Chapter 3 - THE PERFECT DAY

As we walked toward town, I couldn't help but notice that the weather was amazing. The sun was shining so brilliantly, and the sky was a perfect shade of blue. There was a slight breeze coming off the ocean that lightly kissed my skin. Street vendors lined the roundabout just outside of the parking garage.

We stopped to admire the artist's work and noticed one older lady selling an assortment of handmade jewelry. Her stuff was so beautiful that it caught my eye. I got lost in it, so much so that I didn't even notice what Jake was doing. When I looked up to find him, he had struck up a conversation with her. I supposed that he was praising her for her amazing work.

She had the sweetest pieces that incorporated sand from the local beach and it sparkled against the silver necklaces and bracelets. It was no wonder they cost so much. Each piece must have taken her hours. I heard Jake calling me, breaking me out of my trance, "Hey Sky, you ready?"

We continued our stroll toward town, hand in hand. Before I knew it, we were entering what everyone calls "Visa Alley," they call it that because most people cannot get through it without dropping a ton of money. As we turned onto the street, I smelled all the wonderful smells that filled the air.

There were people everywhere, ducking in the quaint little shops. Dogs strolled through the streets, leading their owners as they passed street bums and corner musicians. People lined the fronts of the shops offering samples of everything from pizza to perfume. We passed period actors dressed in old costumes, I just tried to soak it all in. I guess he noticed my silence because he shot me a confused look, "You all right over there, you're awful quiet."

"I am perfect, I love this place, I am just taking it all in," I reassured him. He sighed with relief when he realized that not only was I ok, I was happy, very, very happy!

We made our way over to the old fort that overlooks the ocean and had so much fun exploring. One room had an enormous glass display with a sign that we did not notice until it was too late. It read, "Please do not touch the glass." One of us must have leaned up against it because to our dismay an alarm went off.

We looked at each other in horror and ran as fast as our legs would carry us, putting distance between us and the scene of the crime. When we stopped running, we found ourselves at the top of the fort looking out over the ocean. I was trying to catch my breath when I felt him come up behind me and wrap his arms around my waist.

I felt so comfortable standing there with him, breathing in the ocean air. After a few seconds, he whispered in my ear, "The only thing more beautiful is you." I couldn't contain the smile on my face as his cheek nuzzled into my neck. Was this happening? Maybe I was just dreaming, but if I was, I hoped to never wake up.

After we left the fort, we grabbed some lunch. We found a cute little pizza place that had a cafe in the front with a long hallway that led to the back. When we came out of the other end, we found ourselves in a full-service Italian Restaurant.

It looked like a place straight out of Italy with its brick walls and deep red decor. The hostess seated us in one of the few booths and it felt very private in what was an otherwise busy place. All the other seats were tables, so we felt special to have gotten one of the cute little booths that seemed to tailor-made for couples.

After we ordered, we couldn't help but notice the brick wall next to our booth had gaps in it and little notes tucked inside. He shot me a mischievous glance and then wrote something down on a napkin, carefully folding it and tucking it inside one gap.

"What did it say?" I questioned.

He shook his head before replying, "That is my little secret and I am not telling."

"Fine, I won't tell you my little secrets either," I countered with my best pouty face.

"But you didn't even put anything in the wall," he flirted back.

"That doesn't mean I don't have secrets, sir."

"Well, I just might have to get those secrets out of you," he said with a wink.

After lunch, we headed back out to wander the ancient streets and see what we could get into. We found a little ice cream shop and shared an Oreo milkshake and it was to die for. Next, we stumbled upon the Lightner Museum. Even though I could tell it was not high on his list of things to do, he humored me by paying so we could go in.

We started on the first floor, which displayed old artifacts. I could tell he wasn't feeling it so we headed to the second level which held thousands of pieces of Tiffany glass. Even though it may not have been his cup of tea, the beauty that surrounded us impressed him.

As we entered the top level, we discovered that it was wide open and in the shape of a square with the center open, looking down onto the other levels. We learned that the gorgeous old building used to be a hotel and the first floor was originally a pool fed by the Atlantic Ocean.

