Hello Again

Age : 14 

"I can't BELIEVE you're making me do this," I said. 

"Why? It'll be fun!" he encouraged. 

"Yeah," I said, sarcasm dripping in my voice. "Right." 

"Come on," he said. "It's only pedal boating." 

I shook my head and grinned. 

"Yeah, but to rent one, you have to be sixteen," I said.

"I'm fifteen!" he said. 

"Still! I'm fourteen!" 

"Lighten up, Bambi," he said. 

"Don't call me that!" I said. 

Pj had the nerve to laugh, and I shot him a death-glare. 

"Please," he begged. "It'll be fun. I swear." 

Pj gave me that look that could make me do anything. 

"Ugh!" I huffed. "Fine!" 

"Yes!" he called. Pj took my hand in his and started skipping towards the rental shop. 

"Just remember, I hate you!" I said. 

"Oh come on, Benz, you know you love me," he said, flashing me his brilliant smile. 

I rolled my eyes, knowing it was the truth. 

We were approaching the window. A girl who looked like she was maybe a senior was working the rental shop. She looked between the two of us. 

"Hi, we'd like to rent a pedal boat," Pj said. 

"Just for you and your girlfriend?" she asked. 

"Oh, no," I protested. "I'm not his girlfriend." 

I only wished. 

"Oh," she said, seeming doubtful. "But just the two of you?" 

"Yeah," I nodded. 

Pj handed her the money, and she asked us to follow her around the back. 

~ 

"I still can't believe she thought we were of age!" I said.

"I know, right? And she thought you were my girlfriend," he said. 

I forced a laugh, hoping that he wouldn't notice. 

I looked out at the water, reflecting the sun. It was really nice. 

"Hey, Pj?" 

"Yeah?" 

"Thanks. For this." 

I looked at him. He was smiling at me. 

"Absolutely." 

_~_ 

I sat on the couch, waiting for Dylan to come pick me up. 

"Hey," Evelyn greeted, plopping down next to me. "You realize that Darren's been on the computer all day, trying to find out how to get the blue dye out?" 

I laughed. 

"As strange as it sounds," I said. "I actually think he pulls blue hair off." 

"I know, right??" she agreed. "I mean, you wouldn't expect it, but it actually looks fine on him!"

"It's so weird, but yeah," I said, acting like a proud soccer-mom. "My little cous' can do it!" 

Evelyn laughed. 

"I still can't believe that you two are cousins," she said. 

"Yeah," I agreed. "We do have that relative love-hate thing going, though." 

"So much that you might be able to pass for brother-sister," she said. 

"Too true," I said. "So how's everything with Aiden?" 

A smile spread across her face, and she tried to cover it by biting her nail. 

"Good," she said. 

"Spill," I demanded. 

"We're BEYOND good," she said. "I mean, he's been so awesome since we talked about the whole marriage thing." 

"You're so in love," I sang. 

"Yeah, what about you and Dylan? I thought you were on the verge of hating his guts?" she said. "Now you're going out with him again?"

I sighed. 

"Oh the magic of final chances," I said. "If he screws this up, though, I swear, he's out the door."

"Ooh, he should totally take you to McDonalds again," she said, lightly slapping my shoulder.  

"Because that worked out brilliantly," I said. 

"Definitely," she stated. "I mean, seriously, that guy needed a list from me! Things NOT To Do on a First Date. Hope you don't screw it up, Evelyn." 

"Why didn't you?" I asked. 

"Because I didn't think he was that big of an idiot!" she said. "I thought he was kind of cool! Then again, I only hung out with him for like fifteen minutes." 

I checked my watch. It was 7:16. 

"Didn't he say that he'd be here at seven?" I asked no one in particular. 

"Yeah, that's what you told me," she said. "Strike one?" 

"Maybe," I said, standing up. I walked to the window to see if his car was pulling up or anything. 

No car. 

"If he doesn't get here in two minutes, then yes. Strike one," I said. "He has half a strike." 

"Did he tell you where he's taking you?" she asked. 

"Nope," I said. "As always, I have no idea." 

I flipped the channels, wondering why he wasn't here yet. 

The doorbell suddenly rang. 

"That better be him and not the pizza guy," Evelyn said. 

"You ordered pizza?" I asked. "Damn. I really want pizza." 

Dylan was not doing so fantastically if I was really considering staying just for pizza. 

I walked to the door and swung it open, revealing Dylan. 

"Sorry I'm late," he said. "I was busy setting everything up."