The Summer I Turned Pretty

by cecelynch

Every summer, Ally leaves her life behind and goes to Miami, where she has spent every summer of her life. Summer means seeing Mimi, her mom's best friend, and her sons, Austin and Riker. Ally has been chasing after Austin since they were small. Despite a guy named Dallas,and looks from Riker, Ally's heart belongs to Austin. Will this be the summer that changes everything?

14. Chapter 14

Here's chapter 14! I'm soooooo sorry it took so long, my great uncle passed away and it was my dad's birthday and school and BLECH! I don't own anything! There is some protective!Austin and jelaous!Austin in this! And a lot of angst

The night Jack left, I headed down to the pool for one of my midnight swims, and Austin and Riker and this neighbor guy Clay were sitting on the lounge chairs. Riker and Austin were drinking beer. Clay lived way down the street, and he'd been coming to Jacksonville for almost as long as we had.

He was a year older than Austin. No one had even liked him much. He was just a person to hang out with, I guess. Right away I stiffened and held my beach towel closer to my chest. I wondered if I should turn back. Clay had always made me nervous. I didn't have to swim that night and I could do it the next night.

But no, I had as much right to be out there as they did. More, even. I walked over to them, pretending to bevconfident.

"Hey, guys" I said. I didn't let go of my towel. It felt funny to be standing there in a towel and a bikini when they were all wearing clothes. Clay looked up at me, his eyes narrow.

"Hey, Ally. Long time no see," He patted the lounge chair. "Sit down"

I hated when people said long time no see. It was such a dumb way to say hello. But I sat down anyway. He leaned in and gave me a hug. He smelled like beer and Axe.

"So how've you been?" he asked. Before I could answer however, Austin spoke for me.

"She's fine, and now it's time for bed. Good night, Ally"

I tried not to sound like a five-year-old when I said, "I'm not going to sleep yet, I'm swimming"

"You should head back up," Riker said as he added his two cents, "Your mom will kill you for drinking"

"Hello. I'm not drinking and neither are you!" I reminded him. Clay offered me his Corona.

"Here," he said, winking. He seemed drunk and I hesitated.

"Don't give her that. She's a kid, for God's sake" Austin snapped irritably.

I glared at him. "Quit acting like Jack." For a second or two I considered taking Clay's beer. It would be my first. But then I'd only be doing it to spite Austin, and I wasn't going to let him control what I did.

"No, thanks," I told him. Austin nodded as though I had needed his permission to drink.

"Now go back to bed like a good girl" Austin stated patronizingly. It felt just like when he and Jack and Riker used to leave me out of things on purpose. I could feel my cheeks burning as I retorted, "I'm only two years younger than you"

"Two and a quarter," he corrected automatically. Clay laughed, and I could smell his yeasty breath.

"Shit, my girlfriend Megan was fifteen" Then he looked at me, "Ex-girlfriend."

I smiled weakly but on the inside, I was shrinking away from him and his breath. But the way Austin was watching us, well, I liked it. I liked taking his friend away from him, even if it was just for five minutes.

"Isn't that, like, illegal?" I asked Clay. He laughed again.

"You're cute, Ally" Clay answered. I could feel myself blush.

"So, um, why did you break up?" I asked, like I didn't already know. They broke up because Clay's a jerk that was why. Clay had always been a jerk. He used to try to feed the seagulls Alka-Seltzer because he heard it made their stomachs blow up. Clay scratched the back of his neck.

"I don't know. She had to go to horse camp or something. Long distance relationships are shit"

"But it would just be for the summer" I protested, "It's dumb to break up over a summer"

I'd nursed a crush on Austin for whole school years. I could survive for months, years, on a crush. It was like food. It could sustain me. If Austin was mine, there was no way I'd break up with him over a summer—or a school year, for that matter.

"So, Ally, are you gonna come to my bonfire tomorrow night?" he asked me.

