"This is so relaxing." Georgia exclaims, stretching out on the sun lounger. Zara picks up the towel beside me, quickly drying herself off as Becky paints her toenails a deep purple. I take a sip of my lemonade, grateful for the day off. Whenever I haven't been working I've spent the majority of my time here. We all have.
Becky's house is so calm, so relaxing. Her parents are never here during the day and running into her brother is just a bonus really...
I swirl the straw around in my cup, watching the liquid move. Her brother is really attractive, his dark hair and green eyes contrasting so well against each other that it is impossible to find him unattractive. The longer we stay at Becky's the more we see him and he always makes an effort to talk to us, shooting a smile towards me every now and again. It gives me butterflies.
Sadly, they are not the crazy, out of control, fluttery butterflies that I get with Brett. My heart doesn't race like it does around Brett. If this Summer has taught me anything, it's that Brett Winters really knows how to be a player, he's got me daydreaming about him around five times a day, if not more. It's ridiculous and I know that he doesn't deserve my attention, yet here I am, pining after him.
"Have you heard from him?" Becky's question tears me out of my daydream and my head shoots up, sending a questioningly glance her way.
"Hmm?"
"Brett?"
"No." I shrug, lying back on the lounger. "I didn't expect to."
"I thought you..."
"We made out a couple of times, that's all." I interrupt Zara, "Nothing more."
"How long has he been gone?"
"Nearly three weeks." I shrug, keeping my face clear of emotion.
"Counting are we?" Becky grins, leaning back and pushing her long black hair away from her face.
"No!" I exclaim, putting my drink down next to me. "Definitely not."
"You miss him!" Zara teases, grinning at me. I roll my eyes.
"I do not!" I object.
I do.
"How about you Bec?" Zara asks, "Heard from Chris since that night?"
"Unfortunately." Becky groans, "He won't leave me alone. Why can't boys comprehend a one time thing?"
"We warned you." Zara laughs as I giggle. Becky disappeared at the end of the night of Liam's party. We found out the next day that she'd finally given in, making out with Chris in Liam's parent's bedroom. The only rules were that he was to understand it was a one time thing and wasn't going to happen again. Unfortunately he's been ringing her almost every day since.
"I just need to find someone else." Becky grimaces.
"Always a smart answer." Zara nods her head in approval.
"It's true."
"Whatever you say." Georgia shakes her head as a phone suddenly springs to life, ringing loudly.
"Speak of the devil!" Georgia squeals, grabbing hold of my phone as I sit up. "It's him Sav! Your one true love!" She giggles, handing it over to me.
"Shut up!" I scoff, before answering the phone, "Hello?"
"Hey," Brett's voice still makes my heart flutter, "How are you?"
"Good thanks, you?" I reply quickly as I stand up, moving away from the girls, "Have you had a good holiday?"
"The best." Brett answers, "I'll be back tomorrow, do you fancy meeting me?"
He wants to meet me as soon as he gets back from his holiday. Why does that make me feel important?
"Meeting you?" I echo, pacing around the pool.
"My parents are away with Alice. I have no-one to pick me up." He replies. I stop pacing as my stomach drops. Is he serious?
"You want me to pick you up from the airport?" I scoff, shaking my head as I look over towards the girls.
"If you don't mind."
"Absolutely not." I snap, running my hand through my blonde hair.
"Come on, I'll pay for gas."
"You are unbelievable, really Brett go fu..."
"I also wouldn't mind seeing your beautiful face. I've really missed it." He cuts me off, taking me by surprise.
"Wha..."
"I'll see you tomorrow at three." He retorts quickly before the line goes dead. I pull the phone away from my ear, staring down at it in disbelief. Arrogant Jock. Why do I ever think he's changed?
"Idiot." I snap through gritted teeth, making my way back towards the girls.
"Well... what did he want?" Georgia smiles, all of them looking at me expectantly.
"A ride home from the airport." I scoff, dropping the phone on the chair.
"You know what that really means don't you?" Becky pipes up, smiling cheekily at me.
"What?"
"A ride?"
Is she insinuating that he wants me for...
"Becky !" Zara exclaims, slapping her around the arm. Yep, that's what Becky means.
