Summer in my Winter

She's all that....

“Mom are you sure you and Dad will be ok?” I’m just not used to it”

… I hugged my mom as she help me pushed my luggage. Well I decided to go at the last minute. A month after our gradation Jessica planed a trip for the three of us… I mean should be for the three of us, but Will’s current girlfriend insisted to come and invite herself. We will go to the Caribbean. A little girl in me is excited and honestly can’t wait for this day to come!. And now it’s happening… I felt guilty because I’ll be leaving mom and dad for 2 weeks. To me it’s way too long but Jess insisted on this. It’s free anyways!, perks of having the rich brat as your friend, saying NO to her is a luxury sometimes.

“Stop worrying about us baby, we can take care of ourselves!"

“We want you to enjoy this vacation”

" You deserve it more than anyone in this world”

“You have been working hard"

" You know you don’t have to.. Your Dad is happy for you to take over the company, right?.. "

My parents own an exclusive car custom shop and a big auto supply around LA. I’m always fascinated with car specially the hot rod. I love vintage car. In fact Dad gift me a 76 Chevrolet Impala which I help custom myself. Dad take pride on what he does, he started the company for only $5000 he borrowed from his Father but now it’s the most exclusive custom car shop in LA. I can work for Dad if I want to but… I want to follow my own path… I want to give something that they will be proud off.

“Now, I don’t know who is the Mother of this household, mom chuckled.

“You act as if you’ll be gone forever my love” It’s only 2 weeks Lexy we will be fine”

“Richard, help me with your daughter, please assure that young lady, that her parents will be fine”

Dad look at me and smiled gently. He lovingly stroke the few strands of my messy hair.

“We will be fine sweet pea”,

Dad’s word as always… very re-assuring, It just bother me to think.. Both of them are on their late sixties. They are college sweetheart. When I was a kid I always asked my mom to tell me their love story over and over. Somehow I hope what they have also happen to me… I’m not that silly romantic type.. in fact.. I don’t have any experience in relationship..

Because I haven’t got one… but I just want to have what my parents have. Love, trust and partnership, through the years they weathered all types of storms. Dad have had 3 cardiac arrest but he always surpass it like a champ.

Mom on the other hand has a weak heart, and just had her heart surgery 3 years ago. This is why I’m always afraid…. I don’t want them out of my sight…. I don’t want to be homeless again….

I’m afraid to be alone… But nothing can go wrong right?... I said to myself.. they are at their best health ever.. of course nothing can go wrong.. I asked Cora our house help to update me every now and then about my parent’s whereabouts.

I can never be sure…. With Cora at home I felt fine.. She’s been with the Alcott way before I came.. She has 3 grown up kids, all of which has family of their own. Cora is on her fifties, she’s a lively Mexican woman whom I learned my cooking skills. She is superb with cooking, hands down, I love her like a second mom. And I’m friends with her daughters, in fact I hang out sometimes with her grandchild, Ella who is same age as me.

After a deep thought, I finally decided to join Jessy and Will (plus Will’s plus one). I can see Jessica’s face looks as if she’s ready to stab someone.

Knowing Jessica I totally understand what she’s feeling… she’s been in love with Will… since the very first meeting… like 5 years ago.. I knew it.. I can sense… the way she looked at him… at first she’s getting jealous of me.. cause she thought me and Will are an item..

But I just dismissed her idea, because he is just like a brother to me… Our relationship is very platonic.. Sure he is very sweet, caring and all but I can’t see myself getting into the relationship wagon with non-other than Will, it’s just not going to happen. Ever..!! But Jess.. she love him.. sometimes I feel like it’s my responsibility to profess her feelings for him because even if I shot her bullseye SHE.JUST.WONT.DO.IT she’s very afraid she might lose him and their friendship so she is just contended watching her on the sidelines.. Hoping that one day.. he won’t look at her the same….

“Lexi!!!! Oh God I’m so happy to see you girl! I thought you won’t come…”

“I thought you will left me to be the 3rd wheel on their honeymoon” as she pointed Will and Cara kissing as if it’s the end of the world.

