Tavita K – haha nope, you are not 1 at all! thank you, I’m genuinely glad you like it!
Maya L – I know haha, I surely feel I’ll be obtaining to the story behind this Jason character soon.
Beth Levesque – thank you (: I’m glad you realize, I just feel like I’m taking forever! haha.
Marie – thank you (:
SaphireAngel – I’m super happy that you like Eli. you are so enthusiastic haha (:
Jenna – I’m attempting to figure out how to post images and every thing. hopefully I’ll be doing it soon. I’m fresh and new to this site, but I’ll figure almost everything out!
True Graves – haha oh boy, a guy like that would definitely get on my nerves too. glad you really like it (:
Leslie Enofe – thank you so considerably. I’m attempting truly challenging to emphasize his caring personality, but trying to not make it too more than board at the same time. and yes, the background information is important, thanks for reading (:
Amilea – haha thank you! I’m so excited that you read my story (:
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Eli and I did become friends, soon after all.
I spent most of most of my days at Elliot’s Surf Shack, sitting on a stool at the front counter talking to Eli and Tyler
“Do you’ve got a six?” I asked.
Eli grinned. “Go fish.” I groaned; I had virtually half of the deck in my hands. “Sorry.” he apologized with an innocent smile. I rolled my eyes and picked up a card just as a man came up behind Eli. It was the exact same man I’d noticed the very first day I came into he shack, the man with white hair as well as a warm smile.
“Hey Elliot.” Eli stated. So that’s who he was. The Elliot of Elliot’s Surf Shack.
“How’s it going these days?”
Eli shrugged. “Pretty slow, truly.” He looked out of the window at the clouds within the sky, threatening to rain. I guessed that was why things had been slow.
Elliot looked up from his clipboard that he’d been scribbling on the whole time. “Oh, who’s this?” he asked Eli using a smile.
Eli put his cards down. “Oh, Elliot this really is Julia, Tyler’s stepsister.”
Elliot nodded. “So This really is the girl you told me about.”
I looked more than at Eli and I could’ve sworn I saw the slightest hint of color rush to his face. He looked down and then back up at Elliot. “Yeah.” he mumbled.
“Well it’s a pleasure to meet you, Julia.” Elliot shook my hand.
“You too.” I stated with a smile.
Elliot turned back to Eli. “Why don’t you take the rest of the night off?”
“What?” Eli asked. “No I cannot, I’m the only person here tonight, Elliot.”
Elliot laughed a low, hearty laugh. “And you’re playing cards. Go on and take this fairly young lady out to eat.”
I smiled and Eli looked at me. “Well, if you want to?”
I shrugged. “Sure.”
Eli gathered up our cards and put them back into their cardboard box. “Thanks, Elliot. I’ll see you on Friday.”
Elliot smiled and patted Eli on the back.
We went out to eat an early dinner at a tiny, cafe-like restaurant. “May I take your order?” a young, fairly waitress asked us. She batted her eyelashes a bit an excessive amount of. I wondered if Eli noticed how girls act around him. By the way he calmly gave her his order, I guessed he didn’t notice really typically. The waitress strutted away and I virtually laughed to myself. She looked older, like she was in her late twenties, but I realized that Eli looked pretty mature himself.
“How old are you?” I asked him.
“19, why?” he asked, unfolding his napkin and taking the utensils out.
I shrugged. “Just wondering.”
“How about you?”
“I’ll be 19 in a couple of weeks.” I answered.
“Oh genuinely?” he asked using a curious smile. “What’s the date?”
“The 2nd.” I told him. “Don’t even think about throwing me a party.”
He chuckled. “I won’t. But if I did…”
“Don’t!” I laughed. “It’s not like there’s anyone to invite anyways.”
“Well there’s me,” he smiled beautifully. “And Tyler, and Jackson. Oh and we cannot forget Sebastian.”
“Some party!” I said sarcastically.
He laughed. “I’m certain you’d love to have Sebastian there.” I just shrugged it off. “I think he’s got a little crush on you.”
“He will not.”