"Um, sure," I said, trying not to sound too excited. Austin and Jack and Riker went to the big Fourth of July bonfire every year. Clay had it at his house because there were a ton of fireworks on that end of the beach. His mom always put out stuff for s'mores. I once made Riker bring one back for me, and he did. It was rubbery and burnt, but I still ate it, and I was still grateful to Riker for it. It was like a little piece of the party. They never let me go with them, and I never tried to make them. I watched the show from our back porch, in my pajamas, with Mimi and my mother. They drank champagne and I drank sparkling apple cider.

"I thought you came down here to swim," Austin said abruptly.

"Geez, give her a break, Aus," Riker laughed. "If she wants to swim, she'll swim"

We exchanged a look that meant 'Why is Austin acting like a dad?'

"Do what you want," he replied annoyed.

"I will," I said, sticking my tongue out at Austin and standing up. I threw off my towel and dove into the water, a perfect swan dive. I stayed underwater for a minute. Then I started doing the backstroke so I could eavesdrop on their conversation. In a low voice I heard Clay say, "Man, Miami is starting to get old. I want to hurry up and get back."

"Yeah, me too," Austin replied.

So Austin was ready to leave. Even though a little part of me knew that already, it still hurt. I wanted to say, Then leave already. If you don't want to be here, don't be here. Just leave. But I wasn't going to let Austin bother me, not when things were finally looking up. At last I was invited to Clay's Fourth of July bonfire. I was one of the big kids now. Life was good. Or it was getting there, anyway.

I thought about what I was going to wear all day. Since I'd never been, I had no idea what to wear. Probably it would get cold, but who wanted to bundle up at a bonfire? Not for my first one. I also didn't want Riker and Austin to give me a hard time if I was too dressed up. I figured shorts, a tank top, and no shoes were the safe way to go.

When we got there, I saw that I had chosen wrong. The other girls were wearing sundresses and skirts and Uggs. If I'd had girl friends at Miami, I might have known that. "You didn't tell me that girls got dressed up," I hissed at Riker.

"You look fine. Don't be dumb," he said walking away after sending me a wink. I looked around and saw there was a keg. There were no graham crackers or marshmallows anywhere I could see. I'd actually never seen a keg before in real life. Just in movies. I started to walk away, but Austin grabbed my arm.

"Don't drink tonight," he warned, "My mom will kill me if I let you drink"

I shook him off. "You're not letting me do anything."

"Come on. Please?"

"We'll see," I said, walking away from him and toward the fire. I wasn't sure if I even wanted to drink. Even though I'd seen Clay drinking the night before, I'd still been expecting s'mores. Going to the bonfire was nice in theory, but actually being there was something else. Riker was chatting up some girl in a red, white, and blue bikini top and a jean skirt, and Austin was talking to Clay and some other guys I didn't recognize. I thought after the way Clay had been flirty last night, he might at least come over to say hi. But he didn't. He had his hand on some girl's back.

I stood by the fire alone and pretended to warm my hands even though they weren't cold. That's when I saw him. He was standing alone too, drinking a bottle of water. It didn't seem like he knew anybody either, since he was standing all by himself. He looked like he was my age. But there was something about him that seemed safe and comfortable, like he was younger than me even though he wasn't. It took me a few glances to figure out what it was. When I finally figured it out, it was like, Aha!

It was his eyelashes. They were so long they practically hit his cheekbones. Granted, his cheekbones were high, but still. Also, he had a slight underbite, and his skin was clear and smooth, the color of cocoa powder. I touched my cheek and felt relieved that the sun had dried out the pimple from two days before. His skin was perfect. To my eyes, everything about him was pretty perfect.

He was tall, taller than Riker or Jack, maybe even Austin. He was so pretty I felt like I could draw his face, and I didn't even know how to draw. He caught me looking at him, and I looked away. Then I looked back over and he caught me again. He raised his hand and waved it, just slightly. I could feel my cheeks flaming. There was nothing for me to say but, "Hi"

I walked over, stuck out my hand, and immediately regretted it. Who shook hands anymore? But he didn't seem to mind as he took my hand and shook it. He didn't say anything at first. He just stared at me, like he was trying to figure something out. "You look familiar," he said at last.

I tried not to smile. Wasn't that what boys said to girls when they came on to them at bars? I wondered if he'd seen me on the beach in my new polka-dot bikini. I'd only had the nerve to wear it the one time, but maybe that was what had gotten me noticed by this guy. "Maybe you've seen me on the beach?"

