Part 1 (2/2)

”Well, I'm glad I beat you to it.” Before I can say anything else, he lifts me in the air and tosses me across the pool. Letting out a small scream, I splash back into the water.

Rising up to the surface, I swim towards the edge of the pool and climb up the ladder; I head towards the diving board, with nothing but payback on my agenda.

With a smile on my face, I sprint down the board, bounce once and do a cannonball, soaking everyone. Pus.h.i.+ng off the bottom of the pool, I pop up out of the water and open my mouth to fill it with the pool water and playfully spit a stream at Cane.

”d.a.m.n it Brittan, now I'm soaked again!” Roxie says, glaring at me and pursing her lips together. ”You're lucky I love you, or I would beat your a.s.s right now!”

”Oh, come on Roxie, you know you can't beat me up. Remember? I took karate for like a month.” I tease with a small smirk. Trying to keep a straight face, I raise my arms up and swiftly bring them down again, karate chopping the water. But Roxie's laughter is contagious, and before I know it, we're both laughing uncontrollably.

”Calm down Karate Kid, we don't want you to hurt yourself!” Dalton says, pus.h.i.+ng my shoulder playfully; dunking me under the water.

Kicking my feet to stay afloat at the surface, I slap his arm. ”Shut up, before I beat your a.s.s Dalton.”

”Hey, hey, I believe you baby; you could kick anyone's a.s.s.” Cane winks and wraps his arms around me as he pulls me against his chest. He's tall enough, at 6'0 exactly, to stand and have the water stop at his pecs. I stare at him, trying to look serious, but it doesn't work. I can't help but smile back at him when he flashes that killer, all teeth showing, grin.

”Thank you, at least someone believes me.” I let out a stream of giggles as Cane tickles my side. He places hot kisses on my cool neck, igniting a fire inside of me. We finally had s.e.x for the first time a few months ago. Ever since taking that next step; connecting body and soul, all I want to do is pounce on him.

It was my first time, but not Cane's. I was a nervous wreck, thinking I would do it all wrong and look like an idiot. He was so sweet and gentle, making me feel like the most beautiful girl on the entire planet. My new favorite pa.s.s time is making love to him.

My erotic daydream is cut short when Matt splashes water in our faces. ”Knock off the smooch fest, let's play some water basketball!”

Roxie, not wanting to get flipped off her float again, climbs out of the pool to lay on the lounger. We set up the floating nets, one at each end of the pool and split into two teams. Cane and I on one team; Matt and Dalton on the other.

We spend the next hour chasing each other around the pool, trying to make baskets. The guys, of course, had to cheat and continuously tried to 'pants' each other.

In the end, we still won by one point.

After exiting the pool, we all head up to the deck to eat at the patio set. Filling my plate with chips, corn on the cob, and a perfectly burnt hot dog, I take a seat on Cane's lap. While I eat, he lovingly traces my spine with the tips of his fingers; sending s.h.i.+vers up my spine, and covering my body in goose b.u.mps.

He makes me feel loved by the smallest things he does for me.

September 11th 2001.

Biology is dragging; we've gone over the same thing all week for the test this Friday. I don't know how, but I don't even need to study for biology. I ace every test we have. I read it once, and it sticks in my head. Math, on the other hand, will be the death of me. I even aced dissecting a baby pig last week, which was the grossest freaking thing I've had to do. I swear I can still smell it; I s.h.i.+ver just thinking about it.

My seat is all the way in the back of the cla.s.s, so Mrs. Vercelli can't see much of what goes on back here. Pulling out my cell, I quickly text Roxie, she's in economics right now.

Me: OMG bored out of my MIND. It's only 9am!

Sliding my phone back into my desk, I continue drawing random patterns on my notebook. Finally after what feels like an eternity, but really only five minutes, my phone vibrates inside my desk. Retrieving it, I see Roxie has text me back.