"It's true!" Becky holds her hands up in surrender.
"I'll drop him home and drive away." I assure them, "That's all."
"We'll see." Becky winks and I roll my eyes.
"Hey Bec, are Mom and Dad out?" Haydon's voice interrupts us and we all turn to see him walk out the doors, his chest bare. He definitely works out.
"Haydon!" Georgia exclaims, holding up her hand in a small wave.
"Hey girls." He nods at us, smiling softly.
"Hey." I reply, smiling back.
"How are you?" He asks, walking over towards us.
"Good good." Georgia babbles, "Summer's always good."
"She's right." I nod, an amused smirk on my face. Georgia always turns into some sort of blathering mess around Haydon. Luckily I don't think Becky has noticed... yet.
"Good, the weather sure has been hot this week hasn't it?" He replies, his grin widening.
"Yes." Georgia nods quickly, grinning.
"I guess." Becky replies, her voice bored as she rolls her eyes.
"What have you been up to?" He crosses his arms, leaning against the edge of the house as he smiles at us.
"Just..."
"Alright that's enough. Leave Haydon before you draw them in with you flirting." Becky cuts him off, jumping up and pushing him backwards, towards the house.
"Becky!" Georgia squeals.
"See you later girls, good to see you." Haydon calls over his shoulder as his sister pushes him with force back into the house.
"You too." Georgia calls out as Zara chuckles, Becky rolling her eyes as she finally pushes him inside the door, turning back to us with a scowl.
*~*~*
Turning the engine off as I wait at the airport I breathe a sigh of relief. I haven't driven this far since passing my test and I can't deny that my legs were shaking the entire time. I'm still not a confident driver.
I slowly get out of the car, looking towards the entrance to see a large crowd making their way out. Glancing down at my watch I note that I am right on time - not hard considering I left nearly a whole hour before and we only live around half hour away.
Suddenly I notice Brett breaking away from the crowd, heading straight towards me. As always my breath catches in my throat, and I still wonder if one day the sight of him will stop giving me heart palpitations.
He shoots me a smile and I automatically return it, his happiness coating my insides with jelly and nerves. I take a step towards him before he's directly in front of me, wrapping me into his arms as I melt into his strong embrace, wrapping my own arms around his torso.
The hug ends too quickly, him pulling back and smiling down at me, moving a strand of hair behind my ear. I blush, looking away as I turn back to my car, sliding into it as he slides next to me, throwing his bag in the back.
"You're so tanned!" I exclaim, shocked at how a simple South American tan has made him look ten times more breathtaking. Whatever... I've used fake tan once this Summer and that was because Becky wanted us to try a new brand she'd bought and so, sadly, I'm still just as pale as always.
"That's Brazil for you." He shrugs as I pull out of the airport.
"What did you get up to?" I ask, managing to tear my eyes away from his tanned skin and back onto the road.
"This and that." He replies, stretching out in the car. "The tourist stuff." He explains, "What have you been doing with your Summer?"
"Working."
"All the time?" He questions.
"Yeah." I confirm, "Elle's shifts have been cut so she doesn't have enough to cover the bills at the moment."
"Let me help."
"What?" I shoot a look at him, furrowing my eyebrows.
"Money, I can..."
"Absolutely not." I cut him off, shaking my head.
"Sav..."
"No." I snap, "Don't offer again. We're fine." I finish, my voice softer.
"Are you working this Friday?" His questions comes out of nowhere and I shoot him a surprised look, wondering where that came from.
"No, why?"
"You're doing something with me."
"Don't tell me what I'm doing." I scoff, taking a glance at him.
"I already have." He shrugs at me, "It'll be fun."
"Fine." I retort, "But you can drive."
"Really?"
"I don't have enough money for gas!" I defend and he shoots me a confused look. "Hey, I said I wouldn't take your money. I'll still use your stuff." I exclaim and he smiles, amused.
"Alright. I'll drive."
"Thank you." I reply, "Where are we going?"
"I don't know." He answers, "I'll decide on the day."
"Not... not plan it?"
"Does that make you nervous?" He teases, smiling. Yes.
