Blue and Free by Aer (electronic reader TXT) 📖

/> “Alise! What’s wrong? Do you need help?” “Yes, come over here and help me get the oil off her. We have to make sure the oil doesn’t get in her blowhole.”
We were working when Dr. Renolds got there. “How is she, Alise?” “Not good. Her breathing is labored.”

A helicopter was on the beach after I called the aquatics clinic. They were going to hold the dolphin until she was better. Everyone clapped at me for my great job. I said, “Thank you.” I was walking home when Josh came up.
“That was amazing. How did you stay so calm?” I was calm? I didn’t feel calm. “I don’t know. I think I knew it would make her more stressed if I was freaking out so I stayed calm.” I don’t feel calm now. I feel quite excited. I knew it wasn’t from saving the dolphin. I knew why and I couldn’t accept it. I wouldn’t.
“Do you wanna hang with me tonight? My friends and me are having a cookout tonight and Friday. Your welcome to come to both.” My heart fluttered and I immediately got mad. Not at him, at myself. “Thanks but I can’t tonight. Maybe Friday.” His face fell immediately.
He walked me home. I said, “Thank you for helping” and went inside. Of course, my mom saw. She just smiled and continued fixing supper.

At supper I told her about the dolphin. She was immediately distracted from the fact that a boy walked me home. Thank goodness.
I went to bed that night sleepy. Last nights sleepless night put its toll on me. I dreamed of Josh and me that night.

I woke quite surprised. Why on earth would I dream about him? Why am I all of the sudden caring if I like him? I had mom drop me off at school today.
Josh wasn’t in first block. So the class held little interest to me surprisingly.
The rest of the day was the same. He never showed up. Why should I care though? I’m not Melissa or Jackelyn. Why should I care about him?
I walked home slowly. I was fighting with myself about being anything more than friends with him. But, I won’t bring it up with him that’s for sure.

My walk on the beach was all right. It could have been better. I didn’t know how to make it better though.
I saw Josh’s friends playing football. He was there with them. I didn’t go over there. I wanted to but I didn’t. I had my surfboard so I went surfing. The waves were quite sad today. No life at all.
I was placing my surfboard in the ground when I was tapped on the shoulder.
“You’re a surfer.” He said it as a statement not a question. “Yes. I enjoy it. It makes me feel free.” I smiled at how I said that. “So ditching school today.” I said as a statement. I immediately regretted it. Now he would know I’m more aware of him then he knows.
We were walking down the beach where the volleyball spot was. He grabbed my hand as we walked and I pulled away, unwillingly. “Why won’t you hold my hand?” I looked at him astonished. I figured I wouldn’t have to explain. But, apparently I had too. “Well, obvious reasons. One: Your going out with Melissa.” He grimaced. I kept going. “Two: We aren’t going out. Three: You don’t really like me. Four: You are only acting like this because you hit me with a football.” I stopped at that. He didn’t say anything after that.
I walked back towards my house. I couldn’t be with him anymore. I wanted to be but I couldn’t. I’m sure Melissa was looking for him anyway.

I didn’t eat dinner I was too tired. I slept in the hammock outside on the back porch.

I woke up late this morning. Mom drove me to school. I had just beaten the bell to first block when Mrs. Davila walked in. I saw Josh laugh from up front.
My first two blocks went by fast this morning. I was sitting at my usual table when an unexpected voice or more unexpected than unfamiliar said, “Hello.” It was Josh. “Hello.” I just stared into his beautiful brown-eyes. They were so warm, so welcoming.
“I’m not with Melissa.” He pulled me out of my reverie. I went to say something but he stopped me. “I haven’t been with Melissa since last Sunday.” “Okay?” I didn’t understand why he told me this. “I’m sorry to hear that.” That was appropriate.

