It feels so good to be back in Florida! And it feels even better to update this story. I DON'T OWN LMONADE MOUTH sadly: (
RAY:
Walking into the library at nine PM isn't a very nice thing to experience. The lights are dim; the librarians are nowhere to be found, and the only sounds are those of pages turning and light footsteps on the shabby carpet.
"Ray." I jump when the silence is interrupted by the sound of Charlie's whisper.
"God. Charlie out of all the places in this town you had to pick the creepiest one of all?" I hiss and let him lead us towards one of the many tables in the back of the room.
"Sorry. It was either this or the gas station. Frankly I don't think that a parking lot that smells like gasoline is a very good place to have a conversation." He snaps back and sits down.
"Okay so what's going on?" I say and cross my arms.
"I already told you. I need your help."
"Yeah I got that part. What I'm trying to ask is, with what?"
"I need to get a girl a gift. Something that will show her I really care but…I don't have any experience with girls." I stare at him for a second before sighing.
"This couldn't wait until morning?" I whisper yell.
"I'm nervous okay? Just tell me." he says and frowns.
"Don't raise your voice at me!"
"Shh!" I glare at the lady that frowns at us.
"Shh! Yourself." I snap back.
"Ray calm down." I feel a hand land on my arm and look up to see a wide eyed Charlie.
"If I help you can I leave?" I ask and run a hand through my hair.
"Yeah sure why not?" he mumbles and removes his hand.
"Fine. Get her a dozen Lily's and a bottle of perfume you think smells good. Wrap the bottle in shiny wrapping paper; put the lily's in a red vase and you've got yourself the perfect gift. Can I go now?" I say quickly and glance at the lady that's glaring full force at me.
"Slow down. Say that again." He says and stares at me.
"Bro seriously? Perfume and flowers. That's it." I say and stand up.
"Thanks I guess." He mumbles and stands up too.
"Charlie?" I say when I notice he's frowning at the table like it's grown a pair of lips and eyes.
"Yeah?" he answers and looks up at me.
"You okay?" I ask and follow him towards the doors.
"Yeah I'm fine."
"I'll see ya around." I say and walk to my car when we walk out of the library.
STELLA:
This week passed by quickly. I haven't seen Ray all week due to us coming home from the resort, crazy practice schedule, him having late shifts at work, and since soccer season starts pretty much as soon as we get into school Scott and Ray have started training early.
"Stella? Are you almost done?" I sigh at the sound of Timmy's voice before responding.
"Yeah. Just a few more minutes!"
"You said that an hour ago!" with that he stomps off.
I hear my phone ring and look down at the screen to see a Text from Mo.
You ready for tonight?
I frown down at the sentence before answering.
What do you mean?
Didn't ray tell you? He invited Scott and me to meet his brother.
Nope. Guess I'll see you tonight though : - )
Yup. C U soon.
Wait!
Wat?
Navy blue or forest green?
For who?
Me.
Navy Blue.
Thanks!
With that I slip on a Navy shirt along with matching converse. I took Ray's advice and decided on going as myself. A homemade T-Shirt, a pair of black jean shorts, and converse; underneath I was wearing my Navy Blue two piece swim suit. The words 'Cords are mightier than the pen.' Flash back at me as I stare at my reflection.
"Stella! Sweetie Ray's here!" I walk out when I hear my mom call up.
"Okay! I'll be right down!" I call back and grab a towel along with my bag.
"So, Stella tells me you play soccer?" I quicken my pace when I hear my mother trying to make conversation with him.
"Uh…yeah. I'm a Forward." He answers politely.
"I thought Stella hated jocks." Timmy says. I can practically hear the smirk on his face.
"Timmy!" my mom scolds as I walk down the stairs.
"Well it's true!" he defends and crosses his arms.
"Keep talking and watch what'll happen Timmy!" I warn and walk over Ray. He smiles and bends down to peck my cheek.
"Oh…aren't you two just adorable!" my cheeks turn a bright red at my mom's comment.
"Well. We should get going." He mumbles.
"Yeah. I'll be back later mom." She nods with a smile and watches as we walk out the door.
"That was…interesting." He says and smiles widely as we get into his car.
"Sorry she's just never actually gotten to meet any of my dates. I usually just meet them outside. She gets really exited easily."
