by Alyson Noel
“Well, too late for that. He’s headed right for us.”
“Hey,” Chris said, walking up and smiling. “Have you guys seen Anne?”
Lola shook her head, while Ellie just sat there, staring at the ground.
“I’ve been trying to reach her but I can’t get ahold of her. So I thought I’d drop by and see if I could find her here,” he said, shaking his head and looking around.
“Well, if nothing else, she should stop by to register. Why don’t you just hang with us until she shows?” Lola said, scooting over and making room between herself and Ellie.
Ellie watched him smile and squeeze in next to her. He didn’t seem upset or anything, but she was sure all that would change once Anne showed up.
chapter fifty-seven
Anne climbed out of the Mercedes and looked at Jake. “Just wait here. This should only take a second,” she said, anxious to get signed up quickly so they could make it to the restaurant on time.
“Sorry, but I’m coming with,” he said, pocketing the keys and following behind her. “Partly because you have no idea where you’re going, and partly because this place is packed with babes.”
“Fine,” she said, rolling her eyes at him. “Just don’t get distracted, okay? We’re in a hurry.”
“Just don’t forget who’s holding the keys,” he said, jangling them for her benefit.
She shook her head and pushed through the crowd. Jake was so annoying, and if her dad had just let her drive, then she wouldn’t be stuck with him now. And now he is gonna make a fool of himself by gawking at a bunch of girls who want nothing to do with him, she thought, spotting the registration table and making a beeline for it.
The second she was finished filling out all the necessary forms and paying the entry fee, she went hunting for Jake. Of course he’s not where he said he’d be, she thought, glancing at her watch and making her way through the crowd of people, finally spotting him in the middle of a group of girls, laughing and talking and eating a fish taco.
We’re about to have dinner at one of the best restaurants in Laguna Beach and he’s eating a taco, she thought, shaking her head and wondering what those girls could possibly see in him. “Jake, sorry, but we’ve only got fifteen minutes ’til we have to be there,” she said, looking from the girls to him and then back again.
He looked at Anne, nodding impatiently. And then to the girls he said, “So I’ll see you ladies tomorrow.”
“Bye, Jake,” they sang, as Anne grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the car.
“You have really bad timing,” he told her, following reluctantly.
“And you are so not coming tomorrow,” she said, still dragging him along.
“And why not?” he asked.
“Because I don’t want you watching me.” She turned and gave him an annoyed look.
“Well, I hate to break it to you, but I’m not coming for you. Those girls invited me.”
They did? Could that possibly be true? Anne wondered, feeling her stomach go all weird at the thought. “Oh. Well. Fine,” she said, feeling totally embarrassed for assuming he’d want to watch her flail about in the water.
“Hey, isn’t that your boyfriend?” Jake stopped just short of the car and pointed.
Anne’s eyes followed the direction of his finger. And sure enough, there was Chris, sitting smack in the middle of Lola and Ellie, laughing and looking as though he was having a great time. Maybe even too good of a time.
“Hmmm,” Anne mumbled, forcing herself to look away.
“Wanna say a quick hello?” he asked, already starting to head toward them.
But no way was Anne joining that little party. “We don’t have time,” she said, racing toward the car. “We really need to get out of here.”
chapter fifty-eight
The morning of Surf Fest, Jade woke up really early feeling really depressed. Well, as depressed as someone who’s eternally happy and optimistic can get. Being on restriction the last couple weeks had been bad enough. But missing out on her favorite weekend of the year was an all-new low
Last night, when she was having dinner with her parents, she was positive they would relent and finally set her free. Especially after she’d cleared her throat, and said, “Tonight’s the registration party at San O, and tomorrow’s the junior competition.” She’d even said it casually, between bites of food, so it would look like she didn’t care all that much about it, thinking for sure her parents would look up and say, “Oh, we forgot all about it. Let’s clean up this mess and go get you registered!” But her father just nodded and her mom just continued eating, and Jade sat there wondering if this particular punishment would ever end. Yet she didn’t dare ask. She was far too terrified of what the answer might be.
Rolling over, she looked out the window next to her bed. The day was just starting to break, which meant people were already arriving, setting up the tents, and getting the coffee and hot chocolate ready to brew. There has to be a way I can get there without my parents knowing, she thought. Saturdays were usually pretty busy days for them, with all the beach cleanups and gallery openings they participated in, so they usually weren’t around all that much. And if she timed it just right, maybe she’d be able to sneak out just long enough to see Ellie and Anne surf, cheer them on, and then get back home before her parents returned.
Climbing out of bed, she padded into the kitchen and headed straight for the coffeemaker. “You’re up early,” her dad said, totally startling her.
“Well, today’s Surf Fest.” She shrugged. “So I guess I’m used to getting up early on this particular day. Even though it’s obviously not necessary this year. You know, since you’re not letting me compete and all,” she said, giving him a sideways glance, trying to gage his reaction.
“Come here,” he said, motioning for her to join him at the kitchen table. “We need to talk.”
