New Haven

ICE CREAM WITH A TWIST

Logan sat down on his bed after a long first week of school. His two roommates, Nick and Jack, stood getting dressed for their day with Dawn and her sister. He sat worried about how his friends would act around Dawn. The three of them had been like brothers since they were kids, but Logan wasn’t an i***t. He certainly wasn’t blind. He knew how hot Dawn was. He leaned back on his bed as Jack made another joke about stealing Dawn away from Logan with his charms.

“First I’ll tell her something like, ‘I’d wake with the Dawn everyday if I had you to wake up to’,” Jack said. Nick rolled his eyes at his brother.

“That’s probably the worse line I’ve ever heard you say in your entire life and you’ve had some bad ones,” Nick told Jack, “That’s including that one line that you tried on the girl named Yomiamma. You remember how that one ended?” Nick asked. Jack started to laughed at the memory.

“Oh yeah, I remember that one.” Logan let out a huff making Jack and Nick stop their conversation. They turned to their friend lying on his bed. The brothers looked at each other before going over and sitting on Logan’s bed. Jack and Nick laid down on either side of Logan as they stared up at the ceiling just above Logan’s bed.

“So…” Nick said as the three of them laid in silence.

“Whatcha doing?” Jack asked.

“I’m trying not to think about the fact you’re going to be going out with Dawn today,” Logan told them. Nick and Jack started to laugh at him. “It’s not funny guys. I really like this girl and I wanted to show her around this weekend alone.”

“You know you sound like a girl,” the boys pointed out.

“I know I sound like a girl,” Logan responded as he stood up from his bed, “I just don’t get why you even offered to show her around…”

“We offered to show them around Logan, not just Dawn,” Nick interjected.

“I’ve known you since the womb Nick,” Logan pointed out sarcastically, “I thought we were bros man. You know I like her and I’m not cool with this.” Logan said as Nick and Jack started laughing even harder. “It’s not funny.”

“Yeah it is,” Jack said sitting up on Logan’s bed. “Dude, we know you. You’ve had plenty of girlfriends, but you’ve never been possessive before…”

“…but we’ve never seen you look at any of your other girlfriends the way you’ve been looking at this freshman, since she got here…” Nick offered.

“We just wanted to make sure this girl was cool,” Jack said, serious now as he stood. “We offered to show them around the island, because we want to get to know the girl that managed to catch our boy’s heart.”

“Cause you my good man are falling hard for this freshman,” Nick told Logan, “Even if you don’t want to admit it.”

“We just wanted to make sure she wasn’t a psycho.” Jack added.

“Or had a history of cheating on boyfriends…”

“Or had a long history different boyfriends,” Jack concluded. Logan looked back at his two best friends and relaxed suddenly. He smiled brightly.

“You guys are really just trying to help me out,” Logan asked as Jack and Nick nodded their heads. “Okay then I want to know what her favorite color is, her favorite sport, that is, if she likes sports to begin with. What kinds of food she likes? What her favorite typre of music? Favorite band? Favorite movie? Favorite…” Logan began to bombard Jack and Nick with questions for Dawn. The twin’s rolled their eyes and walked out their door, leaving Logan talking to himself as they went to get Dawn and her sister Dusk for their day on the mainland.

The Winter’s twins knocked on the girls’ door. They reminded the girls to hurry up or they would miss the ferry to the mainland. All three girls hurried to finish getting ready as fast as they could. Jack and Nick kept complaining on the other side of their door. Dusk hurriedly put on the necklace she had bought the weekend before school. She made sure to put it on every morning and never went anywhere without it anymore. When the boys knocked again on their door Dawn threw open the door ready to punch someone. Jack and Nick were surprised to see Clowe standing there with the girls.

“Clowe,” they asked.

“Yeah, I invited her,” Dawn said, “I hope that’s okay.” Clowe looked up at the two Juniors shyly.

“Sure, the more the merrier,” Jack told Clowe as Nick winked at her.

“Ladies first,” the boys said as Clowe, Dawn and Dusk began walking down the stairs towards the exit.

We can mess with Dean too while we’re at it. They thought amongst themselves.

“While you’re at what?” Dawn turned back to ask.

“What?” the boys asked.

“What?” Dawn said looking at them questionably.

“What?” They asked Dawn again.

“Are you guys coming?” Dusk asked as Dawn just ignored them and ran down the rest of the stairs. “We’re going to miss the ferry guys. Come on!” Dusk yelled as Jack and Nick ran down the stairs to meet them.

“Did she hear us?” Jack whispered to Nick as they raced down stairs towards the girls.

“Not possible,” Nick answered.