The floor we were standing on was the promenade and used to have a retractable ceiling so people could dance under the stars. When Jake heard that I saw a crazy grin wash over his face as he extended his arm towards me.

"Jake, are you crazy, there isn't any music," I whispered to him with apprehension. I was a little uneasy at the thought of him seeing my dance skills, or the lack thereof.

"Who needs music?" he asked as he grabbed my hand and pulled me to him. We started dancing, right there in front of everyone. I could see people stopping to stare, but I didn't care. It felt amazing in his arms.

"Close your eyes," he said, and I obliged him. "Imagine this place filled with men in suits and ladies in ball gowns, dancing just like we are now," he whispered in my ear. I let my mind go to the same place he was as we rocked back and forth.

Reading my expression, he whispered again, "You would have been the prettiest girl in the room." I was sure he could feel me shiver as his warm breath brushed against my neck. What was this boy doing to me? He gave me one final spin, and we headed back outside to continue exploring.

Before we knew it, dusk was settling in. We saw a large crowd forming by the park and asked around to see what is going on. One lady explained that the annual tree lighting was about to begin. Neither of us had ever seen the tree lighting ceremony, but it sounded amazing so we found a place to wait with the rest of the crowd. It was up against an ancient wall that butted up to a courtyard. There was a band playing in the courtyard, so we felt like it was the perfect spot to hang out while we waited.

Jake leaned back against the wall and pulled me to him. As I nestled into him, he wrapped his hands around my waist, closing any remaining distance between us. He grabbed my hands, entwining them into his, resting them on my stomach.

We stayed like that for what seemed like forever, silent, just listening to music and soaking up the atmosphere. He unexpectedly broke the silence, pulling me out of my trance. "Sky, you are so different from any other girl I have been with," he said and I knew it came from a genuine place.

"What do you mean? You have dated every gorgeous girl in the school. You have your pick of them, heck you could probably charm the college girls too," I replied.

"Yes, I have been with a lot of girls and each one was shallow, self-absorbed, and considered no one but themselves. I have had that, it's not what I want, it's not what I need," he explained.

I took a moment to absorb what he had just said before I mustered up a response, "What do you need Jake?"

He turned me around, so I was facing him. Staring into my eyes he said, "Someone who is genuine, someone who has a heart, someone like you Sky."

Suddenly we heard the crowd begin the countdown. I grimaced, realizing they were interrupting the most beautiful moment in my entire life. They chanted, ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one. All at once what seemed like a million lights illuminate the trees all around us and the crowd burst out into a roar. Jake leaned in and whispered, "this is perfect."

As we made our way to the car, we passed a band playing in a bar. The music spilling out onto the street making that evening seemed so magical. With dusk settling in, tourists still packed the streets, all happy and enjoying themselves. The air seemed festive.

The music seemed to provoke something in Jake. He grabbed my hand and pulled me to him. The next thing I knew we were dancing again, right there in the street. We swayed side to side, enjoying every beat. To my surprise, he spun me around and dipped me.

While I am still upside down, mid-dip, he whispered, "I'm not sure how much longer I can resist the urge to kiss you." My heart stopped as he pulled me back up, close against his chest. My head was spinning and my knees went weak. How was I going to survive the night?

Snuggled against his chest, I breathed him in. His smell was hypnotic. I wasn't certain that I could handle the emotions that were running through me all at once. "Then don't," I whispered.

He pulled away for a moment, looking deep into my eyes. There was an intensity there I had not seen before. I felt him grab my hand and pull me onto a side street that was not so crowded. Only a few people were milling about. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a bracelet like the ones we were looking at earlier and put it on my wrist.

"Jake, you didn't have to do this, you are so sweet," I rambled on blushing in the dark. He flashed me that crooked smile and pushed me against the brick wall. He surrounded me as he placed his hands on either side of the wall behind me.

"What are you doing to me Sky?"

With my eyes locked on his, unable to look away, I strung together a few coherent words, "I don't know Jake, what am I doing to you?"

The intensity in his eyes grew even stronger as he responded, "I have never felt this way about anyone. I barely know you, but I can't get enough of you."