Reluctantly, she pulled out the chair across from him and plopped herself onto it. Then she just sat there, waiting for him to begin.
“I know you’re feeling really victimized by your mother and me right now. You probably think we’re acting like a bunch of uptight hard-asses. Am I right?”
Jade just shrugged, squirming under his heavy gaze. Jeez, it was like he could read her mind or something. Because that’s exactly what she had been thinking.
“Well, maybe you’re right. But you have no idea what it’s like to get a call in the middle of the night from the police station telling you to come pick up your daughter. It’s every parent’s worst nightmare.”
“I know, I know, but I was fine. I mean, I did nothing wrong. If anything, I was just trying to help Ben,” she said, sitting up a little straighter and feeling really virtuous.
“And that’s another thing,” he said, ominously.
“What?” she asked, pushing her curls out of her eyes, bracing herself for whatever came next.
“Ben.” He shook his head. “He’s a very troubled young man, and your mother and I prefer you don’t have anything more to do with him.” He looked right at her.
Jade looked down at the table, running her index finger along the wood grain. “Well, first of all, you don’t have to worry about that, since he’s living with his dad in Venice Beach. And second, I just don’t get it. I mean, you and Mom always act so laid-back and nonjudgmental, not to mention how many of your friends you’ve taken in and helped. But now I try to help just one person who really needs it, and I get punished for my efforts. So, just try and explain that,” she said, crossing her arms against her chest and looking at him.
“Honey, the difference is that Ben didn’t exactly want your help,” her dad said, reaching across the table and grabbing her hand. “He was more interested in finding someone to drag down with him. And I’m afraid that you, with your trusting nature and good intentions, were an easy target.”
“Thanks a lot,” she said, shaking her head and rolling her eyes. He has no idea what he is talking about. He so doesn’t get it.
“I know you think I don’t understand your friendship, but really, I do. And as your dad, I have to tell you it was very troubling to watch. That guy had no regard for your safety, and he put you in a very bad position.”
“It was just a little pot.” She shrugged.
“Jade, this was not the first time Ben was arrested. A couple weeks ago, he was busted for vandalism. He’s in serious trouble now.” He looked at her.
Oh my God, that must be why he disappeared for that whole week, she thought, staring at the table again, feeling way too nervous now to look at her dad.
“You need to know that every time we’ve taken someone in, it was because they asked for help. There were never any drugs involved, and there was never any danger posed to you or your sisters. Do you see the difference?”
Finally she looked up at him, nodding slowly. “Okay,” she said. “I get it.”
“Besides, I don’t think we’ll be having many more couch crashers in here.”
“What do you mean?” she said, eyeing her dad carefully.
“Your mother and I have been talking.” He hesitated. “And we’re thinking about selling.”
“And leave Laguna Cove? But why?” Jade looked at her father in shock. “We love it here.”
“The value of this house has more than tripled, and selling it now could allow us to get out of debt and start over.”
“But start over where? I mean, where would we go? I can’t change schools! I don’t want to leave my friends!” she said, her voice sounding every bit as frantic as she was feeling.
“Honey, I didn’t mean to upset you. We haven’t made any final decisions yet, but I want you to know it’s a real possibility. It’s definitely something we’re considering. My last few big pieces haven’t done well, you know that, right?”
“But who’s to say your next one won’t?” Jade said. Then feeling her eyes wet with tears, she got up and went over to the coffeemaker, grabbing the pot and heading for the sink to fill it with water.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
Afraid she’d start crying if she tried to speak, she just held up the pot.
“Put it away, and go get dressed. I figure we can grab some lattes on our way down to San O and that contest.” He smiled.
chapter fifty-nine
Ellie was surprised to see her brother knocking on her passenger window. “Hey, let me in,” he said.
“What are you doing?” she asked, unlocking the door and giving him a strange look. He’d never wanted to go with her before.
“I’m coming with,” he told her, gently laying his video equipment on the backseat and crawling in next to her.
“Why?” she asked, watching him get settled in.
“Car’s in the shop.” He shrugged.
“But you’ll be stuck there all day, totally stranded. I plan on advancing through to the last heat, you know.”
“Not a problem. I’ll be busy filming. Is Dad gonna make it?” he asked.
Ellie shook her head as she backed out of the driveway and onto the street. “He’s already at the hospital,” she told him, feeling kind of relieved that her father wouldn’t be there to judge her if she choked, but also kind of upset that he wouldn’t be there to see her if she won.
“Are any of your friends competing?” he asked, sounding a little too casual while his eyes remained fixed on the road in front of them.
“Jade’s still under house arrest. And Lola has cotillion, not to mention that she’s not all that into surfing anymore.” Ellie shrugged and gave her brother a strange look. Since when does he care about my friends and their activities?
“Yeah, I guess her new boyfriend doesn’t seem like much of an athlete.” He stared out the window.
“Yeah, I guess not,” Ellie said, wondering what was up with him as she merged onto the freeway.
chapter sixty
“Lola, are you still asleep?” her mother asked, sticking her head into her room while Abuela stood right behind her.