“Yeah you’re right,” Jack concluded.

The ferry was right on time as Dawn, Clowe, Jack, Nick and Dusk ran on. They barely made it on time. Once on the ferry, Dusk instinctually walked back to the rail where she had first met Zane exactly a week ago. So much had happened at school in such a short time. Dusk made a silent prayer as she looked out at the ocean, praying that the rest of the school year was boring. After ten more minutes Dusk’s thought’s slipped back to the mysterious boy she’d met on the ferry. Suddenly, Alec’s face suddenly popped into her head. She sucked in a deep breath and let the air slowly go out through her mouth. Dawn came up to her telling her that they were almost at the mainland.

As soon as they arrived they headed straight for the little shops around the area. Dusk was interested to see other students from Rupert Ivan Prep walking around in their everyday clothes. For the first time Dusk noticed the direct difference between those students and the New Haven Prep students. The New Haven kids seemed carefree while, the other young kids from Rupert Ivan Prep seemed creepily out of place in this bright sunny day, just like Dusk. Clowe and the boys decided they were going to ‘explore’ the main land with Dawn and Dusk for the day, but it turned into a tour. Clowe and the boys showed the girls all the locals hang outs, clubs and shops located right on the beach.

“Hey, Guys!” Dawn and Dusk turned to see Dean, running towards them at full speed. He was coming out of a corner store across a very small parking lot. It separated the two sides of a small outlet center. “What are you guys doing here?”

“We’re shopping,” Clowe answered cheerfully.

“That’s awesome! Hey, can I hang out with you guys today? I’m freaking bored out of my mind shopping with certain people,” he said pointing behind him as he said it. The girls looked over his shoulder and saw Kate and Caleb trailing behind Dean with Alec following behind them.

“Sure!” Dawn said, “We’ll save you from the Boringtons.” Clowe walked behind Dawn suddenly very shy after she saw that Dean was joining their little group.

‘Man she’s got it bad, Dusk thought to Dawn. They both stared at Clowe. She kept starring at Dean safely behind Dawn.

“Do we really have to waste our time with them?” Kate said in her most whiny voice to Alec. She was leaning up against him as if she had been walking all day. The clock stated it was barely noon. Alec seemed annoyed by Kate. Dusk was impressed that Alec had some taste after all. Kate, of course, wore a bathing suit that basically covered nothing, with a shawl tied around her waist. It was hiked up so much that it didn’t really cover much either.

Is she wearing heels? At the beach? Dawn thought sarcastically to Dusk.

Oh, yeah, she really is a California girl. Dusk thought back. Dawn coughed out a chuckle as Kate glared at her.

“Kate, no one here is saying you have to stay, if you want to go your own separate way then that’s fine with me. How about we all meet up for dinner at our usual place?” Dean told Kate through clenched teeth.

“Kate why don’t you and Caleb go do some shopping at that new store that just opened up.” Alec told her.

Wow. I guess Alec can be strong when he wants to be. Dawn thought to Dusk. Dusk nodded her head silently as the whole group turned to look at Kate’s face. “We can all meet up later for dinner,” Alec said.

“Caleb’s going to go to a bookstore. That’s so boring.” Kate told Alec as she stamped her foot like a five year old. “Besides, you promised to help me pick out a whole new bathing suit wardrobe today.” She said leaning into Alec even more. She got even closer when she tip toed up to his ear and attempted to whisper something to him. “I was so looking forward to some alone time with you,” She said as Alec rolled his eyes at her.

Man, this girl is really over the top shameless. She’s starting to piss me off. Dusk thought to herself. The longer Dusk stood there watching Kate, the angrier she got. The more she wanted to just punch her in her face. What the hell is wrong with me? What am I saying? Dusk shook her head in an attempt to try to clear her head.

“Kate.” Alec said pushing her gently away from him and turning to face her, his voice incredibly stern for a simple high school sophomore, “Go with your brother and do some shopping.”

“Fine- I have lots of shopping to get finished anyways.” Kate said furiously stepping away from him. She turned around and began pounding the cement like she was a runway model, Caleb followed silently behind her.

“I think we hurt her feelings.” Clowe nervously said. Dusk nodded to her in agreement still not really believing how easily Alec had sent Kate away. “I feel bad guys,” Clowe said.

“Don’t worry about it Clowe,” Nick said.

“No one hurts Kate’s feelings.” Jack said looking at Clowe. “She’d have to have feelings in the first place.” Clowe smiled brightly up at the twins. They threw their arms over Clowe’s shoulder. “Awe, Norms are so sweat. Come on guys the town waits for no one,” the boys said as they led the way into the outlet center in front of them.