"No!" I object, "I just like to have a plan." I defend, "There's nothing wrong with that."
"No." He agrees, "But it's not as exciting as being spontaneous."
"So you say." I shoot back. What does he know?
"Come on. You spend three months planning a trip to Europe. Exactly what plane to get, where to stay, what to do when you're there." He says, "Or, you turn up at the airport on the day, choose the first flight, and do what ever you want, every second of every day." He counters, "Which sounds more exciting?"
"Only three months to plan a whole trip to Europe?" I reply, outraged, my eyes wide.
"I bet that's all you heard me say."
"I want to go to Europe." I smile at the idea, turning off towards the east side of town.
"It's beautiful."
"I'm so jealous that you've been there." I reply, smiling softly at the thought. It doesn't surprise me that he's traveled places, after all, he has enough money to go anywhere.
"Only a couple of times." Brett replies, "England, Belgium, France, Spain."
"Wow." I breath out in awe, "Which was your favorite?"
"England. They speak our language." He replies simply. I can't help but let out a small laugh at the answer.
"Why am I not surprised?"
"Belgium was beautiful."
"Sounds amazing." I remark, "I'll never have that sort of money."
"You will." He states with certainty. "Don't doubt yourself Savannah. Just because you're not in the best situation at the moment doesn't mean you won't be in the future."
"I won't..."
"You're so smart." He cuts me off, "One day you'll be as rich as me."
"I wish."
"It's not even my money." He points out, "They just let me spend it because they're never here." he adds and I bite my lip, shooting him an apologetic glance. "Sometimes I spend it just to spite them." He laughs, "I bought a motorcycle when I turned eighteen. It's been in the garage ever since."
He'd look damn fit on a motorcycle.
Wow. Just imagine.
"You should ride it." I say without thinking.
"I should?" He asks, looking towards me and I feel myself blush. "I thought you would lecture me about how dangerous it was."
"Me too." I laugh, "But I think you'd look pretty good riding a motorbike."
"Oh I see." He sits forward, smirking. "You think I'd look sexy."
"I didn't say that!" I insist.
"You meant that."
"Maybe." I admit, shooting him a smirk.
"Maybe I'll ride it." He exclaims, "Just for you."
"Gee, thanks."
"How's the diner?" He asks, changing the subject as I turn right towards the richer side of town.
"Same old, same old." I reply, "Dull and boring."
"I wish you would let me..."
"Don't finish that sentence." I cut him off, shooting him a warning glare. I don't need his money and I never will. "Did you speak to your family whilst you were away?"
"I rang Alice twice a week. Just to check in, you know." He explains, "She was okay."
"I told you." I exclaim and he rolls his eyes. "She's okay without you." I comment and he nods, "Tell me a story from your holiday."
"What?"
"You heard! I want to know."
"Alright." He goes silent, deep in thought before grinning. "One night Chris got wasted, passed out on the stairs up to our apartment. So Ben decided to take his shoes and pants, and leave him there for the cleaners to find." He begins and I chuckle slightly. "What we didn't expect was for Chris to wake up ten minutes later. So he's throwing himself against the apartment door, as hard as he possibly can. Fred opens the door to let him in, and Chris falls through the door, straight into the glass table, smashing it into pieces." Brett explains and I cringe. That must have been expensive. "But then, two girls appear at the door asking for Chris. We are all absolutely gobsmacked wondering how Chris got these two attractive girls!" Brett shakes his head in disbelief. "So we're lifting him up, patting him on the back, congratulating him. And then these girls push passed, asking for their money." Brett ends and I raise my eyebrows as I turn into his street. "Ben had to pay the girls two hundred dollars to get them to leave. Chris literally hired them to show up at our door and pretend he's slept with them." Brett laughs, "The next day he barely remembered doing it."
"Chris is..." I try, "I don't even..." I laugh, imagining Chris waking up the next day to the story, confused as always. I take a look at Brett as I pull up to his house, my thoughts suddenly full of only one thing. "I bet there were loads of girls in your apartment block."
"Some." He nods and I nod back, my face blank.
"Did you..."
"See you on Friday Hurst!" He cuts me off, shaking his head before slamming the door of my car and walking off.
I hate him.
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