Cali walked out into the damp summer air that always followed the rain. She curled herself into the arms of a white Adirondack chair and stared out over the ocean. Today even the sound of the waves was unsettling. The usual calm that she had grown accustomed to when she and Tanner spent
their evenings on this balcony together seemed distant and unattainable. Cali pulled her arms inside Tanner's navy blue UCLA sweatshirt and breathed in the scent of his cologne. She briefly wandered in a memory and let a few sea salt tears trail down the sides of her face. She flinched at the sudden feel of someone's arms reaching around her from behind
"Hey there, you okay?" they asked. Cali's heart jumped at the comfortingly familiar sound of Jesse's voice. She quickly wiped her eyes and attempted to hide her grief ridden expression.
"Yea I'm ah…I'm…not doing too well Jess…" she said, her voice trembling. Jesse rested his chin on Cali's shoulder and held her even closer to him.
"…I know…you've had a rough morning." He replied.
"Tell me about it…I lost of the one person in my life who I…" she paused and tried to keep herself from crying. "Love?" Jesse said tenderly. Cali was briefly comforted by the sincerity in Jesse's voice.
"Listen Cal…I've known you for awhile now, and I'd be lying to you if I said that you weren't one of the most important people in my life right now. I know that all relationships have their fallouts…look at my parents if you want proof. But to be honest, Tanner doesn't just care about you, but he needs you more than anyone. Trust me I've had to deal with his "I think I'm going to marry that girl" speeches everyday since he met you. You guys really are perfect together and what happened earlier this morning isn't going to change the way either of you feel. So if anything, reconsider this whole break up deal. I know what its like to lose someone you love and I don't want you to have to go through what I have just because of a little fight. Okay?" Cali looked up at Jesse in a way that she hadn't before, the young boy that she was so used to looking after was not standing in front of her now. Jesse reminded her of just what she loved about Tanner. He half smiled when he saw the glimmer in Cali's eyes briefly reappear. Cali stood up and ruffled Jesse's golden blond hair.
"You know something?" Jesse shook his head a smiled.
"Nah what?" he asked.
"You're growing up too fast kid, don't forget to slow down and enjoy the little things." Cali said lightheartedly, then leaned in a kissed him on the cheek.
"See ya later Jess, I've got relationship to save." She said as she turned and walked back inside.
Jen came up the stairs into Cali's room and walked outside to the Balcony where Jesse was standing.
"Hey Jess! What's up? Did you talk to Cali yet?" she asked cheerfully then gently wrapped her arms around his waist. He smiled warmly and pulled her in closer to him.
"Yea, I think her and Tanner are gunna be okay." He said assuredly.
"I hope so…that fight worried me this morning…mainly because the end of the summer is putting pressure on everyone…everything is 3 times more intense then it needs to be…I just don't wanna think about leaving…" Jesse placed his finger gently over her lips.
"Then don't."
He leaned in a pressed his lips softly against hers, and she his, but unlike before their passion seemed intertwined with a subtle sorrow. Jesse stepped forward towards the door of Cali's room and Jen leaned back against it. He let sigh escape from his lips at the feel of her body against his. Jen ran her fingers through his hair and kissed her way down his neck. She reached under the edge of Jesse's shirt and pulled it off over his head then continued to leave a trail of kisses down his chest. She stopped.
"Ah babe?" she said.
"Uhuh?" Jesse said with his eyes still closed.
"I know this is exciting and everything but you're pants are going beserk right now." Jesse snapped out of his euphoric daze and looked down. His pocket was vibrating. He frantically reached down and pulled out his phone. Jen laughed. Jesse glared at her.
"It's my phone, moron." He said feeling completely embarrassed.
"Yeaa…riighhtt." Jen said sarcastically. Jesse's face turned bright red as turned to faced away from her to answer the call.
"Jesse here? What can I do you for?" he said.
"Hey Jess, it's Tanner um…I need a favor from you." He said loudly over the music playing in the background.
"Okay…where are you dude? I can't even hear you." Jesse shouted.
"At Fletcher's, look I need you to listen to me. Do you remember when we sung that Coldplay song for Cali awhile ago?" he said.
"Yea, definitely." Jesse replied.
"Well I wanna do it live for Cali tonight, at The Cove Restaurant, I talked to the manager and he's going to let us perform. So can you get Cali and Jen down here by 7:00? We're scheduled to go on at 7:30." Tanner said authoritatively.
"Awesome I'm there." Jesse said.
"Great but you can't tell either Cali or Jen about this. It'll be our little surprise okay?" he replied.
"Yea no problem, I'll keep it on the dl." Jesse said smiling.
"Alright I'll see you at 7:00, and tell the girls to get dressed up or something. The Cove is pretty nice." Jesse smirked.
"Yea, okay Joe Millionaire I'll see you then…Oh yea can I drive? That way the girls will be totally clueless." Tanner rolled his eyes.
"Alright just don't ruin my car comprende?" Jesse bit his bottom lip and smiled.
"I can't make you any promises but I'll try." He said sarcastically. Tanner then said a quick goodbye and hung up the phone.
"Hey what was that all about?" Jen said curiously as she walked over towards Jesse.
"Um...nothing, just Tanner." he mumbled.
"Oh what did he say?" she said as she nibbled on the bottom of his ear. Jesse bit down on his bottom lip.
"He…um…made plans for all of us later…so I should get ready…" he said fighting back the urge he had to kiss her.
"When are going?" she asked.
"We need to be there at 7:00." Jesse said quietly, his cheeks were flushed.
"Okay I'll go tell Cali, should we wear something nice?" she asked.
"Don't you always?" Jesse said slyly. Jen laughed.
"Thanks Jess, but what should we wear?" Jesse rolled his eyes.
"Something fancy, it's a pretty expensive place. So I'll see you in 20." Jesse walked over and hugged her.
"I'll miss you." He said sarcastically. Jen smiled.
"You're a loser but I love you." She said as she leaned in a kissed him. A few seconds later she pulled away.
"That was nice." Jesse said smiling. Jen looked up at him.
"Babe?" she asked.
"Yea?" Jesse said with his eyes closed, still enjoying the moment.
"Is that you're phone again?" Jesse bit down on his bottom lip and flashed her a guilty smile.
"Fraid' not…" Jen stepped away from him and walked towards the door.
"I'd get to that shower if I were you." She said smirking. Jesse blushed.
"Don't worry Cali shuts off the hot water in the summer; it'll be nice and cold." Jen said as she walked back inside and closed the door behind her.