“Oh he certainly does.” Eli assured me. “Sebastian always gets essentially the most stunning girls.” I felt my face get genuinely red. Seeing my reaction he rubbed his neck. “I mean…” he coughed and looked down, but he did not continue. What did he mean? Was he calling me stunning? He looked back up and smiled at me just a little and we looked at each other for a moment, ahead of I blushed and looked away.
We talked a lot more until the waitress came back and we ate our food in comfort. When we were carried out, we split the check, which he wasn’t too pleased about. Eli insisted on paying completely, but I protested. We walked out to his automobile. “I’ll take you home.” he told me, turning on his automobile. He reached more than and turned the radio on, however it was low, playing an alternative radio station.
“So,” I said right after seeking out in the scenery passing by for a couple of minutes. “since you asked me already, it’s my turn. What’s your story?”
I saw him tense up somewhat, or was that just my mind playing tricks on me? “I do not have a story.” he said flatly.
I laughed. “That’s what I stated and you told me it wasn’t great sufficient!” He shrugged, seeking straight ahead. I waited. “You’re not gonna tell me?”
“I said everyone has a story,” he stated. “but I didn’t say everyone’s are fascinating.”
“That doesn’t mean I do not desire to hear yours.” I grumbled. I knew he was avoiding telling me, so I sighed loudly. He did not budge. I was about to alter subjects when he pulled into Dad’s driveway.
“Thanks for dinner.” I told him with a smile. He smiled back slightly.
“I had a great time.” he confessed, running a hand by way of his hair.
“I’ll see you around?”
“I’d like that.” he grinned. I smiled and got out of the auto. On my way to the door, I heard him call out my name. “Julia,”
“Yeah?” I turned around. The wind whipped my hair into my face.
He was leaning somewhat bit out of his window. “Goodnight.” he said having a crooked smile and with that, he drove away.
I walked upstairs and showered, then crawled into my bed in my pj’s. I heard Tyler downstairs watching T.V. and I believed of Dad. I wished he was here. I knew that after him and Mom’s divorce, we had been in no way close, but I wished we were. I missed him choosing me up into his arms right after he came residence from work and calling me his Little Jewel. I missed his scruffy face and also the way he grabbed his then-tubby belly when he laughed challenging.
I felt like Renee was changing him. Not on purpose, but I knew Dad wanted to be different for her. I was jealous that Tyler and Callie had gotten to devote so a lot time with him when I was grieving and broken after my mom’s death. I wanted to live with him afterward, but I had the option and I felt like he didn’t want me there, so I chose to live with my aunt in Maryland. He visited a couple of times, but I knew he was busy raising two other kids and worrying about his job and new marriage.
I sighed and rolled onto my side, letting my eyes close. I did not recognize I was so tired until I felt myself rapidly drifting into a deep sleep.
~~~~
I spent the next couple of days in the shack. It did not bother me though; it was far better than sitting inside the residence all summer, or being about Callie and her buddies.
I woke up one morning to thunder and rain pattering against my window. I looked out in the white guidelines of the waves violently crashing into the shore. I showered and let my hair dry, hanging more than my shoulders. I dressed into a pair of shorts as well as a plain black hoodie. I pulled the hood more than my head and I walked outside.
Luckily the steady rain had subsided to sprinkles as I walked to the shack. It undoubtedly seemed like a longer walk right now. When I got to the shack, it was dark and there were not clients, even though it was open, surprisingly on every day like this. I walked in and did not see everyone in the counter, but I heard a noise coming from the back. I followed it to the storage room and realized it was a guitar.
I saw that the door was half open. It sounded like a person was just messing about, but whoever was playing was playing really properly. I poked my head in and saw Eli sitting on a couple of boxes. His left shoulder was facing me and he was seeking down in the guitar. He was strumming randomly and then lifted his hands and put the pick in his mouth to tune it a bit by ear. He reached back down and took the pick out, and started playing once again, but this time I knew it was a song. It even sounded familiar. He started singing and my jaw dropped. His voice was so pure and even. It was lovely. I listened to him sing and play, listening to the lyrics.
“We were all alone
When I finally produced a pass at you.
It didn’t function, and no it by no means does,
But you realize how I do.
We were on the phone
When I created up my mind.
I want you staple-gunned proper to my side
All of the time.
Do I have to spell it out for you
Or scream it inside your face?
