Chapter Two

Jay's POV

I skated into the richer part of Dogtown, past Sid's house and came to a stop in Ella's driveway. I could see her bedroom window from where I stood and I shouted, "Coop! Hey Coop! Get your ass out here! Let's get going girl!"

Ella stuck her hand out the window and flipped me off. Less than a minute later she was running out the door, skateboard under her arm.

"What's up Coop?" I said high fiving her.

She shrugged, dropped her board and started off down the street. I shook my head and started after her. I fell inline with her and grabbed her arm and pulled her towards me. Our boards touched and I pulled her into a hug.

She whooped as we continued our ride. We reached the pier where Stacy, Tony, and Sid were all sitting around. I let go of Coop and we both stopped and exchanged greetings with the guys.

"Well, you two looked cozy riding down the street together," Sid commented.

I smacked him upside the head as Ella and I both muttered, "Smart ass."

"So guys, what's the plan for today?" Ella asked sitting down between Stacy and Sid.

"Um…tearing up the streets, reeking havoc on unsuspecting losers, the usual junk," I said smirking.

"I'm hungry," Tony said.

"Burger?" Stacy suggested.

"Burger," Ella said standing up. She handed her board to Sid.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

She jumped on my back, I instinctively wrapped my arms around her legs, and she loudly proclaimed, "I am lazy and demand that you, Jay Adams, carry me!"

I nudged my board with my foot so it rolled towards Stacy. It hit his ankle and he picked it up slowly. Tony dropped his board and skated off followed by Sid. I started walking with Ella and I heard Stacy drop his board and he skated past us.

Ella tightened her grip around my neck and said, "Thanks Jay."

"Anytime Coop," I replied.

Stacy's POV

Why does it bother me so much that Jay was holding her when they met up with us? Why does it bother me so much that he's carrying her now? Why does it bother me so much that they spend so much time alone?

We had been sitting the in the restaurant where I worked part time for over ten minutes (okay, it was eleven minutes and thirty four seconds) when they finally turned up. Ella got off Jay's back and sat down next to me.

"Seriously, Ella looked really cute on Jay's back," Sid said.

This time I smacked him upside the head.

Ella's POV

After we had eaten I said, "Who's up for a little wave riding?"

Jay shook his head. "Nah, I'm gonna go home and check on my mom."

"Me and Sid are headed to the shop," Tony said,

"I'm up for getting wet," Stacy said.

"Sweet, I'm gonna go home to change and get my board and I'll meet you at the pier," I said.

"I could pick you up…I do have a car," Stacy said.

"Sure, I'll see you later then," I said standing up. I flashed them the rock on sign and left.

Tony's POV

As Ella left I looked at the others.

"Hey, did she chip in?"

Ella's POV

I skated up my drive way and picked up my board when I hit the porch.

I went inside and heard my dad call, "Eleanor?"

I went into his study and said, "Hey Dad. What's up?"

"Where were you?" he asked leafing through a bunch of papers.

"Out with the guys grabbing lunch. Stacy and I are going surfing now," I replied.

"Good…good…you have fun. Um, lunch! Tomorrow, I'm having a lunch for some of my business associates and I want you to be there," he said, still not looking at me. "You're friend's dad's going to be there….um Steve's dad!"

"That's Sid, Dad," I corrected him.

"Right, right, Sid. Well, I told his father to bring him along, so you won't be all alone," Dad said.

"Great," I said.

"So you'll be there then?" he asked.

"Yeah," I sighed. I left before he could say anything else and ran up to my room.

I threw on my purple bikini and a pair of shorts (which I think belong to Tony). I grabbed my board and headed outside just as Stacy pulled up.

I shoved my board through the back window on top of his and got in the front.

"Hey Ellie," he flashed me a smile.

"Hey Peralta," I said sitting back. He was looking at me kind of weird and he wouldn't look me in the face. "Stace?" he came back to earth. "Drive."

"Right, beach," he said pulling out of my driveway.

"You okay?" I asked.

He just nodded and stared straight ahead.

Stacy's POV

She looked so good in that bikini! I remember she had gotten it for her fifteenth birthday from Jay. She had worn it swimming in her pool after the party, when it was just me, Tony, Sid, and Jay left. She looked good in it then and she looked even better in it now!

We drove in silence and when we reached the beach I sat on the sand for awhile, watching her.

She caught every wave smoothly and easily, as if she became one with the board and water.

I shook my head and grabbed my own board. Nothing was going to happen between us and I'd have to accept it.

I just set foot in the water when I heard a familiar whoop. I turned to see Jay and Tony running towards me, skateboards in one hand and surfboards under their other arm.

"What's up Stace?" Tony yelled as he dropped his stuff with mine and Ella's and ran towards the water with Jay right behind him.

We caught a few waves together before Jay collided with a pillar. None of us noticed until Ella caught sight of him half-sitting in the shallows looking dazed.

She reached him first and tugged him onto dry sand.

"Jay? You alright?" she asked worriedly.

"No, hit head, ow," he slurred.

Ella's POV

The smell of liquor was strong on his breath. I looked up at Tony. "Can I borrow your board?"

He nodded and I said, "Come on Adams, you're going home."

I got his stuff, threw on my shorts, and grabbed Tony's board.

"Later guys," I said as I walk up the beach to where Jay was waiting.

When we hit pavement I refused to let Jay skate. "You're drunk and you hit your head. There's no way I'm letting you go off and board."

We walked in silence before I finally said, "Why were you drinking?"

"What are you talking about? You drink too," he said in a smartass tone.

"Not during the day, smartass and neither do you," I said.

He was silent for a minute before he finally said, "My mom's not doing so well and unfortunately, she thinks that alcohol cures everything."

"I guess I'd be drinking too," I admitted and Jay smiled at me.

We reached his door and I was about to say goodbye when Jay suddenly grabbed me and kissed me hard on the mouth.

I pulled back in surprise and he looked deep in my eyes.

"Coop," he mumbled. "I like you a lot."