Cotton Candy

7. Hanging Out

            "Ehh..ok I guess.  That Chelsea girl is pretty cool.  I invited her over for supper and so we can go swimming."

            I turn around to see Jake's reaction.  His mouth is hanging open.  "You invited her to come over?"

            "Yep."

            "Well, that was nice of you honey.  I'm not sure she'll be allowed to, since...  Well, I'm sure Jake told you," mom says looking at both of us.

            "She seemed ok with it."

            We head home and no one talks.  We are all lost in our own minds.  The only sound is the radio playing "Come Down With Love" by Allstar Weekend.

            I can't help but chuckle to myself. 

            Sounds like Jake's theme song.  If only he weren't afraid of his feelings..or too ignorant to ignore them..

~~~~~~~

            We get home, and my Mom starts to clean the house and make it look tighty for when Chelsea comes over.  Jake and I get right to our homework so the rest of the night we can hang out with Chelsea.  At around 4:30 we both have our homework done.

            After some consideration on what we should make, we decide to cook hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill.  We also make some macaroni salad and potato salad to go with it. 

            By now it's 4:55 and everything is done cooking and the house is clean.  Only one thing left to do.  Jake and I need to go change into our swim trunks. 

            I'm the first one done changing, so I head downstairs to find my mom and Chelsea talking in the living room.  She has shorts and a tank top on so I'm assuming she's wearing her swimsuit underneath her clothes. 

            "Hey!" I say, waving at her.

            She waves back at me, "Hi Dan."

            Jake comes down the stairs now.

            "Hey Chelsea.  Ready to swim?" 

            "Yeah.  Are we eating first?"

            "Sure, why not?  You're going to love what Dan and I made for supper."

            We head outside and eat supper.  I decide to eat a hamburger and some macaroni salad.  We're only having a good time until my mom's cell phone interrupts us.  She excuses herself from the table, and answers her phone inside. 

            I look at Jake and he shrugs.  Our mom is a doctor, and a good one at that.  She really knows what she is doing and everyone depends on her when they don't know what to do.  Since Jake shrugged it off,  I assume this isn't unusual. 

            She comes back outside and frowns.  "I'm sorry guys.  I have to go to the hospital.  This one patient is in a really critical condition and they need me to help find a way to save her.  Will you guys be ok for the rest of the night?"

            Jake answers, "Sure Mom.  Go and save that woman's life."  He looks at Chelsea then me.  "We'll be fine."

            "Ok.  I should be home around 10 then.  If not, goodnight boys.  It was really good seeing you again Chelsea.  I hope you can come over again sometime soon."  Then she heads to her car and leaves.

            I lean back in my chair.  "I guess it's just us then.  Who's ready for some swimming?"

            "Let's do this!"  Jake says.

            We throw our trash away and Jake looks at me before he whispers something in my ear.

            He smiles devilishly.  "So..How'd you like to help me dunk Chelsea in the pool?"

            I grin.  "I'd love to big brother."

            Chelsea took off her tank top and shorts and is now standing near the pool in her tan-kini.  She's watching us carefully.  We both nonchalantly walk over to her in our swim trunks. 

            She starts to fidget and we can both tell she knows something is up.  She turns and starts running.  Jake decides to run after her.  I start to run the other way so we can corner her. 

            She manages to slip in between our grasp, and we continue to run. 

            Hmmm..She's actually a pretty good runner.  I wonder if she's on the track team?  Huh..well no matter how good of a runner she is, she can't outrun us.

            Jake manages to grab hold of her ankle and pulls her down.  They both end up falling and I have to try hard not to start laughing at them both.  Chelsea manages to get up and pull free from Jake, but she's not watching where she is going.  She runs right into me and I manage to get hold of her.  She screams and tries to get out of my reach.  I laugh as Jake comes up behind her. 

            Now she's cornered and together, Jake and I pick her up.  I have her arms and Jake has her legs.  We start to swing her back and forth while she struggles.  We swing her three times before we finally let go and she falls into the pool.  Jake and I both laugh.

            Chelsea swims to the surface.  She pushes her hair out of her face and gives us both a glare that says she wants revenge.  We continue to laugh.  While we are laughing she swims over to the edge of the pool where we are standing.  We are too busy laughing to realize that she's right there.  By the time we realize that she's there it's too late.