My note…sorry for the delay in updates, last week was crazy. We had a full week of rehearsals for a dance competition, that took up most of my time…our studio placed first by the way(hooray). I promise to stick to some sort of schedule from now on and update as regularly as possible.
A DAY AT THE BEACH
CHAPTER 2: SUMMERTIME
The quiet bustling around the store was broken by the shrill of the alarm as the back door was opened. All attention turned to see an overly excited Ashley hurrying through the curtain that hung in the doorway, her arms full of packages.
"It's about damn time", Spinner scolded as he piled up the t-shirts he had just folded. He looked up at the clock on the wall. "It's after ten".
"I know. Sorry I'm so late", Ashley a apologized sincerely. "I brought coffee", she offered brightly, holding out the two trays in her hands. Marco grabbed the trays from her and put them down on an uncluttered section of counter just as her arms almost gave out.
Ashley flashed a 'thank you' smile at Marco and turned to give Jimmy a quick kiss on the cheek as she passed him. "I over slept, but I guess not getting to bed until after three am probably had something to do with that", she rambled slightly and began passing out the proper cup to each of her friends.
"For someone who was up so late, you're awfully perky this morning", Ellie smirked, taking a sip of her coffee.
"Got some really exciting news", Ashley chirpped and smiled brightly, handing Jimmy his cup.
"Well it better be", Spinner grumbled and grabbed quickly for his drink. "I thought you were too tired to go out last night", he added sarcastically. Spinner looked from Ashley, down to Jimmy and back again. "If you guys wanted to be alone last night, you could've just said something", he sighed dejectedly, feeling very left out.
"Ah, we didn't go out", Jimmy stated flatly, looking up at Ashley with confusion written all over his face.
"So, just what were you up to in the wee hours of this glorious morning, Hun?", Paige quipped inquisitively.
"Yes Miss Kerwin, what's got you so giddy?", Marco asked teasingly, his interest also piqued.
"Well...", she sighed dramatically sitting down on the stool at the front counter and sifting through her bags. "...when I got home last night, my mom and Jeff we talking to Toby and Liberty...they had stopped home after their movie to...".
"I knew it...she ditched us to go out with her dorky stepbrother and his boring girlfriend", Spinner half yelled in disbelief.
Jimmy smacked Spinner squarely in the gut from where he sat and gave him a warning look. Ashley smiled and blushed at Jimmy's protectiveness then turned to Spinner. "If you don't let me finish Spin, I won't give you first pick of the donuts I brought", Ashley stated in a soft, innocent tone.
Spinner looked over at the bags Ashley had motioned to. "You brought donuts, too?", he asked with a childlike anticipation.
Ashley nodded and grinned slyly, then got back to the matter at hand. "Now that that's settled...I wasn't out on the town last night, as some of you may think", she looked pointedly over at Spinner. "I was busy in my room, trying to figure a solution to our little problem".
They all looked at her suspiciously and she continued, "Spinner was right...".
"I was?", Spinner gasped, just as the others asked in unison...
"He was?".
"Yeah, he was", Ashley confirmed. "We need to live a little...have some fun this summer".
The looks were becomming more intense, so Ashley decided to clarify. "All we do is work,work, work", she sighed. "Now it's time for a little R&R".
"Like a vacation?", Paige questioned excitedly.
"Exactly!", Ashley exclaimed.
"All of us...together?", Ellie questioned in confusion.
Ashley nodded and smiled. "And just how are we supposed to pull that off?", Marco asked in a joking tone.
"That's what I was trying to figure out", Ashley replied, hopping off the stool and pulling a medium sized calendar from her bag. She placed it on top of a bunch of shirts on a low table. She looked over the writting scribbled over the page and sighed. "Jimmy and I will be done with our summer jobs at the end of this month", she explained. "El, your assignment at the Core ends the week after, right?".
"Yeah", Ellie nodded and raised her brow in curiosity.
"Spinner, you were planning on taking some time off from the Dot when?", Ashley asked.
"Ah, the second week of August", he answered, pointing to the date on the calendar.
Ashley smiled. "Marco, Paige...do you guys have anything planned for this week?", she asked even though she knew they probably didn't.
Paige shook her head no and Marco chuckled, "I guess we do now".
"What about the store?", Jimmy finally spoke up, his eyes scanning the room then settling on Ashley's. "We can't all leave".
"Sure we can. We'll just close shop for a few days...no body'll even miss us ", Spinner shrugged indifferently.
"Spin, are you crazy? Have you seen how busy we've been?", Jimmy asked questionably . "There's no way we can close up...we can't afford to lose that much business".