It was the end of the day and I was at my locker. “Do you need a ride home? I could give you one if you want.” “Are you going to try to plant one on me again?” I asked. It came out very rude. “No. I promise, my lips will stay off of you.” I thought I heard him say something under his breath about how I could kiss him. But, I wasn’t sure.
He drove me home. We never said a word.
“Thanks for the ride. I really appreciate it.” I smiled. “Anytime.” He stared at me for a long minute. I opened the door and got out. I was walking to the door and stopped. I waved but he never drove off. “Do you want to hang out?” I asked willing. He smiled. “Sure!”
We went outside and down to the beach. “So how come you never noticed me before?” I asked. I didn’t want to make him feel uncomfortable but I had to know. “What? Oh um, well, I never really ever didn’t notice you.” Lie. “That’s not true. And you know it.” “I don’t know. I know that I’m noticing you now. And that’s not just because you’re right beside me.” I turned and blushed.
We were sitting on the sand now. I sat cross-legged and beside him. He sat with his legs out in front of him, leaning back on his arms. I was playing with a stick when he pulled my face up gently. “What are you thinking about?” I was shocked. How did he know I was thinking hard on something? “Nothing. Just trying to figure out what you want. I mean. Why would a guy like you.” I nodded towards him. “Be crazy about a girl like me.”
We talked until the sun was finally set. We went back to my house and my mom was fixing dinner. “Oh! Who is this?” She asked eyeing Josh. “Mom, this is Joshua Owen. A friend of mine.” His face fell at that and he said, “When she says friend she means boyfriend.” I stared at him shocked. My mom raised her eyebrows. I pulled him outside.
“What in the world do you think your doing?” He looked at me confused. “What are you talking about?” “Why are you telling her you’re my boyfriend? When did I say yes?” He looked at me like I was missing something obvious. I gasped. When he told me he wasn’t with Melissa and we were sitting together on the beach. He smiled.
“Josh would you like to stay for supper? Would your folks mind?” He looked at my mother and said, “They won’t mind. Thank you.” I stared at him with my mouth wide open.
We ate supper then he left. As soon as he was gone the questions came. “When did he ask you out? What was your reaction? What did you say? Is he crazy about you? He looks like he is. Are you crazy about him?” When she was finally done I was able to speak. “Today at school. I was shocked. I couldn’t speak at first. I said, ‘You seriously like me?’ He said he was. Yes, I am. Probably more than he’s crazy about me.”

I went to bed early that night. But, I didn’t go to sleep. I just lay there and thought about what happened that day. I didn’t dream that night.

It was Friday and I was excited to get to school. I was going to walk this morning but that didn’t happen. He was waiting in the driveway.
My mom smiled, waved and hugged me good-bye.
I got in the Jeep and he pulled out of the drive. “Good morning.” He said as he took my hand. “Morning.” I was in a daze. I thought for sure I was dreaming last night.
We got to school in plenty of time. Our lockers were across from each other so he didn’t have to go far. We hung out at his locker until the first bell rang. We walked to class together and that’s how our school day went. After school all of his friends met us at his Jeep.
“Who’s she?” I looked to see a brawny boy eyeing me with interested eyes. I already knew I would have to watch him. “This is Alise. She is gonna be at the cookout with me.” “She your girl? Because if she ain’t yours I wouldn’t mind having her.” I cringed next to Josh.” “She’s my girlfriend. You can have Melissa or whoever else but not her.”
We got to the beach after we stopped to get the stuff we needed. We all piled into the Jeep. I ended up having to sit on the counsel so we could fit everyone. It was uncomfortable at first but I got over it quickly.
I had learned every ones name now. They started the fire and were trying to get a football game started. Josh wanted to play and I said I would play, too. They all looked at me. “What scared to get beat by a girl?”
They let me play. We played tackle. Which no one tackled me. I didn’t make the rule Josh did. He said that no one was aloud to tackle me except himself. Which again, not that bad.
We were all sitting around the fire when Melissa went crazy. “So you think you can just dump me and go out with this girl without me caring? Not even close buddy.” I just stared at her. I don’t think Josh knew she was talking to him until she threw food on him. “What was that for?”
They argued alone for a long time. I think it was an hour before they came back. “How did it go?” When he finally came over I asked. He shook his head at me. Okay? I didn’t know what that meant.
I got up from where we were sitting and walked down the beach towards my house. “Where are you going?” I heard Josh coming up. “Home.” “What? Why? Alise? What’s wrong?” I kept walking. He grabbed my arm and stopped me. “Look at me. What’s wrong?” “Nothing.” I said with tears in my eyes. “I know I didn’t belong there and we don’t belong together.” “What are you talking about?” “I’m talking about how we don’t need to go out!” I ran away from him then sat down and cried.

I woke up Saturday morning quite sad. I went for a walk down the beach. I instantly regretted taking that walk.
There he was sitting, waiting. And here I was standing right in front of him. He got up once he saw me and walked over. I thought about walking away like I didn’t see him but that would be a lost cause. He would just follow me and stop me to talk.
“Alise, I love you. Why did you say that to me last night? Do you realize that I almost had a heart attack?” I just stared at him. He stepped closer to me. I thought about stepping back but