But he shook his head. "No...That's not it"

So it hadn't been the bikini, then. I tried again. "Maybe over at Scoops, the ice cream place?"

"No, that's not it either" he answered. Then it was like the little light went on in his head, because he grinned suddenly. "Did you take Latin?"

What in the world? "Um… yes"

"Did you ever go to Latin Convention in Washington, DC?" he asked.

"Yes" I said. Who was this boy anyway?

He nodded, satisfied. "So did I. In eighth grade, right?"

"Yeah…" In eighth grade I had a retainer and I still wore glasses. I hated that he knew me from back then. Why couldn't he know me from now, in my polka-dot bikini?

"That's how I know you. I've been standing here trying to figure it out." He grinned. "I'm Dallas, but my Latin name was Sextus. Salve"

Suddenly giggles rose up in my chest like soda bubbles. It was kind of funny. "Salve. I'm Flavia. I mean, Ally. My name is Allyson, but everyone calls me Ally"

"Anyway, I hate the name Allyson, but I do wish people called me Als. It's prettier"

He nodded. "I see"

I decided to change the subject. "So do you stay in a house around here?"

"We're renting the house two blocks down. My mom sort of made me come," Dallas said, rubbing the top of his head self-consciously. "What about you? Why'd you come, Als?"

I was startled when he used that nickname. It just rolled right off his tongue. It felt like the first day of school. But I liked it. "I don't know," I said. "I guess because Clay invited me"

Everything that came out of my mouth sounded so generic. For some reason I wanted to impress this boy. I wanted him to like me. I could feel him judging me, judging the dumb things I said. I'm smart too, I wanted to tell him. I told myself it was fine, it didn't matter if he thought I was smart or not.

But it did.

"I think I'm going to leave soon," he said, finishing his water. He didn't look at me when he said, "Do you need a ride?"

"No," I said. I tried to swallow my disappointment that he was leaving already. "I came with those guys over there" I pointed at Austin and Riker.

"I figured, the way your brother kept looking over here" Dallas stated as he nodded in agreement. I almost choked.

"My brother? Who? Him?" I asked as I pointed at Austin. He wasn't looking at us. He was looking at a brunette girl in a Red Sox cap, and she was looking right back. He was laughing, and he never laughed.

"Yeah"

"He's not my brother. He tries to act like he is, but he's not," I said. "He thinks he's everybody's big brother. It's so patronizing… Why are you leaving already anyway? You're gonna miss the fireworks"

He cleared his throat like he was embarrassed. "Um, I was actually gonna go home and study"

"Latin?" I covered my mouth with my hand to keep from giggling.

"No. I'm studying whales. I want to intern on a whale watching boat, and I have to take this whaling exam next month" he said, rubbing the top of his head again.

"Oh. That's cool" I said. I wished he wasn't leaving already. I didn't want him to go. He was nice. Standing next to him, I felt like Thumbelina, little and precious. He was that tall. If he left, I'd be all alone.

"You know what, maybe I will get a ride. Wait here. I'll be right back" I hurried over to Austin, walking so fast I kicked up sand behind me.

"Hey, I'm gonna get a ride" I said breathlessly. The brunette Red Sox girl looked me up and down.

"Hello" she said.

"With who?" Austin asked. I pointed at Dallas.

"Him"

"You're not riding with someone you don't even know"Austin said flatly.

"I do so know him. He's Sextus!"

Austin narrowed his eyes. "Sex what?"

"Never mind. His name is Dallas, he's studying whales, and you don't get to decide who I ride home with. I was just letting you know, as a courtesy. I wasn't asking for your permission" I started to walk away, but he grabbed my elbow.

"I don't care what he's studying. It's not gonna happen" he said casually but his grip was tight, "If you want to go, I'll take you"

I took a deep breath. I had to keep cool. I wasn't going to let him goad me into being a baby, not in front of all these people. "No, thanks" I replied, trying to walk away again. But he didn't let go. I wanted so badly to throw a handful of sand in his face. I tried to twist out of his grip.