"And we don't have to", Ashley replied, coming up to Jimmy and hugging him from behind. She kissed him on the cheek and smiled. "I've got some people who are very willing to volunteer their time to keep the store running".
"Who?", Jimmy asked, craning his neck back to look at Ashley. Their lips were just a few inches apart and Ashley couldn't help but press hers to his.
They broke apart, but didn't move away. "Toby and Liberty offered to work days and Mom and Jeff will close up at night", Ashley stated, cupping Jimmy's face and reclaiming his lips.
Jimmy backed away and gave Ashley an appreciative smile, but still looked unconvinced. "Okay, that sounds great and all...but where are we gonna go?", he asked defeatedly. "We can't afford to...".
"That's the best part", Ashley politely interrupted, stepping behind Jimmy and placing her hands on his shoulders. "What would you guys say to five days of sun, sand and swimming...free of charge?".
"I'd say...sign me up Hun", Paige quipped.
"I'm totally there", Marco added, gently nudging Ellie in the ribs. She smiled at Ashley and nodded in agreement.
All eyes traveled over to Spinner. "Well yeah, of course", he chuckled excitedly.
Ashley squealed happily and squeezed Jimmy's shoulders. "So, where exactly are we going, some magical island retreat?", he smirked, turning his head to look up at her.
"Not quite", Ashley grimaced slightly. "Since we don't have a lot of time...or money, we have to settle for the next best thing...My family beach house", she stated cautiously, trailing off at the end. Ashley paused, trying to read her friends immediate reactions.
"Oh my God...I haven't been there since like grade nine", Paige cheered, running over to give Ashley a huge hug.
"I remember the place", Spinner recalled. "It's not too far, about a two hour drive...more than enough room...awesome view...", he drifted off into his own thoughts.
"...at least ten steps leading up to the front door...bedrooms upstairs...miles and miles of sand...", Jimmy mumbled disappointedly, under his breath.
Ashley leaned forward. "It's all been taken care of", she whispered sweetly into his ear and kissed the side of his neck softly before standing straight.
Just as Ashley was about to address her friends again, there was a soft tapping on the door. "Shit, it's time to open", Spinner grunted as he looked at the clock on the wall. The group dispersed around the store, their vacation plans temporarily forgotten as the steady stream of customers filed into the store.
Ashley started picking her things off of the merchandise and moved toward the back room. "Ash wait", Jimmy called, tugging gently on her arm. "What did you mean before...about the...".
Ashley's playful sigh interrupted Jimmy. "Exactly what I said...it's all taken care of", she reiterated. "Don't worry about it". Jimmy smiled back at her and nodded as they took their usual spots behind the register.
Paige took the bags off the counter and the stuff out of Ashley's hands and headed for the stock room, passing Spinner on the way. "Damn, I never got my donut", he grumbled as he watched the packages disappear. The light bulb suddenly flickered and a huge grin spread across Spinner's face.
"Hey Spin, where ya goin'...we just opened", Jimmy teased.
"Dude, I've already been here three hours...I'm takin' a break", he replied, deadpan.
Jimmy and Ashley shared a chuckle. "Save some for the rest of us", Jimmy called out to Spinner, who just gave a backward waive in aknowledgement.
Ashley looked down and nervously started tapping her pen on the accounting book. Jimmy looked up at her with concern. "Hey Ash what's wrong?", he asked, rubbing her arm.
Ashley bit her lower lip trying to disguise the smile that was breaking through. "I guess this little trip won't be as free as I thought it would be...", she paused and Jimmy stared questioningly. "...I never took into account how much Spinner eats", she finished, giggling slightly.
Jimmy laughed along and nodded. "Don't worry about it...", he answered simply, just as she did a few minutes before. "...it's all taken care of".
Ashley matched Jimmy's grin and fought hard not to listen to that little voice inside her head that told her to kiss him as passionately as she could right then and there...We'll save that for vacation, she thought with much anticipation, and quickly got back to work.
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Here's chapter two...sorry it's so late, life is totally crazy. I had to get it posted today, because today is my sis's b-day and this is part of her present(I did get her a real gift too). So happy 17th Meg!!!
I thought I'd have a schedule set by now...but I don't. Maybe after the 4th I will have time to get these chapters out in a timely order.
Anyway...thanks to all who reviewed the first chapter. If I didn't reply to your review, I'm sooooo sorry, I got all confused with my to stories and didn't know who I replied back to, it won't happen again. So, here's a geneal thank you to...ToneOhSoKrazii, lilfiftyfour, luvluv, Rainpath and Havocmangawip...I really appreciate you kind comments.
Degrassi is not mine!!