My note…here's chapter three. I'm so happy with the great following this story has….I just hope I don't do anything to screw that up. I'm trying to make this story different from my other '06 group' fics, and pray that I am succeeding.
A DAY AT THE BEACH
CHAPTER 3: SUMMER HOLIDAY
The weeks went by quickly once the gang threw themselves into planning their five day vacation, coupled with the varying schedules of their every day lives. Before long, it was August, time to pack up and ship out.
"Do ya think we have enough?", Ellie asked sarcastically as Marco and Spinner struggled to close the over stuffed hatch to Jimmy's custom mini-van.
Jimmy looked in his rear view mirror, then hung his head out the drivers side window. "Spin, you're gonna have to take some of that stuff out...I can't see out the back window", he yelled to the back, just as they finally managed to shut the trunk.
"You're kidding, right?", Spinner asked incredulously, walking up to Jimmy.
"Afraid not", he quipped with an innocent shrug. Spinner sighed heavily and turned around. "Told you not to stuff the back like that", Jimmy mumbled under his breath.
"Well you're the one who said we had to make room on the inside for the groceries", Spinner retorted, not bothering to turn back around.
"Yeah, but that's not as important as being able to actually see what's behind me", Jimmy spat back. "It's common sense, Spin...".
"Right, and I don't have any of that. 'Cuz, you know stupid Spinner...can't be trusted to do anything...", Spinner grumbled as he started to walk away. "...just sits there barking orders at us...shoulda done it himself then...", he stopped, immediately catching his mistake and turned slightly, just in time to see Jimmy's stung expression in the side view mirror.
Spinner walked hurriedly to the door and stuttered, "Listen Jimmy...I-I'm...". Jimmy held his hand up to silence him.
"You guys ready?", Ashley interrupted, asking cheerfully. She stuck her head into the window to kiss Jimmy, then smiled over at Spinner...totally missing the awkwardness between the two.
"Yeah, we're ready", Jimmy answered softly, forcing a smile back at her. She nodded to him in acknowledgement and turned to walk away. "But we'll probably need to make two trips", he called out from the window. "The van's maxed and we still need to get the food".
"Okay, that's fine with me", Ashley replied sweetly over her shoulder. "We'll just drop this stuff off, then go to the store".
"You sure?", Jimmy questioned, knowing they'd have to pass the store on their way to the beach house, then back track. Ashley nodded and picked up the last of the small bags.
Spinner hung his head down and reluctantly climed into the back of the van, handing Marco the excess luggage over the back seat, to put on the floor. Jimmy turned to his right in the swiveling drivers seat to pushed his chair a little more out of the way, making room for the additional bags. The girls climbed in next, Ellie and Paige in the back and Ashley in the passenger seat.
"How's that?", Spinner asked as Jimmy turned to face forward again.
"Fine", he clipped, glancing up at his rear-view mirror for added measure and sighed. "Everyone ready?", he asked, his tone a little more relaxed. The vote was a collective "yeah", and they were off.
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The ride was becoming more than pleasurable, Ellie and Paige engaging in friendly chatter, Spinner and Marco asleep in the middle seat, music playing throughout.
Jimmy drove quietly, Ashley noticed, apparently lost in his own thoughts. She took this opportunity to study him. Ashley loved watching him, especially when he drove...his profile was more than gorgeous, eyes fixed on the road, left hand on the steering wheel, right effortlessly maintaining the hand controls with the same second-natured gracefullness that he used when maneuvering his chair.
Ashley smiled to herself...he made it look way too easy. Her limited experierence with the hand controls was definitely not as graceful, her quick accelerations and jerky stops, while always making Jimmy laugh, did nothing for the vans systems. He lovingly dubbed her 'lead hand'.
As if reading her mind...Jimmy let go for a moment and raised his brow pointedly at the control. Ashley frowned and shook her head fervently. Jimmy smirked at her and nodded. She bit her lip nervously and conceeded, tentatively taking the control. It was hard enough in the drivers seat, but from the passenger seat it was next to impossible...and now she didn't have the back-up of the foot pedals at her disposal.
Jimmy paused a second before laying his hand on top of hers and Ashley realized his intentions had nothing to do with driving...Jimmy wanted to hold her hand and this would have to do, until they reached the highway and he could put the van on cruise control. Ashley relaxed and settled into her seat as Jimmy entwined his fingers with hers.
Ashley started to fidget as they neared the house. She had kept the upgrades to herself, coming up here with her family the weekend before to make sure everything was perfect...and right now she couldn't keep her excitement in check. "We're here, we're here", she squealed as they pulled from the frontage road, onto the cement driveway.