“Eww… Jess and I both echoed.”

This going to be an interesting vacation I said to myself.

Jess and I settle on the other side of the private jet, it’s actually Will’s jet, his parents is kind enough to let us use it.. They knew we are friends of his, and quite honestly we are the only “approved” companion of Will in their eyes. I burry myself in a comfortable reclining lazy boy while I listen to the music on my iPad, I don’t want to hear Will and Cara moaning for this 4 hour long trip. I’m still worried about Mom and Dad that I fell asleep. Last thing I remember is feeling as light as feather as our plane ascend above ground.

A gentle tap took me from my afternoon slumber, I’ve had a weird dream that a giant octopus is about to engulf our plane, and I was left alone by the rescuer! Well that’s pretty scary! I swear I won’t be eating octopus or squid for that matter!.. I drank the Fiji water next to me… hmmmm where are we?....

“Cootie!! Hey wake up!!” Wake up you lazy ass” Girl were about to play” I can hear Jessica but I’m not sure, maybe she’s the talking squid or something!

“Lexiiiiiiiiiiiiii, wake up!!!!! Don’t bail on me!!! You been sleeping for 20 minutes!!!!”

Gosh it is only 20 minutes??! It felt like forever! I look at my watch while I try to gather my thoughts. It’s 02:30 PM, I synchronized my watch before our trip, It’s a beautiful sunny afternoon.. Our pilot announce that we will have a stopover just to refuel and pick up the supply pre ordered for us. We will have the whole island all to ourselves!! I can’t help but close my eye for a bit as I’m really sleepy. I guess the light motion of the plane and the cold AC get me into a sleepy mode. Another 10 minutes then I will join them.

I can hear Will screaming. Panicked struck my nerves, Oh God is it the giant octopus again? Without any second thought I quickly sprung out the lazy boy, I almost lost my balance when a big arms caught me and prevented my fall.

An unfamiliar face caught my gazed.. Uhm sorry…. Later that I realized his white stained shirt.. Oh my God! Earth please swallow me this instant. Thoughts run on my mind.. uhm this type of guy won’t settle for “I just replace your shirt, or “Uhm I’m sorry what are you doing in this private plane? Or Maybe I’ll…… before I can think of anything... My hands seem to have a mind of its own it and it just landed on the poor guy’s face.

Tsk I can’t bring my “sorry” game it’s too late, so I stick to my s**t.

“You maniac! What are you doing here?”

" I’ll scream if you won’t get out! GET OUTTTTTTTTT! "

"I’ve been screaming but no one can hear me... hmm that’s odd before I slept I knew for a fact that I didn’t travel alone and I got my friends with me. But damn! I can’t expect too much of Will cause I’m sure he’s busy... But Jessica.. Bestie where the hell are you?? ..

I felt shiver down my spine as the stranger come closer. I didn’t notice right away... But this stranger is quite good looking… hmm no he is good really good looking... More of a Roman God, that want to take his time to come near me and struck his vengeance! His facial muscle clenched. His face has no expression whatsoever…like someone... Bored... Or caught in the middle of a traffic... And just want to get out fast… hmmm am I not that interested to someone? I shush the idea...

“In case you don’t know, you throw yourself to me….” His expression is just cold and blank... He could pierce me with his stare. I felt magnetized by those hawk eyes. Couple of seconds past but I can’t feel myself ready to move from where I am. I felt the earth fell off its orbit and just wandered on through the horizon going to an unknown destination.

“Lady do you want to move now? Or you need something more?....

“You’re not my type..” but… he gazed at me from head to toe.. Then momentarily stop at my bosom then to my legs… which I forgot I’m wearing a short denim shorts. Then back to my face again…

“You’ll do”..

