Beach day
July 1997-Palo Alto, California
"So you've never been surfing?" asked Greg with disbelief.
"What part of 'I grew up near Las Vegas, Nevada' do we not understand. I lived in the desert, I can make a kick ass sand castle though." Greg shook his head.
"I'm so teaching you how to surf this Saturday." Mitch had decided to take the whole office to the beach for the company picnic and Greg was shocked that Jenna had been in California for almost two years and she hadn't seen the ocean or done any other beach related activity. They were finishing up lunch in the break room when Roberto walked in, his face went a little pink when he looked at Jenna.
"Ciao," Jenna shook her head.
"In English, I would like to think all my tutoring isn't going to waste." Roberto was an exchange student from Italy last year, but got a work visa and was working with Jenna and Greg until October. Jenna had been spending some of her off hours teaching him more American English.
"Spiacente…I mean sorry. So are you going to the beach day this weekend?"
"Yep, Greg says he's going to teach me how to surf. I've been trying to tell him I would be a poor student."
"I'm sure you'll do just fine, you're very smart," said Roberto.
"Sadly smarts don't factor in when fighting a wave." Jenna looked at the clock. "My prison cell is calling me back, see you later." Greg and Jenna headed back to their desks and Greg was smirking so much Jenna had to ask.
"Seriously what is with that shit eating grin? Did you prank Barb again? Did you give up more of your porn stash for the greater good?"
"You and Roberto," said Greg.
"What about me and Roberto?"
"He likes you."
"Well good that means about 50 some people like me." Greg sighed.
"He likes you, likes you. You know in the 'he would like to date you' likes you." Jenna started laughing.
"No way, I mean he's nice, but no," said Jenna sitting down.
"Why not, I mean when was the last time you went on a date?" Jenna frowned.
"I think you were there the last time I went on a date. I ended up with puke on my shoes."
Greg and Dana had decided a few months back that she needed to be set up with one of Dana's friends from work. By the end of the night, Jenna felt the urge to stab herself in the face, because the guy was a jerk. One of those, 'my parents donated a building and that's how I got into this school' jerks. Thankful it had been a double date with Greg and Dana and to anyone who didn't know, it looked like Jenna and Greg were dating, because they people who they were really with got hammered and had to be taken home early. Jenna was helping her 'date' out of the car when he pulled a Linda Blair on her new dress shoes. It was all she could do to fight the urge to throw him in front of a car.
"I told you Dana and I were really sorry about that. Dana thought you guys would get along," said Greg.
"Yeah Dana knows me about as well as she knows you, which is not at all." Jenna had tried really hard to give Dana the benefit of the doubt about being Greg's girlfriend, but she was such a cow about some things. Like she forgot Greg's birthday, Jenna had made it a point to get Greg a cake, a card and one of those annoying singing balloons which sang when touched and it annoyed Barb all day much to Greg's delight. Even if she wasn't in head over heels for him she still would have done it as his friend. When he came in the next day all moody she found out that Dana had not only forgotten his birthday, but she went to a concert with a group of friends and didn't even tell Greg. When her and Dana had been talking at the Christmas party and she told Jenna she was glad Greg had a friend at work, that way he wasn't all yap, yap, yap when he came home. Jenna sat their wishing the punch had been spiked.
"God she has no clue how wonderful he really is."
"I'm still kind of leery about getting back into the whole dating thing," said Jenna.
"I'm sure he's a nice guy," said Greg.
"Who's going to be going back to Italy in a few months. I'm not against long distance things, but an ocean is a little too long distance," said Jenna. Greg shrugged.
"You'll never know unless you try." Jenna nodded and Greg went over to his desk.
Saturday was beautiful day and the beach wasn't too crowded despite it being prime time for all the kids out of school and families on vacations. Jenna had got a ride with Mitch and was helping him set up some of the party stuff. A few of their co-workers had got to the beach earlier and had staked out their spots. Jenna spotted much to her disappointment Dana, however where there was Dana there was Greg. She made sure everything was alright with Mitch and headed over to Dana. Jenna always felt physical inferior to Dana, who was the typical big boobs, little waist, no brains cheerleader type. She was wearing a two piece pink bikini and Jenna was surprised that her top was able to stand the strain.
"God Jenna you can be such a bitch," she thought but than she remember how upset Greg was when she forgot his birthday. "However, I'm sure she could out do me in a bitch contest." Jenna set up her towel and other stuff near Dana.
