Kat here, I was listening to my summer playlist reveling in the music I only listen to at this time of year and this idea popped into my head. It should be fairly short, I'm thinking 5-10 chapters if that. Depends. I would very much like input if anyone would like me to finish it. The premise is simple. The new kid, the "bad boy" and a summer love all heavily inspired by my play list. Expect two to three songs at least mentioned in the chapters. If you like it let me know.
Recommended listening "The sign"- Ace of Base, "Never Been to Spain"- Three Dog Night
Matt sighed, pulling the earbud out. Why did he have to visit his mom? He was perfectly ok in Michigan with his dad. Instead she insisted he come visit her in California. He didn't want to go to California. It was too hot, he hated the beach, and he would have to meet him. The asshole she cheated on his dad with. His new "stepdad" yeah, uh huh. Grabbing his carry on he shuffled out of the plane with the rest of the passengers. Still sulking he went to luggage claim grabbing his bag. Now where the fuck was his mom and….Johnny?
"Mail! Baby over here!"
"….."
Slowly Matt turned around his mom was jumping up and down waving excitedly. Sighing resigned to spending his whole summer with her he walked over.
"Mail!" she scooped him up in a hug, "It's been ages! You've gotten so big! You really should have visited your poor mother before now! You've gotten so big! Give me that bag!" Snatching his suitcase leaving him with just his messenger bag that served as his carry on she lead him to a jeep…a yellow jeep…..with no roof…..or doors…with surfboards attached to the top…with him in the driver's seat…..it was like a bad movie. Could he go home now please? Ignoring the chatter of his mother he climbed in the back. With Ace of Base playing on the radio it was like the soundtrack to some teen movie. It was surreal. It was a whole new world here. People were walking by in shorts and flip flops, some were roller skating down the side walk. Huge sunglasses were on everyone's face, sun bleached hair was everywhere. Matt slumped in his seat. He was going to stick out like a sore thumb.
Matt looked around what was his room for the summer. Pale blue walls, mint green comforter, cream sheets, teal rug on a light hardwood floor. It was light and airy. Very tropical. The walls were bare and his mom encouraged him to buy posters and such to hang on the walls. That it was his room. Right. Changing on his mom's urging he slipped into a tee and cargo shorts shoving on a pair of sandals.
"Mail…"
"Matt."
His mom blinked. "Excuse me?"
"I go by Matt now Mom."
"Oh…Ok….Matt….Come meet Naomi. She's about your age and has agreed to show you around."
"…" Shoving his hands in his pockets he walked over. An Asian girl was standing next to his mother in shorts and a too big tee-shirt revealing the bikini she wore underneath.
"Hi! I'm Naomi. Guess I'm your tour guide for the summer huh?"
"Guess so…."
"Well you picked a good day to arrive. There is a festival on the pier and a bonfire. I'll introduce you to the guys."
Matt followed as Naomi pointed out places that might be of interest of him over the summer, including the local hangouts that wouldn't be crowded by tourists. It was beginning to get the "end of day" look, it was still too bright to truly be counted as sunset. Matt was tired, he wanted to go home. Naomi, however, wouldn't hear of it.
"Matt! It's your first day here! You have to at least join us for a bit and meet everyone else!"
"Do I have a choice in the matter?"
She gave the red-head a smug grin. "Not at all."
Giving a resigned sigh, he seemed to be doing that a lot lately, Matt weakly gestured in the direction they had been walking. "Lead on."
Grabbing his wrist Naomi literally dragged him though the crowds to a picnic table on the carnival like pier. There was a motley crew assembled there. Two guys looking a year or two older than him had messy black hair, twins by the look of it. One was in a white tee with cargo pants, feet shoved in ratty flip flops. The other had on an obnoxious Hawaiian style shirt over a tee with his shorts and sandals. Another guy was Asian like Naomi. Preppy, was all matt could think of him. Plaid golf shorts, polo, Sperry's. The last guy was albino oddly enough, and if that wasn't out of the normal enough he was wearing a white linen shirt with white swim trunks. Go figure.
"Guys! This is Matt. He's staying with his Mom this summer. Matt these are the guys. The idiot in the Hawaiian shirt is Beyond, or B, his more logical twin is L. Pretty boy in the polo is Light." She stuck her tongue out at him at his indignant "hey!" "And last but not least this is Near." She gestured to the albino. "So what do you guys say we hit up the pizza place before we take part in the festivities?"
Matt found himself stuck in the group unable to break away and sneak home…to his mom's house. It wasn't home dammit…..and just went along with it. The festival was actually pretty fun, once he loosened up and let himself begin to enjoy it. When fireworks marked the end of the festivities it was fully dark outside.
"Matt, it's time for the bonfire."
Nodding he followed the girl to the stairs leading to the beach. A huge fire had been started driftwood pulled around it for people to sit. When he was handed a beer he decided these people weren't so bad. Sitting next to the fire he looked out at the waves enjoying the buzz of the crowd of local teens. Some music was playing over at the next fire and people were dancing. Here however….
Matt looked over at the next makeshift bench at the sound of a guitar. Well I've never been to Spain, but I kinda like the music. Say the ladies are insane there and they sure know how to use it. They don't abuse it, never going to lose it. I can't refuse it. The husky voice caught him off guard, as well as they guy singing. He had a typical "Cali boy" vibe to him. Blue eyes, messy blond hair pulled back into a short ponytail, a wide armed tank top showed the edge of a tattoo on his shoulder, his swim trunks were expensive, but obviously well used. Well I've never been to heaven but I've been to Oklahoma, oh they tell me I was born there but I really don't remember. In Oklahoma not Arizona what does it matter? He must have felt Matt's eyes on him because he looked up from where he was playing giving Matt a little smirk and a wink. Matt's eyes widened, and he could feel himself blush. Naomi plopped down next to him giving him a fresh bottle.
"Whatcha looking at?" She looked in the same direction before stiffening. "Look Matt, I know you're new here, and your mom….er….told me your preference…."
"What the hell Naomi!? Why the fuck would she do that? That's none of your damn business!"
"Look, she just didn't want you to get your heart broken….just wanted me to help you steer clear of the not so great guys…..And Mello? You'll want to steer clear of him."
"And why would I want to do that?" Matt was pissed, and he probably came across more bitchy than he intended, but his mom had no right to set Naomi, someone he had never met, up as a match maker for the summer.
Naomi just sighed. "Look. First off, his family is loaded. Like owns half the town. He knows it and acts accordingly. Second, he's trouble. Simple as that. He was kicked out of the local high school and never bothered to graduate. He's not going to college because he'll get all of daddy's money. He's a beach bum. He doesn't care about anything but the waves, he surfs, his guitar, and getting laid. You mess with him you will get burned." She gave him a hard look. "You can do what you want. You're a big boy, but don't come to me for sympathy when he drops you the next day." Standing she when to another fire to dance with Beyond. What does it matter? What does it matter?
The song ending as Matt stared off into the waves in thought. He felt someone sit next to him, but he paid no mind until they spoke. "Hey red." The same husky voice that had been singing…..turning his head he looked at the blond, the same cocky smirk he was given earlier was plastered on Mello's face. "Name's Mello. You new in town?"
Matt could only nod mutely. "Can I get a name?"
Matt knew if he answered this guy could very well turn him into a conquest. It could all be rumor….He could just get up and go find Naomi…..He could answer and see where the summer leads…..the song rang in his head what does it matter? What does it matter?
"I'm Matt…."
Mello's grin was Cheshire. "I'm Mello. Welcome to Ocean Avenue."
