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Jersey Summer Love

By: LunaEroticaMystica



"Jersey Summer Love" is my entry for Literotica's - 2011 Summer Lovin' Contest. I'm sorry it's taken so long to post and hope that the length doesn't scare too many people away. Lots of background, build-up, and dialogue; but I promise also plenty of sweet and steamy heat. ;)

Much of the story was taken directly from memories of my youth and being raised on the New Jersey Shore. As such, I hesitated finishing and posting this story after the havoc wreaked upon the East Coast by Hurricane Irene. The places mentioned are real places that I hope still remain. If you ever get the chance to visit, you won't be disappointed. I hope everyone affected makes a full recovery from the devastation. The shore is strong and will rebuild even stronger.

Oh and NO disrespect to the tourists who keep the shore businesses thriving - with the "benny" references. 

In fact, I dedicate this story to my own summer "benny" boys - wherever they may be. They helped me through a time of heartache and grief and kept me smiling and distracted. 

And lastly, I couldn't have written this story without my own "Coral". There was never a dull moment growing up with you. Thanks for keeping life interesting and helping me remember some of the references and fun moments! Love you.

Please Read, Vote, and/or Comment and ENJOY! I hope you all had an exciting, stimulating, inspiring summer filled with passion, love, and erotic imaginings!

~~~~~

"I'll race you to the end of the lagoon," Coral challenged her sister. Without waiting for an answer, she dove under the water like a fish; flipping her legs up and splashing water in Raina's face. 

Raina swept her wet, coppery hair out of her grey eyes and sighed. Gazing up at the twilight sky, she smiled at the array of pastel colors swimming before her eyes. This was her most favorite time of the day. The sun was sinking below the horizon, the summer heat was dying down, and she didn't have to keep slathering the sunscreen on to protect her alabaster skin from the fiery orb in the sky that so many flocked to worship. A sun-worshipper -- she was not. A shore-girl by birth -- an anti-shore girl by nature.

Her sister on the other hand loved the sun, the beach, the boardwalk, and all things summer -- a true shore-girl, a true "Jersey Girl." Raina knew that the minute Coral became old enough, she'd be hitting every Dance Club on the Seaside Heights strip. She suspected Coral already used a fake ID, but didn't really care to bring it up and be at odds with her, yet again. It was bad enough that Raina was put in charge of her. She looked back down to where her sister had been a moment ago and knew that she'd probably never reach the end of the lagoon before Coral won their little race. Coral always won. 

Determined to make at least a little bit of an effort, Raina paced herself and swam after her. She wanted to remind her little sister to watch out for boats coming into the lagoon. Sometimes they went faster than they should, especially at the end of the bulkhead. There were no signs of her sister and although she knew that Coral was a natural fish and most at home in the water, her overprotective nature had her on edge until she saw the surface of the water break and Coral's blonde head pop-up for air. 

Coral had made it to the end and was halfway back already. Raina had only just made it to the halfway mark and was already feeling tired.

"You're such a little cheat." Raina's shout carried across the water and she could just make out Coral sticking her tongue out at her. With a giggle, Coral dove back under. Raina treaded water for a few minutes while she looked to try to see below, but failed because of the dark brackish water. She swung her head back and forth, gasping when her sister popped up and started tickling and splashing her. 

"Hey, stop!" she sputtered. The girls were so busy laughing at each other that they failed to hear the wolf whistle until it was nearly on top of them.

"Well what have we here, boys?" a deep timbre asked. The girls stopped tickling. Raina looked up and was rewarded with one last splash in the face. Coral always had to have the last say. She was competitive like that. Raina huffed and wiped the water from her eyes, clearing her vision enough to see who had spoken. 

"Looks like we've caught ourselves a couple of pretty little mermaids," a second voice replied. 

Raina was tired from the swim and hooked her arm over the inner-tube before her. Her hand brushed against skin. She watched Coral sweep her long blonde locks back, bat her eyelashes, and smile coquettishly up at the hottie before her.

"You're such a flirt," Raina hissed quietly into her sister's ear. Coral ignored her and giggled.

"I've been called that before," she replied sweetly to the guy in response to the little mermaid comment. "My sister, not so much. She barely had the energy to make it here, let alone the whole length of the lagoon." Coral looked over. Her sister was breathing heavily. "Would you mind if we came up and sat for a bit?" 

Raina looked into her sister's green eyes and shook her head.

"I think that can be arranged, mergirl. Hold onto the raft and we'll pull you over," answered a tall, bronzed, and buff hottie from the dock. Coral flipped her hair, pushed the tube to the dock and pulled herself up without help. Two hands grabbed her and hoisted her the rest of the way.

"Thanks." She flashed him a smile.

"If your sister's a mermaid, does that make you a pixie?" a flirtatious voice near her ear asked. The word "pixie" got Raina's attention and despite her own reservations, she looked up and smiled shyly. The owner of the voice climbed off the tube and onto the dock to stare down at her, giving Raina her first look at the golden wonder. She stared unabashedly back.

"Come on up pixie. We'll grab you a cold one." 

Raina's heart skipped a beat as she stared into the sea-blue eyes of her rescuer. He reached his hands down, easily plucked her from the water, and sett her on the wooden dock. Weak kneed, she locked them and almost fell back into the water. But his arm around her waist held her secure.

"Steady there." He smiled at her easily and guided her to sit on the step of the dock. "You look a bit winded. How about a beer?"

Raina looked over at Coral. Where a pang of jealousy usually accompanied the flock of boys surrounding her under-aged sister, she was glad for the distraction. She could focus her full attention on the attractive guy in front of her. She made a mental note to herself that she would have to warn the boys away before they left. 

"I'm Logan," he told her as he walked over to the large cooler. "What'll it be?"

"Raina," she replied. "I don't drink." 

"Ah. Don't or can't...yet?" he questioned, coming back over with a water bottle.

"Can't legally," she admitted, accepting the bottled water. "But I don't care for the taste, either," she quickly added.

"A Shirley Temple, maybe? Unless you want to break a few laws with me." His eyebrows wiggled, suggestively. She laughed.

"Water will do."

"And your big sister?" Logan asked, looking over to see his buddies swarm the pretty girl.

"You mean my little sister," Raina groaned. She was used to misconception. "She most certainly isn't old enough. You might want to warn your buddies they are falling into a baited trap that could land them into the slammer." She chuckled at his shocked look, but had to give him credit for his quick recovery.

"I see. Well, can you drink in another year?" He was the polar opposite of his companion. Tall, much taller than she, with a slim athletic build. His muscles were defined, but not overly so to be scary to her, like some of the other guys. While many of the other guys had dark hair and tanned skin, he was as fair-skinned as she. His wavy blonde hair was almost platinum and looked soft to the touch. But it was those eyes that held all of her attention. 

"Make it three." She smiled at the look of relief on his face, "and before you ask, my sister is sixteen."

"Damn!" he breathed. "She looks..."

"Yes, I know she looks at least eighteen. We get that all the time. Don't worry about it. Hey boys!" Raina suddenly found her gumption again. 

Coral looked over and glared, mouthing, "please don't tell, not yet." Her eyes pleaded with her.

"Eh, give her a few more minutes of fun," Logan whispered in her ear. A chill ran up her spine at his soft breath fanning across her neck. "I can't wait to see the look on the guys' faces when they learn the truth." They laughed together. 

"You know," he said suddenly, "when you are older you might enjoy looking younger than you are." 

"So I've been told," Raina rolled her eyes. "So, how old are you? Obviously old enough to drink."

"Obviously? How do you know I'm not nineteen?" he quizzed.

"No offense but you don't look like a teenager," she gulped when he turned those blue eyes on her.

"You're right. But I could have been drinking illegally, like most teenagers do," he laughed. "I'm twenty-three, not that much older than eighteen. Did you graduate yet?" he asked, taking a seat beside her.

"Just. I suppose once I'm in college that gap will close pretty quickly," Raina considered while she took in her surroundings. There seemed to be boys everywhere, at least seven outside. Inside the big house she could see two lounging on a couch and one in the kitchen through the window. Logan reclined back, supporting himself on his arms.

"Where did you two come from anyway?" he asked.

"We live two houses down. Wow, nice jacuzzi." Raina walked over to the huge hot tub. It was occupied by a few people, but had plenty of room to fit at least twelve bodies. 

"Maybe you can take a dip sometime," Logan suggested. 

"Whose house is this? Is that boat yours?" Raina ignored his comment and pointed to the large speed boat that caused more than a few nights of grief for neighbors. It was fire engine red and ran the entire length of the long dock. 

"It's my buddy Jack's father's house and his Scarab. No one touches that boat," he teased. "We're from up north. We come every weekend during the summers."

"Ah, a Benny," she said slowly, using the derogatory term that locals labeled the tourists.

"That's me," he laughed good naturedly. "You going to stop talking to me because of that?" 

"Actually." Raina began. 

"Ouch." Logan grabbed his heart in mock protest.

"Do you litter on our beaches?" she questioned.

"Nope. I also recycle," he promised as he tossed an empty beer can into the recycle receptacle by the house. 

"Three points." Raina held up three fingers. "Are you loud and obnoxious?"

"They might be." He cocked his head toward the house. "I actually get kinda pensive and serious when I'm drunk. You won't likely see me completely wasted, though."

"Um, I see a lot of alcohol. Surprisingly, I don't smell any pot, though."

"No drugs allowed on the premises," Logan informed her. "Kenny's Dad is a cop." 

She delved into her next question.

"Do you partake in random shore-girl hook-ups, flings, and threesomes? Share with your buddies?" She was now getting to the heart of her concerns. Logan's eyebrows rose impossibly high as his mouth fell open.

He recovered saying, "They might. I don't. I'm a one girl only, guy. Double dipping is disgusting. And I would never share my girl with another guy," he paused, "how about you cutie?" He slid his hand over top of hers. 

"One boyfriend so far." She pulled her hand away. "We're on the verge of breaking up." She looked at the water to avoid his eyes.

"I'm sorry. What's keeping you from breaking up completely?" Logan seemed to want to know.

"Oh, I dunno. I mean, he's going away to college in another state and I'm staying close to home. I just don't see how a long distance relationship could work. You know? I really care about him and don't want to hurt him. He promises we'll stay together. But it's college. I'm sure you know all about college." 

"Actually, I don't," Logan mumbled. "But I can imagine." He brightened up. 

"You don't? You never went to college?" Raina looked up at him.

"Nope. I work in my old man's auto-shop. I've been told I'm a damned good mechanic. I'm also an EMT."

Just then Coral came sauntering over followed by two boys. "I love a man in uniform," she grinned, leaning on one boy's arm. 

Logan smiled and stood up. "I hear you love boys in general, little mermaid." 

She put her hand out to him. "I'm Coral." 

