Here's another chapter for my loyal reviewer. Love you and hope you like it.
Lucy's POV.
"Your cousin is such a pig." I said with disgust as I showed Tom to the other room. He grunted as he followed.
"And you thought he was hot." I heard him mumble. I rolled my eyes.
"Looks only make up part of the man I want. He has to be sweet, kind, smart, have brown eyes…" I trailed off as I realised that I was just listing things about Tom. Instead I opened a door and walked in. Tom followed and I heard him gasp.
"I thought you said the view of the lake was ok." he said as he ran towards the massive window that took up the whole of the wall. I shrugged, placing my bag on one of the beds, both facing the huge window. the view was amazing I'll admit. we could see the whole Lake from our beds, the water surrounded by tall evergreens as the sun glittered over the water.
"It's ok. Apparently the moon's reflection makes it look like there's two of them when the waters still." I said, remembering what I had read from the website about the rental house and lake. Tom nodded as he placed his stuff on the other bed. I knew why he wasn't talking much-it was the aftermath of another almost kiss. I sighed, knowing I would just have to wait it out.
When ten minutes passed of silent unpacking, I decided to just end the silence.
"Tom, about what happened in the other room, and the other night…" I started. I watched him stiffen, knowing this was making him uncomfortable. I felt awkward too but this needed to be said. "Well I just wanted to say that -"
"Tom! Get down here and help us unload!" his dad shouted from downstairs. Tom grunted and he rushed out. I sighed, cursing Stewart Pearson for his horrible timing. I decided to follow Tom, knowing that there would be nothing else for me to do.
I caught up with him as he was stepping off the porch. I noticed the sneer on his face before I heard the music blaring as a yellow convertible sped recklessly down the gravel drive.
"What's he doing here?" I grunted. As he approached the front of the house.
"I don't know but I'm goanna find out." Tom said, marching towards the car.
"Well surprise, surprise princess." Rickey smirked as he pulled up.
"What are you doing here Rickey?" he asked dryly, not even trying to hide his dislike. I joined him, folding my arms across my stomach.
"I'm just stopping by for the afternoon princess. Or maybe the night." he laughed, revving his engine and backing up next to the other cars. I threw my hands up as stones flew up from under the wheels. I felt one hit my cheek extra hard and my fingers flew up to it, only to come down sticky with blood.
"Stupid ass, doll headed…" I stopped as Tom looked at my face and a new glare hardened over the old one. He fished into his pocket and pulled out some cloth. I didn't question where it was from, just took it and pressed it to my cheek.
"Thanks." I murmured. I looked back over at Rickey to see him slamming his cars hood down, throwing something small between his hands. "What was that?" I asked as me and Tom approached him.
"What was what?" he asked, smirking at me. I was just about to guess when a hand shoved me sideways, into Tom, as Bethany rushed passed and into Rickey's arms. I noticed Tom's blush as he helped steady me.
"I can't believe you're here!" she squealed loudly. I rolled my eyes. Even though Bethany could be a bitch sometimes, she deserved someone better then Rickey, who I think cared more about his car then her.
"Well, you're my girlfriend now, so there's nothing I wouldn't do for you." he said with the fakest smile I've ever seen. Bethany just giggled as she stared up at him. I felt like I was going to hurl and it was only made worse when Rickey asked Bethany to 'Give papa some sugar.'
"Bethany! Please don't give papa sugar!" Tom pleaded, holding his hands in front of his eyes. I copied his actions. Rickey glared at us before grabbing a bouquet of over flagged flowers and dragging Bethany towards the house by her hand.
I rolled my eyes and followed Tom as he trudged in after them. "Mr. and Mrs P!" I heard Rickey exclaim with fake enthusiasm. They smiled brightly as they saw him. Seriously! Was I the only one that saw it. At least Tom could see there was something wrong with Rickey.
"Rickey wow!" Mrs Pearson exclaimed.
"Hey Rickey what a surprise!" Mr Pearson said.
"I got you a little house warming gift." Rickey continued, setting the flowers down on the table.
"Oh they're beautiful." Mrs. P gushed.
"Yeah very patriotic too hu? Maybe we should stick them in some water, see if they grow?" Mr. P suggested while Bethany drooled over how 'sweet' Rickey was being.