The group we started with had been shopping together for a while when their little group got far bigger. “Hey, guys can we come along?” Holly asked running up to them with Logan and Seth by her side. Dawn stared at Logan for a flash of a second and then answered for the whole group.

“Sure” She said smiling up at Logan who smiled back.

“I thought you were busy today?” Jack and Nick told Logan. The faces filled with knowing smiles.

“I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to help my little sister with her weekly shopping,” Logan said to them.

“But it was you’re idea to come. You said…” Holly began before Logan nudged her.

“Well, in any case, thank God for happy coincidences,” Dawn said as she began to walk in step with Logan. Without noticing it, their group seemed to be paired off suddenly. Clowe with Dean, Logan and Dawn, the twins, and even Holly had Seth. Dusk on the other hand was paired off with…

“That’s nice” Alec said making her lose her train of thought. He was pointing at Dusk’s necklace. She stared down at the necklace that had hung around my neck everyday since she had bought it at the shop. The first day they arrived in Port Hueneme. “The silver blends well with the stone in it. It looks old. Is it a family heirloom by any chance?” He seemed genuinely interested in asking his question.

“Uh…naw…it’s nice though. A shop woman gave it to me, when we first moved here. She was really beautiful, it was incredibly graceful.” Dusk told Alec. She surprised herself that she could talk to Alec so easily. It actually was the first time they had really spoken.

“But I really like it and it feels like it’s mine.” Dusk said patting the necklace softly as if it were a pet. “I mean I know it’s mine. That’s not what I meant.” They were still walking when Dean called to them. It was then that Dusk noticed she and Alec had separated a little too much from the rest of the group.

“Hey we’re going up to the shops across the way from Nancy’s Ice cream shop on the corner. We’re going to get ice cream and some snacks. Are you guys coming or are we going to be meeting you there?” Dean asked as he winked at Alec. Alec simply smiled at him shaking his head.

“We’ll catch up with you guys later,” he said waving to Dean as he put his hand on Dusk’s back guiding her towards the other side of the outlet center, “So since you seem to like antiques so much would you like to go to some antiques stores? They’ve got some great stores around here. Would you like to go check some out?” he told Dusk, waiting patiently for her answer. Dusk quickly laid out the pros and cons in her head.

“Yes.” She found herself answering. Her voice was soft and steady as she spoke. Alec and Dusk entered an antique store together. Dusk was feeling a bit nervous towards Alec as they entered the store. She felt oddly comfortable around him. They walked through a maze of books and junk from other people’s child hoods as a peaceful silence fell between them.

“Look at this,” Dusk said grabbing Alec’s hand. There was an electrical ball underneath a clown wig. She removed the clown wig and waited for Alec to come around and see it.

“Put your hands on it. Look how it follows your fingers.” Dusk told him as she laughed feeling suddenly and strangely happy. They both played with the ball looking at how the lights reacted to their own individual touches. When their fingers reached the top of the ball Alec did something much unexpected. He grabbed Dusk’s hand ever so gently and intertwined their fingers slowly on top of the ball letting the electricity go through them. His eyes grew softer, “Your hands are kind of cold.” Dusk suddenly felt very relaxed and warm yet, very self conscious all at the same time. Talk about having mixed emotions.

“Yeah, I know I have cold hands. Sorry about that.” Dusk said not pulling away her hand.

“It’s fine…” Alec mumbled as he leaned in a little towards Dusk. In that moment, she couldn’t help, but do the same. Alec’s lips slowly touched hers. As soon as his lips made contact with her she was filled with warmth. He was soft like snow and tasted of cheesecake. Dusk’s mind raced with thoughts as Alec intertwined his free hand within Dusk’s hair. He held her there in place whilst deepening their kiss further. Dusk tried to maintain her balance, but her body seemed to relax too much. Then all at once, all of her emotions, everything she had ever kept bottled up seemed to be awakening. For the first time in Dusk’s life she felt out of control. Her body reacted instinctively and tried to pull Alec closer to her as she frantically began to kiss him back. She pulled at his hair and at his jacket till she lost her footing and slipped breaking the kiss. Alec and Dusk stared at each other both dazed at what had just happened. He made a motion to help her off the floor, but Dusk was faster than him and stood up on her own. She took a step back from him, trying to keep her distance from Alec as much as possible as she tried to compose herself.

“We should go.” Alec said picking up on the sudden awkwardness.

Dusk coughed clearing her throat, “Yeah, you’re right. The guys are still waiting for us.”

“Okay.” Alec told Dusk. He stared at her for a long time, but Dusk couldn’t bring her self to meet his gaze. They walked out of the store together and headed for Nancy’s Ice cream shop.