"Logan." He shook her hand. "Yes, I know. Your big sister's told me all about you." Logan sat back down as Coral sat next to them. 

"No fair!" Coral pouted. "She's always ruining my fun. Anyway, she's my big-little sister." She sighed. 

"I heard about that too." He chuckled at the little flirt. "I'm going to have to tell my buddies how young you are; either you can handle that, your sister can, or I can. Your choice." 

Coral growled her annoyance at him for sabotaging her fun, too. "Fine!" she huffed, standing up and moving away. "Whatever. Tell them. I'm going back home." As she walked past a few of the boys, one reached out and put his hand on her wrist. 

"Hey baby, where are you going?" He tugged her closer. She went willingly.

"I have to go home. Is Logan always such a wet noodle? Geez!" she whined.

"Log, what the hell?" his friend challenged. Logan walked over.

"Just looking out for you, Kenny." He turned and addressed the assembled crowd of boys. "Coral might be a little cutie, but she's jail bait to us, man." 

"What? No fuckin' way," one said.

"Stop bullshitting us!" another raised his voice.

"Logan, not cool, man," still another piped in.

"I'm serious. Coral, tell them how old you are," Logan coaxed.

"You're not the boss of me." Coral stuck her tongue out at him. 

Raina stood up and walked over, sighing once again. She was growing tired of chaperoning her little sister.

"Coral is only sixteen. Look your fill and then move along," Raina suggested. Raina scanned the faces of disappointment, annoyance, and then noticed two faces filled with sudden smiles. Two boys broke away from the crowd and walked over to Coral, shoving each other.

"We're uh, well I'm fifteen!" squeaked one teenager. 

The other shoved his friend in the ribs. "I just turned sixteen. Do you wanna go inside and play some video games with us?"

Coral scowled, then considered. "Okay, sure," she smiled, glared at her sister and Logan, and followed the boys into the house. Raina chuckled under her breath.

"Well, that worked out I guess. Will they keep their paws to themselves?" she asked Logan.

"Oh yeah. Those two are afraid of girls. Nothing to worry about there." 

"Whew!" 

"I can't promise I'll keep my paws to myself though," he whispered low in her ear. Raina visibly shivered and pulled away.

Logan took the hint and let it alone. "Should we go inside and check on your sister?" 

"Probably a good idea. Do you guys have any munchies in there? I'm kinda hungry." Raina stood up. He nodded and led her to the door. 

Once inside, Raina took in the surroundings. For a summer home, the house wasn't all that big. There was a big den with a huge flat screened TV, every type of game system you could imagine and her sister sandwiched between two boys, kicking their butts in a fighting game. She looked up and waved.

"You creaming them?" Raina asked Coral

"Oh yeah. I rule!" She laughed. 

"Wait'll they find out you can fight for real." Raina pinned the boys with a look.

"See? You know I can take care of myself. Stop hovering." Coral said. 

Raina shrugged and moved away to continue her survey of the house. Although the kitchen was small, it wasn't exactly a galley kitchen. The appliances looked new and on every counter and table surface were alcoholic beverage, blenders, and discarded plates and plastic cups. 

"How many people live here?" she questioned. 

"Just my buddy and his father. He has a sister but she's never around. Good thing too, she's a real bitch. Down the hall is the bathroom and the bedrooms."

"Oh good. I have to pee. I'll be back," Raina stated, making her way to the bathroom. Across from the bathroom was a bedroom. The door was halfway shut and she could hear girly giggling and a male moan. She quickly shut the door, embarrassed and entered the bathroom. 

"Oh God. Yeah, right there. Do it," the guy's and girl's voices intermingled. Raina blushed realizing she was listening to the sounds of sex. She was a virgin herself and intended to remain so, if not until marriage, at least until she found true love. After she finished in the bathroom, she walked back out where Logan was waiting for her.

"Sorry about those two," he apologized for the moaning in the next room. 

"Let me guess. He picked her up at the boardwalk?" She was only half joking.

"Bingo. Her best friend is in the jacuzzi getting drunk and ready for him next."

"Yuck!" Raina scrunched her face up.

"Yuck is right. Who knows where those girls have been or who they've done," Logan agreed.

"Or what kinds of diseases your friend has," Raina added.

"Nah, he might be a play-boy, but he's careful about it -- usually." He shrugged. "When I realized he intended to have both of those girls at the same time, I went in and reminded him not to be an idiot and to be safe."

"Well that's something, I guess," Raina frowned. 

"Is something wrong?" Logan saw her sigh. 

"Just confused is all."

"Want to talk about it? We could go somewhere quiet away from all the loud and obnoxious bennies," he teased.

"Haha." Raina thought about it, but then her keen sense of hearing picked up on a familiar voice. She stood up, swept past Logan and made her way outside.

"Raaaaaina. Coooooooral!" the female voice was shouting. "Raaaaaaina. Giiiiirls!" The voice was rising in pitch and had frantic energy to it. Coral must have finally heard because she dropped the game controller and jumped to her feet.

"Dammit!" she yelled. "So not fair!"

"What's not fair? What are you two doing?" the two boys asked.

"Our Mom's calling us. We gotta go," Coral pouted. 

"Damn, she's got a loud voice. Don't you guys live two houses down?" the overly tanned and buff guy, Kenny asked them.

"Yeah. Trust me, we know how loud she is," Coral rolled her eyes. 

"Come on Coral, before she marches over here." Both girls knew their Mom would do just that, if they didn't respond soon. 

"We're coming!!!!!!!" Raina shouted back.

"Will you guys be here tomorrow?" Coral asked the roomful of guys, hopeful.

"We'll be here all weekend and the next weekend and the next, until Labor Day," someone replied. 

Raina searched the faces for Logan. It wasn't hard to spot him; he was the tallest of the group.

"Will you be here too?" she asked him quietly.

"Yes. Hey, can I walk you two home?" Logan suddenly asked.

"Um, I don't know if that's a good idea. We have to prep our parents about you guys first," she responded.

"Sure, I get it. I hope to see you tomorrow." Logan took her hand in his and lifted it to his lips. Raina blushed as he dropped a kiss on the back of her hand. Coral and the two boys made smooching sounds. 

"Hey, just in case Raina didn't tell you, Lo-gan, she has a boyfriend." Coral flitted past them and skirted around the neighbor's fence to hop onto their dock, agile as a deer. 

"Bye." Raina followed after her, struggling not to fall into the water and missing a pair of blue eyes glued to her body as she retreated.

***

"So can we go back there, Mom?" Coral and Raina were sitting on the tall stools at their kitchen bar-counter talking to their mother. They'd waited until their mom got home from the beach the next afternoon to tell her about meeting the boys', two houses down. 

"They have a hot tub. Don't you think that would be really soothing for Raina to relax in?" Coral asked.


Jersey Summer Love



"We have a hot tub too," their mother reminded her chatty daughters. 

"Yeah but theirs fits like twelve people!" Coral told her. 

"Coral, I don't think Raina needs a twelve person jacuzzi just to soothe her body in. Stop being silly."

"They have a trampoline too," she whined.

"We have a pool table," their mom countered.

"They have a really fast boat," Coral couldn't keep the excitement from her voice.

"A very loud and annoying boat which no one but the owner and his son can drive. I know, I've spoken to the neighbors. Anyway, we have a boat too," their mother put in. "I bet there's a lot of alcohol there too," she added.

"They're of drinking age," Raina said quietly. Her mother looked over at her. She was being too quiet.

"All of them?" their Mom challenged. Coral glared at her sister.

"No. But the ones drinking are of age. Logan, he's the one I was talking to," she pinned her sister with a challenging stare. When her sister kept her mouth shut, she continued, "he sorta keeps them in line. He promised there are no drugs allowed. Alcohol is enough, don't you think?" 

"How old is this Logan boy?" Her mom watched her daughter's tell-tale pink cheeks.

"He's college-aged."

"How old?" Her hands were on her hips and she was tapping her foot impatiently.

"Twenty-three. His friend is a cop. They're being safe Mom. They're just down the road." 

Their mom turned, put the leftovers away, cleared the table, and walked over to them.

"Well, let's go then." She held her hands out to the girls.

"What?" Coral blinked.

"Let's go two houses down so I can meet these boys I've been hearing so much about." When she saw her daughter's balk at the suggestion she continued, "You don't honestly think I'm going to let you spend your time alone with them without meeting them first, do you girls?" She smirked seeing Coral huff. 

"Of course not," Raina nodded. She prayed all would go well. She was counting on Logan to be the responsible one and handle the questions.

***

After the girls introduced their mother to the guys, she sat at the table and talked easily with Logan and a few of the other older boys. Jack's father had come home and grunted a few words of greeting before heading to his racing boat and firing it up. They had to shout over the roar of the engine to be heard.

"Mrs?" Logan started.

"Jennifer. Call me Jennifer, please. Calling me Mrs. makes me feel old." She laughed with the boys. "I saw a blender in the house. What are you guys making?" she asked.

"Strawberry Daquiris," Kenny replied. Someone elbowed him in the side and he winced.

"I'll take one. Girls, what do you want?" She turned to her daughters.

"Um. Mom?" Raina questioned.

"What? I know you've been wanting to taste alcohol. You want to drink? You drink in front of me or not at all. Coral will have a virgin Daquiri," her mother leveled with her.

"I'm not really thirsty," Raina mumbled.

"I am!" Coral announced, bouncing in her seat.

"Not you, Coral. You're much too young. No alcohol for you."

"Not fair," she pouted.

"Babygirl, no one ever said that life was fair." Jennifer turned her attention back to Raina. "Here, share mine with me."

"No thanks." 

"Good girl. My girls are good girls. Hey, where's the bathroom?" Their Mom asked suddenly, addressing Logan. 

Logan stood up and led her into the house. The girls sat nervously on the bench watching a family of ducklings until their Mom came back out.

"All right. Be home by midnight and not a minute later," Jennifer told her daughters. "Bye boys. Take good care of my girls." She smiled sweetly. 

Raina looked over at Logan who was white as a sheet. A few of the other boys had their heads down and mumbled their goodbyes. Raina wondered what was going on, but shrugged, happy to have more time with Logan.

"So uh, what's your Dad like?" Logan asked as he sat beside her. His leg was bouncing under the table.

"While Mom's the fierce Mama Bear, Daddy's a pussycat." She watched her Mom's retreating back. 

"Thank God," Logan mumbled under his breath. 

Raina wondered just what her mother had said to the boys to put the fear of God in their eyes. 

"Unless you have it in your mind to take me for a spin on a motorcycle, that is." Raina looked back at Logan, whose visibly large Adam's apple bobbed. "Do you have a bike?" Her eyes went wide at the thought.

"I do. I'm really responsible with it though." He took a gulp of his beer, tapping the can with his fingers. 

