Chapter Four

Ella's POV

I watched Stacy drive off down the street and glanced at my clock. It was 5:57.

I changed into baggy jeans and my Zephyr t-shirt and grabbed my board. I stuffed my wallet in my pocket and headed out for the Zephyr shop.

"Skip!" I called out when I walked into the store.

"Ella, you bring the money bro?" he asked coming out of the back room reeking of beer.

I took out my wallet and showed him the $65 and he retrieved the board from the back room.

"Enjoy dude," he called after me as I rushed out of the store. I went home, dropped my new surfboard off in my room and practiced random skateboard tricks in the driveway until my watch (Stacy and I were the only Z-boys to wear watches) read 6:46.

I took off down the street pier bound.

Jay's POV

I was at the pier at 6:15. I was that excited. Coop actually admitted to liking me.

She was into skating, surfing, and she was totally hot! I'd know her for forever, she was easy to talk to…have I mentioned that she's totally hot?

I heard the familiar (and oddly soothing) sound of skateboard wheels coming to a stop behind me. I turned around and grabbed Coop, kissing her hard on the mouth.

I felt her smile against my lips as I deepened the kiss.

Ella's POV

Jay didn't seem big on talking tonight. The second he saw me he started kissing me. When he broke the kiss he took my hand and we walked down to the beach where he had stashed a cooler full of beer. I was right; Jay's intent was for us to get drunk tonight.

Jay noticed the look on my face as he opened the cooler and tossed me a bottle. He smiled. "You know alcohol helps me relax."

We sat, drinking in silence for awhile before Jay said, "So, how was your day?"

That kind of threw me off. I've never heard Jay ever ask that question to anyone…usually because he never cared.

"Pretty good…well, a little boring. Dad had this luncheon deal and I think I would have had to stab myself if Stacy and Sid weren't there," I replied.

"Yeah…Sid told me his dad was dragging him along. Stacy was there?"

"Yeah, my dad invited him. He really kept me entertained," I said, smiling at the memory.

"Yeah, Stacy's a great guy…" Jay said. He looked at me and pulled me so that I had my back to him and I was between his legs. He rested his chin on my shoulder. "You look so hott tonight."

I turned my head and our lips met. He deepened the kiss and his tongue brushed against my bottom lip. I turned so I was facing him properly and he pulled me in closer.

Sid's POV

I glided through the streets of Dogtown, letting the cool night breeze blow through my hair. I stopped outside Stacy's house and walked up to his front door. Mrs. Peralta let me in and I headed for Stacy's room.

His room's completely dark and I thought he wasn't there for a second but then I heard him let out and agonized moan. He was lying on his bed staring at the ceiling. He raised his head a bit but dropped it back on the pillow when he sees that it's me.

"Dude, what's eating you?" I asked sitting down on his bed. He was still wearing the same thing he wore to Mr. Cooper's luncheon.

"The world sucks, go away," Stacy said, still staring at the ceiling.

I notice music playing quietly. I looked at him and said, "What is that?"

He reaches over to his bedside table and hits the eject button on the tape player. He takes the tape out and throws it at me. It landed on the ground so I picked it up and read the label.

"Songs for Ellie?" I read aloud. I looked at him and cocked an eyebrow.

"It's a mix tape I made for her. It's all her favourite songs…you can have the tape if you want. I was going to burn it anyway," Stacy mutters.

"Okay…question: why?" I asked. I noticed a scrap of paper on the floor and realized it was the track list. I read it and said, "Dude, Elle would love this."

"Because any chances I may have once had with her are now gone. Now will you go away?" Stacy sounded angry and depressed at the same time.

"Wait what? Chances of what? Are you telling me you've got a thing for Ella?" I was shocked. Never once did Stacy ever mention having any feelings other than friendship for Ella.

"Yes, dingbat. I have a thing for Ella," Stacy sighed as he sat up.

"Ella?"

"Yes."

"As in Ella Cooper?"

"Yes."

"As in Eleanor Cooper?"

"Yes."

"As in Ellie?"

"Yes."

"As in Elle?"

"Yes!"

"As in one of the only female Z-boys? "

"Yes!"

"As in the girl Jay calls Coop?"

"Yes, Sid!"

"As in-" Stacy gave me an ugly look.

"Well? Go tell her then you moron! Give her the tape! Tell her how you feel!" I said thrusting the tape at him.

"No, she's out with Jay!" Stacy snapped.

"Jay? As in Jay Adams? As in the one who calls her Coop? As in the one who-"

"Yes! Jay Adams as in the guy who's out with the girl I'm in love with right now!" Stacy almost screamed.

"Whoa, when did you having a thing for Ellie turn into you being in love with Ellie?" I asked.

"I don't know Sid! Look, you can't tell anyone. Not Tony, not Skip, and especially not Ella or Jay!" Stacy said seriously.

"Okay, okay, I swear I won't tell anyone," I promised. I bust out laughing.

"What? Come on Sid, this is completely serious!" Stacy said.

"Yeah, I know, and please don't hurt me for what I'm about to say but…Stacy and Ella sitting in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G! First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes-" WHACK! Stacy hit me upside the head with a pillow. I looked at him still snickering. "Yeah, alright. I deserved that one."

Ella's POV

Jay and I were lying in the sand, our bodies tangled with each other and covered with sand. My head was on his chest and I could feel the steady beat of his heart and feel every breath he took.

I turned my head and caught him staring at me. He smiled and kissed me again. I glanced at my watch and realized that it was almost midnight.

"Jay, I've got to get going…Dad's going to kill me," I said standing up. I slowly got dressed as Jay took it upon himself to try and hide my bra.

"So tonight was a lot of fun-yes Jay, you can keep the damn thing, I don't care-thanks for the beer and showing me such a great time," I said.

He smiled, stood up and got dressed. When we hit pavement he kissed me one last time and we went separate ways. I walked a few blocks and was about to drop my board when a car honked behind me. I turned to see Sid's parent's convertible and Sid poking his head over the side grinning.

"Hey there Ellie, want a ride?" Sid's dad asked.

"Yeah, thanks," I said jumping into the back next to Sid.

He grinned when he noticed the sand caked all over my arms and any other visible skin, my incredibly messy hair, and the lack of bra under my shirt.

"Should I even ask?" he asked.

"Shut up," I rolled my eyes.

"So, Ella, you were out pretty late. We were just picking up Sid from Stacy's house, but you shouldn't be skateboarding alone at this hour," Sid's mom said.

"She was at the beach," Sid said smirking. "Getting a little wet by the looks of it."

I glared daggers at him but that just sent him into a fit of laughter.

We pulled into Sid's driveway and he told his parents that he was going to walk me home.

"Dude, I live down the street, this isn't necessary," I said.

"Yeah, but I just wanted to say, have a good time with Jay tonight? Looks like he defiantly got you wet," he smirked.

"Shut up," I snapped as he laughed. "Hey, how'd you know I was out with Jay?"

"Stacy told me, I was at his place," Sid replied and I nodded.

We reached my front step, I said goodnight to Sid and dashed inside.

"Eleanor?" Dad called from his office.

Damn, I was hoping he'd already be in bed. I smoothed my hair and popped my head in the door.

"Where were you?" he demanded.

"Just at the beach," I replied.

"From now on I want you home at a decent hour, none of this tramping in at all hours of the night business," he said sternly.

"Gee, he must not be drunk yet," I thought. Out loud I said, "Sure Dad."

I closed the door and dashed up to my room. I collapsed on my bed, not bothering to undress. I closed my eyes and thought about my day.

I was about to drift off when one thought streaked across my mind.

What the hell was Stacy talking about?