The Neon pink sign on the mom and pop shop said Nancy’s Ice Cream Shop. Alec held the door open for Dusk to step through. Dusk walked in waving at Dawn and the rest of the group. She sat down next to her sister, while Alec sat next to Dean, neither one of them mentioning what had just happened.

“So what took you two so long? Find anything you liked?” Dawn asked her sister as she took another serving of ice cream and shoving it into her mouth. Dusk stared at Alec who stared back her with a hidden grin on his face. She tucked her hair behind her ear, then grabbed Dawn’s ice cream cone out of her hand.

This cannot get more awkward. Dusk thought to herself as she bit into the ice cream trying to fill her mouth, so that she wouldn’t be able to speak if anyone asked her anything. Alec smiled deeper as Dusk touched her head slightly.

“Slow down Dusk,” Dean said, “There’s plenty of ice cream here. It’s a store.” Dean said as everyone laughed around the table. Even Dusk had to join in on the laughter when her brain freeze lessened.

“So back to what we talking about,” Dawn told the group.

“Yes,” Jack and Nick said in unison, “We decided to camp out…” Jack said.

“…or sleep over at someone’s house tonight,” Nick finished.

“Yeah. The girls want to camp out ‘under the stars’,” Dean sarcastically said as he did air quotes around ‘under the stars’. Clowe laughed as Dean winked at her. “Isn’t her laugh just the cutest?”

“Awe, Clowe,” the girls all said at once.

“Stop, okay,” Clowe said, “But the guys want to hang out at someone’s house and just chill. They want to play video games or play wii and just vegetate.” The whole group nodded their heads in agreement. They began to fling ideas out. After getting hushed by the lady behind the counter twice Dusk asked the group.

“Why don’t you guys just do both?” Dusk asked. The group got suddenly very quiet. “I mean, just compromise,” She said as the group seemed to be pondering this. “Look, Just find a house where we can do both. Those who want to camp out can camp out on the grass, and the guys can vegetate in the house, everyone’s happy,” Dusk finished.

“That’s brilliant,” the Winters said together.

“That’s my sister, always thinking outside of the box,” Dawn exclaimed proudly. Logan smiled down at Dawn. Dusk noticed as he scooted his chair a little closer to Dawn and smiled.

“Well that’s settled then,” Dean pulled out his cell phone, “I’ll just call Tristan and Trent and tell them to meet us at…” Dean stopped, “Who’d house did we agree on?” Dean asked and that sent the whole group back into discussion.

“Here Dawn,” Dusk said as she handed Dawn back her ice cream cone. “I’m going to go get my own ice-cream,” Dusk told her as she left the table trying to get away from all the noise.

“I’ll help you,” Alec said, following Dusk to the front of the ice cream shop. She blushed at him as his hand lightly touched hers as he passed her.

“Kate’s your girlfriend right?” Dusk asked as they walked to the counter. Alec was taken aback by the question. He looked down at her very seriously.

“Kate has never been and will never be my girlfriend,” he told her. Dusk thought about it for a second then turned to face Alec.

“She acts like you girlfriend a lot.” Alec shrugged his shoulders as he looked down at the ice cream choices.

“Kate’s always been very attached to me ever since we were children. It’s just her nature,” he told Dusk.

“So no girlfriend.”

“No girlfriend,” He said. Dusk tried to hide her smile as she took out her wallet to pay for her ice cream.

“I’ll get it,” Alec said as Dusk took out her wallet, “So what kind of ice cream do you want?”

“You don’t have to, I can get it.”

“I said I got it Dusk,” Alec said smiling down at her. Dusk tried not to but she felt like she would melt on the spot.

“Okay,” she said shyly. Alec and she waited in silence as the line moved along. When they finally did get to the front of the line Alec asked her again what her favorite ice cream was. He was surprised when she said a mixture of Rocky Road and Nutty Coconut.

“A mixture?”

“Yeah, why?” Dusk asked suddenly self conscious, “Is that weird?”

“No,” Alec told her, “It’s not weird. I like it. We’ll take two cones of one scoop Rocky Road and one scoop Nutty Coconut,” Alec told the teenage girl behind the cashier. The girls giggled and flipped her hair at Alec as he smiled back politely.

Wow this guy gets all the girls all hot and bothered. Dusk jealously thought in her mind.

“So, um, I’ve been wanting to ask you if you dance?”

“What?” Dusk asked confused.

“Well, our school does a lot of dances,” Alec said as he and Dusk waited for their ice cream. “Actually there’s this Halloween dance that’s coming up.”

“You guys need volunteers to setup and stuff?” Dusk asked.