"I'm going back inside to whip Ryan and Mark's butts in the game," Coral announced, bored. She followed the two younger boys into the house and took up her seat between them. 

"Would you like to go inside too?" Logan asked her. "It's kinda noisy out here." 

"Okay. I need to sit down, anyway. At least I know where Coral is this time." Raina let Logan lead her into the room opposite the room that was occupied last night by the three lovers. The room he took her to was comfortable with a queen-sized bed, but sparse in much else; save one small dresser, a night stand, and a plush chair. 

"God, where do you all sleep? This house is tiny for so many people," Raina remarked, choosing the blue chair over the comfortable-looking bed.

"Who says we sleep?" Logan wiggled his brows. "A lot of us just crash in the den or living room. But seriously, most of the guys don't go to sleep until morning or afternoon after the partying is over."

"Hm, this bed is pretty comfortable," he hinted. "I might have to steal this room tonight." He looked into Raina's eyes. She stayed where she was.

"That's cool." She perched on the edge of the chair, tapping her knee. "Um." 

Logan stood up. "Think there's room for two on there?" He pointed to the chair.

"Um, it would be a tight squeeze," Raina stammered. Logan shrugged. 

"It wouldn't be a tight squeeze if only one person was actually sitting on it," he told her as he swooped down and lifted her into his arms, settling her in his lap.

"Logan."

"Yeah?" They were face to face. He just had to lean in a little closer and his lips would touch hers.

"I told you I have a boyfriend," Raina repeated.

"You have an almost ex-boyfriend. Maybe I can help make your decision easier?" Before Raina could answer, he dipped her in his arms, lowered his head and brushed his lips lightly across hers. She didn't pull away. Encouraged, he brought her against his chest, tilted her head, and pressed his lips to hers. Her throat made a small noise of protest.

"Relax. It's just a kiss to help you decide," Logan caressed her back, trying to relax her.

"I don't know. It feels too much like ch--." Raina squeaked as his tongue swept her upper lip, but she kept her lips pressed tightly together.

"It's not cheating if you already have it in your mind to break up with him," he whispered. The lust she could see in his eyes unnerved her.

"But."

"It's not cheating if you don't respond." When he coaxed her lips apart with his tongue, her protests died on her lips and she was lost. Letting out a whimper, Raina responded to the kiss, tentatively tasting his lips and sliding her tongue against his.

"You're smooth," she murmured.

"Did it help?" he asked, sitting her back up and rubbing her jaw with his thumb.

"I'll get back to you on that. I think you just confused me even further. But God, that felt good," she confessed, her lips still tingling from the kiss.

"I'm glad you approve. You know there are more kisses waiting for you when you decide to take the chance." 

Raina gulped and slid off his lap. He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her in for another kiss.

"Oh there you are!" Coral's voice cut through the kiss-induced haze. "Oh, ohh. Raina!"

"Shit." Raina broke away, grabbed her sister's hand and tugged her down the hallway toward the kitchen.

"You just kissed Logan. You're dating Sam!" Her sister's loud voice was giving her a headache.

"I need a wine cooler now," she demanded of the guy standing by the fridge.

"I thought you didn't drink." Logan yelled from the hallway. Kenny tried to high-five him, but he shook his head and mouthed, "later." Raina caught the later and growled. He blew a kiss to her and winked. 

"Have a good week! We'll be back next weekend," he shouted at their backs. "Dream of me." His friend guffawed and slapped him on his back just as Raina spun on her heel and glared at them.

"You wish!" She shot back over her shoulder, yanking open the door. Coral was already in their front yard. Raina blushed in her solitude, knowing she would do just what he suggested.

***

"So about this bike of yours." Raina was sitting on the edge of the jacuzzi, with her legs submerged while she watched her sister flirt. At least it seemed the older guys were leaving her alone. Although, she still couldn't figure out what game the two younger boys were playing. Were they really that awkward or was it a game to them? 

The week had been long and she had dreamed about Logan nearly every night. Each morning she'd woken up feeling like she had cheated on her boyfriend, if not in body, certainly in her imagination. Now the weekend was here and the boys were back. She'd sat through a movie with Sam the night before and had nearly dozed in the theater. What was wrong with her? Why wouldn't she just let him go?

"Yeah?" Logan asked. His hand on her knee snapped Raina back to the present. He was also in the water. Raina had declined the invitation, saying she needed to buy a new swimsuit first. A few innuendos and suggestions of skinny-dipping went around the water, but she ignored them and perched on the edge of the tub. Whether he was aware of it or not, Logan began to gently stroke up her leg as he took a gulp of his beer. She shifted her body and swung her legs back over the side of the tub, out of his reach, and away from temptation.

"It it a hog or a crotch rocket?" she questioned, laughing as he sputtered his beer and coughed.

"My baby is not a crotch rocket. She's a Ninja." He climbed out of the water, grabbed her hand, and dragged her around to the front of the house. 

"Oh brother. You're one of those, huh?" She looked upon the shiny green and black machine with wide eyes. "Okay, that's hot," she admitted.

"You think that's hot?" he quipped as he climbed on the bike, dripping wet. "Watch this." He revved the engine. Raina hummed her appreciation and put her hand on the handlebars.

"Dad is so not going to let you ride that thing," Coral announced as she rounded the corner in her tiny hot pink bikini. "Damn that's gorgeous." She stared from the bike to the wet man in the seat. Raina seethed knowing her sister wasn't just talking about the bike; and she had to agree there. But why was she suddenly feeling so possessive?

"If Dad won't let me ride it and I'm older, what makes you think he'd let you?" Raina challenged, stepping closer to the bike. "Cover up," she told her sister.

"Because he won't know," Coral winked. "And I have nothing to cover up with," she said sweetly.

"You're such a pain in the ass. You know that?" Raina put her hands on her hips as she addressed her sister. Logan watched on with amusement. Ryan came to Coral's rescue with a towel. She allowed him to help her wrap it around herself. 

"And you are the equivalent of a wet noodle when it comes to fun. Why do you think your friends like hanging around me instead of you? Huh?" Coral demanded, raising her voice over the engine.

"You're just a tag-a-long. They don't actually like hanging out with you," Raina spit back. 

Logan turned the bike off and sat to watch the scene play out. He noticed the female shouts had begun to draw a crowd out into the front yard.

"Oh yeah? Then how come when you were off spending time with your boyfriend, they asked me to go to the boardwalk with them?" Coral revealed. The shocked look on Raina's face satisfied her. She smirked at her smugly.

"Does Mom know that?" Raina panicked. Ever since Coral had entered high school, her parents had the convoluted logic in their heads to place Raina in charge of her sister. She had suddenly become her chaperone without even being asked for her thoughts on it. 

"Cat fight!" one of the guys shouted. The girls snapped their heads in his direction and both hissed in unison.

"Girls, calm down. If you get any louder your parents will hear you and make you go home early," Jack said. "I don't need any trouble from my father if your Mom complains about it, either."

"Isn't it past your bed-time?" Raina grumbled at her sister.

"Ha! You should talk. I'm the fun one, just admit it." Coral was equally sick of her big sister ruining all of her summer time fun. It wasn't fair that her parents made her follow her around like a watch dog. She was a big girl and could handle herself.  

"No. What you are is wild, defiant, incorrigible, and a little rebel. God help us when you turn twenty-one." Raina mumbled the last part. Logan heard and patted her back lightly.

"And hot! Don't forget she's hot!" one of the younger boys put in. 

"Thanks, Ryan." Coral turned her emerald eyes on him and gave him a dazzling smile. "You're cute, too."

"Uh, thanks. I think," the skinny boy replied back, blushing and looking down at his feet.

"Do you wanna go for a walk? This conversation is so b-oring," Coral suggested, moving to stand in front of him.

"Yeah sure." He looked over at his friend Mark. Mark stepped forward.

"Can I go too?" he asked hopeful.

"Sure, why not? We're going down to the bulkhead at the end of the road. You'll be able to see me from here. Is that okay with you, Mom?" At Raina's nod, Coral took each of the boy's hands and led them away. 

Raina felt the beginning's of a another headache starting to form, mostly thanks to her sister.

"Wanna sit on the bike?" Logan asked when Coral was out of earshot.

"Okay. God, she's such a brat and I'm always stuck with her," Raina complained as he helped her climb onto the seat. Logan nodded and put his hands over hers, guiding them to the handlebars. He climbed up behind her and moved close to her ear.

"What's the most rebellious thing you've ever done, Raina?" his question a whisper that sent chills up her spine.

"Not much. She's right. I am boring." She slumped her shoulders in defeat.

"Aw, come on. I don't find you boring at all. You're a smart girl, adorable, good company, and..."

"And what?" Raina turned her head to look back at him. His face was right there. He stole a quick kiss from her.

"Well, I do have a pretty good imagination," she told him. "I write. Did I tell you that?"

"No. What do you write?" He became intrigued when she blushed again.

"You blush an awful lot," Logan commented.

"Uh yeah, it's a character flaw. Sorry," Raina mumbled, self-consciously.

"It's sexy." Logan slipped his arms around her waist and drew her back against him.

"I write um, romance and stuff." She closed her eyes enjoying the feel of his hard body against hers.

"And stuff? Sounds like there's more to it. What stuff? Wow, you're embarrassed. Now I really want to know," he teased.

"Naughtystories." The words ran together and he barely caught them.

"Can I read some?"

"No! I should probably go. I don't know what kind of mischief Coral will get herself into." She excused herself and tried to climb off the bike. Logan's arms held her there. "Logan."

"We can see your sister from here. She's fine. You're jumpy around me. Why? I'm not a bad boy or anything, if that's what you're afraid of. I mean, unless that's what you are looking for." He challenged.

"I'm not looking for anything right now. I have a boyfriend, Logan. I can't be spending time with another guy when things are so uncertain with him." 

Logan released her and she slid off the bike. But when her feet touched the ground, he swooped in and kissed her hard on the lips. She grimaced and he pulled away.

"Fair enough. But will you consider being a little rebellious with me?"

"What?" Her headache was worsening by the minute.

"Go for a bike ride with me tomorrow." He turned puppy dog eyes on her.

"I can't. I have to go somewhere with my boyfriend." She saw the disappointment on his face.

"Okay, next time I come down. Just think about it and good luck with your boy." 

"I'll think about it," she said, "but I can't promise."

"Good. Goodnight, sweet Raina." 

Raina rubbed her temples and walked down the road to her house. Tonight, she would make her decision.

***

The week back home had given Logan time to do nothing else but think about Raina. He even had a hard time focusing on work, which was rare. He prided himself on his skills as a mechanic and had a passion for the vehicles he fixed. But there was something refreshing and distracting about her. She wasn't like most of the shore girls he and his buddies were used to encountering. Her shyness was attractive to him and he was determined to bring her self-proclaimed naughty imagination to the surface. She was also strong, especially when it came to her sassy sister. 

