I'm standing on the pier watching as the yacht crew prepared the boat for our trip. The sky is pretty blue and the water looks calmer then I've ever seen water in my life. It's a beautiful day, the kind of day you dream about spending with the girl you love. Well maybe if it were minus her parents and all. I'm nervous about how this days going to go, but I don't think you can really blame me for that. Wouldn't you be worried if you were in my shoes?
Anyway I am staring out at the water, listening to the sound of the birds as they flew over my head. A smile is plastered on my face and as I focus on the clear aqua colored water, I forget that I'm not alone. So lost in my thoughts I hardly notice the sound of approaching footsteps.
"You don't get sea sick do you Mendoza?" I turn to see TJ standing behind me, in a short jeans cut-offs and a tank top.
"I don't think so." I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her into my chest. "You got a bathing suit on under there?"
She blushes and nods.
"It's a two piece."
"Really? Well let's see it then." I slide the strap of her tank top off her shoulder and am interrupted by a loud throat clearing.
"Ahem, excuse us." Great it's her loving family.
Gloria, her mother makes a snortish noise and gestures to the yacht.
"Shall we go now?"
We board the vessel and I'm whisked away by the captain under the guise that Mr. Lyons wanted me to learn to steer. But I know better, it was pretty evident he's trying to get me away from Tricia. Still I would be cool to get my hands on the controls, so I follow. From where I'm standing I can see the fast waters in front of us, it reminds me of being home, even if it is lake water rather then the Gulf. Either way when I'm not playing hockey back in Miami I'm usually at the beach with friends, so this is my element.
I look out at the bow of the boat and catch a glimpse of TJ, standing alone watching the waves. She reaches down and grabs the hem of her shirt, pulling it slowly over her head. Then she shakes her hair, I'm certain she trying to gain my attention, but it's not like she has to really work hard for it. Tricia-Jean finally sits down on the bow, leaning back on her elbows so her face and flat stomach can be directly in the sun light. Picture the best issue of sports illustrated swimsuit you've ever read, that's what I am looking at. When I think nobody's looking I quickly grab the binoculars hanging near the wheel and focus them on her.
TJ has a bellybutton ring, I never knew that. However it looks hot on her, it's the same ice blue as her eyes, I think it may be her birthstone Aquamarine, March. I've got to go talk to her before I explode. Unfortunately just when I'm about to exit the bridge I'm stopped by Jeremiah Lyons.
"My daughter is a lovely girl."
I nod with unarguable agreement.
"She definitely is sir."
"I'm sure you know that my wife and I only want the best for our children, that we set certain rules for them for their well being."
"All parents do Mr. Lyons."
"Yes, yes we do. But you see Luis, my children, particularly Tricia-Jean have never disobeyed my rules until now. My youngest daughter was born into privilege but more so even then most since I tend to favor her more then my other two children. You understand Luis, we've kept specific groups of people away from the kids, for their own benefit, and it was set a house rule that the children wouldn't go out in search of these kinds of individuals. Tricia-Jean however has taken upon herself to go against my wishes by allowing herself into a relationship with you. Not that I'm saying you're not a fine young man…"
I rolled my eyes rudely and crossed my arms.
"What exactly are you getting at sir?"
"Well son, there are the right sort of people for my daughter find herself in the company of and there are the wrong sort of people. You are the wrong sort and I am prepared to make you an very generous offer to ensure there will be no more of your kind of influence in her life." The man takes a cigarette from his pocket and lights it.
"You're going to pay me to stop hanging around TJ?" I stare at him in disbelief.
"Of course, but I'm not foolish enough to attempt to put a price on Tricia-Jean's feelings for you, so on top of the large amount of cash I'm proposing, I'm willing to use my pull with NASA to get you into it's pre-astronaut program this summer. It would the first step in your dream to go space Mr. Mendoza. However I will not allow her to continue this relationship no matter what you decide, if you go against me on this, I'll be forced to remove my daughter from Eden Hall and send her to Cranberry Ridge School for girls where both her mother and sister went, if you care about her you wouldn't want me to be forced into that. Especially after all she's been through already this year with transferring from Blake and that boy that attacked her. Think it over, I'll give you until you leave tomorrow afternoon."
I wait until he leaves and go look for TJ, she's not sitting at the bow anymore, now she's sunbathing on the starboard side. She's wearing a pair of headphones so I sneak up as quietly as possible. Thankfully he eyes are closed as well, so I slide down onto the deck beside her and gently lean over to kiss her lips.
"Mmm, took you long enough." She moans and pulls my face down to her again. I pull away a little bit and she looks at me puzzled.
"Not in front of you parents TJ." I'm not really pretending to be uncomfortable, I actually am. I feel like the entire Lyons tree is staring at me no matter what I'm doing.
"Oh, I see."
I'm having a hard time looking at her after the discussion I just had with her father. I love her, I don't want to let her go. But then again if being sent to the all girls school was going to hurt as much as he says it will I shouldn't stay with her. I care about her too much to let her be upset that way. Guess I just have to find out, but tact will be required here.
"So TJ, did Colette go to Blake or Eden Hall?" I feign not to know the answer.
She shakes her head.
"No, she went to the Cranberry Ridge school for girls, it's the same place mother went, and she is simply a mini mother. Why?"
"Just curious. So why didn't you go there?"
"They don't have boys or football, Luis it would've been hell on Earth for me."
"So what would you have done if you're parents forced you to go there?"
"Kill myself." Tricia declares.
I sigh.
"I'm not kidding."
"Neither was I." She retorts. "I'd rather kill myself then give up football, before you came along it was my life. And I wouldn't give it even for you."