"Hey." Dana was applying suntan lotion and wearing those retarded little tanning bed sunglasses. She looked at Jenna, who was wearing shorts and a tee shirt and Jenna wished that she had worn her two piece instead of the one piece she had under her clothes.
"Greg is out their with some guy from accounting. Greg told me you've never been to the beach," said Dana.
"Well if you consider the desert a beach without an ocean than I've been at the beach my whole life." Dana chuckled and lay down in a foldout lounge chair.
"He was bounded and determine to get me on one of those damn boards, I told him that hell would freeze over first, I have ever intention on leaving here with a perfect tan and not getting swimmers ear." Jenna wanted to go over to Mitch and ask for one the half inflated beach balls so she could throw in Dana's face. Jenna took off her shorts and tee shirt and looked out towards the ocean. She could understand now why people were shocked she hadn't been out here yet, it was beautiful. She saw Greg and Leo from Accounting coming back to shore. Greg was wearing a pair of Hawaiian patterned shorts and that silly grin of his. He spotted Jenna and waved, Jenna waved back and started heading towards the water.
"So what do think of the Pacific?" asked Greg when they met at shore.
"It's beautiful, and from the looks of you very cold." Greg was shivering and had goose bumps all over his exposed torso.
"It's nothing once you're in the water, come on." He handed his board to Leo, grabbed her hand and started dragging her closer to the water.
"I'm not ready to go in yet," she protested.
"You don't have shoes on and you're in a swimsuit, I think you're ready to go in," said Greg pulling her in so the water touched her toes.
"It's cold. Oh my god," she shrieked. Greg took the opportunity to grab Jenna around the waist and toss her in to a deep part of the water.
"See it's not that bad once you're really in it." Jenna surfaced and was shivering. She glared at Greg who was laughing so hard he was crying.
"Oh you think it's funny," Jenna splashed him in the face causing Greg to swallow some salt water and cough. When his coughing fit ended, he looked at Jenna was smirking
"It is so on," said Greg who splashed back at Jenna and missed
"I told you I wasn't ready to go in and now it's pay back time," she splashed at him again and got in his eyes.
"Shit my eyes." Jenna felt horrible and went over to him.
"Let me see." Greg stopped rubbing his eyes and grinned.
"Sucker." Greg tried to pick her up again, but Jenna was putting up quite a fight and both of them ended up going down.
"God you two are like little kids, I swear if I didn't know any better I think you were related," called out Laura from HR.
"He tried to drown me Laura, I'm sure there's a company policy against drowning your fellow worker," yelled Jenna. Greg came up behind her and wrapped an arm around her waist and Jenna felt herself trying not blush and fighting the urge to get closer to him.
"I didn't try to drown you I was showing you that the ocean is your friend." She turned around and realized how close they were and that not a lot of clothing was between them and she felt herself go red. She slide out of his grip and took the opportunity to push him into the water.
"Tell the ocean I said hello." Jenna started walking back towards the shore and she could almost hear her good angel, bad angel fighting with each other.
"Oh my god…what is your problem? Not only is he smart and sweet he has one hell of body, I'm telling you to go back there and get one quick feel on him." She got back to shore and started drying off.
"That's wrong, he's you're friend how would you feel if he got one quick feel on you?" the bad angel and Jenna were in agreement on this one.
"We would like it a lot." Jenna sat down on her towel and noticed Dana was sleeping. And all three of them agreed on this.
"Let her stay on that side and burn."
Closer to nightfall, Mitch and some of the other guys started a bon fire on the beach and Mitch called everyone together.
"Ok every one we are going to play some games to get to know each other a little better. Don't worry it's not a three legged race Laura, I remember last summer," said Mitch.
"I still have the scars," cried Laura. The group laughed and turned back to Mitch.
"I decided that this year we would do something more mental and less physical. So to start things off with a bang, we're going to play a little game of Who would you do, followed by Would you rather and I think just for fun I want everyone here by the end of the day to do something that scares them a little," said Mitch. "Start us off Mary." Mary was the grandmother who worked the front desk.
"Can it be anyone, even people we work with?" asked Mary.
"Well ya, but…" started Mitch.
"Greg." Jenna nearly choked on her soda and Greg looked like he wanted to go back in the water and drown himself.