Logan had a plan, sneak Raina away from her parents' preying eyes and take her for a ride she'd never forget. 

He took one look at Raina when she knocked on the door that morning and noted her disheveled hair, puffy, red eyes swimming with tears, and pulled her into his embrace. The plan would wait.

"Are you okay? What's wrong?" He was glad everyone else was at the beach or bay and he had the place to himself. He grabbed a cold bottle of water from the fridge for her and held the back door open so she could walk out. 

She sunk down into a chair and covered her face with her hands. Logan took the opportunity to appreciate her subtle curves moving with the motion of crying. She wore cut-off jean shorts, not too short. He wouldn't have expected her to be wearing short-shorts anyway. The mint green tank top she wore boasted a purple butterfly across her chest, the iridescent wings seeming to flutter against her breasts. He wanted to kiss right there where the white strap of her bra peeked over her left shoulder and caress the twin swells of flesh.

"Talk to me," Logan said after a few minutes of watching her sob. He knelt down beside her and took her hands in his.

"I-just-and-he-kept-promising-but-I-just-can't-and-he-loves-me-but-he's-going-to-be-in-three-hours-by-airplane-three hours!" She took a breath and gripped his shirt with her hands. "How-can-he-think-it-would-still-work-and-then-he-started-this-nonesense-about..." Stringing the chopped sentences together, she sniffled into his blue T-shirt. "Oh gross. I'm sorry Logan. I should go. You don't need to hear my drama." She looked at his wet shirt. 

"I want to hear about it. So you broke up with him, huh?" he asked. 

She nodded. 

"And it didn't go well," he surmised from the tirade. Her eyes had gone from that stormy shade of grey to an almost turquoise color.

She shook her head. 

"And it sucked." He gauged from her matted hair and puffy, red eyes. "Your eyes change color," he stated almost as an afterthought.

She nodded vehemently. 

"And now you're depressed." From the tears.

"Uh huh. And I look awful," she whimpered. 

Logan tried not to let on that he was a little uncomfortable with her tears and failed at cracking a few jokes. Finally, he stood up.

"They change shades with my mood and with what I'm wearing."

"So does a green shirt make them go turquoise?" he questioned.

"No, that happens when I cry." She sniffled. Logan wanted to know what color they changed to when she was aroused. He knew now wasn't the time.

"Well, come get comfy and tell me all about it." 

"You really want to know about it? What about our ride?" she questioned.

"It can wait. Besides, I don't want your waterworks all over my ride." He laughed softly at her scowl and walked over to the oversized trampoline. "Kidding." She watched him as he climbed onto it and began jumping.




Jersey Summer Love



"What are you doing?" She tilted her head to the side, curious. He tried to do a front flip, but landed as a belly-flop. She laughed.

"See, I got you to laugh. Come up. It's fun."

"I did trampoline in gymnastics once, when I was like four." She climbed up and took his outstretched hands and jumped with him. She knew he was trying to distract her from her misery and it was working. 

"I forgot how much fun this was." She jumped really high and did a back flip in the air, landing gracefully on her feet.

"Reflexes of a cat, huh?" he remarked. "Oops sorry." He slammed into her at his own back-flip attempt failed, toppling her over and landing on top of her.

"You did that on purpose," Raina accused, wriggling beneath him.

"Did not." Logan looked down into her eyes and rubbed his nose against hers. "Well maybe just a little." 

"Hmph," she sighed. 

"Did my distraction work?"

"Just a little," she repeated back to him, closing her eyes. "You're different than most guys," she mused outloud.

"How so?" Logan caressed her shoulder-length hair.

"For one; you actually listen. Two; you seem to care. Three; I like that your responsible."

"Oh, I can be irresponsible when the time calls for it," he vowed.

"You know what I mean," she chuckled.

"Yeah, I guess." He rolled off of her and lay beside her.

"Then again; you could totally be playing me, preying on my emotions, and using me for the summer," Raina considered.

"Are you always this cynical?" He squinted up at the sun and his voice hardened.

"Let's go for that ride." She avoided the question and jumped off the trampoline to wait for him.

"I have a better idea. Let's go to the beach." As if on cue, the deafening roar of a motor announced that the fire-engine-red speed boat was back in the lagoon. Coral waved from the bow, beaming at her sister and chattering wildly.

"Thanks, Jackson!" Coral hugged Jack. The girls had learned that the buff guy from the first day had indeed been Jack. The house was his father's. The boat, too.

"Anyway time, sweetie. Maybe next time your sister would like to ride along," Jack answered, looking over at Raina.

"When you opened her up and gave her juice, I thought I was going to fly off the back of the boat. It was crazy." Coral's hands flew in excited gestures. "I doubt Raina could handle the fire," she giggled.

"Yeah, well keep quiet about it, sweetcheeks. If my dad finds out that I lit the jets for a pretty face, he'd kick my ass." Jackson reminded her.

"Ohh! You mean you did that special for me?" she asked in a sweet voice.

"You wouldn't stop pestering me about it. You're one persistent little thing, aren't you?" Jack laughed as she batted her eyelashes flirtatiously. "If you were just a few years older..."

"Yes?" Coral asked expectantly.

"Well you'd be a few years older, now wouldn't you?" Jack grinned as he handed her down off the boat. 

Raina rounded on her sister as soon as her foot touched down.

"You should have told me you were going for a ride," Raina admonished as Coral walked past her and climbed into the jacuzzi, flanked by Ryan and Mark, once again.

"I couldn't find you." The lie came easily through her lips and slipped past her teeth. "Anyway, we're all going to the beach later. Wanna come with? Actually, I insist you go with us because otherwise Mom won't let me go either."

"Well since you put it that way." Raina rolled her eyes.

"Ohmygod Raina, you should have seen the flames shooting off the boat. Jack and his Dad are professional speedboat-racers. It was kick-ass," Coral rambled.

"Flames?" Raina's asked weakly, her eyebrows lifting. "Is that even legal?" Raina asked Jack who had moored the boat and was now standing on the dock above her. She couldn't help the shock and concern in her voice.

"My Dad has a license for it," Jack defended.

"And do you?" she questioned him. She had learned from Logan that Jack was twenty-one and had an addiction to the speed of an engine. He also revealed to her how wealthy his family was and that they owned many properties, including several just in her own neighborhood.

"No," Jack hesitated. Raina might have been petite, but when it came to her sister's safety, she could be as fierce as her mother. "I was careful with your baby sister though. Don't worry your pretty little head about it."

"Oh, it's not my head I'm worried about." Raina poked at his smooth, hairless abdomen. 

When Logan intervened on behalf of his friend, Raina wasn't sure if it had to do with her hand lingering on the Jack's six-pack, or if he was just trying to diffuse the situation. She thought she detected a hint of jealousy in his eyes. 

"Why don't you go home and ask your parents if you two can come with us to the boardwalk? The guys are going clubbing, but we can just walk the boards or stroll along the shore." Logan stood in front of of her, blocking her view from Jack's muscles. It was almost cute the way he worried about her looking at his friends. She worried about it becoming possessiveness. The second it turned into that, she would be gone. She only had eyes for him. She hoped she could convey that to him; somehow, sometime. 

"Where are you guys going?"

"It seems a split between Seaside and Point. I was thinking we'd go to Seaside since that's closer, as far as your curfew is concerned."

"I don't feel like being a baby sitter tonight," Raina complained. Why did she always have to take Coral with her?

"Make the pretense of it. Coral is in safe hands from any scumbags with Mark and Ryan to protect her. Right guys?" He looked pointedly at the two younger boys.

"Yeah sure," Ryan said. 

"We'll take care of her," Mark added. 

Somehow that didn't really reassure Raina. It wasn't that she thought the two boys would disrespect her sister, it was more that the one looked like the wind might blow his bean-pole frame over any minute, and the other was just as likely to tell a terrible joke and piss some big brute off. After relenting for a few more minutes, she agreed. 

***

Raina watched her mom collect all three boys' cell phone numbers and last names. She stood tapping her foot on the porch, eyes boring holes into each boys' eyes until Raina hoped she had the promise she needed that her girls would be safe. She gave a brisk nod of approval and a few words of warning about safety and curfews.

"Where's your car?" Raina questioned Logan.

"All I have is my bike," he replied as they stood outside the house, waiting.

"So how are we getting there?"

"That's where I come in." Jack jingled his keys as he exited the house.

"I'm not getting into that!" Raina exclaimed. When Jack pressed a button on the key remote, she half expected the door to lift like some futuristic care like the DeLorean from the "Back To the Future" movies. But instead, she just heard a click as the door unlocked. He pressed another button and the car roared to life. She chuckled at herself for her silly thought.

"Holy shit!" Coral breathed. "We're riding in that??" She walked around the Dodge Viper and whistled as she lovingly caressed the hot metal hood of the flashy red sport's car. 

"Are there enough seats for all of us?" Raina changed tactics.

"Not in this baby," Jack mimicked the loving caress on his car and then pointed to another hot car. "She only has two seats. Maybe if you're nice to me I'll take you for a spin in my Viper sometime." He met Logan's glare, "or maybe I'll give Logan the keys."

"That's better," Logan mumbled.

"Tonight we're taking the Cobra," Jack told her.

"Ooh, I'll take the Cobra," Coral jumped in. "I'm going to have a 'Stang when I'm old enough to drive," she vowed. "I'll join a car club too and kick every guys' ass."

"You wish," Raina muttered.

"By that time, you'll be in college and have nothing to say about it," Coral reminded her. 

Raina had to admit, both cars were beautiful, but that didn't make her any less hesitant about riding even in the Mustang Cobra with hot-headed 20-somethings. 

"There are still only four seats," Raina pointed out. 

"We can squeeze," Jack assured her.

"Unfortunately, squeezing won't produce any more seatbelts." Raina wouldn't be swayed..

"You can ride on my lap," he winked and Raina rolled her eyes.

"Oh I know! You three can sit in the back." Coral pointed to Ryan, Mark and her sister. "And I will lay across your laps. That way if we do see a cop, they won't see me. That'll work, right?"

"Lie." Raina's eyes pleaded with Logan for some help. 

"What?" Coral gave her a weird look.

"Lie. You will lie across our laps, not lay," Raina reiterated.

"Okay, grammar police." Coral rolled her eyes.

Logan intervened. "Unfortunately it's the only way we can get to the beach, unless you want to ride my bike." He rubbed Raina's back gently.

"Just this once. But, I want a seatbelt." Raina finally gave in and watched as everyone piled into the flashy car. 