So that's it then, I know what I have to do. If I want to see her live a long and happy life, I've got to break up with her. This is the most unselfish thing I've ever done. Still I don't want to be unselfish, I want my girlfriend. But I want her alive more then anything, so I'll do it, I just don't know how.
Anyway I am staring out at the water, listening to the sound of the birds as they flew over my head. A smile is plastered on my face and as I focus on the clear aqua colored water, I forget that I'm not alone. So lost in my thoughts I hardly notice the sound of approaching footsteps.
"You don't get sea sick do you Mendoza?" I turn to see TJ standing behind me, in a short jeans cut-offs and a tank top.
"I don't think so." I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her into my chest. "You got a bathing suit on under there?"
She blushes and nods.
"It's a two piece."
"Really? Well let's see it then." I slide the strap of her tank top off her shoulder and am interrupted by a loud throat clearing.
"Ahem, excuse us." Great it's her loving family.
Gloria, her mother makes a snortish noise and gestures to the yacht.
"Shall we go now?"
We board the vessel and I'm whisked away by the captain under the guise that Mr. Lyons wanted me to learn to steer. But I know better, it was pretty evident he's trying to get me away from Tricia. Still I would be cool to get my hands on the controls, so I follow. From where I'm standing I can see the fast waters in front of us, it reminds me of being home, even if it is lake water rather then the Gulf. Either way when I'm not playing hockey back in Miami I'm usually at the beach with friends, so this is my element.
I look out at the bow of the boat and catch a glimpse of TJ, standing alone watching the waves. She reaches down and grabs the hem of her shirt, pulling it slowly over her head. Then she shakes her hair, I'm certain she trying to gain my attention, but it's not like she has to really work hard for it. Tricia-Jean finally sits down on the bow, leaning back on her elbows so her face and flat stomach can be directly in the sun light. Picture the best issue of sports illustrated swimsuit you've ever read, that's what I am looking at. When I think nobody's looking I quickly grab the binoculars hanging near the wheel and focus them on her.
TJ has a bellybutton ring, I never knew that. However it looks hot on her, it's the same ice blue as her eyes, I think it may be her birthstone Aquamarine, March. I've got to go talk to her before I explode. Unfortunately just when I'm about to exit the bridge I'm stopped by Jeremiah Lyons.
"My daughter is a lovely girl."
I nod with unarguable agreement.
"She definitely is sir."
"I'm sure you know that my wife and I only want the best for our children, that we set certain rules for them for their well being."
"All parents do Mr. Lyons."
"Yes, yes we do. But you see Luis, my children, particularly Tricia-Jean have never disobeyed my rules until now. My youngest daughter was born into privilege but more so even then most since I tend to favor her more then my other two children. You understand Luis, we've kept specific groups of people away from the kids, for their own benefit, and it was set a house rule that the children wouldn't go out in search of these kinds of individuals. Tricia-Jean however has taken upon herself to go against my wishes by allowing herself into a relationship with you. Not that I'm saying you're not a fine young man…"
I rolled my eyes rudely and crossed my arms.
"What exactly are you getting at sir?"
"Well son, there are the right sort of people for my daughter find herself in the company of and there are the wrong sort of people. You are the wrong sort and I am prepared to make you an very generous offer to ensure there will be no more of your kind of influence in her life." The man takes a cigarette from his pocket and lights it.
"You're going to pay me to stop hanging around TJ?" I stare at him in disbelief.
"Of course, but I'm not foolish enough to attempt to put a price on Tricia-Jean's feelings for you, so on top of the large amount of cash I'm proposing, I'm willing to use my pull with NASA to get you into it's pre-astronaut program this summer. It would the first step in your dream to go space Mr. Mendoza. However I will not allow her to continue this relationship no matter what you decide, if you go against me on this, I'll be forced to remove my daughter from Eden Hall and send her to Cranberry Ridge School for girls where both her mother and sister went, if you care about her you wouldn't want me to be forced into that. Especially after all she's been through already this year with transferring from Blake and that boy that attacked her. Think it over, I'll give you until you leave tomorrow afternoon."
I wait until he leaves and go look for TJ, she's not sitting at the bow anymore, now she's sunbathing on the starboard side. She's wearing a pair of headphones so I sneak up as quietly as possible. Thankfully he eyes are closed as well, so I slide down onto the deck beside her and gently lean over to kiss her lips.
"Mmm, took you long enough." She moans and pulls my face down to her again. I pull away a little bit and she looks at me puzzled.
"Not in front of you parents TJ." I'm not really pretending to be uncomfortable, I actually am. I feel like the entire Lyons tree is staring at me no matter what I'm doing.
"Oh, I see."
I'm having a hard time looking at her after the discussion I just had with her father. I love her, I don't want to let her go. But then again if being sent to the all girls school was going to hurt as much as he says it will I shouldn't stay with her. I care about her too much to let her be upset that way. Guess I just have to find out, but tact will be required here.
"So TJ, did Colette go to Blake or Eden Hall?" I feign not to know the answer.
She shakes her head.
"No, she went to the Cranberry Ridge school for girls, it's the same place mother went, and she is simply a mini mother. Why?"
"Just curious. So why didn't you go there?"
"They don't have boys or football, Luis it would've been hell on Earth for me."
"So what would you have done if you're parents forced you to go there?"
"Kill myself." Tricia declares.
I sigh.
"I'm not kidding."
"Neither was I." She retorts. "I'd rather kill myself then give up football, before you came along it was my life. And I wouldn't give it even for you."
So that's it then, I know what I have to do. If I want to see her live a long and happy life, I've got to break up with her. This is the most unselfish thing I've ever done. Still I don't want to be unselfish, I want my girlfriend. But I want her alive more then anything, so I'll do it, I just don't know how.