“No. I was actually wondering if…”

“Hey sis!” Dawn called from the table as she got up and rushed to the cashier.

“What Dawn,” Dusk asked slightly annoyed at her little sister.

“Can I get some ice cream?”

“You just got ice cream!”

“Please,” Dawn asked hands places together in a prayer pose. Dusk looked at her and just began to laugh in her head.

Fat kid.

I heard that. Dawn thought.

I wish you would! Dusk thought to her sister as Alec stared at the two girls in front of him exchanging significant looks between one another.

“What do you want?” Dusk asked her annoyed.

“Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank…” Dawn said jumping up and down and hugging Dusk as she did. “Okay I would like two scoops of the New York strawberry cheesecake with a scoop of the Nutty coconut on top. I’d like it in a waffle cone please,” Dawn told the girl standing behind the counter.

“Why didn’t you just get the whole bucket Dawn,” Dusk asked her sarcastically. Then turned to Alec who still held his wallet, “Don’t worry about it Alec,” she said, “Dawn’s paying.”

What?!

You heard me right! You’re paying. Dusk thought to her sister. Upon seeing her sister’s face Dusk told her to just use her card and to sign her name for her. The teenage girl handed them their ice cream cones as Dusk turned and headed back to the table with Alec.

“Are you sure you’ve got this?” Alec asked before heading back. “I could take back your ice cream for you?”

“Naw, I’m good,” Dawn told him, turning to pay the cashier.

“I’m so sorry, but could you wait a few minutes. I have to do my shift change,” the girl explained to Dawn.

“That’s cool,” Dawn told her as she held Dusk’s wallet in her free hand and began licking her cone with the other. A young boy came out from behind the employee’s door and walked towards the girl. After about a minute they changed places and the young boy began to ring Dawn up.

“Okay, that will be ten dollars and fifty cents,” the young boy said. Dawn smiled down at the unsuspecting cashier. Grateful for the sudden opportunity that had presented itself. She slowly and discretely put Dusk’s wallet away.

“Do you have a napkin,” Dawn asked the boy.

“Oh sure,” he said as he looked, “Here you go miss.” When the boy handed Dawn her napkin Dawn held onto the boys hand. Before he could pull his hand away from her she began to slowly stroke his palm.

“What the…” The cashier began to say as Dawn looked the boy straight in his eyes.

“Hi, my name’s Dawn,” she began, “What’s your name?”

“Mickey,” he answered shyly. Dawn had suddenly changed from a pretty Betty to a beautiful angel right before his eyes. To Mickey, Dawn looked radiant and her touch felt like heat and feathers all at the same time.

“I don’t really have the money right now,” Dawn whispered to the boy leaning in close to him. “Isn’t there something or someway we can come to some sort of…”

Mickey looked at Dawn completely stunned, “Its okay miss. Don’t even worry about it. It’s on the house,” Mickey said as he began to blush even deeper.

“Oh thank you, that’s so incredibly sweet,” Dawn told Mickey as she turned around with her three scoop cone and nearly slammed into Alec. “WOW Alec, make some noise,” Dawn said as Alec stared at her intensely. What the chiz dude, have you never heard of personal space? Dawn thought in her head as Alec was standing incredibly close to her. He stared down at her a little too long as Dawn began to feel a little uncomfortable.

Alec looked at Dawn, shock and confusion penetrating him to his very core. Dawn had just gotten that cashier boy to pay for their ice cream cones with persuasion. Alec had felt it. He had felt ‘his’ gift being used. She’s a cupid. Alec thought to himself. But then why does she feel normal now? He questioned to himself as he continued to stare at Dawn.

“Are you okay Alec?” Dawn asked nervously. In the background the group still hadn’t decided on whose house they were going to be hanging out in. They were now moving their attention from the conversation to Dawn and Alec standing so close to one another. Logan stood from the table and walked over to Dawn’s side.

“Is there a problem here Alec?” Logan asked.

Alec never even glanced at Logan, “Everything’s fine Logan. Hey guys,” he said never looking back at them, “Problem solved. We’re going to my house,” Alec said as Nick and Jack hollered in their approval. Dawn suddenly looked nervous as she stepped around him and raced to sit back by Dusk. Alec’s eyes never leaving her.

“Good man,” Dean said as he and the rest of the group filed out of Nancy’s ice cream shop. Out side of the shop everyone began to separate into carpool groups. Alec continued to watch Dawn. Dawn had used a ‘gift’ and Alec had felt it. It had surfaced fast and had gone just as quickly, but Alec wasn’t about to let it go. To him it was undeniable Alec concluded. Dawn isn’t human.