She buckled her seatbelt and looked away from her sister who had just crawled on top of the three laps, settling herself for the short ride. The two boys wiggled in their seats and she thought Mark was going to have an asthma attack by the heavy way he was breathing and staring at her sister. She shot him a look and he coughed.

***

They lived literally just down the road from the Seaside Heights Bridge, as it was informally known. In actuality there were two bridges that spanned the Barnegat Bay in Ocean County, New Jersey: The Thomas A. Mathis Bridge, which carried traffic eastbound towards the ocean; and the J. Stanley Tunney Bridge, which carried traffic westbound, away from the ocean and into the town of Toms River. There were small seaside towns that doted the way from Toms River to Seaside Heights. 

Seaside Heights was the premiere destination for young adults and youth to gather during the summer months. It stood to reason that this was why MTV chose it as one of their Spring Break programming spots one year, before they bought their own tropical island for such purposes. 

This was the very reason that Raina had such a callous attitude towards what the locals called "Bennies". She knew it was a derogatory, stereotypical term, but couldn't help her feelings. The boardwalk and beaches became jam-packed with tourists and beach-goers, and the traffic on Route 37, the highway that lead across the bridge and to the beach, was often at a dead stand-still on the weekends, and the place became a free-for-all. She wanted no part of it, except maybe the boardwalk. She was happy staying on the small beaches along the bay or out on her family's boat. 

Locals normally knew enough to wait until after Labor Day when the crowds died down to venture to the beach, especially this particular beach. There was of a course a similar tourist scenario all up and down the Jersey Shore, but it seemed Seaside, or as locals infamously termed it - Sleezeside - was just that much more chaotic of a place. It just wasn't worth the hassle -- unless of course -- you were among the young. 

But for Raina, the wide variety of people and personalities presented the perfect people-watching scenario and fuel for her creative muses. So she put up with it. As the summer neared to a close, while she didn't join in the sign-displaying, she secretly cheered inside when more bold locals put up huge signs in their front yards that read "BENNIES GO HOME!"

Raina was surprised and learning fairly quickly that she might have to revise her opinion of Bennies, if they were all as sweet and thoughtful as Logan. She was still trying to gauge him and suspected that he might be the exception to the rule. She might just have to make her own exception for him. 

She looked out the window as the world flew by faster than it should have. She could see the bridge looming up ahead and gasped when she was flung against the back of the seat and her sister flew off their laps as Jack put pedal to the metal. She saw the tiny blinking green light on the dash, a radar indicator and scrambler, she suspected. 

"Ohmygod," she whispered over and over, "we're going to die." Tears threatened to spill and she began to panic as they sped across the bridge. She watched the speedometer as it climbed from 50 mph, pushed 80 mph, and peaked at 105. She felt the car shake as the engine shuddered. She couldn't believe it! She was trapped in a speeding car. One wrong move and they'd crash against the guard rails and plummet into the water to their deaths. She was too young to die! 

And just like that it was over and they were cruising the strip, driving past the clubs, and heading for the boardwalk.

She drew air into her lungs and breathed a great sigh of relief. Jack glanced in the rear-view mirror back at her. She glared at him.

"That was awesome!" Coral shouted.

"Eh, last weekend he got it up to 120 mph. But it was pretty good," Mark commented.

"That was terrifying!" Raina's teeth were still chattering with terror.

"You okay, Raina?" Logan turned around in his seat to look at her. Her face was sheet-white and she was shaking. The rest of the car-full were laughing hysterically and high-fiving each other.

"No. I'm not. Let me out of this beastly machine, now." She'd have to climb over the front seat to get out if someone didn't release the passenger seat and push it forward. As it was, she had to push her sister off of her and climb over Mark's skinny lap. Logan released the seat, got out of the car, and stood waiting for her with his hand extended. Everyone else clamored out after her. Coral raked her hands through her blonde hair and gave her sister a once over. Raina looked like she was going to be sick. 

Coral seized the opportunity. "We're going to go check out a club," she told her as she headed towards the boards. She was fully going to take advantage of her sister's weakened state.

"Fine. Sure. Whatever."

"Hey, you feeling okay? You totally just gave me permission to go to a dance club." Coral reached out and felt Raina's head, checking for fever. "You aren't going to pass out this time, are you?"

"Just have to get my balance," she said, leaning on Logan. 

Coral nodded and bumped her with her shoulder. "I was just kidding about the club, you know. I have to wait at least another year to go to one. How about we have a meet-up place in say," she held Ryan's wrist looking at his watch, "two hours?"

"Okay. Be careful, all three of you."

"Aye, aye, den-mother," Mark joked. 

Coral tugged the boys away and then shouted over her shoulder, "don't forget to feed the beast," and chuckled at the secret joke. 

Logan reached into the car to retrieve Raina's purse and beach-bag and gave her a confused look.

"I'll be at Bamboo. See you guys in a couple of hours. Logan, maybe later when we drop the girls off, we can head over to Jenks." Jack locked the car. He looked at Raina's white face. "Sorry, Raina," he mumbled and took off. Bamboo Bar was one of the number one best singles hot spots in New Jersey.

"If you really wanted to go to Point Pleasant with the rest of the crew, why didn't you just go?" Logan asked. Jack and Logan were referring to another shore destination, Point Pleasant Beach, which had the famous Jenkinson's Night Club and Martell's Tiki Bar, probably the best known bar on the Jersey shore.

Jack shrugged, "I knew you guys needed a ride. Plus, the girl I met last weekend is meeting up with me at Captain Hooks for a drink later," he grinned. "Or several drinks."

"A sports bar?" Raina questioned, "seriously?"

"She loves sports. Lucky me!" Jack sounded more excited that the girl was into sports than anything else. She realized that Captain Hooks Bar was a perfect place for the two of them.

"Thanks man," Logan said.

"Hey, I can always hit up Jenks tomorrow if I'm in a dancing mood. Tonight is about drinking and the game." He waved and walked away.

"Hey wait, are you leaving us by ourselves?" she yelled at his back.

"Is that a problem?" Logan was frowning. "Hey, let's go sit on a bench for a few." 

Taking her purse from Logan, Raina swung it up over her shoulder and made a bee-line for the first unoccupied bench. They sat down, knees touching, and looked in different directions. Logan's gaze went outward toward sea, while Raina looked down the strip of boardwalk. As she took a deep, relaxing breath, many smells assaulted her senses. Her mouth watered for a huge slice of pizza. There was nothing like Jersey pizza. The smell of funnel cake and zeppoles filtered through the saucy scent. 

She stood abruptly, throwing Logan off guard.

"Hey." He stood with her.

"I'm hungry," she stated, walking off in the direction of food. 

"What are you hungry for?"

"Pizza from the Saw Mill, home of the "world's largest slice of pizza", frozen custard from Kohr's Brothers, funnel cake; wherever I can get some, a carmel apple and salt water taffy from the Berkley Sweet Shop, in that exact order," she said with a serious look on her face.

"Uh, is that all for you or are you going to share?" Logan laughed, a bit shocked at her demands. She stared at him and then laughed along with him.

"I might be persuaded to share." 

"I'm sensing an "if" in there or some other condition. Is that what your sister meant by 'don't forget to feed the beast'?" Logan teased as they walked up to the bar of the Saw Mill and he ordered them each a slice of plain cheese pizza and grabbed two Cokes off the counter. "Want to eat inside or outside?"

"Outside." Raina took the paper plate from him and they walked back to the bench that they had been sitting on. "And yes. I have food issues." They bit into the huge slices simultaneously. Logan's eyes were fixated on her mouth.

"What? Haven't you ever watched a girl eat before?" she quipped. Logan pushed his hair back with his hand.

"Not like that, I haven't. Girls I've dated barely ate or took bird-sized bites. You have a bit of..." He reached out with his thumb and caught the red sauce that was dripping down Raina's chin. "Sauce." She licked her lips.

"This is how a real girl eats pizza," she announced with a flourish as she took a huge bite. Cheese slid off the pizza onto her hand. Before Logan could hand her a napkin, she slurped the cheese back into her mouth with a satisfying smack of her lips. Logan leaned in and tasted the sauce that lingered. This time she didn't back away.

Raina still wasn't sure what this was. Was it just a summer-fling? Was it turning into a rebound relationship? Did it even have any potential with him living an hour and a half away? Hadn't she just broken up with her boyfriend of almost two-years because of distance? Did it matter? Live a little, Raina. 

She looked away from Logan and down the boardwalk. She could see Funtown Pier bustling with people. Children were on the kiddie rides and laughter floated on the sea-breeze to her ears. The giant Ferris Wheel rose above everything and took precedence over the Pier. Multi-colored bulbs lit the Ferris Wheel and she knew that people driving across the bridge could see it against the sky. She hadn't been on a Ferris Wheel in a few years and wanted to go on it, now.

"Do you want to go on the Ferris Wheel with me?" Raina questioned.

"Definitely. Then we can do Bumper Cars." Logan gave her a boyish smile and she suddenly realized he had a single dimple. She touched it with her fingertip. "Do I have sauce too?" he questioned her action.

"No, you only have one dimple. I didn't notice that before," she said absentmindedly.

"Let's go." She linked her arm with his.

***

The Ferris Wheel stopped and their car was at the very top. They peeked out over the edge.

"You know, of all the times I've been here, I've never actually been on the Ferris Wheel. God what a spectacular view." Logan slid his hand over to Raina's and held it. 




Jersey Summer Love



"It is, isn't it?" Seeing the view with Logan was like seeing it for the first time. To the left of them, she could see the Atlantic Ocean stretched out below, going for miles and miles and miles. It made her stomach queasy and she looked to the right where one could see the bridges and the Barnegat Bay. Below them, the lights on the boardwalk and tiny people milling about. 

"I feel so small and insignificant when I look at the ocean. Maybe that's the reason I've always been so scared of it." Raina squinted to see surfers riding the waves.

"You're afraid of the ocean?" Logan seemed surprised.

"Terrified actually," Raina said quietly.

"I never would have guessed that. Haven't you grown up here? Why are you so afraid?"

"I don't really want to talk about it. I have a lot of fears." That seemed to halt the conversation and Raina turned in the seat to survey the rest of the boardwalk. 

Casino Pier; the second pier of Seaside Heights, sat at the northern end of the boardwalk. Where Funtown Pier was more family and child-oriented, the bigger rides which were geared more to teens and adults, resided at Casino Pier. Rollers coasters, haunted houses, and upside-down rides were just a few that could be found there, along with arcade games. There was also a miniature golf course that stood on top of game and food stands which afforded a nice view of the boardwalk and surrounding areas. 

Raina's favorite attraction on Casino Pier was the nearly century's old carousel with hand-carved wooden animals. She would have to coax Logan over to the carousel after the Bumper cars. 

As if the ride knew her thoughts, the Ferris Wheel began to slowly move again. As they descended, she could see that lines were beginning to form at the clubs a couple of streets in from the boardwalk. 