"Let go of me! That hurts!" I exclaimed. Austin let go immediately, his face red. It didn't really hurt, but I wanted to embarrass him the way he was embarrassing me.

I announced rather loudly, "I'd rather ride with a stranger than with someone who's been drinking!"

"I've had one beer," he snapped. "I weigh a hundred and seventy-five pounds. Wait half an hour and I'll take you. Stop being such a brat"

I could feel tears starting to spark my eyelids. I looked over my shoulder to see if Dallas was watching. He was... just my luck….

"You're an asshole" I told Austin as I tried to hurt him the way he was embarrassing me.

He looked me dead in the eyes and retorted, "And you're a four-year-old"

As I walked away, I heard the girl ask, "Is she your girlfriend?"

I whirled around, and we both said "No!" at the same time.

Confused, she asked "Well, is she your little sister?" Like I wasn't standing right there. Her perfume was heavy. It felt like it filled all the air around us, like we were breathing her in.

"No, I'm not his little sister" I hated this girl for being a witness to all this. It was humiliating. And she was flawlesss, in the same kind of way Trish was pretty, which somehow made things worse. Austin was the one who answered but when he didn't, I wished he hadn't said anything.

"Her mom is best friends with my mom" So that was all I was to him? His mom's friend's daughter?

I took a deep breath, and without even thinking, I said to the girl, "I've known Austin my whole life. So let me be the one to tell you you're barking up the wrong tree. Austin will never love anyone as much as he loves himself, if you know what I mean…" I lifted up my hand and wiggled my fingers.

"Shut up, Ally" Austin warned. The tops of his ears were turning bright red. It was a low blow, but I didn't care. He deserved it.

Red Sox girl frowned. "What is she talking about, Austin?"

To her I blurted out, "Oh, I'm sorry, do you not know what the idiom barking up the wrong tree means?"

Her pretty face twisted. "You little skank," she hissed. I could feel myself shrinking. I wished I could take it back. I'd never gotten into a fight with a girl before, or with anyone for that matter. Thankfully, Austin broke in then and pointed to the bonfire.

"Ally, go back over there, and wait for me to come get you" he said harshly.

That's when Riker ambled over. "Hey, hey, what's going on?" he asked, smiling in his easy, goofy way.

"Your brother is a jerk," I told him, "That's what's going on" Riker put his arm around me.

"You guys play nice, you hear?" he laughed and I leaned into him.

"I am playing nice. Tell your brother to play nice"

"Wait, are you guys brother and sister too?" the girl asked.

Austin said, "Don't even think about leaving with that guy"

"Aus, chill out," Riker told him, "She's not leaving. Right, Ally?" He looked at me, and I pursed my lips and nodded. Then I gave Austin the dirtiest look I could muster, and I shot one at the girl, too but only when I was far enough away that she wouldn't be able to reach out and grab me by the hair.

I walked back to the bonfire, trying to keep my shoulders straight and high, when inside I felt like a kid who'd gotten yelled at her own birthday party. It wasn't fair, to be treated like I was a kid when I wasn't. I bet me and that girl were the same age.

"What was that all about?" Dallas asked. I was choking back tears as I answered him.

"Let's just go" I told him. But he hesitated, glancing back over at Austin.

"I don't think that's such a good idea, Als but I'll stay here with you and hang out for a while. The whales can wait"

I wanted to kiss him then. I wanted to forget I ever knew Austin and just be there, existing in the bubble of that moment. The first firework went off, somewhere high above us. It sounded like a teakettle whistling loud and proud. It was gold, and it exploded into millions of gold flecks, like confetti over our heads.

We sat by the fire and he told me about whales and I told him about stupid things, like being secretary of French Club, and how my favorite food was pulled pork sandwiches. He said he was a vegetarian. We must have sat there for an hour. I could feel Austin watching us the whole time, and I was so tempted to give him the finger… I hated it when he won.

When it started to get cold, I rubbed my arms, and Dallas took off his hoodie and gave it to me. It was sort of my dream come true… getting cold and having a guy actually give you his hoodie instead of gloating over how smart he'd been to bring one.

