Lead On (Complete)

~ Chapter 19 ~

“Mom, you can’t be mad at me for going to the beach. Jimmy is a dear friend of mine and I enjoy spending time with him and his wife!”

               “Yes, and Jimmy is also very close to Jeff and you know Jeff will be there. You keep putting yourself out there and into these situations and you know better. Do you remember the first time you went to the beach?” Rose crossed her arms and snorted.

               “I do and it’s not like it can happen again, I got the scars to prove that.”

               “That’s not…never mind. Auguring with you is not helping me. I’m going to go lay down.” Rose watched the back of her mom and shook her head. Her mom was Mexican through and through and boy did she have the temper to prove it.

               She sat down on the couch, her hands running over her face. She did recall the first time she went to the beach with Jimmy. She hadn’t told her mom that Jeff was going but looking back, had she said he was her mom wouldn’t have allowed her to go. But her mom knew and liked Jimmy, so she trusted him. A mistake he heard quite a bit about after that too. She sighed and stared out the window as she let her mind wander…

               …. “Are you sure that your mom is okay with this?” Rose lifted an eyebrow as she jumped into Jimmy’s truck. She tossed her bag for the weekend on the floor and waved bye to her mom through the window before Jimmy took off.

               “You just got an ear full about protecting me and making sure I was okay.”

               “And that’s exactly why I’m asking.”

               “Yes, my mom is okay. Just make sure you never mention that Jeff was going and she won’t kill you.”

               “Rose! You didn’t tell your mom that your boyfriend was coming along?”

               “No, because I thought you wanted me to go on this trip? If my mom knew Jeff would be there, you can bet your ass she would have made me stay home. So it’s on your head to make sure nothing happens on this trip and that I don’t do anything stupid.” Jimmy rolled his eyes and she laughed. She was looking forward to this trip. In fact, it was all she and Jeff could talk about after school on Thursday. Friday was grading day so they had a three-day weekend and Jimmy’s parents were opening the beach house for the weekend to Jimmy and a few other friends. There was no way she was going to miss this trip and even Jeff said not to mention him.

               “Well Jeff begged me for you and him to room together and all I ask is that you don’t be stupid and that’s me doing my part.”

               “Don’t worry Jimmy, Jeff and I already talked about this. We may not do anything if the mood doesn’t strike us. But both of us are prepared if it does.”

               “Your mom is going to kill me.” Rose laughed again and jumped out of Jimmy’s truck as they pulled up and she flew into Jeff’s waiting arms.

               “Hey, darlin’ you ready?”

               “Yes, I even bought a new bikini just for you.” Jeff gave her a quick kiss before he grabbed her bag and tossed it in his truck.

               “Good, I can’t wait to see it. Jimmy said there might be some guys down the way. They might be off from school as well. If they are, I don’t want you showing anyone but me this beautiful body.”

               “Jealous already?”

               “Darlin’, I almost jump on guys at school for looking at you so yeah I’m jealous already.” Rose laughed as she climbed into his truck and then took his hand. Soon, the other cars were following Jimmy on the three-hour drive to the beach.

               Later that night, the group of seven sat outside, surrounding the bonfire on the beach. Rose sat between Jeff’s legs, wrapped up in his hoodie as hers lay around her waist. She was only giving half an ear to what some of the people were talking about. Being here, and in his arms, was one of the best feelings for her and she really wanted to show him just how much he meant to her.

               Earlier in the day, Jeff had protected her when those guys did come around and one tried to get a little too handsy with her.  Jimmy told them his name but for Rose it meant nothing, just a name. She wanted to forget but Jeff would remember that name. That’s how he was with her and honestly, she didn’t mind. And now she wanted to go up to their room and thank him.

               “You grew quiet, are you tired?” Jeff whispered in her ear and she nodded. She was, but really, she wanted to spend the night with him. She wanted to give him something that she knew he would treasure because he loved her. “Let’s go darlin’.” He stood up and offered his hands to help her up, waved bye to the rest of the group, and then walked back into the house.

               For her, the weekend went by way too fast. A lot of time was spent with their friends and strengthening their friendships as well. There were lots of pictures and many stories. This was also one of the few trips they would have. And when the time came to leave the beach no one wanted to.

               “You okay?” Rose turned and looked at Jeff as they drove back to Jimmy’s house. The last thing Rose needed was for her mom to see Jeff’s truck.

               “Yeah, just sad.”

               “Not over anything we did though?”

               “No babe, all of that was great. But you know some of our friends are moving at the end of our junior year and that’s right around the corner. Just going to miss some of them.” Jeff squeezed her hand to try and soothe her but it wasn’t helping. They finally pulled into Jimmy’s driveway and Jimmy took her home.

               Five weeks later she was out with her mom shopping for a dress for the spring formal that was coming up. She walked out of the dressing room in a white, off-the-shoulder style dress to show her mom, who smiled.

               “You look beautiful Rose, but I wouldn’t be trying on white dresses if you haven’t started your period yet.”…

               …Rose took a steadying breath as she snapped out of that memory. When they were still in the store she had to explain to her mom that Jeff had gone to the beach and of course, her mother filled in the blanks. They hadn’t finished at the store because her mom took her to a market that wasn’t in their town just so she could buy a pregnancy test for her.

               Rose got the lecture like crazy about being stupid. And when Jeff picked her up the next day for school, Jeff got the same damn talk. He was shocked that she could have even been because they were safe each and every time. But to her mom, that wasn’t enough. They were young and stupid and obviously not ready to be parents. Rose took the test and couldn’t have been happier that it was reading negative. But even given that, her mom stayed mat at her for a while.

               Rose sighed and shook her head. It wasn’t like she could get pregnant now of course. But what was making her mad was the fact that Rose knew Jeff was going and she was lying to her mom yet again. And in her mom’s eyes, Rose would be sleeping with Jeff again. But Rose could look her mom in the eye and swear that won’t happen because she wasn’t making that mistake again.

               Rose got off the couch and started to clean the kitchen up. Her mom’s cough wasn’t getting any better and she wanted to help her out if it was something more than a cold. In fact, Rose thought as she passed the calendar that if it kept on I should get her in. Rose smiled at the thought. Her mom would fight her tooth and nail like she always did because she hated the doctors.

               Rose was just putting the last of the dishes away when she heard something on the front porch. She peeked out the window and frowned as she saw the flower van drive away. She walked to the front door and opened it as her mom walked down the hallway from her room to see what it was. She glanced down and saw a single purple-dyed rose laying there on the welcome mat. She lifted it up and smiled as she took a whiff. Rose walked back in with it and her mom stared at her, her eyes showing her anger, for even though there was no note, they both knew who it was from and Rose just watched as her mom shook her head. Great, Rose was really going to have a hell of a time getting her mom un-mad at her now.