"I didn't say I didn't like it. I mean usually my date's moms treat me like trash." He says as we pull out of my drive way.
"Really?" I look at him with shock.
"Jule's mom told me to wait on the porch because she had more important people in the house when I went to pick her up for the Halloween bash last year." He says and glances at me.
"That's awful." I mumble and take his hand.
"Yeah. So I see you didn't go crazy with the clothes." He smiles at my shirt and I chuckle.
"Yeah I took your advice." I mumble.
"I agree with the saying." He says and turns onto his street.
"I came up with it myself." I say proudly and he chuckles softly.
"Well it's very clever." He says and stops in front of his house…or mansion. "Come on." He says and gets out. He waits for me in front of the car and then takes my hand to lead me into the house.
"Dad? David? Linda?" he calls out and sighs when no one answers. "Come on, I still have to change and I'd rather you not be alone in a room with them." He says and starts pulling me up the stairs.
"Why not?" I ask and let him tug my gently.
"Let's just say they're all very…different from you. Linda'll kill you with love, Dad with burn a hole through your back with his glares, and David…well if you stay in a room with him too long your IQ drops quickly." I chuckle and sit on his bed when we walk into his room.
"I'll be right back." He says and walks out. I wait for him to close the door before I stand up and walk to the cork board by his computer. It had immediately caught my eye as soon as I walk in.
The words 'Raymond Beech Growing Up' are plastered on top with foam letters. The board is completely covered in photos. The one in the top left corner shows a small boy around three years old. He's scrawny but has a big smile on his face. He's next to a brown haired man that's holding two ice cream cones happily.
Below it is a picture of the same boy only a bit older. His face is painted blue and has two lines running down his face; one white and one gold. His mouth is flashing a big smile; a smile so big that his eyes are only small lines above his cheek bones.
Next to it is a picture that shows the boy around Nine years old. He's pouting with his arms cross across his chest. His eyebrows are pulled down and his lips are pursed slightly. I chuckle softly at the image and move onto the next picture.
This one if of him only a few years ago. He has a bit of baby fat but not much. His eyes are starring right into the camera with a serious expression. His eyes show nothing but seriousness even though behind him there's a laughing brown haired boy.
"I was twelve when dad took that picture." I jump at the sound of Ray's voice.
"You scared me." I say and look up at him.
"sorry." He says and looks at the pictures.
"Who's that?" I ask and point to a pretty woman with light brown hair and a big smile.
"That's my mom." He whispers and smiles slightly at the woman.
"She was pregnant. With you." I say when I notice the small bulge on her stomach.
"Yeah. She was four months pregnant." He mumbles and sighs.
"You look a bit like her. You're eyes…and your smile." I say and lean into him slightly.
"Everyone says I'm a spitting image of my father though." He answers and wraps an arm loosely around my waist.
"Him?" I ask and point to the man that was holding the cones.
"Yeah…we should get downstairs Stella." He says and smiles slightly before starting to pull me away from the board.
"Mo says you invited her and Scott to meet your brother." I say and follow him downstairs.
"Yeah I told you that didn't i?" he says and stops in the living room.
"No…" I answer and look up at him. He frowns deeply at my answer.
"I remember telling you though." He mumbles.
"You didn't. Its fine, I mean we haven't seen each other all week you probably meant to and forgot." I say and cup his cheeks gently when his frown doesn't go away.
"I'm sorry. Come on, David hasn't shut up about wanting to meet you since he found out who you were." With that his smile returns and he takes my hand gently.
When we reach the backyard I have to pause for a moment and take it all in. nothing is the same as when I had been year only days before. There are a few balloons taped to the lawn chairs and the door has a big 'Welcome Home' sign on it.
"Dad." I feel Ray start to tug on my arm when I don't move and quickly snap out of my frozen state.
"Raymond." I look at the blond haired man and raise an eyebrow. He's hunched over the grill, refusing to meet his son's eyes.
"Dad this is Stella; my girlfriend." I can tell my the way Ray is frozen solid that he's annoyed at his father's reaction.
"I thought you were dating Juliana." He mumbles and flips burger patty.
" her name was Julie and we broke up three months ago dad. You were there when it happened." Ray says through clenched teeth.
"Um…it's nice to meet you Mr. Beech." I hold out my right hand and watch as he glances at me before giving me the once over.