"I second that," said a group of the older phones ladies. Jenna started giggling uncontrollable.
"You think it's funny?" said Greg with panic in his voice.
"Just think, you're popular. And I think they would take very good care of you, maybe even clean your room or do your dishes, just like a mom should." Dana came back and sat down between Jenna and Greg.
"So what are we playing?"
"Who would you do?" said Mitch.
"Oh…umm that cute guy who does security for you guys," said Dana. Greg looked crestfallen.
"My name is Tony," who was sitting three people away from Jenna. He waved and took his wife's hand.
"Ok," said Mitch who was starting to realize that maybe this was a bad game to play with this group. "Jenna who would you do?"
"GREG…by the time we finished with him he wouldn't be able to walk anymore!" cried the bad angel.
"Oh Marv, hands down." Marv who was pushing close to three hundred pounds and old enough to be Jenna's father laughed. "I mean he has that teddy bear thing and we could cuddle afterwards and eat some brownies, watch some I Love Lucy. It would be great." Everyone was laughing, expect for Barb.
"Ok, this was a bad idea. I'm sorry I suggested we even play it. The food is ready for people who want to eat. Got some beer and wine coolers over there, just have at people," said Mitch. Jenna was grinning and went to go get some food when she heard Greg talking to Dana in his pissed off voice
"Why wouldn't you do me? I'm your boyfriend and I would have picked you," said Greg. Jenna sensed an impending fight she really didn't want to be apart of. She got up and went to get some food.
"Hey," said Roberto holding a plate of food.
"Hey, I didn't think you were here," said Jenna getting some hot dogs.
"You were swimming, I'm not much of a swimmer so I was playing volleyball." Jenna nodded and added some chips to her plate.
"You're very funny with the Marv thing," stammered Roberto.
"Now how do you know, I wouldn't do Marv for real?" asked Jenna.
"Because if you're the girl I think you are you want someone you love to 'do it' with not anyone who walks in. And you're not in love with Marv." Jenna felt her face flame up and she turned to look at Roberto, but he was already chatting with Mary and the older phone ladies.
"Oh god how the hell does he know" thought Jenna terrified of what would happen if everyone found out about her crush on Greg. Jenna turned to find Greg and saw him sitting by the shore alone staring out. Jenna put her food down and went over to him. He looked annoyed and pissed off throwing small rocks and shells into the ocean.
"You know, people don't throw things at their friends. And considering the ocean is your friend, it's not cool to throw things at her." Greg ducked his head and gave her the smallest of smiles.
"I just don't get Dana sometimes." Jenna felt like her heart stopped for a second.
"Oh my god, they could break up…I could finally tell him everything and not feel like my heart's going to burst every time he gives you that little look or a smile here. It would be so god damn liberating."
"So I saw you talking with Roberto, what did he want?"
"Nothing." Jenna looked at Greg and the odd silence between them became apparent.
"Do it…fucking tell him, stop being such a coward about this. Tell him how crazy he makes you and how he can make your morning better with just a smile. JUST SPIT IT OUT!!!!!" screamed both parts of herself. Greg stood up.
"I'm going to get some food, do you want any?"
"Yeah. I'll be there in a second." Greg walked away and Jenna picked up the largest rock she could find and threw it in the ocean.
Jenna was sitting with one of the older phone lady groups eating a brownie; they were talking about Mitch's assignment about something that scares you.
"I'm only scared of two things, death and taxes," said Mary. "At my age what else is there." The group laughed and Jenna looked over and saw Greg sitting with Mitch and a group of accountants. They seemed to be deep in conversation about something.
"What scares you?" asked Lily one of the older phone ladies
"Huh?" said Jenna.
"You what scares you?"
"Spiders, snakes, monkeys throwing poop," said Jenna.
"Ah to be young again and fear such foolish things," said Mary.
"What's that mean?" asked Jenna.
"You're not scared of dying, illness, being alone the rest of your life. The future is one shiny toy," said Mary. Jenna was little worried about how much booze the old lady had taken in.
"Remember this sweet heart, never hesitate, because once you hesitate the moment is gone and won't come back and someday you'll sit their and wonder why you didn't do it," said Lily. It was like being hit on the head with a hammer, she knew it all along, but it was the kick in the head she needed.
"It scares you how hard you've fallen and now you're scared to admit it. We are marching over their and telling him now," screamed her thoughts.
