Chapter 22

"No!" I watched as Shayla was at least a thousand points ahead of me.

"I told you, I would win, Michael. You didn't want to believe me," she laughed and kept pressing buttons.

"This is impossible. You cannot be beating me at my favorite game," I was in disbelief as I watched her literally murder me at this game. I reached over and started pressing her buttons.

"Cheater!" She slapped my hand away.

"I can't let you beat me at my favorite game."

"Too bad, Michael. You're being beat bad. And by a girl at that."

"Fine, you win," I threw my hands up in surrender as I watched as she continued to beat me.

"Yes! I won! I beat your high score! How do you like them apples?" She laughed in my face.

"I don't," I looked at her. I was legit hurt right now.

"Aww, is Mikey mad that I beat him at his favorite game?" She laughed, pinching my cheeks.

"This is really not fair," I folded my arms.

"Don't get mad. It's just a game."

"It's not just a game, Shayla. It's my favorite game."

"And? Aww, come on, Mikey. Let's go to the candy store and get my Snickers," she tried cheering me up and grabbed my hand as she led me out to the car.

"I let you win," I mumbled.

"Is that so?" She turned around to face me. "Then what was all that, 'no! Shayla, you can't beat me! This is my favorite game!' about?" She did her best impression at my voice.

"I don't sound like that," I squinted at her.

"Oh, really? Because that's exactly how you sounded when you didn't want me to win," she laughed and got in the car.

"Yeah, right," I shook my head, getting into the car as well.

"Where to next? It's still early. I'm not ready for food yet."

"Same. What do you want to do until then?"

"Is there a beach around?" She asked.

"Yeah."

"Let's go there! But let's go to the house first. I don't want to go to the beach in these hot jeans."

VII

"Shayla, are you ready?" I yelled up the stairs.

"Almost. Give me five more minutes!" She called back.

"You said that five minutes ago!" I laughed as I waited for her I the kitchen. Janet ran in and grabbed an apple. "What's the rush?" I asked.

"I've got to go to rehearsal. Bye!" She ran out the front door. Alrighty then... I looked down at what I had changed into. Black shorts and a blue shirt. I look decent, but I will say it's definitely been a while since I've worn shorts. I looked up to see Shayla coming down the stairs wearing black short-shorts and a white tank top. I couldn't stop staring. Her shorts fit her way better than those jeans... I'm too excited... I crossed my legs and walked behind the kitchen island, so she wouldn't notice. I'm praying this goes down...

"I'm ready," she smiled. I looked her up and down, then quickly looked back in her eyes. "Oh, don't worry. I've got my swimsuit. I'm not swimming in this," she said as she took her hair out of her ponytail. "Might as well wear my hair down, right?"

"Um, yeah," I swallowed. I began to make my way out to the car with her following me.

Randy walked beside me, "Shayla looks mighty fine today. Doesn't she, Michael?" He teased.

"Yeah... What's it to you?" I cut him a look.

"I'm just observing her wonderfully good looks and her thick ol' thighs, is all," he smiled. "Calm down."

I made my way to the car to find Shayla talking to Tito, "hey, Tito." I walked over to them.

"Hey, Michael. No one told me you had a friend over," he smiled.

"I didn't realize everyone had to know..."

"Shayla tells me you two are going to the beach. Have fun. Oh and is Joseph in there?" He asked me.

"He should be."

"Alright, well, you kids have fun," he smiled at Shaya and walked in the house.

"I think I have one last sibling to meet. Which one is that?"

"Marlon. Maybe we can visit him sometime," I said as I opened the car door for her.

VII

"When do you want to get dinner?" I asked Shayla.

"It's up to you," she shrugged.

"Not really. You're the guest. You get to call all the shots."

"But you're the gentleman," she challenged.

"You're the lady. Mother always taught me, ladies, first."

"But I'm the guest, right?"

"Yep."

"And I'm also the lady..."

"And?"

"And you're the gentleman. That's two against one. One is that I'm the guest, so you decide and two being that you're the gentleman, and as the gentleman, it is up to you to decide where we go because you should have everything planned out."

I stared out at the road, "what?"

She laughed, "what time are we going to dinner, Michael?"

"I'll let you know."

"Sounds good," she smiled.

VII

We finally got to the beach and walked hand in hand along the shoreline.

"I've always thought the beach was so pretty," Shayla looked out at the ocean.

"And peaceful. I come here to write sometimes."

"Do you write music here?"

"Yeah. And it's a pretty secluded area... That's what I like most about it."

"I see why. It's so serene," Shayla pulled me back to stop and began to take off her clothes, revealing her two-piece swimsuit. I couldn't help but watch in awe. "I'm going to test the water out. Do you want to come along?"

I stood speechless, "um, no."

"Suit yourself," she shrugged and walked into the water. I made a spot in the sand and sat down as I watched Shayla. Boy, oh, boy. That girl has the curves in all the right places. Is it too early to say I'm in love? "Michael, come on! The water is great!" She called. I took off my clothes and got in the water.

"Don't say anything when I splash you," I warned.

"Michael, you better- Michael!" She screamed and tried to run over to me. "Michael, that's not fair! She said and went under the water.

"Shayla?" I asked, looking around for her.

"Looking for me?" She asked from behind me and jumped on my back.

"Oh, no!" I laughed, holding onto her legs.

"Oh, yes! This will teach you not to splash me again," she laughed and covered my eyes.

"Hey! I can't see!"

"That's the point!" She laughed. I took her legs and unwrapped them from my waist, causing her to fall into the water. "Now, how do you like them apples?" I asked her.

"I don't like them. Thank you very much," she pushed her wet hair from her face.

"Aww," I laughed. "Is Shayla mad now?"

"No. I'm going to get you sooner or later. Just you wait."

"I'm waiting... Hey!" She jumped on me. We both fell into the water. I grabbed her by the waist as her legs were wrapped around me.

"Ha! What did I tell you?" She laughed as we finally came up for air.

VII

"So, I was going to ask you a question," I played in Shayla's hair as we lay in the sand, watching the sunset.

"What?" She held my other hand in hers.

"I actually planned on asking you at dinner..."

"Ask me what?" She looked up at me.

"I just wanted to know if..."

"If...?" She pressed.

"You would be my girl," I said quickly.

"Well?"

I looked up at her, "well what?"

"You didn't ask," she giggled.

"Oh," I blushed. "Would you be my girl?"

"I thought I already was..."

"I just want to make it official. So, will you?"

"Of course," she kissed me.

"I was kind of nervous you were going to say, 'no.'" I laughed nervously.

"Why would I say no? I've wanted to be yours since we first talked on the phone." I smiled and held her close to me.