"Looks like the night life is gearing up," Raina remarked as they stepped off the Ferris Wheel.

"Yeah. How about that frozen custard?" 

Raina could tell Logan was stepping on eggshells. She felt bad, but really didn't want to delve into her insecurities with him right now, if ever. She was thankful that he took the hint and didn't ask her anymore questions. They walked right past the Bumper Cars and he didn't even remind her he had wanted to go on them.

"That sounds yummy." She gave him a smile and could tell from his look that it didn't quite reach her eyes. They walked together down the boards to the Kohr's Brothers Frozen Custard stand. After asking Raina what kind she wanted, Logan ordered a twist of vanilla and chocolate in a cup for her and a twist in a waffle cone for himself.

"Thanks," Raina took the cup from him and they ate their custard in silence as they walked leisurely down the boardwalk to Casino Pier.

"Let me guess, you want to ride the Carousel?" Logan asked when she stopped before the entrance.

"How'd you know?" she wondered.

"Lucky guess. Plus you look like a little girl about to ride your first pony." He paid for the tickets and chose a tiger for himself. Raina, predictably chose a horse. When the ride attendant cranked the machine and familiar music began to play, Raina leaned forward on the horse and patted its mane. She knew Logan was behind her and probably wondering what she was doing, but didn't care. 

She did feel like a little girl again. She used to pretend these very carousel animals came to life like the scene in Mary Poppins. She would ride the horse out over the ocean. Spreading her arms out to the sides, she shouted, "Wheeee!" As the ride picked up speed, her red hair streamed behind her like a sign being dragged across the sky by a small airplane. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Logan cock his head to the side to watch her. 

"Did you just pet that inanimate object?" His raised voice carried over the music, but she pretended she didn't hear him. The ride finished it's revolutions around the center pillar and they climbed down off of it. 

"Do you want to walk on the beach for a little while?" he asked as Raina secured her hair in a ponytail. She nodded her head, wondering when this visit to the boardwalk had become a date. He was buying her food, holding her hand, and teasing her like a boyfriend would. She wasn't sure how she felt about that. He was trying to get closer to her and she was pulling away, as always. Pull away before they learn the truth, that was her motto. Less heartache in the end.

***

Logan wasn't sure how to read Raina. She had seemed fine a few minutes before, but then when he had mentioned the ocean to her she seemed to shut down. The connection that he felt was beginning to form was blocked and he wanted to know why. He thought that getting her away from the hustle and bustle of the boardwalk would ease whatever was troubling her mind.

She looked adorable in the little sundress that she was wearing. She had put her hair halfway up in a ponytail and a few stray wisps had floated down to frame her sweet face. She was a puzzle wrapped in a cute little package and he was determined to figure her out. He took her left hand in his and led her across the dunes down to the ocean. They strolled along the shoreline, feet quietly splashing as they walked.

"Full moon," the first words Raina had uttered since thanking him for the custard. He looked up. 

"When you look out across the water it looks like the moon is floating on the surface like a little boat. Look how orange it is." 

"I never noticed that before." Logan shook his head at the realization. 

She stopped walking and turned to him. "No?"

"I guess I never really paid too much attention." He grabbed for her other hand.

"Look. Tell me what you see." Raina pointed.

"Well it seems bigger than usual and brighter too." 

"Yes. Do you see the way it sparkles on the water? It's like a pathway of light leading to some unknown destination. I could gaze at it for hours. I have actually." 

Logan looked away from the moon and into her eyes. She blushed when she noticed his attention was back on her.

"You have a way of describing things so beautifully." Her blush deepened. "I mean it. I don't think I've ever met anyone quite like you. You seem so, well, uptight." He saw her grimace at the word. "I mean when you are around other people, when it comes to your sister. But here, right now; I think I'm seeing you for the first time. You are finally relaxed and the way you view the world is almost child-like in your wonder of things." 

"I'm just me," she said simply. 

"Just you. You petted a carousel horse like it was alive," Logan pointed out.

"How do you know it's not?" Raina challenged. Logan blinked at her and shook his head. "Okay that might have seemed a little weird. But I was remembering when I was a little girl how I use to think that if I pet the horse and whispered in its ear, and wished hard enough, it would come to life. I know it's silly. I told you, vivid imagination." She laughed uncomfortably.

"Logan, don't worry, I know the horse is an inanimate object. I just wanted to remember being little and carefree again." 

Her quiet tone had Logan looking more closely at her. The words seemed sad.

"What is weighing so heavily on your mind?" It was time for some answers and he knew he struck a chord when Raina bit her lower lip and looked away. He gently put his hand beneath her chin and turned her face to his.

"Please let me in. I'm trying everything right now. It's just you and I here. No one else." The Universe laughed with Raina when she heard a shrill voice call her name.

"Rain! Raina, there you are. It's an hour past our meeting time. Where the hell have you been? We've been looking for you two all over," Coral questioned with her hands on her hips, looking very much to Logan like her sister usually did.

He cursed under his breath as the opportunity to delve into Raina's complex mind flew like a seagull away from him. 

***

"Fireworks are about to start. Let's watch." Coral turned and waved to the guys on the boardwalk. "I found them. Come on, guys!" She waved her hands around, shouting. 

Raina opened her beach-bag and took out a beach blanket. Her sister grabbed one side while she grabbed the other and they shook it, spreading it on the sand. 

Logan sat beside her and put his arm around her shoulder, scooting closer to her. She wanted to shrug him off, but she was tired, and he was there. So instead, she yawned and rested her head on his shoulder. He smelled of coconut and she breathed him in, wondering if it was sunscreen or something else he was wearing. 

She watched as her sister lay down with her arms tucked under head and looked up, not a care in the world. She didn't want to be so envious of her all the time. But her sister was athletic, outgoing, attractive, and had a magnetic personality, everyone loved her. Not to mention, she had energy to spare. Something that Raina was severely lacking. She barely heard the fireworks as she felt herself beginning to wallow in a pity-party.

After the grand finale and the last burst of light and boom of sound, Raina asked to go home. It was barely 11 pm, but she was tired and achy.

"I'm not ready to go yet. We still have an hour left until curfew," Coral told her. "Jack is still at the club or bar I think. Anyway, how are we going to get home?" 

Raina hadn't thought about that. 

Logan dug out his cell phone. "I'll text message him and tell him we'll be ready to go soon."

"Thanks," Raina said.

"Fine. Well, we're going back to the arcades for a few more rounds of Skee Ball and Air Hockey. Come get me when it's time." Coral stomped off with the two boys who were beginning to act like her obedient puppy dogs.

"How about that funnel cake you mentioned?" Logan suggested as he helped her fold the blanket. "We can share one."

***

They sat on the beach blanket and shared the lacy pastry. A generous amount of powdered confectioners sugar had been sprinkled on liberally and seemed to be landing everywhere but in their mouths. Raina looked up from the bite she had just stuffed into her mouth and saw Logan giving her a curious look.

"What?"

"How can one girl so small eat so much?" He wondered aloud, wiping sugar from her mouth, then moving his hand to cup her chin and move in. His tongue darted out to lick the corner of her mouth causing her to blush. Raina shivered and gulped down the mouthful of cake.

"I have a fast metabolism. I love food." She burped out loud.

"I can see that. You're very entertaining to watch when you eat," he observed.

"Oops sorry," she giggled. "It just came out," she said by way of explanation.

"It's okay." Logan said.

"I'm not sunburned, am I?" Raina asked suddenly, her thoughts scattered. "Ugh, I hope I didn't get too much sun. Is my skin peeling too?" She began to worry and dug into her pocketbook for a make-up mirror.

"No. Your skin is fine." He put his hand over hers to still her frantic movements. She knew she must sound like a hypochondriac to him. "Why are you so worried?"

"I'm not supposed to be out in the sun for long periods of time, even with sunscreen." 

"It's dark," Logan pointed out the obvious.

"I know. But I spent all day with you guys on the dock."

"But you put sunscreen on like three times. I watched you." He was looking at her expectantly.

"You watched me? Oh that's besides the point." She fluttered her hand in a dismissive gesture.

"Is it because you're so pale? You had an SPF 50 on you."

"Yes, that's part of the reason. My doctor told me that the meds I'm on would make me more sensitized to the sun." There, the conversation was started. "I'd burn a lot fast than usual." Let's see where it would lead.

"Meds? What kind of meds?" She saw the confused and worried look enter Logan's crystal-blue eyes. "Are you sick?" 

She sighed and stared out at the ocean, pensive and silent for a minute to collect her thoughts. She'd try to keep the conversation short and just tell him as much as was necessary.

"Yeah, but I'm not contagious or anything like that."

"Are you-" Logan hesitated on the word, "dying?" 

Raina reached out to him and patted his arm. "No, nothing like that." She watched him visibly relax. 

He brought his arms around her to hug her. It was awkward in the sitting position, but she hugged him back. "So what's wrong?" he asked.

"I was bitten by a tick when I was younger," Raina explained.

"A tick? Oh, so you have Lyme Disease?"

"Yes."

"That sucks. But I thought they can give you antibiotics to make you all better. Did they try that?" 

She could tell that he genuinely wanted to know. She wasn't quite sure how to take that.

"They've tried everything. I was on the antibiotics for a long time. They thought I was cured. Apparently not. I'm okay now, just have some pain and fatigue. I was out of school for two years in high school. I had tutors come to the house and teach me." She stood up and walked to the edge of the water, her back facing him.

"But you aren't any better?" He stood and walked over to her.

"I went from doctor to doctor to specialist. I was tried on all different types of medications. I went through the ringer of lab tests. I even tried some alternative healing stuff." Once she started, she kept going. It was better for him to know up-front, better to know everything. Out with it and then let him make the decision of whether he would be sticking around.

She recalled the conversation she'd had with her now ex-boyfriend. She told him he didn't understand her. She was sorry she was sick and sorry he couldn't handle it but all she needed from him was patience and for him to be there for her. He told her he had felt like less of a man not being able to do anything to help his girlfriend feel better. She asked him how did he think she felt? It was her body that was evil. He just didn't get it and she told him as much. 

His reply back was, "no one will ever get you." Those words were like digging a knife into her heart. She had wept on the phone. She hadn't even had the courage to break-up with him in person. 

"What did the tests show?" Logan's voice startled her. He placed his hand on her arm to get her attention and she jerked away from him, sucking air between her teeth, in pain. He stepped closer.

"Raina, are you okay?" He lifted his hand off of her, wary.

"Just sensitive," she said softly. 

Instead of touching her again he stepped into her line of vision. She tried to turn her head to look at the ocean again, but he gently touched her cheek. She met his eyes, looking for a sign that he was going to bolt. Not finding any yet, she continued with her story.

