[07]

SARDINE SEVEN:

~Marina's Pov~

After the wholesome two hour car ride with this pain in the ass fuzzy of mine, we finally reached the beautiful city of Santa Monica. As we rode through the streets in search of our lodge, basically Jason had made reservations for one close to the Pier, I inhaled the different atmosphere, absorbing every inch of it all.

"Nothing feels better than this..." Jason sang along with Khalid's voice booming from the car's speaker.

Well after some pleading, Jason allowed me connect my phone to his car's Bluetooth speaker so I could vibe to my playlist and forget about him, but as you already figured, he ended up vibing to it and forgetting about me. Cruel joke. He was enjoying himself and I struggled with the urge to turn off the music.

Jason took a right turn into Bicknell Avenue, we drove by ocean avenue on Tongva park scanning the area then we saw a neon light signpost that read; Ocean Lodge.

"Is this it?" I asked impatiently waiting to get off this car.

"Yeah, I told you I made reservations."

"I don't care, I'm hungry and your blockhead forgot the snacks Tiffany packed for us."

Tiffany was Fuzzy Jason's mom, nice lady packed us car lunch and stupid Jason left it on the kitchen counter, only remembering it by the time we had passed Irvine, I almost stabbed him with my acrylic nails.

"An honest mistake Marie, besides I'm going to pay for our lunch now so..."

"You don't get it, home cooked food always tastes better."

"Sorry." He said politely pulling up into the flower fenced territory of a white two storey building.

Hmm, the place looked nice on the outside, hopefully it'd look better on the inside.

"I'll be right back, let me get the keys to our room from the reception." Jason said.

"Sure, just give me your car keys."

Jason looked at me like I'd grown ugly brown horns.

"Yeah, no."

"Oh gee, I want to get my stuff out of the boot."

"Anything happens to my baby, I'm taking your entire year's worth of saving, deal?"

I laughed, "Deal... Now hand them over lackey."

Jason just shook his head ignoring my last word and handed me the keys. No I am not driving his car, I'm not insane.

After Jason disappeared into the building at the other side, I opened the car and shuffled out. Straightening finally, gosh my butt was sore already. My brown fur sneakers looked cute under the setting sun so I took a picture for my aesthetic.

The lovely evening breeze ruffled my poorly packed hair and I decided to look around and explore a little, it may take longer for Jason to return because he is a flirt, he might have already forgotten about me and is currently flirty with some blue eyed blondie, I winced at the likelihood of the thought. I guess I felt a little jealous.

I strolled around making snaps but making sure I wasn't wandering too far off before Jason gets hysterical and calls the cops that I've been abducted.

"Coming thruuuuuu!!!"

Huh?

Before my brain finished processing what was happening, a skater holding coffee Starbucks ran into me and I crashed landed on my butt.

Ow.

The coffee splattered on the ground. Great! public littering!

"Heyy, watch it!" I said, feeling annoyed.

"I'm so sorry, I just got a little excited," The skater extended his hand to help me up as he also tried to pick up his skateboard but I slapped it away. "Whoa boyyy aren't you a sight for sore eyes!"

He was complimenting me?

"Eww, you shouldn't compliment strangers, stranger." I stood facing him.

"Glad you took that as a compliment but where are my manners? Silly me, I suppose I should introduce my self then, I'm Bodie, but my friends call me KB." He said nicely, holding out his hand.

I cocked my head to side and observed this stranger, black hair, definitely my age, chill blue eyes and was gorgeously clad in a black matching shorts and T-shirt which matched his hair color, his shirt wasn't buttoned completely and I could spot a silver chain snaking his neck. Real Hollywood California boy style.

I heard a door opening and saw Jason come out into the parking space, how was he so good-looking in simple blue jeans and a plain white shirt. I didn't know I had left the stranger hanging until I heard him call out from behind me.

"Uhm see you around I guess, sorry I bumped into you again."

Jason gave me a funny look, "So it's First five minutes in Santa Monica and Marina already has a boyfriend."

"You're disgusting!"

"Oh please, silent flirt!"

"I wonder who I learnt that from." I taunted him back.

"At least I haven't flirted since we got here."

"Yeah, right!"

"I swear it."

