Hot Mess

Betrail

Chapter 4 

This summer is going to be the worst. How am I going to survive? Mom won’t let me stay in my room all the time. She says I need the fresh air. Ever since the day Thomas and Brock fought, Sabrina hasn’t been around. SO that is good. But Brock is still dating her. Where he is, she is.  

Thomas told mom what was going on when he explained to her how the coffee table got broken. He got his game system taken away for attacking Brock. It's not fair. All this is Brock’s fault but does he get in trouble, NNNOOO. Of course not, he is mom’s favorite. She told him that Sabrina wasn’t allowed over anymore if she was going to pick on me. I guess that is something. But then mom tells me I can’t stay home, “YOU need to get out more. Go hang out with your friends.” Little does she know; I don’t have friends.  

It’s the first official week of summer, and I am bored already. I rode my bike to the stream today, hoping nobody would be around. I find a nice tree to climb so I can sit and read a book. It is peaceful. I hid my bike down the trail before I climbed up here. That way if anyone comes looking me, they won’t find me.  

I’m lost in my book about a young couple destined for love and betrayal when I hear someone coming up the path. I don’t know who it is, I can't see them, I can only hear them. I think it is two maybe three people and they are laughing. I stay as quiet as possible as they pass right under me. It is Brock and Sabrina. God why are they here.  

“Where could she be? You said this is where she comes. Her bike was back there, do you think she took a walk in the woods? I hope so, maybe she will get lost.” 

“Come on Sabrina, why do you care where she is? I mean really, we have better things to do. Take a swim with me. You know you want my c**k inside you.” 

“What about your sister? She could be out here spying on us. You know that was her bike.” 

“I don’t care where she is or if she watches us. Maybe she will like what she sees. Come on baby.” He tries to pull her shirt over her head, revealing her tight stomach and blue bikini top. 

I hate my life. Why did they have to come here today? This is my place not theirs. I wait till they are in the water before I try to climb down the tree. Once I’m back on the ground I run toward my bike. I so do not want to see what they are doing in the water. I make it back to my bike without them seeing me. I’m gasping for breath. Jumping on my bike, I ride back down the trail. I get all the way to the main road before I slow down.  

Oh no, I dropped my book. They will know that I was there. Sabrina will make it out like I was watching them. This is going to be bad.  

“Em, wait for me.” 

“Bobby what are you doing? Where did you come from?” 

“I was in the woods. I saw you drop this on your way down the trail.” He hands me my book. “It looks like a sexy romance novel. Is it any good?” 

I blush bright red. “Stop it. I don’t read sexy books.” 

“Come on lets get out of here.” 

“What’s the hurry?” 

“You and I both know who is in the stream right now. That’s why I was headed back out in the first place.” 

“Why were you in the woods to start with? Were you spying on me?” 

“No Em, I have a campsite up there. It’s better than being at home.” 

“Wow Bobby, I’m sorry.” 

“Don’t be. At least I'm safe.” 

“Why don't you stay at our house or at John's? You know you don't have to stay in a tent just to stay away from your stepdad.” 

“He’s not my step dad, and I stay in my tent because I don’t want to put anybody out. Come on let’s get out of here.” 

“Where do you want to go?” 

“I don’t know let’s go to the railroad tracks.” 

“What’s at the railroad tracks?” 

“Nothing and no one we can be alone.” 

“Why do you want to be alone with me Bobby? I mean I figured you’d want to be hanging out with my brothers you're their friends not mine. 

“The truth is I just don’t want you to be alone. And I don’t want you to be picked on anymore. You’re a really sweet person and I care about you.” 

“Bobby, what is going on? I get that you are trying to keep Sabrina away from me, but what I don’t get is why you would want to spend time with me instead of girls your own age?” 

“The truth is, I think you are really pretty. You and I have a lot in common and you don’t even know it.” 

“Like what?” 

“Well, we both like to read, we are both bullied. s**t Em, can’t you just except that I like you, and I care about you?” 

“I’m sorry Bobby. It just doesn’t make sense to me. You are 3 years older than me. You play sports, there are lots of girls that like you, yet you want to hang out with me. I don’t get it.” 

“Do you want to go to the tracks with me or not?” 

“No, not today. Mom should have left for work by now. I am gonna go read in my room for a while. I’ll think about what you said though. Maybe we can hang out another day.” 

“Fine. See ya later.” He takes off on his bike headed toward the tracks. I make my way home. I can’t believe what Bobby said to me. Why would he say that stuff to me? Guys are so stupid. I think they just want to confuse girls with their crap. 

I can’t wrap my head around Bobby saying he wants to spend time with me and that I'm pretty. Yeah, we both like to read and we both like to swim but that is about all we have in common. I guess we have being bullied in common, and my brothers. I head home, hoping that mom and Jimmy have already left for work. If they are still home, I know mom will tell me to find something to do outside. Chances are Brock and Sabrina will be headed this way soon. I take the long way home, going through the school just to waste a few more minutes in hopes that the coast will be clear when I get home.  