“Not anymore,” she said, opening one eye to peer at them and then rolling over to face the wall.
“We have a lot to do today, so I need you to come eat some breakfast so we can get going,” her mother said impatiently.
“I made you some eggs and bacon,” Abuela said, coming over to shake her granddaughter’s shoulder.
But Lola just lay there with her eyes closed, slowly counting to ten. She promised herself she would open them the second she reached that number. But she made no promises about how long it might take to get there.
“Get up!” she heard her mother say, in the shrillest voice possible.
Lola rolled over to see Abuela smiling down at her, while her mother listed all the very important things that had to be accomplished before this evening’s cotillion. “We have to be at the spa in an hour. I’ve booked us manicures, pedicures, massages, and a hair appointment.”
“But I don’t want a haircut,” Lola said, touching her long, dark hair protectively.
“It’s not for a cut. It’s for an updo,” she told her, while glancing impatiently at her watch. “Now come on. We’ve got a long day ahead of us and we need to get started right away.”
“I’ll be there in a minute,” Lola said, watching as they left her room and then glancing at the time on her clock radio. Great. Ellie is going to be surfing her first heat in less than an hour, and there is no way I can get out of this. Shaking her head in surrender, she stuck her feet in her slippers and walked down the long hallway toward the smell of bacon.
chapter sixty-one
Ellie looked around nervously. She recognized a few people from last year, and everyone seemed to be having so much fun, laughing and joking, as though they had showed up merely for the camaraderie instead of the trophy. But Ellie was here to win, which made her far too nervous to sit around and chat. Last year had ended in disaster, with her getting completely worked by a wave that, if she hadn’t been so nervous, she could have handled. And the worst thing was that her father had been standing right there on the shoreline, witnessing every lousy second. So this year she had a lot to prove, but she felt physically and mentally ready to do it. Too bad her dad was gonna miss it.
She kneeled over her board, rubbing it with wax. It was also too bad that Lola and Jade couldn’t make it; it just didn’t seem the same without them. She knew Anne was already here, having seen her briefly in the parking lot, though they seemed to have a silent agreement to just ignore each other.
Still, it was weird that Anne had shown up alone. Ellie thought for sure Chris would be right there with her. But then again, he hadn’t been with her at all last night, since he’d spent the whole time hanging with her and Lola. Maybe things aren’t so great between them after all, she thought.
“Hey, want some hot chocolate?”
Ellie looked up to see Chris standing there with two steaming cups, smiling at her.
“Oh, I’d love some,” she said, reaching for the warm cup.
“What time are you up?” he asked.
“Nine fifteen,” she said. And then looking at her watch, “In about ten minutes.”
“Are you nervous?” he asked.
“Petrified.” She smiled.
“Don’t be. You’re an amazing surfer, Ellie. And I have no doubt that someday soon you’ll be sitting over there.” He pointed to the tent where all the sponsored girls were.
Ellie looked over and shrugged. That was her dream. Those girls were the cream of the crop. Talented, gorgeous, athletic, and smart—she longed to be one of them.
“I should head out,” she said, finishing her hot chocolate.
“Good luck.” He smiled and leaned in to hug her.
“Thanks,” Ellie said, closing her eyes and leaning into him, allowing herself to enjoy the closeness, if only for a moment.
But just as she pulled away she opened her eyes and saw Anne, not more than six feet away, standing there watching them.
chapter sixty-two
Anne was bent over her board, furiously waxing it, trying to make sense of what she just witnessed. That was the second time in less than twenty-four hours that she’d seen Chris and Ellie together, and she was absolutely positive that it was not a coincidence that both those events just happened to take place after she foolishly told him all about Ellie being in love with him.
Well, that’s what you get, she thought. You practically threw him in her path. And why wouldn’t he like Ellie? Other than being a total bitch (and what guy ever cared about that?), Ellie had it all—she was beautiful, brainy, popular, rich, a great surfer, not to mention how she and Chris went way back. And there was just no way Anne could compete with that. Hadn’t she already learned that lesson when Justin dumped her for Vanessa?
Picking up her board, she headed toward the water, stopping to watch Ellie paddling around and maneuvering into the best position possible. If Ellie is a shark, then I’m her dinner, she thought. And I’ll surely be eaten alive.
chapter sixty-three
Ellie had only fifteen minutes to be scored on ten waves, with the bottom seven numbers being thrown out. But Ellie was determined to surf all ten waves amazingly well. There would be no throwaways as far as she was concerned.
While the other girls around her laughed and talked, Ellie kept to herself, watching the waves and devising a strategy. She’d watched Anne paddle out, looking completely lost and unsure of what to do next, but Ellie just shrugged it off. That was Anne’s problem. Ellie wasn’t here to baby-sit some newbie. She had a contest to win.
When the moment felt exactly right, she started paddling, and then hopping onto her board, she rode the wave confidently and carefully all the way to the shore. But maybe I’ve been just a little too careful, she thought as she turned around to head back out. She hadn’t done anything remotely impressive, but then again, at least she hadn’t choked.
