“Seems to be a common issue this summer,” Diana comments. “Do you trust me?”
“Do I really have to answer that?” Eric smiles. “I just told you one of my biggest secret.” “Something I’ve been ashamed of for months.”
“Not even in confession?” Diana prods as he shakes his head. “Do you feel better now?”
“It’s like a weight has lifted,” Eric says standing up. “Now if I could get that hundred pound weight Bonnie off my back,” he chuckles.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but I think if you just when on a date with her, she would see that you are not her type of guy,” Diana tells him trying not to hurt his feelings.
“What do you mean, one that want to screw her?” Eric says giving Diana a shock she didn’t expect.
“I can’t believe you said that!” Diana comments.
“Just because I don’t do it, doesn’t mean I don’t know the words,” Eric retorts. “Come on, Race you back!”
Back at the house the others finish breakfast and clean up all of the dishes, something they quickly learned they have to do after every meal. “So what are you guys doing today?” Trish asks Tracey and Fox.
“We’re going to the Philadelphia Zoo,” Fox answers.
“We are?” Tracey questions in surprise.
“That sounds like fun,” Trish comments.
“Sorry, before you ask, we’re going alone,” Fox adds.
“Hey, you guys can come with me to Luis’ today,” Brian says coming out of the bathroom. “He’s got this great house down at the end of the beach.”
“Sure what else do I have to do,” Bonnie replies. “It’s Sunday Eric will be at church all day praying or something.”
“How about you guys?” Brian asks Trish and Randy. The couple look at each other.
“If the house is going to be empty today I think we will stay here,” Trish says. “Right babe?”
“Sounds good to me,” Randy grins.
By lunchtime Fox and Tracey are sitting at a picnic table eating lunch at the Zoo. “So are you having a good time?” Fox asks her.
“Yes, I love the Zoo, this was such a great idea,” Tracey tells him giving him a peck on the cheek.
“I know you love the Zoo that’s why we came,” Fox says. Tracey looks back to the stand where they got their hot dogs and soda. A young man carrying four sodas walks toward them. She recognizes him instantly.
“Holy crap,” Tracey whispers turning to Fox to push the soda straw from his mouth and plant a big kiss on him. She continues to kiss him until the young man has passed.
“Wow, you really are grateful,” Fox says catching his breath as she breaks the kiss. Tracey watches the other young man walk away. She would recognized that overconfident strut anywhere. It is Gary Rogers, she knew he lived in a suburb of Philadelphia, but what are the odds he would be here today? And he had four soda, he isn’t alone.
“Let’s go,” Tracey says grabbing Fox’s hand as he pushes the last bite of his second hot dog into his mouth.
“What’s going on where are we going in such a hurry?” Fox asks as they follow down the macadam path. Up ahead the path makes a u-turn around some trees. Tracey climbs over the guide rail into the trees pulling Fox along with her. “Trace, what are we doing?” Fox asks. “It says stay off the grass.”
“SShhh,” Tracey tells him as she leads him through the trees to the path on the other side. “Keep down, hide,” she tells her boyfriend.
“Trace,” he tries to ask.
“SShhh!” she tells him again as she watches Gary walk down the path from her vantage point through the trees. Gary approaches another guy and two girls waiting outside the reptile house. The bigger guy turns to take the soda from Gary. “Holy crap it is him!” Tracey says.
“It is who?” Fox asks, “What are we doing?”
“See that guy in the red shirt down there,” Tracey points out. “That is Steve Roberts, the guy from summer camp.”
“You mean the one that Diana kissed?” Fox asks spying through the trees to see the people. “He’s a big guy I can’t believe he was afraid of little Diana.”
“He was big back then but he is even bigger now,” Tracey says.
“So why are we here?” Fox asks. “Let’s go down and say hi,” he suggests standing up.
“NO, NO!” Tracey says pulling his arm back down at her side. “If Diana found out we saw him here she would die!” “She can never know!”