Roused from the back, the rest of the group eagerly looked out of their respected windows. "Oh my God Ash, it still looks like I remember...", Paige commented nostalgically. "...only bigger and brighter".
The new paint job, along with the addition of the ramp and remodel of the driveway and back deck did make the place look larger. "I know. I thought since we were bigger, the place would seem much smaller, but it doesn't. In fact, with the new open floor plan, it feels huge", she chuckled in reply.
Everyone filed out quickly, Jimmy bringing up the rear and a few bags with him. He looked down at the ground as soon as he cleared the vans ramp and noticed the old gravel drive was replaced with smooth cement, complete with a free-standing basketball net at the far end. He smiled at that, but cringed inwardly as he noticed how much the actual house had changed. The large ramp that zig-zagged up to the house, blocking the view of the awesome front porch and covering half of the steps leading to the door.
"This is really a beautiful place Ash", Ellie spoke next, gazing at the best looking Cape Cod style house on the strip. Jimmy swallowed his pride when he saw the look of hopefullness on Ashley's face as she looked at him. He relaxed instantly and gave her a warm smile, confirming Ellie's comment with a gentle squeeze of Ashley's hand...the house was still beautiful, as was the sentiment.
"Well, if you think this is nice...wait 'til you see the inside", she boasted, clearing off the floor of the van.
Jimmy pressed the keypad to open the hatch and waited for it to open fully. Spinner stood next to Jimmy, looking intently at him, still feeling guilty for what he said earlier. He was about to try to apologize again, when one of Paige's over-packed suitcase tumbled out and fell right on his unsuspecting foot.
Spinner yelp caused Jimmy to chuckle slightly. He inched forward and grabbed what he could carry, planting most of it on his lap. He turned quickly and reached up to pat Spinner on the shoulder as he passed. "I told you not to stuff the back like that", Jimmy repeated, this time with much more amusement, as he headed for the house...leaving a withering Spinner hunched over, rubbing his throbbing foot.
The group gathered in the great room, Spinner limping in with the last of the luggage. "Wow", Marco stated with a satisfactory nod.
Ashley walked them through the area, even though it was open for everyone to see. "This is the living room and kitchen area", she guided with a waive of her arm. "There's a small wash room here", she pointed to the tiny room that housed only a toilet and sink. Jimmy looked a bit worried, but Ashley dismissed it with a smile. "And a laundry closet off the kitchen".
"There are two bedrooms are upstairs", she nodded over to the steep, narrow set of steps. "And the master suite is through there", she motioned to hall leading to the back of the house.
"That used to be the sun room", Spinner stated questionably.
"Yeah, and the little study we used as a playroom", Ashley replied. Jimmy frowned slightly, remembering that section was Ashley's favorite place in the entire house.
"So, let's go get settled so we can head out to the store before dinner time", Ashley instructed, divvying up the bags into the proper piles.
Ashley grabbed what she could and lead the way down the hall to the bedroom. "This is our room", she stated happily and flopped into a chair in the small sitting area over in left hand corner of the room.
"You're not gonna bunk upstairs with Paige and Ellie?", Jimmy teased as he lowered his bags to the floor. He wasn't sure what to expect when Ashley said 'it was taken care of', but this room topped even his highest expectations. The charm of the sun room was still there as was the wall of windows and set of french doors opening out to the deck, only now they were covered in shears for privacy.
"Are you kidding me", she gasped, jokingly as she looked over her shoulder and out the window. "And give up this view?".
Jimmy grinned in agreement. He took in the rest of the room...hardwood floor, no rugs, no cords, lightly furnished. He stopped on the bed, it was low, but...
"I hope you don't mind...I figured it wouldn't be a problem since I was here with you", she explained, bolting up and stopping next to him, in regards to the absence on a trapeze bar over the bed. "If it is a problem, then...".
"Ash, it's fine...", he assured her, grasping her hand. "...more than fine".
Ashley smiled and was about to lean down to kiss Jimmy when loud stomping could be heard, immediately followed by a continuing arguement on the sleeping arrangements.
"Looks like the natives are restless already", she joked as she spun on her heel, turning for the door.
"And hungry too", Jimmy quipped when he heard what Spinner was complaining about.
"I guess we can finish the tour later...when we get back from the store", Ashley offered sweetly, falling into step next to Jimmy.
"Sure, later sounds great", he accepted sincerely, glancing back at the room then up at Ashley as they made their way out.
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Okay, I hope this chap. wasn't boring. I had a lot more to it but had to break it down because of length...luckily the other stuff will fit nicely into the next chapter.
As always, thanks to my awesome reviewers...shirilyle, lilfiftyfour, havocmanawip, and Lilac Bloom. Oh and Heather...you rock!!!
Degrassi is not mine.