Now I had only met Rickey once, and he had thought I was Latina. I'm not Latina I'm just tan skinned. Anyway all I'm stressing is that I don't like Ricky. While I was thinking about how much of a sleaze Rickey is, I heard Tom speak up.
"Maybe you should take a look at Rickey's car dad." I nodded, not really paying attention.
"Sure I could take a look at it." he said, heading outside. We followed and watched, for a full forty minutes as Mr. P tried in vain to start Rickey's car. the only good thing that happened in that time was that my cheek stopped bleeding. I wiped the blood away but I could tell by Tom's sorry glance that there was an ugly line across my left cheek.
It's when Mr. P started talking about spread sheets and Rickey getting to stay over, did I lose interest. At the same time, Jake grabbed Tom's arm and dragged him inside. Because of my 'issue' I followed without a word, wishing I didn't have to be so dependent on Tom.
"What a gas pipe." Jake stated as we entered his room.
"I know. Why can't they see that?" Tom fretted as he followed.
"Dude, parents are wired differently. Their brains are old, mushy, fried from bad 80's music." I laughed at that last one. Jake turned and gave me a charming smile. I blushed under his blue eyes and turned away. I noticed Tom glaring at us before he quickly looked down. I scrunched my eyebrows together. I had caught that look on his face at least three times today. I decided not to think about it as Jake continued speaking.
"That's why it's up to you Thomas. You have to defend your families honour. Like a man." his eyes suddenly landed on me. "And your lovely friend here." he said, taking my hand and kissing it. "Jake Pearson, as I'm sure you know." I decided to be polite, no matter how much his cheesiness wanted to make me barf.
"Lucy Gale." I said with a forced smile. Jake grinned before going back to a metal case he had placed on the bed.
He opened it up and my eyes widened at the sight of the lethal looking paintball gun.
"I call it 'The Punisher.'" he said with pride.
"Your dad bought you this?" Tom asked as he drooled over the gun. Boys, so single minded.
"Yep, perks of divorce. Never underestimate the power of a grown mans guilt. If we even mention mom, Nate drives us straight to the mall." Jake said with pride. I don't know what's more sad: the fact that he likes this better then having a mom, or that he calls his dad by his first name.
"She's all yours. Don't be a wuss all your life." Jake said as he finished assembling the gun before placing it in Tom's hands. Tom glanced down at the gun.
"I don't know man." he said unsurely. That's my Tom, always looking for the least violent way. Hmm, my Tom. That sounds nice.
"Do you really want Rickey as your brother-in-law?" Jake asked as he gestured out the window. Tom and I looked out to see him attempt a cartwheel.
"Hell no." Tom said firmly, narrowing his eyes.
"Then lets go prune the family tree." Jake said with a smirk before he and Tom ran out the room.
I shuddered as I realised that Tom wasn't anywhere near me. Not knowing what else to do, I sat on the window seat and watched as Tom and Jake slowly crept up on Rickey and Bethany as they sat by the pool. I don't know how, but in the span of less then five minutes Jake had managed to find a complete shrub costume and was now crawling up the bank with Tom close behind.
Now immersed in a new, unsettling quiet, I had time to think about what was going on with me and Tom. Twice now we had almost kissed each other, Tom being really sweet before then completely shutting me out once we got interrupted. I really wish that, if he wanted to kiss me, he would just do it already. I was getting annoyed with his constant mood swings. He was worse then me and I'm a girl.
And now Jake was taking up most of his time with stupid plans for revenge. I know this trip was supposed to be about family togetherness, but I still thought of Tom as the closest thing to a family I had.
On the other hand, if he didn't have feelings for me and those almost kisses were just spur of the moment things, I could always try and see if Jake was interested. He seemed to be with all the flirting he was doing. But when I thought about kissing or going out with him, I just felt sick. I mean, sure he was cute and charming but Tom was handsome, in his own way, and he was so sweet to me whenever I needed it. The more I thought about Tom, the more butterflies erupted in my stomach and my head felt light.
I remember my mom telling me this is how she felt when she fell in love with my dad. 'No way! I can't be in love with Tom! A crush maybe? But Love? Well maybe…' I was broken from my thoughts by shouting from outside. I looked down to see Rickey collapsed on one of the deck chairs, shirtless and holding his man area (which was covered in orange paint?) while Bethany was standing over Tom, yelling at him about how he was an embarrassment. Jake had mysteriously disappeared.
