“Hey Jake,” Erin said turning around to greet Jake’s smile.
“Hey hun,” he said leaning down to kiss her. “Why don’t you come with us babe? Let me show you how you should really have fun with friends.”
“Jake, these are my friends. I’m not friends with your friends that well,” said Erin cautiously. She looked over at AJ and Nick. AJ quietly gave her a thumbs up, and was grinning. Nick though, was as quiet as could be and was just examining the steering wheel, as if to find it interesting.
“Yeah they look really fun. Come on, come with me Erin. Please?” asked Jake holding out his hand for her to take.
“Jake I can’t go with you, I have to be getting home,” she said.
“Erin, I said come with me. I can take you home later. OK?” he said smiling still through clenched teeth. Erin could tell that he had been drinking again.
“Well, I guess I could spare a few minutes,” she said nervously then turned to look at AJ and Nick. She mouthed “Meet me at my house in the attic. OK?” and watched AJ nod his head. Nick obviously not wanting to look up at her, didn’t answer. She took Jake’s hand and hopped onto the boat where Jake was. “Bye guys,” she said watching them speed away. She sighed and turned to Jake and his friends.
“Guys I believe you already know Erin Williamson?” Jake asked watching everybody shake they’re heads. “And I believe you know everyone Erin.”
“Yeah, I do,” she said trying to smile.
“Great then,” said Jake clapping his hands together. On this cue, everyone got back to doing whatever they were doing before. Jake took Erin’s hand and walked with her to the back of the speed boat. “Sit down hun,” he said grabbing her waist and pulling him down beside him. “How have you been since I last saw you?”
“Um, fine.”
“Oh, that’s nice,” Jake said resting a hand on Erin’s leg and putting the other around her shoulder, pulling her towards him. Then he kissed her, his breath reeking of the smell of beer. “I really don’t want you to hang out with those guys, AC and that blond kid.”
“Jake, it’s AJ and the blond kid’s name is Nick,” she said taking his hand off her leg.
“Whatever. Your going out with me and my friends are your friends now. So you hang out with me all the time now, not them,” he said leaning over and grabbing his beer.
“Jake I can’t just give up my friends for you,” Erin said soon regretting it as Jake turned his head to look at her. Thankfully though, they were interrupted by a few girls who seemed to be of more importance than she.
“Why hello ladies,” Jake said pulling a girl down on his lap and the other girls down on either side of him which caused Erin to move over. She sat there for awhile, mad at Jake. Not only for making her late to get home but for rejecting her friends when he didn’t even know them. And now this, she thought. Oh well, at least it gets him away from me. She looked over the girls head who was sitting beside her and wrinkled her nose as she saw a girl messing with Jake’s hair and talking to him like she was his girlfriend.
Erin got up, and Jake seeing her doing this called to her. “I’m going to get some fresh air,” she said realizing that, that didn’t make any sense since they were on a boat. Obviously Jake didn’t notice because he turned his attention back to the three girls.
Erin walked to the other side of the fairly large speed boat and sat down. After a while a guy that she had seen around before came and sat down beside her.
“Hi,” he said.
“Hey,” Erin said solemnly.
“So your Erin Williamson, Jake’s girlfriend. Right?” the guy asked.
Erin flinched when he said ‘Jake’s girlfriend’. The guy saw this and laughed. “Yeah, sorry to say I am. Crap, I mean...”
“That’s OK. I’m not going to tell Jake. I’m Paul Bowmen by the way,” he said holding out his hand for her to shake.
“Hey Paul,” she said shaking his hand.
“So you don’t like Jake huh?” Paul asked leaning back on the boat beside Erin.
“Not really. He’s mean to my friends, and he hasn’t even given them a chance yet. Plus, he’s over there flirting with three other girls, drunk for that matter, and doesn’t even realize that I’ve left yet,” Erin said then paused when Paul threw his head back and laughed.
“Your funny you know that?” asked Paul.
