AN: So... I'm sorting things out with this story. Things are about to be dramatic and a little crazy but I'm pretty excited about it! So anyway, enjoy the chapter! (:


Tommy Pickles

August 29th, 2009

"Hey, baby... what are you doing tonight?"

When I say this, Kimi smiles and kisses me on the cheek. "Hanging out with my wonderful boyfriend, right?"

And I kiss her right back and I say, "Right, but I wanted to know if you wanted to go out tonight. Like, out somewhere. You know?"

And then Kimi does this thing she does whenever I mention something she doesn't like. She pretty much deflates in my arms and gets this irritated look on her face. I'm used to it, though. And I'm used to getting my way with her. But seeing her make that face and get so set off kind of gets to me already. We can never do anything without her getting upset at me anymore.

"Tommy, we never spend any time alone," she whines and I pet her head.

"I know, baby. It's just-."

"I never get to see you anymore..." She says.

"Yeah, but we can-."

"Is there something wrong with me?" She asks. "Is it like... uncomfortable for you to be around me or something?"

"Kimi!" Everything around us gets kind of quiet. All the background noise, everything. I think the cleaning ladies outside the hall even stop their casual chit-chat and cleaning to listen in. Joke's on them though because I'm not putting up a fight for anybody's entertainment. So instead of causing any fuss, I kiss my girlfriend and I say, "Baby, goodness. Just hear me out, okay?" And I smile.

She smiles back. "Okay, babe."

"There's a little 'back to school' thing going on at the beach tonight, and later on there's supposed to be a firework show and... I was thinkin' it'd be really awesome if we went. We can hang out and watch some fireworks together."

Kimi smiles almost effortlessly, and that's when I know I've got her reeled in. As you can tell, she's usually the type for that 'one-on-one' stuff. She loves coming over, laying around, talking... watching movies and stuff. But, you know. I'm not that type of guy. I like to go out, see people, do new things. But I figure, as long as Kimi's with me tonight... it won't matter.

I look down at my phone, realizing I haven't responded to that text message from Chuck asking me if I was swinging by the beach tonight. I hit him back and tell him yes and that I'd see him there around 8:30.

Instead, Kimi and I get to the beach around 9-ish, but it's okay because things are going awesomely between us. We're holding hands and walking barefoot in the sand, weaving between kids who are shouting 'hey' to us and telling us how cute we look together. I pull Kimi into my chest and kiss her on the forehead in front of a few people that we're passing and I hear a few bits of conversation between these two girls. "Isn't that Tommy Pickles? He has a girlfriend? Ugh, that's a shame. He's so fucking hot."

And I wonder if Kimi's heard this, but right when the thought crosses my mind, she throws herself onto me and I catch her underneath her legs, which are vertically straddling either side of me. Her arms are wrapped around my neck and we're making out, right in front of these bitches who are sucking their teeth and rolling their eyes.

And what really gets me is when Kimi gets down, she smacks my ass and winks at me and says. "They're right, baby. You're so fucking hot."

And these bitches, they're still fuming.

And I'm turned on in the worst way possible.

And that's when I hear a familiar voice shout "Hey!" at us from about two beach towels over. Maya, Chuck, Carter, and Lil are sitting out on a towel and flagging us over. At least, Chuck and Maya are. For some reason, Carter and Lil are acting like they're all into each other and wrapped up in conversation. I fight the urge to roll my eyes and just smile at my friends who are making their way over to me.

"Hey Kimi, Tommy," Maya says as she saunters over and salutes the two of us. Kimi laughs and opens her arms up to hug her like they're best friends, and once again I find myself confused. Regardless, I hug her too. "How's it going?" I ask her, taking off the snapback she's got perched backwards on her head to ruffle her hair.

To which, she shrugs. "Ah. It's goin'." And she waves that camera I'd originally met her with at me. "I got dragged down here tonight. But hey, it's a good opportunity to take some pictures, you know?"

I laugh and nod when what I really want to do is give this girl a kiss right on the forehead and talk more about pictures and stuff. She's so awesome. It's just not fair. Kimi, who was previously engaged in a hushed conversation with her brother, jumps in to speak to Maya too. Something about taking pictures of her and I when the fireworks start. But I'm still looking at Maya, wondering why she hadn't moved into town sooner.

"Sure, that'd be awesome. I'll totally do that for you guys." She says, walking us back over to the little spot they've grabbed in the sand. And then she starts talking about lighting exposures and stuff and even though I know Kimi can't keep up with her, she nods and talks along anyway.

"Tommy does a little bit of photography too, when he's not doing film. He's crazy good. Right, baby?" She says, bumping me to the side with her hip.

I smile and take her under my arm. "Right, right. But I'm nowhere as good as Maya. Have you seen her work?" And the ball shifts to Maya's court. She doesn't even acknowledge how I've suddenly put her in the hot seat. And that's okay, because she handles it just as coolly as she handles everything else.

"I'm alright..." She chuckles. "Hopefully I'll keep improving. I'd love to see some of your film projects though. How long have you been into that?"

"Oh, gosh. Since forever." Kimi says, rolling her eyes with a modest smile. "Remember the one you made about your grandfather?"

I smile. How could I forget? One of my first successful short-films ever. "Grumpy Old Men. It was a film about my grandfather and my dog, Spike and how they grew old together. I used a lot of home movies that my parents took when Dil and I were kids. It kinda gives it a nostalgic feel... you know?"

Maya nods, and I can tell she's kinda getting into this convo. I want to talk more, but Kimi cuts it short. "Where is Dil anyway?"

I shrug. "No idea. He's probably around here somewhere." And I finally plop down into the sand. I notice there are three 40 ounces parked pretty close to me, so I grab one and Lil scoffs offhandedly.

She says, "That was for Maya." all haughtily and pissed off like, then she rolls her eyes.

I ignore her all together and wave the bottle at Maya. "Did you want this?"

"Nah," she shrugs, then she responds to Lil. "Chuck and I were deucing one. 'Member?"

This time, Lil ignores her and goes back to talking to Carter. Realizing how everything is starting to go, I start to feel a little uncomfortable. Was this supposed to be set up like... a triple date scenario? And who paired Maya up with Chuck? Who paired Lil up with... anyone? This is so weird, but Kimi sits down beside me and I kiss her. "Do you want to share this?" I ask, regarding the 40 ounce.

"No, Tommy..." She sighs. "And I wish you wouldn't drink tonight."

I try to ignore her and pick up the bottle. She stops me. "Didn't you hear what I said?"

And I want to tell her, 'Yes, baby. I heard you. But I don't really give a fuck.' But I don't say that. Or anything like that, in fact. I just shrug and put the beer down and say nothing else.

Lil and Carter are beside me practically down each other's throats, fighting to the death for tongue dominance, so I turn my back to that only to see that Chuck and Maya are still up, strolling along the shore and talking... for a minute I feel myself getting a little jealous. I try to fight it off, though.

After all, I'm Tommy Pickles. Jealousy doesn't look good on me.