Free Down the Shore by Kelly Mooney Page A

Isle. He had to know that I couldn't go. I wasn't old enough and I didn't have a fake ID.
    He kissed me goodbye, heading upstairs. I assumed that would be the last I would see of him for the rest of the day. I ran out back, grabbed my towel off the clothes line and turned the shower on. As I worked the conditioner through my hair, there was a tapping sound on the shower door.
    "Can I come in?” Nick peeked through the wooden door. I grabbed my towel, hiding behind it.
    "No, I don't think so,” I snapped.
    "C'mon, please!” he pleaded, as he held the door slightly ajar.
    I slammed the door, mad as hell that I hadn't fastened the rusty lock.
    "Give me a minute, Nick.” I fumbled for my towel. I turned the water off and wrapped the towel tighter around my body. I felt him staring at me! I opened the door, hearing him hop back down to the ground. He'd been watching me. I didn't know what to say. I looked down at my feet and the soap running onto the sidewalk. The one thing I hated about the outside showers was that there were openings at the top of the wooden frames, so people could see in if they tried real hard. I'd never had to worry about that, with parental chaperones and no love life.
    "How much time do we have?” he asked as he pulled me closer to him, trying to remove the towel I'd tightly wound around my body.
    He grinned and stood his ground.
    "None...I need to get to work.” I started to push him aside, but he stepped back in front of me.
    "I'll see you later, I need to get ready.” I thought this was going to be the best way to avoid him getting upset with me. He kissed me and he kissed me hard. He grabbed my chin, pinching it between his fingers, then released me and walked away.
    I continued getting ready, looking back at my day and thinking of Nick. How could he do that to me, put me in such an uncomfortable position? I wasn't quite sure if he had seen me naked. I hoped I had wrapped the towel around me quickly enough.
    No one had ever seen me without clothes on. Maybe my mother was right; I wasn't ready for these kinds of boys.
    I really wanted him to be the real deal. I thought for sure I was beginning to fall for him. I knew what he wanted, but I knew I wasn't ready at this point to give myself to him. I hadn't even told him that I was a virgin yet, and wondered if that would scare him off.
    I let my mind wander to thoughts of love and what it meant. How did I even know what love felt like? I'd never been in love, could this happen so soon? Was this love? Was this a crush? I didn't know, but I did know I was willing to find out.
    I tossed my emotions aside and turned on the radio. The song “Shiver” by Coldplay blasted through the apartment. As I brushed my hair in front of the mirror, I smiled thinking of Colin. If only he lived upstairs, maybe things would be different?
    My run-in with Nick made me late, and I had to run the last block to the restaurant. Thank God being in good shape paid off. I smoothed out my hair as my feet touched the boardwalk.
    Stepping off the wooden boardwalk and onto the red carpet of the restaurant, I immediately saw Colin. His face peered through the sea of people, looking past them and at me. I returned his gaze and smiled. His stare pierced straight through me, causing goosebumps as always. I walked inside nervously, knowing I would see him again at the end of the evening.
    I could feel the excitement permeate throughout the restaurant, reflecting the tension of our first day. As the clock hands moved closer to five, the anxiety built up inside of me. We were all given our assignments for the evening; we were each to be responsible for five tables. The tables I had been given were closest to the window overlooking the boardwalk. The best seats in the house. My distraction stood behind the bar, watching me as I checked the ketchup bottles and the salt and pepper shakers.
    It was eight o'clock when I glanced down at my watch for the first time. The night had gone much