I wanted Dallas to think I was cool, like the kind of girl who didn't care what people thought, the kind of person he obviously was. I wanted to be his friend. I also wanted to kiss him. Dallas left when we left. He got up as soon as he saw Riker coming over to get me.

"So long, Als" he said.

I started to unzip his hoodie, but he stopped me.

"That's all right. You can give it to me later" Dallas stated.

"Here, I'll give you my number," I told him, holding my hand out for his phone. I'd never given a boy my phone number before. As I punched in my number, I felt really proud of myself for offering it to him. Backing away, he put the phone into his pocket and smiled.

"I would have found a way to get it back without your number. I'm smart, remember? First prize in oration"

I tried not to smile as he walked away. "You're not that smart" I called out. It felt like fate that we'd met. It felt like the most romantic thing that had ever happened to me, and it was. I watched Austin say good-bye to Red Sox girl. She gave him a hug, and he hugged her back, but not really. I was glad I had ruined his night, if only a little bit.

On the way to the car a girl stopped me. She wore her blonde hair in two pigtails, and she had on a pink low-cut shirt. "Do you like Dallas?" the girl asked me casually. I wondered how she knew him… I thought he'd been a nobody just like me.

"I barely even know him," I told her, and her face relaxed. She was relieved. I recognized that look in her eyes – dreamy and hopeful. It must have been the way I looked when I used to talk about Austin, used to try to think of ways to insert his name into conversation. It made me sad for her, for me.

"I saw the way Kira talked to you" she said abruptly, "Don't worry about her. She sucks as a person"

"Red Sox girl? Yeah, she kind of does suck at being a person" I agreed. Then I waved good-bye to her as Riker and Austin and I made our way to the car.

Austin drove. He was completely sober, and I knew he had been all along. He checked out Dallas's hoodie, but he didn't say anything. We didn't speak to each other once. Riker and I both sat in the backseat, and he tried to joke around, but nobody laughed. I was too busy thinking, remembering everything that had happened that night. I thought to myself "That might have been the best night of my life."

In my yearbook the year before, Trent Jackson wrote that I had "eyes so clear" he could "see right into my soul." Trent was a drama geek, but so what. It still made me feel good. Trish snickered when I showed it to her. She said only Trent would notice the color of my eyes when the rest of the guys were too busy looking at my chest. But this wasn't Trent. This was Dallas, a real guy who had noticed me even before I was pretty.

I was brushing my teeth in the upstairs bathroom when Riker came in, shutting the door behind him.

"What's going on with you and Aus? Why are you guys so mad at each other?" Riker asked as he reached for his toothbrush before hopping up onto the sink. Riker hated it when people fought. It was part of why he always played the clown. He took it upon himself to bring levity to any situation. It was sweet but also kind of annoying. Through a mouthful of toothpaste I answered him.

"Um, because he's a self-righteous neo-maxi-zoom-dweebie?"

We both laughed at that. It was one of our little inside jokes, a line from The Breakfast Club that we spent repeating to each other the summer I was eight and he was nine. Riker cleared his throat.

"Seriously, though, don't be so hard on him. He's going through some stuff"

This was news to me. "What? What stuff?" I demanded.

Riker hesitated. "It's not up to me to tell you"

"Come on. We tell each other everything, Rik. No secrets, remember?"

He smiled. "I remember. But I still can't tell you. It's not my secret"

Frowning, I turned the faucet on and said, "You always take his side"

"I'm not taking his side. I'm just telling his side"

"Same thing"

He reached out and turned the corners of my mouth up. It was one of his oldest tricks; no matter what, it made me smile.

"No pouting, Als, remember?" and I had the sudden urge to punch him on the arm and hug him at the same time.

No Pouting was a rule Austin and Jack had made up one summer. I think I was eight or nine. The thing was that it only applied to me. The boys even put a sign up on my bedroom door. I tore it down, of course, and I ran and told Mimi and my mom. That night I got seconds on dessert, I remember. Anytime I acted the slightest bit sad or unhappy, one of the boys would start yelling, "No pouting! No pouting!" And, okay, maybe I did pout a lot, but it was the only way I could ever get my way. In some ways it was even harder being the only girl back then. In some ways not.