"I don't care Jason, just come help with the boxes." I said while lifting the car boot. Yeah supergirl moves.

"I don't care Jason, just come blah blah blah boxes." He mimicked me in a mocking high pitched tone.

"Oh God!" I groaned.

~ ~ ~

"Ouu these tacos are so good, thanks Jason, you have a special place in my heart." I moaned at the spicy delicious taste of the tacos.

It's a simple logic, if you want to get closer to my heart just appeal to my stomach.

"No I don't, you're just saying that because you love tacos, not because you love me."

"But I do love you, don't you love me?" My eyes watered dramatically.

Most times in the past I considered joining theater because it was and still is really easy for me to tear up, I'll be perfect for Hollywood. Don't you think?

His jaw clenched lightly and I swear I saw something strangely emotional flicker in his eyes for a brief second before he spoke, "Maybe, now enough of all this sappy shit."

Okay...

We sat in silence opposite each other in our lodge room. It was a spacious room, that had two beds, a bedside table stood in-between the beds, above Jason's bed was a landscape painting of a canyon, air conditioning hung above the oak closet door which was between the entrance door and bathroom door, on my own side of the room was the large window that out looked the beach and beside the window was a portrait wall mirror.

"Is something wrong?" I asked noting his silence. Jason was never the quiet one.

"Nope, everything is perfect, do you want to go for a walk?"

I shoved the last piece of spaghetti taco into my mouth and muffled out, "Yeah sure." I grabbed my strawberry Starbucks drink and stood up.

"Ready to go!"

I had changed into a black bum short and red flannel when we settled into the room an hour ago, although our luggage remained unpacked and lying around on the tiled floor.

"Who's gonna clear all these?" Jason asked me looking like he could eat me any second.

"Definitely not me, call room services or be a good boy." I patted his head.

"Seriously, Marina, clean it up." He said and removed my hand from his head.

"Wow okay Dad, fine, I'll clean it up, but you'll piggyback ride me to the beach?" I beamed.

"No." Jason decided to hurt my feelings.

"Then I'm staying in."

"Sure, suit yourself, I might as well go out alone and flirt with girls on the block." He retorted harshly.

"What's up with your rash behavior?" I eyed him suspiciously as I packed the paper bags, used serviettes, straw wrappers and chopsticks shoving them all into a polythene bag.

"Never mind, help me with these on your way out." I said before he answered and handed him the trash bag, making sure not to hide my disappoinment as I plopped back into my soft bed.

He collected the bag and left with another word or glance.

What's his deal? Did I say something off? My temples were suddenly aching.

Minutes seemed like hours and Jason had not returned, I guess he really went out to flirt. Sipping my drink I went to stare out the window, it was already night time, and the city lights were breathtaking, the ocean ahead shimmered on the shore as it rose and fell in small tides, sending the cool sea breeze up my window.

I tucked my hair behind my ear and stared down around the lodge environment. My eyes effortlessly landed on Jason resting his back on one of the palm trees, jaws clenching as he sipped his drink. He looked so beautiful in the night light that I could feel my heart skip a few beats.

I have a confession.

I kinda lied when I said I didn't have feelings for Jason, well I don't, not real feelings though, it's just a simple crush, every girl has a crush on their boy best friend right? It's totally normal, isn't it?

Maybe the saying that first love never dies is really true, Jason was the first boy I ever looked upon with favor and felt something deep for, I was too young and naive to understand it at the moment but now I do. And the accumulation of past memories brought with it a plethora of conflicted feelings thereby prompting this crush. Sorry I'm rambling– oh no. I think I'm starting to get love sick.

The night breeze brought up the echoes of two voices in a conversation to my hearing, I looked down once more and noticed a girl was flirting with Jason with her filthy hand on his shoulder she was laughing stupidly.

Back off girl, he's my boy. I said in my mind but instead of doing anything about it, I just cowardly went back to my bed.

I felt somewhat miserable and jealous despite the fact that I was used to seeing girls fawn over and flirt with Jason, it hurt different this time. This week was meant for us to spend time together I mean that's what he said in the car right, and now look at both of us, him flirting, me alone.

My phone rang into the silent air disrupting my thoughts.

It was Jake.

~ ~ ~