Oh, the chemistry in between us
Could destroy this place.
Do I have to spell it out for you
Or whisper inside your ear?
Oh, just stop appropriate there,
I believe that we’ve got one thing here.”
I knew the song. It was Staplegunned by The Spill Canvas. I loved that song, and he just created me fall in really like with it even more. I listened to him finish the song. When he was accomplished, I had chills all through my whole body. He lifted his head and jumped up. “Julia!” he gasped.
I stood up straight, having leaned against the door frame. “I-I’m sorry. I came in a I heard you.So I came back here and I just… I couldn’t quit listening…”
He took a breath. “It’s okay, you just scared me just a little.”
“You’re amazing.” I breathed, still dumbfounded by what I just heard.
He rubbed his neck. The guitar was hanging by a strap across his broad shoulders. “Thank you.” he told me.
“Why did not you tell me you could play? And sing?” I asked.
He shrugged. “I don’t know. I haven’t genuinely told that a lot of people.”
“You’re so very good, Eli, I mean that. And I love that song. You sang it so properly.” I complimented him.
He stuck his hands in his pockets and smiled crookedly once more. I felt my stomach flutter.
“You really think so?” he asked, sitting back down.
I walked in and sat on yet another box across from him. “Definitely. I’ve always wanted to be able to play, I just in no way got the opportunity.”
Eli nodded. “Maybe I’ll teach you someday.”
My eyes lit up. “Seriously? I’d really like that.” I smiled, reminiscing. “My mom knew how you can play. She could genuinely sing. Sometimes she would play guitar and sing me to sleep. I guess you could say I was privileged when it came to lullabies.” I joked. Eli actually let out a laugh, a genuine one, and it created me smile much more. Then he looked at me funny. “What?” I asked with a laugh.
He shook his head. “Nothing.”
“You’re looking at me like I’m mad.” I laughed.
“Mad? Like crazy?” he snickered. “I believe your accent is coming out once again. Would you like some tea and crumpets?” he imitated a British accent and winked.
I kicked his leg with my foot. “I can’t assist it.” I told him using a giggle. Did I just giggle? I do not giggle. Ever.
He just laughed once more. “You confident are one thing, Julia.” he chuckled, standing up.
I blushed slightly and looked down. When he reached over and tucked a piece of my long hair behind my ear, I looked up to see him smiling. I wasn’t employed to the closeness and quickly I felt my walls going up, but when I looked up and saw how reassuring that smile was, I felt a bit of relief.
My telephone buzzed in my pocket and Eli quickly pulled away. I hesitated for a second, but pulled it out. It was flashing Renee’s name. I went to reach for it, but missed the call.
“Who was it?” Eli asked. He was across from me once again.
I held the phone in my hand, figuring I’d wait for her to call again if it was that important. I felt like it was, simply because my Dad was the only one who had known as me whilst they had been in California. “It was Renee.” I stated.
We heard the door to the shack open and Eli pulled the guitar off, setting it against the boxes. I followed him available and sat on the stool as he helped a tourist who was asking for directions. I flipped through a magazine as I waited. When Eli was finished, he came more than to me and turned the little T.V. on inside the corner. He leaned against the counter. The weather was on, indicating that a tropical storm was heading our way. Eli grumbled. “I guess I much better call Elliot and see if I need to close up.” he stated, virtually to himself.
“Is it supposed to be a bad storm?” I asked. I wasn’t truly positive what a tropical storm meant. To me, it only meant lots of rain and wind. I did not know what precautions to take.
Eli shook his head. “No, but none of the tourists are going to quit by if they see that on the news. It’s just going to rain a bit more than regular. I may also get off early anyway.” I nodded and understood.
Just as he picked the phone up to call Elliot, my telephone buzzed once more on the counter. I reached for it and saw Renee’s name flashing again.
“Hello?” I answered. Eli stood in front of me, waiting to make his call with no interrupting me.
I heard Renee’s frantic voice on the other side. I couldn’t even recognize her. “Renee. Renee, what are you currently saying? Speak slower.” I stated to her. “I cannot comprehend you.”
I heard her breathe heavily. “Julia, there’s been an accident together with your father.”