“Why, looks like he moved on, he’s with a girl,” Fox tells her looking back at the quartet.
“She can’t know, it took her so long to get over him,” Tracey tells him.
“You showing that picture around all the time, sure didn’t help,” Fox scolds her.
“Never mind that!” Tracey says. “Promise me you won’t tell her we saw him!”
“Of course, Trace, I won’t tell her if that is what you want,” Fox tells her. “Hey is that guy the other one from…”
“Come on, let’s go,” Tracey says cutting him off before he can ask about Gary. They spend the rest of the day trying to avoid Steve and Gary with much success.
It is around 2 pm when Eric gets back from church. No one appears to be in the house it is completely quiet. “DIANA!” he calls up the stairs to get no response. “Tracey, Randy?” he calls out, no response. He sits down on the couch, unbuttoning his jacket and loosening his tie. He has made a decision that he had hoped to talk over with someone else before doing it. But when Bonnie walks in the door from the beach he loses that chance.
He stands up to face her as she goes into the fridge. “Hi, stud!” she says more flirty than usual.
Eric can’t help but to think she is a little tipsy but he does it anyway, “Bonnie would you like to go with me to the arcade and have lunch tomorrow?” he asks.
Bonnie’s response is even more enthusiastic than he expected as she prances across the room to give him a big hug, “YES, YES!” she exclaims before trotting up the stairs to her room mumbling about going shopping.
It is about four o’clock when Tracey and Fox get in his brown Rabbit. Tracey reaches under the front seat to pull out her purse from its hiding place. “Wait a minute before we leave,” she says beginning to fumble in her purse. She pulls out a gift wrapped box the size of a baseball. “Happy Birthday,” she says handing it to Fox.
“Wow, Thanks,” he replies, “I thought you forgot.”
“In the time you’ve known me have I ever forgotten your birthday?” Tracey replies. “I’ll admit after yesterday, I wasn’t sure I was going to give it to you.”
Fox unwraps the box and opens it to find a chrome rabbit shaped gear shift knob. Taking it out of the box he admires it with an emotional look on his face. “I can’t believe you got me this,” says his heart melting. “This is a custom order, it must have taken weeks to get.”
“I know how much you love this car, even if I think it is a piece of crap,” Tracey giggles. He immediately unscrews the standard knob from the gear shift on the floor between them and replaces it with the rabbit. “Rabbit and the Fox together at last,” she quips.
“I’m sorry,” Fox says leaning over to give her a big kiss. “I misjudged you.” “You are right you have always gotten me the best gifts for my birthday.”
“I thought about what you said, and what Diana said, today when we were together at the Zoo,” Tracey begins. “Do you remember what Diana said to you when I first introduced you to her?”
“I don’t know, was it something like, ‘Hi, nice to meet you’?” Fox guesses.
“No, I remember because it made me wish that she hadn’t say it,” Tracey tells him. “So this is Fox, is what she said.” “I’ve never had a lot of girlfriends, Diana might have been the first one, most definitely the best on,” Tracey confessed. “I had you, I guess at camp I may have mentioned you a lot.” That is why Diana knew about you.” “She even asked at one point if you were my boyfriend back home?” “I told her no, you were just my friend.” “I know I mistreated you in the past.” “But you have to know you have always been my best guy, even if I didn’t show it.” “Those other guys never meant as much to me as you did.” “Even before Diana came to Ensign, it was always you I came back to with my problems.” “It was you who was my shoulder, my rock.” “It scares me a little to think about how long I’ve loved you, maybe I always have and never realized it.” “I am so sorry that it took something as silly as a hair cut to wake me up to what a fantastic man you are.” Tracey starts to cry a little as Fox starts the car. She wipes her eyes with her hand as she sniffles. The ride back to Brigantine is a quiet one as both of them think about what has been said over the past two days.
