Chapter 7

Wednesday afternoon, Jonathan sat on the living room couch watching TV. Chase came downstairs.

"Are you done with your homework?" Chase asked.

"I didn't have any today," Jonathan replied. "I finished all my work at school."

"Jonathan," Chase said. "Have you ever been to a beach?"

"No," Jonathan replied.

"Do you want to go to the beach?" Chase asked.

"When?" Jonathan asked.

"Right now," Chase said.

"Okay," Jonathan said.

At the beach, Jonathan, Chris, and Chase walked along the ocean.

"This sand feels strange," Jonathan said.

"I like it," Chase said.

"I agree with Jonathan," Chris said. "Chris Keller hates the sand. The only reason I'm not wearing shoes is because I don't want to ruin my awesome shoes."

"I still can't believe you spent $200 on shoes," Chase said.

"Oh those shoes are long gone," Chris said. "I went to steal them back and I couldn't find them. But then I found shoes that were much better."

"So you stole them?" Chase asked.

"No, I traded them out for the cheap shoes I was wearing," Chris said.

"That's still stealing," Chase said.

"No it's not," Chris said. "It's called trading."

As the waves hit their feet, Jonathan backed up.

"Oh my god that is cold!" Jonathan said.

"Of course it is," Chase said.

Chase kicked water onto Jonathan.

"Why?!" Jonathan shouted. "Why would you do that?!"

"It's not that bad," Chase laughed.

"Yeah it is," Chris said.

"Thank you for agreeing with me," Jonathan said.

"Hey look, there's Nathan," Chase said pointing ahead of them.

Nathan ran over to them.

"You!" Nathan shouted pointing at Jonathan. "You stay away from my daughter!"

"Nathan?" Chase asked. "What's going on?"

"He's been seeing Lydia after I made it clear it wasn't okay!" Nathan shouted.

"Is that true Jonathan?" Chase asked.

"Yes," Jonathan said nervously.

"I mean it!" Nathan shouted. "Stay away from my daughter!"

"Yes sir," Jonathan said.

"Nathan," Chase said. "He is only 15 and I don't appreciate you coming up to him and screaming at him. And I don't appreciate you ruining our good time."

"My daughter is 13!" Nathan shouted. "So sue me!"

"Nathan," Chris said. "Question. Is $200 too much to spend on shoes?"

"Yeah," Nathan said. "Never spend more than $50 on shoes."

Nathan pointed at Jonathan once more.

"I better not see you around my daughter again!" Nathan shouted.

Nathan walked off and Chase looked at Jonathan.

"Is that why you've been so secretive?" Chase asked. "Have you been seeing Lydia?"

Jonathan nodded his head and tears began falling from his eyes.

"Hey," Chase said softly. "Don't cry."

"Am I grounded?" Jonathan asked trying not to cry.

"No," Chase said. "But why didn't you feel you could tell me about dating Lydia?"

"I was afraid you'd be mad at me," Jonathan replied.

"Of course not," Chase said.

"Well now it doesn't matter," Jonathan said. "Now I can never see her again."

Chase embraced Jonathan tightly and Jonathan burst into tears.

"It's okay," Chase said softly.