Tom looked a little downhearted and I knew that Bethany had said something to far again. I quickly got up and headed down stairs.
"A paintball gun? Don't you know that's a gateway gun?" Mr. P scolded as I walked into the kitchen. I completely ignored a whining Rickey as he held a bag of mixed frozen vegetables to his 'man area'. I smirked as I realised where Tom had hit him. I stopped beside Tom, who was taking quite a verbal beating.
"I don't know what to do with you!" his dad shouted.
"Can't you keep him in his room for the rest of the week?" Bethany asked as she marched into the room.
"But it wasn't even me!" Tom yelled back. I looked at Jake, who had a slightly guilty/smug smile on his face. I glared at him but he only averted from my gaze. 'Wimp.' I thought, feeling disgusted with myself for even considering liking him.
"You boys are just lucky Rickey wasn't hurt." Mr Pearson finished, glaring firmly at Tom. I didn't like the way everyone seemed to be ganging up on Tom. Quietly I slipped round Mr. P and sat beside him. I fished for his hand and held it firmly. He must have realised why I did it because he smiled at me and squeezed back.
"It's ok Mr. P I was a little kid once too." Rickey said, coming into the room. Me and Tom both glared at him, Tom gripping my hand tighter.
Of course Mr. P took Rickey's side, even missing it when Rickey mocked him behind his back.
"Look, lets just start with a clean slate. Tomorrow we fish. 7 am."
"What?" we all said at the same time. I am not a morning person.
"Yeah Stu that seems a little early. How about this? 10 am on the boat no questions asked." Nate decided and I nodded with him, I liked this guys plan.
"Way to crack the whip Nate." Stu muttered as he walked off to another part of the house.
Just then a bolt of lightening from the storm that had been brewing all morning flashed outside. As the thunder boomed and the rain started to pore I think I squeezed Tom's hand so hard it turned white. He just gritted his teeth, letting out a breath as I eased up.
"Stu! Stu the TV's gone haywire!" his nana shouted as she banged the TV with her walking stick. 'He has a grandmother?' I thought. I must of missed her.
"Stu the TV's gone haywire!" Nate shouted as well.
"Mom! Mom stop it!" Mr. P shouted and I silently thanked him when she did. "It's probably the dish. Just wait until the storms passed then I'll go up and fix it." he said calmly. Just as I was liking that plan, Rickey walked past, slapping Tom on the back of the head as he did.
"Hey wait a second Mr. P. Let me fix the dish, it's the least I can do after all the hospitality you guys have shown." he said with a toothy grin. Suck up.
"No Rickey you're hurt." Bethany said. Rickey shrugged her off.
"No it was just a graze." he scoffed.
"No honey." Nana said. "He's fine, go ahead Richard. Show some hustle." she said. Wow she really likes TV. Rickey smirked, walking back over to us.
"Yes indeedy. But I will be needing a helping hand." he said gesturing to Tom. "What do you say brother? Give us a chance to bury the old hatchet." he said, his teeth showing in a sleazy grin. Tom and I glared at him.
Tom stood up and I was about to follow when he put a hand on my shoulder.
"No. You should stay down here. I don't want you to share my punishment." he said with a stern smile as he followed Rickey out towards the stairs. I sighed as I watched him, wishing I could tell him how I felt about him. Ok I'll admit it, I'm in love with Tom Pearson my best friend.
"Well." Jake said, scooting closer. "Now that Tom's gone, would you like to see my big paint ball gun?" he asked, wiggling his eye brows. Holding down my vomit, I quickly stood up.
"No. I think Tom and Rickey might need another pair of hands." I rushed out before running towards the stairs. I caught up with them as they were opening the attic. Tom must of heard me coming because he turned to me before I announced my presence. He gave me a confused look.
"Attic or not, no one deserves to be left alone with that." I said as Rickey finished untying the stairs.
"Thank you." Tom whispered as the steps cluttered down. I smiled in response. The moment was ruined by Rickey gesturing up the stairs.
"Ladies firsts. Oh you too Lucy." I sneered at him as I climbed up the stairs after Tom.
Sorry this chapter is a little boring but I'm trying to space it out for a reason. Hope you liked it and hope you review :)