Roxie: U R telling me, today is dragging! I'm ready to hit the beach! 3pm better come quick!! ;) Before I can reply, the teacher calls on me...of course. After answering photosynthesis, without blinking an eye, I pull my phone back out to reply to Roxie. Just as I start typing a message, our cla.s.sroom door is flung open by our P.E. teacher, Coach Wells. His face is pure white, and he says something to Mrs. Vercelli. ”Everyone stay at your desks; I'll be right back.” was all she said before exiting the cla.s.sroom in a hurry.

Everyone looks around the cla.s.sroom in total confusion. What the h.e.l.l just happened? I pick-up my Blackberry, sending the text I typed back Roxie. Not two seconds later, my phone vibrates again. It's a text from Cane.

Cane: A plane just crashed into one of the World Trade Center buildings in NYC! Then another into the 2nd tower just now! They're all saying on the news it's a terrorist attack.

I don't even realize I'm letting out a loud gasp, until I notice everyone in the cla.s.sroom is staring at me. I s.h.i.+ft my eyes back down to my Blackberry, re-reading Cane's text. Setting my phone back in my bag, I take out my laptop and quickly pull up the internet. I can't believe what I'm seeing. Breaking News reports with photographs of a plane flying right into one of the World Trade Center buildings!

Someone else in the cla.s.s must have gotten a text from a friend or relative too, because like me, they also have their laptop out since we are teacher free, and discovered the same thing. Everyone is huddling around their desk watching the Yahoo News video clips.

You can see the towers engulfed in flames. I feel my stomach instantly turning into a ball of knots. I can't stop thinking about all the people in that building. Did they get out safely? Who did this? Why would they do this?

Our attention is diverted back to the front of the cla.s.sroom as our teacher burst through the door with tears running down her face. ”Everyone, collect your things and head down to the library. There has been a terrorist attack in New York City.”

Quickly collecting our things, we head to the library. Walking into the large room, I immediately spot Roxie sitting at one of the tables. Hanging my bag on the back of a chair, I sit down beside her and take her hand in mine.

Everyone's watching the news on the television. The news broadcast is showing the burning buildings; smoke transforming the skies above. People are jumping out of the windows trying to escape the fire.

I reach into my bag for my phone; I text Cane back as the tears start to fall down my face. I cannot fathom why anyone would do this. It's horrific watching these people, so desperate to escape the flames, jumping twenty or more stories!

Me: We r in the library now watching the news. This is horrible. I think everyone in here is in total shock. Where R U?

Cane: I'm at my dorm still; I didn't have cla.s.ses this morning. I'm watching the news right now too. This s.h.i.+t is scary; I cannot believe terrorist hijacked those planes. The people who were on those...it's so sad.

Me: I know; I think half the school is in here right now. I can't stop crying. I can't believe they were able to do this. I can't imagine how many people are hurt or worse :/ ”Oh. My. G.o.d!” One of the teachers standing beside me gasps. I look up at the television. Shock takes over as I hear the words leave the reporter's mouth. Another plane just crashed into the Pentagon.

Reaching for my hand, Roxie grips it between hers as we watch the news together. We've heard about terrorist threats, but never thought it would happen here. We see it on the news about suicide bombers in Iraq and other places with conflict. But we could never imagine that it would ever happen where we are.

Sadly, now we know that isn't true.

May 28, 2003.

Cane's first two years of College have been tough, but we've gotten through it. I think it actually made our relations.h.i.+p stronger. We made a point to get together at least every other night, and spend every weekend together. I would usually stay at his Frat House on the weekends, or his parents' house when he decided to come home for the weekend.

I'm excited to be finished with school. I officially became a high school graduate four days ago! I'm not sure what I want to do yet. I love music; I play the guitar, violin and have sung in the choir all through high school. The idea of going to college to be a music teacher has been playing on my mind.

I got a part-time job as a waitress at Ocean Side Dive, one of the local dive bars along the beach. Cane has tended bar there for the last two semesters, so he helped me get the job. The pay is lousy, but tips are good.

They make us all wear short boyshorts and bikini tops; thank G.o.d I eat healthy and exercise!

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