"I'll be right back," said Jenna getting up and heading over to Greg when Roberto stopped her.
"Jenna, can I…"
"I'm scared of being alone and not having the person I'm in love with know that I love him," she said it so fast, but so quietly Roberto was the only one to hear her. She marched past him and over to Greg.
"Hey Greg can we…" Dana walked over and sat next to Greg, totally ignoring that Jenna was standing there
"Sweetie are you still mad about that silly game?" Greg's attention went to Dana and Jenna felt her heart start to sink.
"Sort of, I mean what the hell?" asked Greg. Dana smiled at him and Jenna wanted to smack her.
"It was a silly game I mean come on Jenna was going to sleep with the old man and no one is razing her about that. It was joke and I was joking, you're the one I want to sleep with." She gave Greg a hug and he hugged her back.
"Sorry for getting all pissy," said Greg. The group clapped and whistled when Greg and Dana shared a make up kiss.
"NONONO GOD DAMNIT NO!" Jenna walked away unnoticed. She sat down by the shore and started to cry quietly. She felt someone sit next her, she looked up and saw Mitch.
"Hey what's with the waterworks sweetie?"
"It's nothing."
"Nothing, doesn't make a girl sit on the beach and cry. Tell good ole' Mitch what's going on? You seemed kind of worked up when you went to talk to Greg a bit a go, do you want me to get him for you?"
"No god no, anyone but him," snapped Jenna. Mitch handed Jenna a paper towel he had in his hands.
"It's about him isn't it?" Jenna nodded.
"I kind of have a thing for Greg. Don't know why, it's not like he notices me when Dana's around. But, he smart and funny and caring and I don't what's wrong with me any more."
"If you like him so much why don't you tell him?"
"I was going to until he started sucking face with that vapid person who says she's his girlfriend." She wiped her eyes again. "It's just wasted time, that's all it is. I'm his friend, that's all I'm going to be. I should be just happy with that. Thank you for listening to me for five minutes. And if this could stay between us that be great" She went into the water and splashed some water on her face and headed back to the fire pit.
"One thing that scares me is the water, so I went into this afternoon. I nearly drowned as a child so it was scared but cool," said Roberto. The group clapped and Mitch turned to Jenna.
"So what scares you?" Jenna sighed and stood up.
"I hate singing in front of people, like large groups of people, even though I did choir for years I still get sick to my stomach doing it. So I'm going to sing right here and now.
You'll remember me
when the west wind moves So she took her love Will you stay with me, will you be my
love See the west
wind move like a lover so Many years
have passed since those summer days
Upon the fields of barley
You'll
forget the sun in his jealous sky
As we walk in the fields of
gold
For to gaze awhile
Upon the
fields of barley
In his arms she fell as her hair came down
Among
the fields of gold
Among the fields of barley
We'll forget the sun in his
jealous sky
As we lie in the fields of gold
Upon the fields of barley
Feel her
body rise when you kiss her mouth
Among the fields of gold
I
never made promises lightly
And there have been some that I've
broken
But I swear in the days still left
We'll walk in the
fields of gold
We'll walk in the fields of gold
Among the fields of barley
See
the children run as the sun goes down
Among the fields of
gold
You'll remember me when the west wind moves
Upon the
fields of barley
You can tell the sun in his jealous sky
When
we walked in the fields of gold
When we walked in the fields of
gold
When we walked in the fields of gold
Jenna did a mock bow and sat down to people clapping.
"Well that wraps up the Summer Party 97, I hope you all had fun tonight," said Mitch. People started gathering up their stuff and Jenna went over to Roberto.
"Sorry I was short with you earlier." He shrugged.
"I've known how you felt about him, it's written on your face all the time. But, I was hoping that maybe you'll give me a chance, a chance for someone who is free to care about you the way you should be cared about."
"Remember this sweet heart, never hesitate, because once you hesitate the moment is gone and won't come back and someday you'll sit their and wonder why you didn't do it."
"Wanna go out for some coffee?"
"When?" Jenna saw Greg and Dana still kissing near the shore and made up her mind.
"How about now?"
Writer's notes-
Not sure if there is a beach near Palo Alto, but it was close to Stanford so it made sense to go that way.
The song-for those who don't know is Sting-Fields of Gold- it's a little melancholy and it seemed to fit Jenna's mood at the time about letting go.