His breathing was becoming heavy, his voice dripping with eagerness and confusion. He leaned in so close I could feel his breath on my face, and then he hesitated. He seemed deep in thought for a moment. I could barely control my breathing or my thoughts.

What is he thinking? Why is he hesitating? Why doesn't he just go for it?

He wrapped one hand around my neck, letting his thumb caresses my face. His lips found mine, but they were not soft, they were full of intensity. He kissed me like he had been fighting back the urge since the first day he met me, the passion behind his kiss was overwhelming.

My knees weakened, and my face felt flush. No one had ever kissed me before and my body didn't know how to respond. He pulled away, looking at me with inquiring eyes, making sure it was ok that he kissed me.

"That was my first kiss," I whispered. Shock filled his face as he heard those words. I don't know what came over me, but I wrapped my hand behind his head and pulled him toward me. I kissed him so softly and slowly. I wanted to take my time and never let go.

That time when he pulled away, he had a smile on his face and the only word that escaped his mouth was, "Damn." I knew exactly what he meant, I felt the same way. "The girl who has never been kissed just gave me the best kiss of my life," he admitted, making me blush even harder.

I just shot him a sweet smile, grateful that he calmed my fears in one sentence. He grabbed my hand, and we headed toward the car in silence, both of us trying to make sense of what had just happened. I felt that kiss all over my body and from the look on his face he did too.

As we pulled in my driveway I realized the time. I was grateful that my mom had gone to stay with my grandmother for the week. If she had been home, I would have been in huge trouble, but luckily it was just dad. He trusted me and never questioned me, or at least that was what I liked to tell myself. The truth was, he is always in bed, too depressed to care about what I was doing.

We sat in the driveway for a few more moments, soaking up every kiss we could before I had to go in. As I opened the car door, Jake pulled me close and whispered, "Where have you been all my life?"

Even though I knew he was being serious, I could not resist the urge as I shot back a witty response, "On the wrong side of the tracks." He wasn't sure how to react, but I gave him a wink and a smile as I shut the door.

I could hear him snickering behind me, "Good one Sky!"

I ran into the house and called Jenny immediately. While I was filling her in on everything that happened, I could hear the concern in her voice. "Just be careful Sky, you know this guy will not give you a second glance in the light of day when all of his jock friends are around."

I knew she was right, but I had just a glimmer of hope that somehow it wasn't true. Naively, I hoped he would come right up to me and put his arms around me. He wouldn't ignore me, not after the night we shared.

As I drifted off to sleep, I got a text and my heart raced. It was from Jake. "Thanks for tonight gorgeous, I'll see you in my dreams," it read. I tried to think of the perfect response.

"I'll meet you there, I will be the one against the wall waiting on one of those amazing kisses of yours," I shot back with a smile on my face.

"Girl, what are you doing to my heart?"

"Wrapping it around my finger I hope," I replied with a wink emoji.

As I glanced down at my arm, I quickly sent him another text, "Thanks for the bracelet, I LOVE IT!"

"Nothing but the best for my girl," he replied with a kiss emoji. That was it, I felt like I could have died and gone to heaven. My life was complete. Laying in my bed, I tried to recount every moment, but the day must have wiped me out, I drifted off in minutes.

I woke to my alarm clock buzzing. Only a little while and I would get to see that handsome face again. It wasn't long before Jenny picked me up, and we headed to school. As we walked in, I could barely contain myself.

It didn't take long before I spotted Jake and his friends and flashed him a warm smile. He glanced over at me and then without missing a beat continued talking to his friends. We were both in complete shock, but it was Jenny who voiced both of our thoughts. "No way, did you see what he just did to you? He is acting as if has never even met you."

Thoughts of last night flooded my mind as I replied, "He sure didn't feel that way last night." I felt numb as I watched him walk away in the opposite direction. He never even looked back. Why was I so stupid? He played me, and I let him. I knew better, I knew he was a player.

*****

A/N

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed it! Jake seems like a real jerk for denying Sky after they spend such a perfect day together. What do you think of him so far?