"Dude, could you be more hopeless?" I shook my head as Dougie tried to swim out to me on the surfboard I'd borrowed from Jake. (In case you didn't know, he's the one that co-owns the surf shop on the beach.) I slid off my board and swam towards the board. I crossed my arms on long side of the board, "C'mon, is it that hard?"
Dougie looked like a lost puppy, laying on the board. "How many lessons did you take again?" He asked as he crossed his arms and laid his chin on them.
I tilted my head towards the clouds in the sky. "I wanna say…" I trailed off thinking about when I first realized that I lived along the beach. "'bout 30, 35." I let my arms drop off the board and I treaded water for a moment or two, "Lee, come on. That boards not gonna push itself." With that I dived into the salt water, and swam back to my board.
I popped my head up to see Dougie next to me on his board, "See wasn't that hard." I said as I got on my board. "Now here comes the hard part." I lifted my body off the board and slid my legs forward, so I was sitting on my heels. "Trying to stand on the board." I looked out and saw a small wave coming towards us. "And trying to go on a wave."
Dougie eyes bugged out and his smile on his face dropped, I just laughed, "Don't worry, a few more times today, and we'll head out to do something else." I assured him. "Well, you can't get up quickly by laying on the- scratch that." I laid back on my board, "Best if you know what it feels like before you try and stand."
"Thank God." He sighed, I laughed once again and shook my head. "I thought this would be attempted murder."
"Now why would you think of something like that?" I asked as the wave was close to us, "Ready?" He nodded.
The wave came up to us as a small bump, so it wasn't that hard for me, Doug seemed to be doing pretty well. The wave died down and we continued to glide to the shore. When the sand touched the board, we were put to an abrupt stop. "Man, that was awesome!" Dougie yelled as he got up and ran back to the ocean.
After about 6 more times, I thought we should head back and have everyone come over and watch a movie. "What movie do you want to watch?" Dougie asked as we stepped into the guys house, seeing as it's closer than from where we were.
"Beats me, the last time I picked the movie, someone stole it from me and watched it 'til 6 in the morning. Then he and his friend shoved me out." I said harshly. If you've heard of Dougie, Danny and 'The Notebook' than you know the aftermath of that minor disaster(and if you haven't, it's the funniest thing).
"Fine, no romantic comedies tonight. How about a horror." He said as he grabbed a glass of water and placed it in front of me.
"That sounds perfect. Thanks." I took the glass and took a sip, "That's one of the downsides of being in the ocean, you don't get rid of the saltwater taste for a week."
"That's pleasant." He sarcastically stated and sat next to me on the stool. "So do you have an idea of a movie?"
"Not a clue." I sighed and took another sip of my water, "Louise is her name?" Dougie looked up at me, "My mum said she was nice, maybe I'll see her at John's wedding." I said as my finger traced the lip of the glass. "Unless your not coming."
"Why wouldn't I?" Dougie asked as he rested his hand on my free one. "He taught me a lot, you know."
"But I hate to ask what." I smiled. "So I'm heading back to London for John's wedding."
"Do you know if you're going to stay there?" Dougie asked as he scooted closer to me.
"I don't know, I don't know about anything anymore." I clenched my forehead. I stopped and looked at Dougie, who stared at me scared out of his wits, I laughed. "Sorry, I think me being 'Drama Queen' for today is dried up." I shook my head, "I don't know if I am or not, I could take Jeanie with me, though. Seeing as she's graduating in a week, so is Sarah." I looked at Dougie again, his expression calmed.
"So in other words, not a clue." Dougie said and I nodded my head on agreement. "Well, if you don't decide to stay for a while, you can hang out with Danny and me."
"Really?" I asked, he smiled, which made me, "Thanks, Doug." I hugged him. I pulled away from him first, "Listen, I gotta run to the house and pick up Jean."
"I'll go with you then." He said as we came out the back door. "Just a question, how do you get up to the balcony from here?" He pointed to my balcony as we came up to it.