"The tests showed nothing, or almost nothing. One minor blip showed the Lyme. But there was no way to tell if the treatment had worked. I started doing my own research with my Mom's help and we came across Fibromyalgia. I seemed to fit every symptom and criteria for diagnosis. But not a lot of doctors believe it even exists. The fatigue was the worst part and often people with Fibromyalgia have Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome, too. Finally we found one doctor that was willing to listen. I brought her all of my research. She noted on my chart that I was prone to fainting. I can pass out at the drop of a hat, just to warn you." She gave him a weak smile.

"Good to know. A few things your sister has alluded to are beginning to make sense now. But is that the real reason you broke up with your boyfriend?" he wanted to know.

"Part of it. He thought he could fix me. I told him over and over that I just needed him to be patient with me; to be there for me; to let me feel what I was feeling. He wasn't comfortable with tears. He wanted me to smile, told me that if I fake it, I'd feel better. I tried. I really did. But truthfully, sometimes smiling hurt." Raina felt tears welling up again and blew a breath out.

"I'm really tired, do you think they're ready yet?" She tried to change the subject.

"I wouldn't do that to you. He's a jerk. He doesn't realize what he just lost, but he will. My aunt has Fibromyalgia too," he revealed. 

"She does?" Raina asked in wonder.

"Yeah. She needs to rest a lot and bad weather makes her hurt. But that hasn't stopped my Uncle from being there for her and loving her for the way she is. Not every guy is going to run the other way. You just need to give one a chance sometime. Give me a chance," Logan's eyes pleaded with her.

"I want to, but I'm scared," she said in a little voice.

"If you let your fears get the best of you, you will never be happy and free to live your life," Logan told her with more force than he meant to. 

Raina could tell she was frustrating him. Well good, let him get used to it. She was a frustrating person. "I've never had anyone call me out on that before." She dug her foot in the sand.

"If you stick with me, you'll have to get used to it. I'm nothing if not blunt and honest," he warned her, touching the small of her back and guiding her over the sand dunes. "Now let's go find everyone else and then when we get back you are going in that jacuzzi with me."

"I told you I don't have a suit," Raina reminded him, gripping his arm. Her knee went out from under her. "And I don't like being bossed around. Damn knee."

"Suit is optional. Is your leg okay?"

"I have a weak knee. Supposedly nothing is physiologically wrong with it. It doesn't hurt or anything, just collapses."

"The hot water will help your pain." Logan bent down and curved his arms upward, catching Raina off guard and swooping her into his arms.

"Put me down. I can walk just fine," she growled.

"Don't most girls want to be swept off their feet by their knight in shining armor?" He grinned.

Raina wrinkled her nose in distaste. "Knights are over-rated," she retorted. Logan guffawed and strode up the beach, setting her gently on the boardwalk.

***

"I wish we had met at the beginning of the summer," Raina sighed with her hand in Logan's as they drove across the bridge. Jack had consumed a bit too much alcohol. Apparently, Logan always assumed the designated driver role and the plan had been discussed much earlier in the night. They sometimes switched off, but Logan was the most responsible of the group and he didn't gripe them their fun. 

She looked back to see her sister happily nestled on the three boys' laps again. 

"Me too. It sucks that there are only a few weeks left." He gave her hand a squeeze and glanced over at her. She was watching the speedometer.

"Checking to make sure I'm not speeding?" he asked. She nodded. "I wouldn't do that." She raised her eyebrow. "Correction. I wouldn't do that with you in the car knowing how you feel about it. Besides, I have precious cargo in here."

"The boys and I were talking about that very thing," Coral's voice called from the back.

"What very thing?" Raina twisted around in the front seat to address her.

"About how the summer is almost over but none of us want it to end because we really haven't had a good chance to hang out yet." Coral gave the duh-look.

"Oh yeah. Well..." Raina trailed off.

"No. No see our brilliant minds came up with a solution," Mark put in.

"Oh yeah? I'd be interested in this brilliant solution." Logan looked at him through the rear-view mirror.

"Just because the summer ends, doesn't mean our weekends aren't still free, right?" Ryan asked him.

"True. But, it's not just a drive down the road, guys. We'd have to be able to stay somewhere and I doubt as cool as Raina and Coral's Mom is that she'd let us crash there," Logan reminded them.

"Well, we're working on that aspect," Coral smiled.

"Coral, what's in that head of yours?" Raina asked.

"We have our company van," Mark said.

"Yes, and that's for work," Logan told them. "My dad would beat us if we took the van for no good reason."

"Well it would be a good reason. We could say that I dunno we have a job to do?" Ryan asked hopefully.




Jersey Summer Love



"No, hear us out. We take the van and camp out in it. That way we still get to be at the shore and hangout out with these cuties, but their parents can't get mad because we aren't invading their space. See where I'm going with this? And if you're driving, your Dad won't be so concerned," Mark laid the plan out.

Raina was looking back and forth between the back of the car and Logan's face. He looked like he was considering the half-cocked plan.

"Hm, well I did tell Dad that I wanted to try and drum up some business down here. We would of course have to do some advertising if we did this. But -- " Logan hesitated. He looked just as hopeful as the younger boys. 

"You know, it might just work, at least for a few extra weeks." He turned to Raina. "That is, if you girls wanted us around more." 

He was so considerate. She just hoped that it was genuine. "We have a lot of exploring to do." Raina smiled at him.

"And a lot of fear-busting," he added.

"It'll be an adventure," Raina agreed.

"For sure."

"Yay! It's settled, the boys will be staying," Coral whooped.

"Don't get ahead of yourselves," Raina warned. "There's still Mom and Dad to consider."

"Oh, we're working on a plan of how to make it all seem natural and like their idea." Coral winked. Coral was such a persuasive and persistent girl that Raina had no doubt that she would figure out a way around their parents.

***

Raina and Coral checked in with their Mom when they got home and begged to go over to the summer house for a little while longer. She had vetoed the idea because of curfew and had suggested that the boys come hang out on their dock and boat, instead. The boys were a little hesitant, knowing that their father would be home, but did agree. 

Their Dad shook the boys' hands, had a five-minute conversation with them, and returned to the "man-cave" as the women of the house called it, to finish watching his show. Coral took the boys' into their den.

"Sweet!" Mark exclaimed. The boys' eyes lit up when they saw the beautifully crafted pool table in the center of the room. A bar lamp hung down over the table, illuminating the green felt.

"Can you play?" Ryan asked Coral. 

Coral caught Raina's eye from the hallway. "I'm not very good. But I do like to play for fun. Rack 'em up, boys." She turned away so the boys' didn't see the impish grin on her face. 

Raina tutted and rolled her eyes and then walked out of the room with Logan.

"Don't tell me," Logan said as she opened the backdoor to the deck, "Coral is a pool shark in disguise?" He was half-joking.

"Something like that," Raina agreed.

"She's going to school them, isn't she?" Logan wondered aloud.

"Do you want to watch?" Raina asked, her hand still on the doorknob.

"It's tempting just to report back to the other guys, but no. I have something much more tempting in front of me." Logan covered Raina's hand with his and brought it up to his lips. She blushed as he wrapped his arms around her.

"I love your backyard. Let me guess, that swing hanging on the tree is your special spot, isn't it? I can just picture you sitting there with a journal and pen and writing poetry. Or maybe a laptop in your lap, typing away to the sound of the ducks quacking, working on your latest steamy scene." Logan's gestures demonstrated exactly what Raina did every day.

"Don't forget the cushions and pillow," she added. 

"Why not throw a blanket in too?" Logan asked as they sat down on the green, wooden swing. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and looked up at the tall, Weeping Willow tree.

"Sometimes I do!" Raina chuckled as Logan's long legs pushed off and swung them back and forth. 

"This is really peaceful and much quieter than Jack's place, or my home for that matter." 

Raina held his hand. "What's your town like?"

"Crowded and loud. All of the buildings and houses are close together, almost stacked. People are lucky if they have a semblance of a yard. I live with my parents right now, and we do have a little back yard."

"Do you have any siblings?"

"An older brother, but he lives about two hours away. He isn't married, but does have a girlfriend. No kids. I can't wait to be an uncle," he looked over at her, "and a father."

"Are you close?" She wanted to know more about his life. So he wanted to be a Dad. She filed that away in her memory bank.

"We're closer now than when we were growing up. There's a seven-year age gap between us."

"Do you live in the city?"

"Outskirts. It's very industrial."

"I've always lived on the shore. Sometimes I think that I would make a really good country girl; all those wide open spaces and peace and quiet. I can't stand the summer when the traffic is jammed with out of state licenses and the beaches and boardwalk are clogged with Be-- people."

"You mean people like me." Logan put his right foot on the ground to stop the motion of the swing.

"With tourists in general." Raina stood up and walked across the deck and down the steps. He caught up with her.

"You know that it's the tourist money that makes this area thrive right?" He towered over her.

"I know that, but I don't have to like it," she huffed.

"Just what do you have against "us," and I use that word loosely?" Logan probed.

"I'm not comfortable in crowds. I don't like people. People don't like me. I'm a hermit, okay? I have a hard time." Raina walked onto the dock and sat down, dangling her feet in the water. 

"So you are antisocial," he surmised, taking a seat next to her and doing the same thing.

"No. Well, not in the way you are accusing. I'm sheltered. I'm happy in my little comfort zone. I told you that I was really sick. I guess that made me turn inward a lot. That's been great for my muse, but not at all for my social life. I have no social life." She studied the water as she gently kicked her feet, watching the water glow.

"I understand that. But, Raina you can change that. You can step out of your comfort zone. You can spend more time with people. Maybe you will realize that you have more in common with people than you give yourself credit for," he suggested. 

"Woah, look at that!" Logan pointed to a flash of light in the water. "Do you see it? It looks like lightning bugs in the water or something. I don't think there are electric eels in this water, but maybe." 

Raina followed the line he made with his index finger and smiled. "Those are called ctenephores with a silent C, or more commonly known as comb jellies." Raina was glad that some of her biology class was coming back to her.

"Are they jellyfish?" Logan asked as he pulled his feet up, a worried look on his face.

"No. They're in the same family. They use bioluminescence. They look like jellyfish though." Raina reached down into the water and cupped her hand. An indigo glow accompanied the transparent blob in her palm as she scooped the little sea creature up "See?"

"Very cool." Logan dropped his feet back into the water and gently kicked in rhythm with Raina. The ctenophores glowed on the surface as their feet touched their gel-like bodies. Raina wore a smirk on her face. "What?" Logan responded. "I've had bad experiences with jellyfish before."

"Well it seems someone has some fears to work through." 

"Touche." Logan laughed.

She giggled as he lunged over. He tumbled her to the dock and tickled her mercilessly. 

"Ack, stop stop. Please," she begged. "Be gentle." 

