The three of them didn’t meet any boys to hang out with regularly, like Jill and Hillary had last year, but Jill didn’t mind. They played volleyball a couple times, but it was always a random crowd. Last year they’d played with the same people every day. This year they spent more time laying out, swimming, or walking, and one day they went parasailing, which had been Hilton’s idea last year when Jill had invited her.
They went up in a triple, attached to the parachute only by the straps called a diaper that went around their legs and formed a wobbly seat, and they absolutely loved it. It was so peaceful and serene floating above the world like that on a sparkling sunny day and watching the tiny jet skis and boats that looked like Matchbox car-sized toys underneath them. The water was a surprisingly deep green when viewed from above, and they could see for miles, all the way to where the beach curved and angled toward Lovers’ Key and Bonita Beach at the far end of the island. In the other direction was Sanibel, hazy and almost like an illusion in the bright afternoon sun. They could see all the ships in the marina too, and all the way over the Sky Bridge onto the mainland. It was breathtaking. They agreed to definitely do it again next year. It was fun riding in the boat too; it whipped across the ocean, spraying them with seawater and reminding Jill of tubing at Landon’s lake.
Later that night, everybody went to the Sanibel Outlets and Jill got her cartilage pierced at Claire’s. It didn’t really hurt, but her ear felt really hot for almost an hour afterwards. She got an amethyst stud and thought it looked good against her dark brown hair, but she couldn’t wait until she could change it to a hoop like Hilton’s.
One night when the girls were walking around the square eating their ice cream, some guys invited them to a party at the Lani Kai, a hotel a little ways down the beach on the other side of the pier from their condo. So after the rest of Jill’s family headed back to the condo, Jill, Hilton, and Hillary walked down to the Lani Kai and had a couple of drinks. The Lani Kai had a fun party atmosphere, but this party was in a room and it was kind of boring, so they didn’t stay too long. Plus, they had to be back shortly after midnight, because that was when the stores usually closed and Jill’s parents would expect them home.
The week flew by, and it was relaxing and fun. Jill was glad they’d all three come, and she hoped maybe Lorylyn could come next year too, since they were flying now. It’d be a tight fit in the girls’ bedroom; someone would have to sleep on the floor every night, but it’d be totally worth it.
***
When the Sherers got home on Sunday evening, there was a message on the machine from Todd.
“I got to pitch in the varsity scrimmage,” he said in a sing-song voice. “I’m so good....Anyway, hope you guys had a good time in Fort Myers! See ya Monday, Jill.”
Jill smiled as she walked upstairs. She was excited to go back to school tomorrow and see Todd. This last two months or so of school had been a breeze last year, and she was looking forward to coasting through the rest of the year and having summer be here again.
chapter 14) eyes wide shut
“So...I know no one’s gonna believe this...but Todd had a date over spring break.” Dirk slapped Todd on the back and grinned at everyone. It was the first day back to school, and they were all gathered in their usual morning spot by the coat check room.
Jill froze. She felt like she’d had the wind knocked out of her, just like in advanced computers that day when Todd had first mentioned Melanie. Dirk had to be joking, right? She looked at him and felt sick when she saw him laughing.
“With who?” Hilton asked.
Everyone waited for Todd’s answer. When he just sat there laughing and looking embarrassed, Dirk answered for him.
“Melanie, Melanie!” He wiggled his eyebrows.
Jill felt the jealousy and panic bubbling up inside her. Melanie?! She’d thought that whole thing was over! How the hell had Todd gotten hooked up with her?!
“Melanie who?” Lorylyn asked, confused.
“Pharrell. She’s like, a track star,” Dirk explained, and Todd rolled his eyes, laughing but embarrassed.
“How’d that happen?” Hilton asked with a slight frown.
“Bennett and Kelsey set them up.”
Jill wanted to smack herself in the forehead. Why hadn’t she thought of that?! She should’ve seen that one coming and tried to do something to stop it. She was immediately pissed at Kelsey. How could Kelsey do this to her?! But I’m always telling Kelsey I don’t like him..., she thought, feeling sicker by the second. What was she going to do?! This absolutely could not work out. If Todd started dating Melanie, she’d be devastated. She felt herself sinking, losing control. This couldn’t be happening. Stupid Bennett! She hated him. Todd hadn’t mentioned Melanie in forever...why’d Bennett have to go and start this?
“So how was it, man?” Brady asked, leaning forward from his position on the coat check counter to look around Dirk at Todd. “Did you get any?”
“Brady!” Lorylyn slapped his arm and glared at him, and Brady and Dirk looked at each other and laughed.
“No, no,” Todd said, smiling and raising his hands innocently. “We just went to dinner with Bennett and Kels.”
Jill felt a little better. It had just been dinner...that didn’t mean anything...maybe Todd hadn’t really liked her...or maybe she hadn’t really liked him...but still, just the thought of some other girl getting to be with Todd like that…having dinner, going on