It is around 7 o’clock when Tracey and Fox get back to the beach house. Eric is sitting on the couch watching TV in the living room area. The couple fix themselves some drinks and sat down with him to watch. Eric promptly switches off the television. He looks to Tracey to say, “I thought you should know I asked Bonnie out on a date.”
“What?” Tracey exclaims. “Why would you do that?” “What about Diana?”
“Trace what are you saying?” Fox adds as he notices Diana coming in the door from the beach. “Since when are you a matchmaker?”
“It’s fine with me,” Diana says walking across the great room. “I suggested he ask her out.”
Tracey looks at Diana in shock before changing the subject. “Did you boys figure out the new sleeping arrangements yet?”
When all the new room assignments are worked out, Fox is now sharing his bed with Eric, while Randy is now in with the room Brian.
Down the hall Tracey and Diana talk about their day. “So how was the Zoo, do anything interesting?” Diana asks.
“Why what did Fox say?” Tracey panics.
“Nothing really just that you made amends,” Diana tells her.
“Oh that, I made a fool of myself is what I did,” Tracey replies. “He probably still thinks I’m lying to him.”
“He asked me something else,” Diana teases. Tracey doesn’t answer because she know her voice would quiver as she wipes the tears from her cheeks in the darkness of the room. “Fox asked if I knew about him before I met him?” “I told him yeah, Tracey would talk about you from time to time at camp.” “He didn’t say anything to that, he just gave one of those big smiles we see too rarely.” “Those braces did a nice job on his teeth.”
Tracey sniffled again, “What about you, do you really want Eric to go out with Bonnie?”
“Since when are you such a matchmaker?” Diana asks. “I thought you wanted everyone to stay away from Eric.”
“You helped me out, so I want to do the same for you.” “Besides, I wanted Bonnie to stay away from Eric,” Tracey tells Diana. “You on the other hand might not be so bad.”
“I can’t believe you,” Diana laughs. “You have only played matchmaker with me once before and look at how that turned out.”
“Please I haven’t even mentioned his name in over a year,” Tracey argues. “I thought you were over him anyway.” “You have never went on a date have you?”
“I don’t need to date,” Diana tells her. “I’m happy the way I am.”
“Are you really?” Tracey asks to get no reply. “You sound like Eric now.”
The early morning daily cleaning crew arrives at the house at the end of the beach as it does everyday. A majority of partiers have been sent from the house. Luis instructs the crew before going to the door of his driver’s bedroom. He opens the door to view his driver, Nat laying nude on the bed with young Brian Andrews. Luis steps into the room kicking Nat’s foot. “Get dressed and bring the boy with you to my office!” He instructs. “You’ve got a half an hour,” Luis tells him leaving the room. Nat rolls over to kiss the boy awake.
The half an hour flies by as Nat and Brian arrive at Luis’ office a few rooms away. Nat is in his usual suit and tie, as for Brian, he wears only his bikini briefs. “You know I didn’t have any use for this scrap you found on the beach,” Luis tells his driver. “Now I do.” Luis takes the boy by his jaw holding one of the green pills in front of his face. “I want you to begin the rest of your friend here for a party.”
“I don’t think they will come,” Brian mumbles his eyes glazed and focus only on the capsule.
“If you want anymore of these candies you will do as I ask,” Luis tells him.
Diana sits in the sand waiting on the beach for Eric who finally comes out for their morning run around 7:30. “That must have been some date, what time did you get in last night?”
“Too late!” Eric says sitting down next to her in the sand. “Bonnie refused to give up on us finding a connection.” “We scoured this whole town to find something we could both agree on.”
“Like what?” Diana asks.
“After the arcade we went to the bowling alley, then the batting cages, and then the movies,” Eric says. “It took us ten minutes to decide on a movie.”
“So what did you see?” she asks.