I rolled my eyes, "pft. That's easy, just follow me." We went under the balcony and I looked under it for my secret rope. "Aha, here it is, little bugger." I said as I yanked the rope and a tree-house style ladder came out. I began to climb it, with my bag on my shoulder, barefoot.
"Did you make this?" Dougie asked as I got to the top, I reached the latch for the trapdoor and moved it back.
"Yep," I ducked as the trapdoor opened and I moved the carpet aside. Sunlight sprung through the trap door. "All in good fun. Well, as so I can sneak out when mum or dad visits." I said as I turned my body, allowing me to sit on the painted floor of the balcony.
"I wish I'd thought of that when I moved in to my flat." Dougie said as he sat next to me. "Than I'd have a way to get rid of Danny."
"Oh come now, is he that bad?" I asked as I leaned over and pulled the ladder up. Dougie raised his eyebrows at me. "What? I need this to be invisible, so I can escape from you guys."
"My point exactly," Dougie said as he helped me pull the rest of the ladder up. I took the end and began to roll the ladder up.
"Who said it was Danny, and not you?" I asked him as I raised an eyebrow. I crossed to the other end of the trapdoor and put my legs under the railing. I extended my legs so my knees locked straight and my butt was close to the edge of the door.
I leaned back so I was hanging upside down, seeing underneath the balcony. "Ams, what are you doing?! You're gonna hurt yourself!" Dougie yelled as I hooked the ladder to the bottom of the balcony.
"Am not, I've done it a thousand times." I protested as I grabbed the trapdoor and lifted myself up to sit up, as the door shut behind me. I held my arms up as I turned around, "See, unharmed."
"Sure you are." Dougie said as he stood up and held his hand out to me. I took it and stood up without a fault. "Okay then. See you lost your clumsiness."
"See you haven't lost your ugliness." I retorted as I headed into the house. I ran into my room and slid on a pair of jeans and Vans over my suit. I entered my bathroom and grabbed a towel as I undid my hair and began to dry it.
I came out to find Dougie riffling through my movie collection. "I can't believe you own so many." He pointed to my massive shelf of DVDs.
"Well, that's what happens when you produce and write a lot of movies." I said as I sat on the couch, and continued to dry my hair. I sighed and tossed the towel across the island and onto the window sill. "So, ready to come with me to pick up Jean?"
"Sure." Dougie said as he headed to the door, which was now unlocked. I followed and found him leaning on my car. "It's a nice car." He said as he jumped onto the passenger's seat.
"Thanks, your's isn't so bad." I said as I jumped in and started the car. I leaned over into the glove compartment and pulled out my sunglasses. As I put them on, Dougie glared at me. "What? I need to see where I'm going." I reasoned as we pulled out, and headed to the school.
"Hey, Am. Who is this again?" Sarah asked, she's such a nice girl, but she can be a bit of an airhead.
"Dougie Poynter at you service." Dougie answered as he turned to the back to see Jean and Sarah. "And who might you two lovely ladies be?"
The girls giggled and I rolled my eyes. "Girls, get a hold of yourselves." Dougie turned back around and looked at me. "When have you been able to chat up a girl?"
"Since I've turned 15." Dougie smiled and kissed me on the cheek. I laughed, hysterically and turned into the driveway. Someone was standing in the door way. "I can't believe I forgot!" I said as I turned off the car and hit the steering wheel with my hand. My dad had arrived.
"Who is it?" Doug asked as he leaned towards me and saw my dad standing there. "Him." Was all he said as he gritted his teeth.
"Be nice to him." I said as I rested a hand on his shoulder. He looked at me like I was insane. "He was in rehab for 1 year, and has been good for 2." I said, as I came out of the car. I ran to my dad, who had open arms. "Dad, I missed you. I didn't know you were coming today."
"Look at you Amy, getting more prettier every time I see you." My dad said as I pulled away. "Sarah, Jeanie." I turned to see Dougie glared at him intently.
"Dougie Poynter. Who knew that you'd be here?" He held out his hand, which Dougie did take, after a minute of hesitating. "Well, it's not, actually. When you two were little, you were so attached to one another." My dad smiled.