I felt humiliated and my anger is just on the tip and ready to unleash anytime. You’ll do?????? Really?? That is all? I’ll do??...I never felt so conscious about my appearance because this is something that doesn’t bother me, but now…..Geezzz….Out of instinct I bit my lower lip… I’m now feeling short of breath not sure if this is because of this man’s presence or the feeling that my friends seems to abandon me aboard stuck with this “giant octopus”

What this guy said made me pull myself together and swung me back to reality... I can feel the heat on my cheeks, did I blush in front of him? I move my shaking body away from his… The nerve of this guy! Fine he is handsome but no way in hell will I allow this asshole to disrespect me.

“Hmm…by the looks of you.... I did the same exact gazed he did to me…but barely look on that thing between his pants...

”the feeling is mutual…”you’re not my type either! “And it’s you who’s not letting me go, so I’m not at fault if I’m too interesting! "

There! I found myself able to exchange words with him, I know I’m good on throwing insults…let see how he reacts. I smiled victoriously.

He gave me a devilish grin…. Oh oh … Am I in trouble? How can he be so compose while I’m trembling?

“You don’t want to get into trouble that you can’t take little mouse” he move aside so I can see how he towered me. I think he is 6ft or more. Will is like 6”2 this guy might be more.

“Cootie" !!!

Thank God, Will came at my rescue. He place his hands on my shoulder and gave me a kiss on my head. I can smell he is drunk… that’s unusual… he barely got drunk. Lest on a plane, with us.

“Oh I can see you found Coots, “trouble always find her” “Aint that right Lexi? “I guess, Well I’m with you that’s why trouble always follow me around”

as I jokingly gave him a chest punch.

“Ouch! You made my heart ache”. Will said as if the punch really hurt him.

“Coots, this hulk is my cousin, Trent…Trent Howard, they had plane trouble on the way so we’ll have to take them with us in the island while they wait for theirs to be fixed.”

“You know this guy? He’s a freaking billionaire but still use a shitty plane”

Oh that that explain why….hmm…wait…that means I’ll be stuck with him the entire time? And why does this guy’s name sounds so familiar… No way! I know the Howards from society pages, my Mom mentioned once when she attended a gala that the Howards has this foundation built for underprivileged. I know Wills family came from rich of the richest but I don’t have a clue that they are affiliated with the Howards…well…Will’s middle name is Howard, there! That answered my question.

“When are they going to leave then?” that’s all I can mutter while looking at Trent. I caught him looking at me and Will as his hands still wrap on my shoulder.

Will shrugged. “I don’t know baby, depends. Don’t worry he’s harmless” then playfully winked at me.

“Anyways, Couz…she’s Lexi…and yes you can’t call her cootie and she’s off limits, let me make that clear”

For once I want to thank Will for this encounter, he made my life easier. I think he felt that awkwardness brewing so he step up. He always does…

“You know my likes moron, and she…God! He looked at me again…is far from that…”

“I was looking for the lavatory when this girl bumped into me, now she waste my whiskey on this shirt” he said coldly while pointing on his stained shirt”.

Aww s**t! My fault…should I say…sorry?

“Oh she’s all that! Clumsy as s**t!” Will gave me a mean laugh then let go of my shoulder. He raise his hands as if he surrendered.

“Babe I’m just stating a fact!”

“and you should fix yourself too, you got whiskey on your shirt” he said as he turned away.

“Jess is waiting for you on the bar” did I notice Will’s face darkened when she mentioned Jess, don’t tell me…she’s at it again… furious Jessie is bad, but drunk Jessie…she’s an Armageddon!.

I didn’t notice right away… but Will’s right my shirt is wet on top…right on my…girls. Which I’m not wearing anything underneath.. Geez...is that why he’s looking on my…

I look at Trent on the corner while he talks to

Will…

I couldn’t make what are they conversing because my mind is occupied of one thing, He nod occasionally when Will ask him.…God he saw it! Dang! I knew it because I could even see it in my reflection on the mirror.

“Couz I have another shirt on my luggage right over there, you should change man!, Just help yourself, I’m heading back downstairs, You kids just follow me"

“Are you using the lavatory, or you need me to help you change?”

hearing his voice made me hurriedly walk fast the lavatory and shut it. I press on double locked, cause you’ll never know!