“So I’ve been told,” she said smiling. “Wow, thanks. That’s the first time I’ve felt happy in the whole time I’ve been on this boat. Which has been about 10 minutes. Oh crap! It’s 5:30!!!”
“And that’s a problem?” asked Paul.
“Yeah. I told my mom I’d be back around 5:30. Plus AJ and Nick are probably over at my house waiting for me. Crap,” she said whining.
“Don’t worry, I’ll get you home. Be right back,” said Paul getting up to talk to whom ever was driving the boat. “You’ll be back on land in 2 minutes tops.”
“Thank you so much,” she said giving him a smile.
“You know you deserve someone a lot better than Jake,” said Paul. Then, shocked as if he didn’t expect to say it, blushed. “Err, I mean. Um....”
Erin laughed as she watched Jake. “You know, your right. I do deserve someone a lot better. But I don’t think it will happen anytime soon,” she said looking down at her hands.
“Why not?”
“Because, Jake won’t let me break up with him, but there he is, flirting with all those girls. I guess I should feel jealous, but I don’t actually. Is that bad?” she said as she started to laugh.
“Just a little Erin,” said Paul also laughing. He saw land approaching, just as it started to rain.
“Great, this boat ride couldn’t get any worse,” she said then paused and looked up at Paul and smiled. “Although with you here, it’s been kind of fun.”
“I agree. It’s great to have talked to you, I hope we can do this again sometime,” said Paul returning the smile.
“Yeah,” said Erin as the boat stopped. Paul got out to help her onto the dock.
“Hey, you live near me don’t you?” he asked.
"Um, I think so.”
“Mind if I take you since I’m going back home myself?” asked Paul.
“Sure, I’d like that,” she said watching Jake come up to them.
“Hey babe,” he said wrapping his arms around her and kissing her. Paul saw the look of disgust on her face after they pulled away. “Where’d you go? I was hoping to talk to ya.”
“Yeah, well I saw Paul and started talking to him since you looked busy,” she said.
“Oh, OK. You ready to go home?” asked Jake.
“I’m gonna take her Jake,” said Paul. “She wants to get home soon and since I’m going home too, so I thought I’d just take her home.”
“Oh but baby, I wanted to take ya,” said Jake giving her a crooked grin.
“Jake why don’t you find someone else to take you home too. Your drunk, and you shouldn’t be driving,” said Erin as Jake started back to his Jeep.
“I can drive fine thank you very much. And I’m NOT drunk,” said Jake getting into his Jeep and slamming the door.
“If he says so,” said Paul. “Yo Rob! See if you can talk Jake into letting you drive him home.”
“OK Paul, I’ll try but it’s not going to work,” said Rob as he walked to Jake’s Jeep.
“Well that’s that. Let’s get you home,” said Paul leading her to his red Mazda.
Paul drove her the block to her house.
“Thanks for taking me, and keeping me company on the boat. I really appreciated it,” said Erin before getting out.
“So did I. More than you would know,” said Paul smiling at her. Erin looked down at her hands and blushed. “I’m serious though. I had a lot of fun today talking to you,” he paused and looked out the window, watching the rain Then turned to her and put a hand on the side of her face. “And Erin, if you ever want to break up with Jake, let me know and I’ll help you. OK?”
“Thanks Paul,” she said looking into his eyes. Their faces got closer, as they kissed. Neither one pulled away. Finally, as they pulled away from each other, Erin looked at Paul.
“Paul, I want to break up with Jake. I don’t love him anymore, and that kiss just proved it. Will you help me, please?” asked Erin.
“Sure, of course,” he said smiling at her. “I would be glad to.”
“Thanks Paul. Well I better go, see ya,” she said kissing his cheek and hoping out of the car.
“Wait Erin,” said Paul before she closed the door.
“Yeah?”
“You need a ride to school tomorrow?”
“Sure, my car is in the shop,” said Erin.
“OK, great. Pick you up tomorrow!”