"Nice to see you to, sir." Dougie said flatly. We all came into the house and Dougie pulled me aside. "Can I talk to you for a minute?" He whispered harshly.
I nodded and turned to my dad. "Well, I'm gonna run and grab something for Dougie and we'll be right back." I said as I grabbed Dougie's hand and we headed down the stairs into the basement. "What's wrong?" I asked as I shut the basement door.
"Are you playing blonde with me? You know damn well who I'm talking about!" Dougie yelled as he grabbed my arms. "Why is your dad in your house? Why would you give him a second chance?!"
"If life was eye for an eye, the world would be blind." I said as I bit my lip in pain, "Dougie, you're hurting me." I winced as he let go of my bare arms. "Why are you yelling at me for giving someone a second chance?"
"Because he doesn't deserve to be in your life!" He yelled as he looked out a window.
"But you do?" I rested a hand on his bare shoulder, "Dougie, I waited for you for 2 years. When I came into London, you would have been the first one I called. Not mum, not Jazz, not even John." He turned to me and I cupped his face in my hands, "It would have been you and I would have told you everything, and anything." I sighed, and dropped my hands and turned towards the window, "But I have been nice enough to give you and Dad a chance."
"But he doesn't deserve you! Amy, he hit you!" Dougie protested as he pulled me close, unaware of what he was doing. "No one should be spotted in your life who's hit you like that."
"He knows what he did was wrong, and I forgave him. Why are you having such a hard time with it? To many men in my life for you to handle?" I asked as I felt my shoulders, and nose ache.
"What does that-" Dougie stopped as flames ignited in his eyes. "I can't believe you would think something like that."
"Well then, why were you so pissed when you found out about Steve? He doesn't hit me, neither does Jake." I sighed, trying not to go over the edge, "Listen Doug, life changes, I know yours has. Mine has too, and if you can't deal with it, than why are we trying to be friends again?" I asked as I headed up stairs.
"Amy, are you okay? You don't look okay." My dad asked as I came into the kitchen. I shook my head. "Did Dougie say something?"
"No, dad he didn't." I sighed, "I just have bad flashbacks flooding in." My dad hugged me tightly. "Listen dad, I don't mean to be rude or anything but-"
"I'll stay in a hotel until everything's okay." Dad said as he pulled away and began to pet my hair. "I'll stop by Friday night."
"Thanks dad. Can you take Sarah and Jean with you? I think if I need to deal with it, I need to do it on my own." He nodded. "Thank you."
"See you around" he said as he tapped the girls on the shoulder, "C'mon girls, I think Doug and Amy need some time to figure things out, alone." Dad ushered them outside and shut the door behind them.
I sighed as I fell onto my couch and covered my eyes with my head. "Are they gone?" I heard Dougie ask.
"Yeah, no thanks to you." I stood up and whirled around to see Dougie. What's wrong with you? I can't believe your mad at me for my own decision!"
"Well, it's not the right one for you. Your dad is bad news, Amy. You can't see him again." Dougie said roughly.
"What are you gonna do, ban me from him? Dougie I'm 20, not 14, I know what's best for me. Granted I made a few mistakes." I said as Dougie huffed and tried to get in a word. "But he's my dad. He's been talking to Adam, you know. He's been in New York, living with him. He's a father, he called me and said how awful he was, begging for me to even consider forgiven' him."
I stepped close to Dougie, so close that if I moved an inch closer, I would be touching noses with him. "Now look me straight in the eye, and tell me that's not good enough for a shred of forgiveness."
"God I hate you." Dougie said as he sighed. He looked at me in the eyes, "He does deserve to be forgiven, at least he came back."
"Oh, Dougie." I hugged him, "I'm sorry I said that." He wrapped his arms tightly around my waist. "I won't bring it up again." I let my arms drop, but he kept his arms on my waist, "Just give him a chance, that's all I ask."
"For you, absolutely. Sorry for my outburst." He said, I smiled my thanks. "I wish I could take it back."
"There's no need, I forgive you." I smiled bigger, and hugged him again.