Chapter 11 – Explanations Wanted

Aonghus was frantically looking around his room for the one thing he wanted to get done during the vacation. He couldn't remember where he put them until he saw a small, square wrapping sticking out from under the carpet. He crawled over to the edge and pulled out a couple of the condoms. He stuffed the condoms in his socks, that way, incase his parents looked into the bag, they wouldn't see anything. He brought his bag out to the car and saw Amanda doing the same across the street.

"On your left," Bryant said from behind him. Aonghus moved out of the way.

"I'm gunna call Lara and let her know we are on her way," Aonghus said.

"Ok then. Oh, but wait," Bryant said. Aonghus turned around, opening his phone trying to find Lara's number. "I'm gunna let you know now. Mom and Dad said they wanted some alone time for once so they aren't coming up until the next day. I have to go finish packing the rest of the stuff, but you need to go over and tell Amanda's parents."

"Sure," Aonghus said, pressing the dial button. Lara answered, and told Aonghus that she was fully packed already. He told her they would be over in 15 minutes, added an "I love you", and then hung up the phone. After the phone call he walked over to Amanda who was carrying a relatively heavy box.

"Here, let me take that," Aonghus said, taking the box from her. He loaded the box into the car, and closed the trunk. "Can you do me a favor real quick? Just tell your parents that my parents aren't coming down to the shore for another day. They want alone time," Aonghus said, adding air quotes around alone time.

"Will do. So wait? Are you not coming down for another day?" Amanda asked.

"No, Bryant is driving us," Aonghus explained. "Oh, hey, you are more than welcome to join our car. Me, Lara, and Bryant will be there. Better than you parents."

"Sure. I'll just have to check with them first, but I am sure they will be ok with it," Amanda said. "My sister might want to come, too."

"What?" Aonghus asked.

"My sister. She will want to come too," Amanda repeated.

"You have a sister?" Aonghus asked.

"Yea, she's 12. You knew I had a sister," Amanda said.

"How long have you had a sister?" Aonghus asked again, unable to picture her.

"Uhh... 12 years?" Amanda said. "You have been my friend since we were 4, how do you not know I have a sister?"

"I dunno. I just can't picture this sister. Sure she can some, too. Although the car might get a little crowded," Aonghus said.

"Fine with me," Amanda said.

"Ok then," Aonghus said. He just stood there for a few minutes. Amanda looked back.

"You're gunna ask me what my sister's name is, aren't you?" Amanda said.

"No. Why would you- Of course not, I'm not going to- no- yes, yes I am," Aonghus said, stammering over each word. Amanda hit him in the side of the arm.

"It's Chloe," Amanda said, walking up the driveway.

"I'm sorry but you hardly ever talk about her... and that punch hurt..."

At first, the car ride was silent. Then it turned into a 'rousing' game of the licenses plate game. Chloe was winning by a long shot, but that was only because everyone had there mind on something else. Bryant was thinking about Lara's pregnancy. Lara was thinking about her pregnancy and how to tell Aonghus. Amanda was thinking about how she had put on this stupid barrier, being happy all the time, even though the fact that Lara and Aonghus together was killing her, and Aonghus was trying to think of a way to get Lara to become less distant. Chloe was the only one in the car that was actually not depressed.

When they finally all reached the house everyone gasped. "That house is huge," Aonghus said.

"Well, I expect so. When my Aunt said they have a pool on the second floor. How they got it on the second floor is beyond me," Amanda said.

"Why does she need a pool? The beach is her backyard!" Bryant said.

"The pool and the ocean are two different things," Chloe chimed in.

"You guys want to go to the beach now?" Aonghus asked.

"Sure," Amanda said. "I gotta ask my mom and dad fist." She and Chloe then disappeared behind the car. When she came back she said, "My parents said we should unpack first."

After they each chose their own rooms and finished packing, they all came out in their bathing suits. They were only waiting for Bryant and Lara. Amanda and Aonghus were standing outside Lara's room as Bryant walked by.

"Woa," Amanda sighed as he walked past. She stared at his abs, and then when his back was to them she stared at his ass.

As Bryant was going down the stairs, he shouted back up, "I'm going down by the beach to meet some ladies. I'll be back later tonight."

After he was out of ear-shot, Amanda said to Aonghus, "If I had a penis, I would have an erection when he walked by." Aonghus then elbowed her softly in her side.

"That's my brother!" He then turned around and saw Lara walk out of her room. He looked her up and down, then found a spot to stare at about 8 inched below her face.

Amanda looked down, blushed, and leaned in, "Speaking of erection..." Aonghus looked down, blushed, and turned around. Chloe walked past, saw Aonghus, shook her head and said, "Put it away." As soon as Aonghus fixed his 'problem' he turned back around.

"Ready to go?" Aonghus asked.

"I just need help putting on my suntan lotion," Lara said.

"And it's back," Amanda said.

"What?" Lara asked, confused.

"I said I'll put the lotion on before Aonghus' pants explode." Amanda said. Aonghus blushed, and Amanda walked into Lara's room to help put her lotion on.

Once they were all on the beach, Amanda and her sister headed straight for the water.

"You guys coming?" Amanda asked Aonghus and Lara.

"One minute," Aonghus said.

"Suit yourself," Amanda said. She then head for the water with Chloe.

Once Amanda and Chloe were gone, Aonghus turned around and looked at Lara. "You know you're really beautiful?" Aonghus said.

"Yea, yea," Lara responded. Aonghus leaned in to kiss her and she gave him the cheek.

"Lara? I think we need to talk," Aonghus said. Lara looked up.

"About what?" Lara asked.

"Us," Aonghus said. Lara shifted awkwardly in her spot. She knew she was being too distant for her own good; she just wasn't sure what she would say when Aonghus brought this up.

"Lately, you have become a little... I dunno how to put this... you have become a little distant," Aonghus said. "Whenever I go to kiss you or I make a move to make out with you, you give me the cheek whenever I bring up sex you say no. I just want to know what's going on."

"I thought you said you wouldn't force me to do something that I didn't want to do, like sex," Lara said, trying to avoid the subject.

"I'm not forcing you to do it, I', just asking why you won't. We used to make out all the time and you would always let me kiss you, but the past few weeks, you just won't let me do any of it."

"Well, it's just. For the past few weeks I have just been feeling sick. I don't want you to catch anything," said Lara. This excuse bought her some time, a few weeks maybe. Aonghus thought that was the lamest excuse in the world, but the beach isn't the best spot to have this conversation so he just let it slide until tonight.

Aonghus sighed. "Ok. If that's really it, then fine." He leaned in and kissed her on the forehead. He noticed it wasn't hot at all, so there was no fever. "Wanna go in the water now?"

"Sure," Lara said back. The two of them walked up to Amanda and Chloe and Aonghus went to wrap his arm around Lara. She just brushed it off, and ran ahead up to the girls in the water.

You can't catch a cold from touching someone. Aonghus thought