Resting his body over hers, he grinned. As Raina arched her neck back to look up towards the house, Logan kissed the column of her throat. She gasped.

"I could spend hours finding every little tickle spot on this cute body of yours," Logan whispered low in her ear. 

"That would take longer than a few hours. My entire body is super sensitive to touch and tickling. Oh," she moaned as he swept his tongue along her collarbone, eliciting a shiver. He moved away from her to sit up.

"Get a room," Coral's voice cut through the haze of lust that was beginning to take hold of Raina. She looked up at her sister's upside-down face. 

"Why are you upside down?" Raina asked her.

"Ogre-face." Coral smiled. The girls shared a laugh at their inside joke.

"Huh?" Logan asked clueless.

"When we were little and shared a bedroom, our beds were next to each other. We would hang upside- down off them and one day Raina told me my face looked like an ogre's like that. I made her change spots with me and she looked like an even uglier ogre to me," Coral supplied the memory.

"Heh." Logan lay down and tipped his head back to look up at Coral too. "Interesting." 

"Yeah, so anyway. I think it's time that we tell Mom that the guys are crashing in their van now so it won't look like it was planned in a few weeks. It's almost 2 am," Coral suggested. Raina sat up and saw Ryan and Mark standing behind her. Logan sat up and they all went inside. 

They nudged their drowsy mother awake. She had been camped out on the couch, watching late night TV, and keeping an ear out for her daughters. They quickly explained how far the boys had to drive and that there was no room at the summer house with the party going on. Their mother yawned and relented, agreeing that it was really late for them to be driving home safely at this hour and had no problem with them staying in their van. She did tell the girls it was past curfew and to say goodnight to the boys. She told the boys she would leave the door to the boat open in case they had to use the bathroom. 

The girls gave her a look and when the boys had gone out to the van, she told them she didn't know them well enough to give them free rein of the house yet. The girls thought that was fair. The boys said they could have just gone down to Jack's house if they needed to. 

Raina snuck out the front door to say goodnight.

"You guys going to be okay in there? It looks cramped."

"It's like camping. And no more cramped than Jack's house is with his sister and her entourage visiting. We'll be fine. Beach tomorrow? I'll lather you up with sunscreen and buy you a beach umbrella," Logan promised.

"How can I resist?" she smiled, standing on tiptoe and kissing him.

"Sweetdreams, Rainy." Logan broke the kiss, backed her up onto the step and pulled her against him. On the second step, she was face to face with him. He resumed the kiss. 

Raina was breathless when the kiss was over. "Goodnight."

***

Raina awoke at five in the morning and started a pot of coffee brewing. Her idea was to tiptoe out the house before Coral woke up, quietly kiss Logan until his eyes opened, and sneak him out of the van before anyone noticed they were gone.

"Doth my eyes deceive me?" the male voice spoke from behind her. Raina hunched her shoulders and slowly turned around. Her father wore an incredulous look on his face and had a green mug of coffee in his hand. 

"Morning Dad," she went over and filled a thermos with coffee.

"Has Hell frozen over?" He took a sip of coffee and peered at her over the rim of the mug.

"Hah, very funny. I just wanted to get an early start to the day," she tried, grabbing the container of creamer from the refrigerator along with a carton of eggs.

"Trying to lose the cling-on little sister, huh?" he asked knowingly.

"Trying is the operative word. Why does Mom make me Coral's babysitter? Doesn't she understand that I'm a teenager too and I want to have fun? This is my last summer before college."

"Because you are responsible, level-headed, and protective of your sister. I don't always agree with your Mother either. But as you know, she's the boss," he shrugged.

"That's kinda woosy Dad, if you ask me," she told him.

"What? Oh, make no mistake Raina, I love the challenge. But I also know how to challenge your Mother right back. I'm just more subtle about it." He winked at her.

"Are you going to tell Mom or wake Coral up? Please, please, please don't," she begged with her best puppydog eyes.

"Nah. I got you covered kid." He walked over to the door and looked out the window. "But tell me, where you are sneaking off to and what is with the blue van parked outside the house?" 

Raina had forgotten that her Dad was asleep when her Mom let the boys crash in front of the house.

"The beach." She knew that her Dad knew full well that she wasn't a beach girl and that she didn't like being under the blazing sun. 

He raised his eyebrows. "The beach? There has to either be a boy involved or a mermaid sighting to get you to the beach before dusk," he teased. 

"Maybe and so what if there is?" She blushed.

"A mermaid, huh? Or is it a merman?" He peered into the cooler she was neatly packing food into. "A picnic at 5 am?"

"Breakfast on the beach."

"Which boy is it? Not the brown-haired Hulk right?" 

"No, Dad. That's Jack. I like Logan, the tall one."

"Ah you like Goldilocks, then," he joshed her. Her father was a jokester. "Wait, isn't he the oldest of the bunch?"

"Yeah. But I'm eighteen," Raina reminded him. "I'm starting college soon and there will be older boys there, too. Besides, I think you'd like him. He's environmentally conscious and he fixes cars."

"For a living or for fun?" he questioned.

"He works for his Dad who owns an auto-body shop. He's also an EMT," she added.

"Good he has a job. An EMT you say? Have to be responsible and have a good head on your shoulders for that. I'd like to properly meet him tonight, then. We can talk shop and about my little girl." He nudged her shoulder.

"Okay, Dad." She slipped past him and out the door.

"And Raina?" Her father's tone of voice had Raina freezing in her tracks.

"Yeah?"

"Don't let me hear that you went joy riding on that bike of his."

"Um. Dad," she stammered.

"I know he has a crotch-rocket. I saw you girls drooling over it as I pulled up to the house a couple of nights ago. I had a motorcycle at his age. I lost my best friend to a motorcycle accident. I know they are fun and riding on the back of one is exciting, but I love my girls too much to let them put themselves at risk that way, or let someone else put them at risk. You understand?" His usual carefree voice had taken on a serious tone.

"Yes Daddy."

"Even if he's a responsible rider other vehicles on the road might not be, especially in the summer," he continued.

"I understand."

"Don't forget your sunscreen," he called out the door. 

Raina turned around and gave him a look of a disbelief. "Don't you remember who you're talking to?" She pointed to her pale skin.

"Oh yeah, it's Coral I should be reminding. You know me."

"Yeah, overprotective and careful," Raina finished for him. 

"Safety first."

"Always," she agreed and mumbled, "so that's where I get it from," as she walked down the sidewalk to knock on the van and wake Logan up.

***

Raina had suggested that despite the boys' love of all things Seaside, that they should go to Island Beach State Park; a narrow barrier island along the Atlantic Ocean, just a short drive from Seaside Boardwalk. She knew that it would be a a much better place to hang out. The beach was less crowded, there were long stretches of shore-line to walk, places to fish, surf, picnic, explore nature, SCUBA dive, and on the off-season even horseback ride. 

"Good thinking bringing your car, Raina." Logan yawned. She looked over at him. He was sitting in the passenger seat of her SUV. His wavy blonde hair was mussed from sleep and his eyes squinty in the sunlight. She didn't tell him why she chose her car over one of theirs. There was a reason for that decision though. She pulled up to the booth and rolled her window down to pay for their passes. She asked for a car-pass as well. 

Raina drove past the parking lot and onto the beach itself. The crunch of sand beneath the tires made her smile. "My uncle has a fishing/beach buggy permit for the beach," she explained when Logan looked out the window. 

"I'm not sure if he needs to be in the vehicle and with us, or not, but I guess I'm trying to live a little. Besides it's really early in the morning and if they tell us to move, we can."

"You don't have to explain yourself to me." Logan rested his hand on her knee.

"I'm trying to convince myself," she said nervously.

"Are we going fishing?"

"I don't have any rods with me. I just wanted to get away for a bit. We haven't had breakfast yet, so I thought we could start a fire and pretend we're camping. You know?" They climbed out of the car and Raina grabbed the cooler and beach bag she brought. Logan took it from her and carried it onto the beach. 

"You can make a fire on the beach?" Logan asked, unpacking the cooler while she spread the beach blanket.

"Yup! I figured we could toast buttered rolls and make egg and cheese sandwiches. Do you like them?"

"Mm, sounds good. What good New Jerseyan doesn't love buttered rolls?" Raina joined in his laughter. "I'll take you camping any time you want."

"Not just buttered, but smothered with butter and thrown on the grill or griddle," Raina added. "I love camping."

"True. You're making me hungry. Hey, how'd you sneak out of the house without Coral noticing?" Logan asked.

"I had a little help. My Dad was already up and I begged him to keep quiet," Raina responded.

"And he agreed?" Judging from the expression on Logan's face, it seemed to be an alien concept to him. Parents covering for their child.

"Well yeah. My Dad's cool. He wants to meet you. You'll like him. You guys can talk about cars together."

"Cool. I'm up for anything. Hey we forgot to buy you that umbrella," Logan remembered. 

"No need, I brought one with me. Help me put it up?" 

"Sure. Do you want me to lather you up now or a little later?" 

"Later when the sun is higher up." 

Logan nodded and crouched to dig a hole with the pointed end of the umbrella pole. He pushed it in and moved it around in small circles to ensure it would hold. When he stood up, Raina grabbed his hand and they ran to the edge of the water together. 

"I've never watched the sunrise before," Raina told him. She stood on tiptoe and wrapped her arms around his neck as the water gently lapped at their feet. In the morning, the ocean was cool and refreshing.

"Never?" He asked, encircling his arms around her. His one hand swept down her back and cupped the curve of her ass, pressing her against him while he brought the other hand up to her chin, tilting her face up to his. 

Raina looked into his eyes."Well, not since I was a little kid. I'm not a morning person. I love twilight and never miss a sunset unless there's cloud coverage. I go to the end of my street and look out of over the bay as day retires and evening inspires." He dipped his head down and caught her lips with his. 

Logan spun her around in his arms so that her back was against him. "There's a first time for everything," he whispered in ear, dropping a kiss on her shoulder. "Watch."

"It's breathtaking," Raina breathed in wonder as the sun peeked over the horizon. She watched as the first rays kissed the ocean's surface, setting it afire with light. "So that's what I've been missing." She looked back and watched as shadows stretched. Like an artist, the sun painted the world with color and brilliance.

"Makes me wonder how I ever let a moment like this slip me by," she murmured. 

"I was thinking the same. You're so lyrical and creative. Did you realize that when you were describing the sunset, that you actually rhymed?" Logan asked.

"I did? I sometimes have a rhyming curse. I didn't mean to rhyme. It just slips out. My high school literature teacher always used to get frustrated with me. She would tell me that not all poetry had to rhyme. I told her I knew that, it just happens. I don't think she really believed me though." 

Logan swept Raina's hair back and kissed her neck, up to her ear. He breathed soft, warm breath into it and watched goosebumps prickle her skin.