“Gremlins,” Eric replies. “I thought it was funny but she spent most of the movie with her face buried in my chest.” “After that I was done.” “There was no way I could convince her to give up on me.” “She then talked me into going to a party at that Luis’ house.”
“Oh, Brian’s new friend,” Diana comments. “How was the party?”
“Sodom and Gomorrah,” Eric says bluntly. “After about an hour I left her there.”
“You didn’t?” Diana says with a surprise.
“I did and I don’t feel at all bad about it,” He said. “You ready to get running?” Diana jumps up and starts running down the beach. They run for about five miles down the beach and then up through town. Half way back Eric lets out a yell and stumbles.
“Eric are you alright?” Diana ask taking his arm, throwing it around her neck. She takes most of his 170 lbs onto her slender shoulders.
“I think I pulled my hamstring again,” Eric tells her. “I did it last year, took a month to heal.”
“Here sit on this bench,” Diana says guiding him down. She know a month of healing isn’t going to do anyone any good. “Let me have a look at it.” Diana lifts his foot onto her legs as she kneels in front of him. She begins by massaging his ankle slowly moving up his calf. Her warm hands generate
her healing energy through his thick muscles.
“That really feels good,” Eric moans slightly. Diana can actually feel Eric’s muscles in his leg move back into place and the inflammation decrease. She likes the way his leg feels in her hand as she can’t help but to continue to massage up above his knee. He is moaning more now making her realize what she is doing. Diana glances at his lap to say, “Oh God, I’m sorry!” she says pulling her hands away.
Eric doesn’t even seem to care as he leans forward to kiss Diana. She is even more shocked by his kiss but she doesn’t resist until he pulls away breaking the kiss. “Wow,” Eric says sitting up away from the girl kneeling on the ground in front of him. He suddenly realizing it, Eric quickly moves his hands to his lap to hide it.
Diana jumps up onto the bench next to him. She isn’t sure if this whole thing is a side effect of her power or not. She looks away from his lap to relieve his embarrassment. “What was that?” she asks softly.
“I thought it was pretty good,” Eric replies.
“What happened to your strong religious beliefs?” she asks.
“Nowhere in the Bible does it say I can’t kiss a girl without marrying her,” Eric tells her. “Haylie and I made out all the time, we just had a line we didn’t cross.”
“So why did you kiss me?” Diana asks.
“Because I wondered what it would be like,” Eric answers smiling.
“So how was it?” she asks.
“Jury’s still out,” Eric grins evilly. This is a side of him Diana never thought he would see. She feels like she might be taking advantage of him but she leans toward him to kiss him again. Eric puts his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer as they continue to kiss. Diana can tell he is much more experience at this than she is and she is liking every minute of it.
“Excuse me Romeo and Juliet, time to move along,” a cop says banging his nightstick on the bench next to Eric.
“Sorry officer,” Diana says breathily as their make out session is cut short. She pulls Eric to his feet as he adjusts himself.
“We’re going!” Eric says as the begin to run. “That was amazing and not just the kissing,” Eric says as they head down the sidewalk. When they get back to the house, both of them are still smiling from ear to ear. “My leg feels great, it must have just been a cramp,” he guesses.
“Yeah, I hope your tongue doesn’t get any cramps now,” Diana jokes.
He leans in to kiss her again, “You tell me,”
“Hey guys,” Bonnie says pushing between them to go into the house like she doesn’t even care that they were kissing on the front step.
It has become a standard as Eric and Diana go for their morning run. This morning they stop at the arcane to spend most of the morning playing games before getting lunch and heading back to the house.
Diana opens the front door to see Tracey sitting on Fox’s lap facing him. She is wearing her bikini top and bouncing slightly as they kiss. When Diana spots Fox’s shorts around his ankles, Diana instantly backs up pushing Eric back out of the door. “Hey, you know what I always wanted to do?” she turns around to ask Eric.
“What is that?” he asks not even realizing that she is leading him away from the house.
“Make out in a Movie theater,” she tells him.