There are tons of people at the school playground, mostly moms with their kids, and even some older kids with their brothers and sisters. They must have babysitting duty for the summer. I wonder, maybe I could get a babysitting job. That would be cool. I would be out of the house like mom wants and I would be able to hide out from Sabrina to. I would need to find a young kid so I wouldn’t have to come to the playground or the pool. Yeah this is a great idea.  

I try to think of different ways to advertise my services that won’t draw to much attention. I don’t want Sabrina to find out what I’m doing. I could put up flyers around the playground and the pool. I would just have to leave my name off of the flyers. Put just my number on it so that no one will know who it is until I meet them. This could really work. Maybe my summer won’t be as bad as I thought.  

* 

The more time I spend thinking about Bobby and the things he said to me, the more confused I get. It just doesn’t seem right to me. Yeah, he is nice and has looked out for me in the past but I still don’t get why he wants to spend time alone with me. Something feels like a trick.  

I’m tired of being alone though. My books are great but they just aren’t cutting it anymore. I figure what is the worst that can happen, Bobby isn’t going to hurt me. At least I don’t think he will. If he wants to hang out with me, I guess I will give it a try.  

Bobby shows up at the stream a few days later. I’m hiding out in my tree but I think he knows I am there. He strips down to his shorts and heads into the water, OMG he is hot. Wow where did that come from. I mean he has always been cute but I have never thought he was hot. I sit there watching him play in the water, interesting.  

“Ya know you don’t have to stay up in the tree all day. The water is really nice today. And just so you know Sabrina and Brock are at the pool for the summer bash party.” 

“How did you know I was up here?” I yelled down to him. 

“Em you are always up there. You hide your bike in different places down the path but you always climb the same tree. It gives you the best view and it has a nice curved branch to sit and relax on. Now are you coming down or am I coming up there?” 

“I’m coming just hold your horses.” I slowly climb down, not wanting to look like a dork. Missing one of the branches and start to fall, oh s**t. All of the sudden there are strong arms holding onto me. Bobby caught me. My face and neck turn bright red, I’m so embarrassed.  

“You can let go now. And thank you for saving me.” 

“What if I don’t want to let go?” 

His arms are right under my boobs, his hand is on the side of it. OMG if he moves just an inch, he will be touching my boob. I pull away. “Let's go for a swim.” 

“Ok you first,” there is a mischievous look in his eye. 

“Why do you want me to get in first? I don’t trust you.” 

“No reason, I just want to watch you get wet.” 

“Bobby you are an i***t. Go get in the water.” 

“Fine.” 

I put my book and towel on the ground and start to take off my jean shorts. I have my bathing suit on underneath. Normally I swim by myself so it doesn't matter. Bobby is staring at me so I leave my shirt on. 

“You can take off your shirt Em. I like the way you look.” 

“Knock it off.” What the heck, it’s only Bobby here and I hate swimming with my shirt on. I take my shirt off and try to hide my stomach and boobs with my arms. Racing forward and jumping in the water, I splash water all over Bobby. Services him right. 

“Hey watch it. I’m gonna get you for that.” Bobby races toward me splashing me in the face. He wraps his arms around me and pulls me under. I come up spitting and sputtering. Bobby is laughing at me.  

“That was so not cool. Why did you do that? I could have drowned.” 

“Never, plus if you need it, I will give you CPR. It would be my pleasure.” 

“Whatever.” I try to swim away but Bobby grabs my foot and pulls me back. He wraps my legs around his waist and his arms around my back. “What are you doing?” 

“Nothing just getting comfortable.” Bobby reaches up and brushes my hair back. His hands are warm on my skin even though I am oh fire. What is he doing to me? Slowly Bobby leans in close and I know that he is going to kiss me. I don’t know what to do.  

“Emma, you know that I like you right?” I can only nod in response, my voice won't work. “Good, cause I really want to kiss you. Will you let me?” I nod again. When his lips meet mine, I think I am in heaven. Right up until I hear laughter. Pulling away, I see them. Sabrina and her friends are on the shore taking pictures and laughing at me. 

“What are you doing here?” 

“Thought it would be a good show.” 

I am horrified. Bobby hasn’t said anything and he is laughing to. I race to get out of the water to get my towel and clothes. Julie grabs my stuff and throws it in the water. I am try to get to it before the current can take it away. I manage to get my towel but miss everything else. Oh well. Wrapping my towel around me, I race out of there. They are all chasing me laughing and taking pictures.  

Finally, I make it to my bike and climb on. Sabrina grabs my towel and yanks it off me. I don’t care I have to get out of there now. They are still taking pictures of me in just my bathing suit riding away on my bike. 

When I get home, I race into the house and straight up to my room. I slam and lock the door just as my mom comes out of her room. “Emma, what are you doing home? I thought you were going to the stream to read and swim.” 

Crying, I yell, “I did mom, just like you wanted me to. Then Bobby showed and kissed me. Sabrina was there and took pictures, laughing at me. They stole my clothes and I had to ride home in just my bathing suit.” 

“Sweety open the door and explain to me what happened.” 

I get up off the floor and open the door for my mom. She takes one look at me and pulls me in for a hug. “Why don’t you tell me everything from the beginning.” 

“Can I change first?” 

“Sure. When you are done meet me downstairs and we will have a talk.”