"pleasure." He mumbles but doesn't shake my hand so I let it drop to my side and sigh.
"Dad? Please don't do this." Ray says softly. So softly that I can barely hear him.
"Fine…Bella what sport do you play?" he says and finally looks up.
"It's Stella and I don't play sports. I'm a musician." I say and bite my tongue to keep my smart remarks in.
"Stella is a Guitarist. She's in that band that Steph likes. Lemonade Mouth." Ray says and drops my hand before wrapping his arm around my waist.
"Ah yes. You know Raymond maybe if you took your talent seriously you would be as successful as this Lemonade Head band instead of being just a local bunch of teenagers that play at warehouses." His father says.
"Mudslide Crush actually is very respected at Mesa High." I defend and frown slightly.
"Is that so? Well I remember this conversation being for me and my son…I suggest you stay out of it." He snaps back.
"Don't talk to her like that! Dad you always do this. I can never please you can I?" with that Ray walks away angrily.
"Always so dramatic." His father mumbles and goes back to his cooking. I stare at him for a second before walking in the direction Ray had gone.
"Ray?" I find him on the front porch sitting on the swing with his head down.
"If you don't want to stay I don't blame you." He mumbles and doesn't look up.
"I promised you I'd be here to keep you from getting furious." I sit next to him and place my hand in his.
"You know he's never come to a game. Or a show, or any of my award ceremonies." He says and squeezes my hand.
"That's not good. But Ray even if he doesn't know what a good and talented person you are…you still have your friends." I say.
"Friends? What friends? Scott was the only person that knew anything about me. All the others are just hanging around waiting for me to slip up. I was so content on staying on top my entire life. It seemed like the only way to get my father to even glance at me." He mumbles and I watch a tear slips out of his eyes and down his cheek.
"Have you ever been happy? Truly happy?" I ask and wipe away the tear.
"The only time I actually ever smile is when I'm with you or Scott. " he mumbles.
"well then we have to change that. Come on." I say and stand up.
"what?" he asks and frown up at me.
"go change into normal clothes. Hurry up." I say and pull him up.
"what are we doing?"
"I am going to show you what it's like to be a lemon head." I answer and push him gently into his house.
"Stella you don't have to do this."
"But I want to." I pull him into his room and sit him on the bed. "Where do you keep your clothes?" I ask and cross my arms. He points to the closet and dresser.
"What are doing?" he asks when I start looking through his closet.
"Here, put this on." I toss him a yellow T-shirt and some jeans.
"okay." He sighs and walks out.
RAY:
When I come back in, she's sitting on my bed typing away on her phone. With a smirk I walk up to her quietly and catch her shoulders easily.
"hey." I whisper after pushing her down onto her back gently.
"You really need to start making noise when you enter a room." She gasps when I lower my head so my lips play with the skin under her ear.
"But I like making you blush." I answer and let my lips brush against the sensitive skin with every word.
"Well I don't like the feeling of my blood shooting into my face." She says and lets one of her hands rest on the back of my neck.
"Well that's too bad." I chuckles when goose bumps appear on her shoulder and arms.
"Ray?"
"Hm?" I'm too busy letting my fingers trace patterns on the exposed skin on her waist to pay much attention.
"Look at me." she whispers into my ear softly. I obey and smile widely when her lips meet mine as soon as my lips leave her skin.
"You…are very…" I try to get a sentence out between kisses but by the time I'm about to finish I forget what I was going to say and just kiss her.
"We should go. I told the others we'd meet them at Dante's." she says as my lips trail down her jaw.
"did you tell Mo and Scott?" I mumble.
"Yes. Now come on." I sigh and get off of her reluctantly.
"When am I gonna get to have you all to myself?" I mumble and stand up.
"Soon I hope." She answers and kisses me before pulling me out of my room.
"So what are we going to do anyway?" I ask when we reach my car.
"First you have to go through your annunciation. "She says and chuckles when I frown.
"What do I have to do?" I ask and get into the car.
"Oh you'll see."
Okay so that was written during the eight hours it took to drive out of Florida. I love it here, it's my home state but it's a pain to get out. I was listening to music the entire 26 hours it took to get from Naples to Lufkin. The main songs the I was listening to while this chapter was written where Numb (piano version), what I've done (piano version), in the end (piano version, More, Fences, The Meadow, and Ignorance. : ) please Review!