Trace

Chapter 2

~~~Ellie~~~

"I think I should be a writer," I conclude.

Jude pops another fry in his mouth, then tears open a ketchup packet on the side.

"No answer, because you're amazed?" I grin.

He chuckles and gazes out the diner window. The pier is just a few blocks over, but we have a clear view of the Wildwood shore from our booth.

"I think I'm more, skeptical than amazed."

"You always told me I had a knack for it."

"Typing a couple essays for AP US History isn't the same as writing a novel."

I mull this over, then take in his sun burnt cheeks. The pale outline of his sunglasses stripes the sides of his face and rings his pale blue eyes.

"I have been working on something."

He gulps his Coke, "You didn't tell me. Can I read it?"

I shift the straps of my bathing suit beneath my tee, "It's not finished."

He meets my sheepish gaze,"How much left?"

Well, that was just it. Hopefully, my story didn't have an end.

"I don't know."

"Well, I better get a dedication," Jude shrugs.

"You, a dedication? So entitled," I scoff.

"I'm the handsome, valiant, devilishly charming best friend. You practically have to," Jude grins a toothy smile and stands from the booth.

"Where ya goin'?" I quirk a brow.

"Lauren Gallo is on the beach with her group. I'm gonna meet Tom there."

"And just drool over her?"

Jude shades his eyes once more and flicks some invisible dust from his pompous shoulders.

"That's the plan," Jude takes off, and suddenly my fries become unappetizing. I pay the difference of the bill with my half and his, but scooch slowly as the leather of the booth has adhered painfully to my thighs. I shimmy my shorts a bit further hoping to reach my knees, and then break out into the scorching July sun.

The beach is crowded as usual, but I stare ahead to wear Jude has met up with Tom and of course, Lauren and her posse. She's gorgeous, sun-kissed to a golden perfection. Her dirty blonde locks play freely around her slender figure, and quite literally, every female of the human race would kill to be Lauren Gallo.

Lauren Gallo had an ass that could balance a beer, a waist I could snap in half, and eyes as blue as the Gerber Baby's. And she has been Jude's ultimate fantasy since freshman year.

Now, after the awkward body phase, he probably felt confident enough to approach her. There was no denying that Jude had done more than just tone up. This was the first summer we had spent together where girls finally started to take notice of him. He enjoyed it quite a bit.

There was just this certain ache, like a hot dog doing karate in your stomach, or someone spinning you in an office chair until you felt as though the whole world had turned on its head. I felt it, whenever I saw Jude with Lauren. Touching her, splashing her, laughing with her. The way he obsessed - no longed for her.

"I need ice cream, " I declared, to no one in particular.

Let them go adopt African children together and munch on quinoa. I was going to drown myself in soft-serve.

Later that night, I excuse myself from the dinner table and head up to the roof patio. Mom is polishing off the chardonnay with Victoria, Jude's mother, while Dad has vacuumed the rest of the lobster linguine. Paul was never very close with Jude and I knew that Jude resented the fact that his mother had remarried. Dad went off to show Paul some new lures for their fishing excursion tomorrow, but I feigned as much interest as possible before finally breaking free. I left the adults to their business and huffed up the spiral staircase until I was alone with the sunset. Of course if Jude were here, he would be adamant about my use of sunset, and correct me to note that the sun does in fact set in the west.