California Love A7X

Everything was a blurry haze of color. Zoning out is the practice of the day. I stared out the window of the kitchen. Processing my jumbled thoughts.

Brian: MELLY!! HELLO!

Melly: sorry.

Brian: what the hell is wrong with you?

Melly: I'm just tiered.

Brian: tiered? You went to bed at like six thirty.

Melly: I'm still tiered.

Brian: ok sure.

Jenn: don't be annoying Brian.

He grumbled some inaudible words.

Jenn: so Zacky came by yesterday huh.

Melly: yeah.

I answered quickly.

Jenn: well what happened?

She asked with a smile. Panic.

Melly: nothing.

Her smile turned into a frown.

Jenn: you mean he didn't tell you? It was his idea. What a fuck sack.

Melly: tell me what?

Jenn: the job.

Relief.

Melly: oh yeah he told me. I'm so excited!

I might have over done the fake enthusiasm. Her smile returned. She hugged me.

Jenn: I'm glad.

Brian: it will be fun having you do the guys hair.

Melly: well I get to do yours don't I?

Brian: ha! No.

Melly: aw come on cus. Its not like I'm doing anything drastic like cutting it. I'm just styling it.

Brian: no.

Melly: please. What's the point? You're the only one who actually styles their hair.

Brian: Zacky does.

Ew. Knots in my stomach.

Melly: I don't care if he does, you're my cousin. You're supposed to support me.

Jenn: yeah boo boo. Let her work on your hair.

Melly: please. Pleeeeaaasssse.

I whined, giving him puppy dog eyes. He scrunched his face.

Melly: please.

Brian: Gaw! Fine. I will let you do my hair.

Melly: yay!

I wrapped my arms around his neck.

Melly: you won't be disappointed cus. I promise.

Brian: I trust you Melly.

Melly: good.

Jimmy: what's going on in here? Hugfest? How come no one told me?

He engulfed Jenn in a hug. She giggled.

Jenn: oh Jimmy.

Johnny: woah? Am I disrupting a family moment?

Melly: no.

I let go of Brian and went up to Johnny. His arms wrapped around me. My concerns flew out the door at his touch. I squeezed him tightly. I didn't want to let go.

Johnny: hi Melly Mel.

Melly: hey Johnny.

Johnny: ready?

I nodded.

Brian: where are you going?

Melly: beach then lunch. Or lunch then beach. Maybe lunch on the beach.

Jenn: have fun.

Jimmy: be safe.

Brian: I'd prefer you stayed here.

Jenn smacked his shoulder.

Jenn: stop that.

He looked at her.

Melly: you could join us.

Jenn: no. We've got plenty to do here.

Johnny grabbed my hand and led me to his car.

Johnny: do you want to drive?

Melly: only if you promise that you won't try to force me to borrow it.

Johnny: maybe.

He tossed me the keys and got in the passengers seat. Today was definitely a beach day. Its hot. The water is clear. And I'm with Johnny. Nothing could be better.

Johnny: let's sit right here.

I laid the beach blanket down. He took off his shirt and tossed it. My hands gently squeezed his sides. I loved his body. I could not deny myself that. It was the perfect body to me.

Johnny: you can never resist.

Melly: nope. Want me to put sunscreen on your back?

Johnny: only if you let me do yours.

He grinned widely. I splattered some lotion on his back in response.

Johnny: you just use this as a reason to rub me.

Melly: Johnny! Don't be nasty.

Johnny: I'm not, you're the one taking it out of context.

I playfully glared at him.

Johnny: my turn!

I laid on the blanket stomach down. The sun screen felt cold at first.

Johnny: Melly, you have very beautiful skin.

Melly: uhh thank you.

Johnny: its smooth and the most perfect brown olive tone.

I looked back at him. His eyes wandered up and down the exposed skin. Carefully working in the lotion. His hands were gentle. He didn't have his usual grin. No, instead his face looked amazed or entranced. Something along those lines.

Melly: I think I'm good Johnny.

Johnny: right, sorry.

I turned and sat up. Still his eyes stayed on me.

Johnny: can I put some on your stomach?

Melly: no I can do that myself.

He nodded once.

Melly: man its so nice out today.

Johnny: yeah.

After finishing putting the sunscreen on I laid back down. Johnny stayed sitting. I put my shades on.

Johnny: do you ever plan on going back to Seattle Melly?

Melly: I don't know. Why?

Johnny: just wondering.

Melly: would you miss me if I did?

Johnny: yes.

He said quietly.

Melly: I'd miss you too.

My hand went to his back. I ran it up and down.

Melly: would you come visit me?

Johnny: yes.

I smiled. He let out a small sigh.

Johnny: would you visit me?

Melly: yes and Brian.

He laid back and looked at me. His expression was unreadable.

Johnny: are you excited for the shoot?

Melly: hell yeah.

Johnny: yeah Zacky really hooked it up.

Melly: why did he even do that?

Johnny: I don't know. He's like that.

I closed my eyes tightly trying to forget his warm lips against mine. I couldn't tell anyone about that. I didn't want to. I'm embarrassed. It only lasted a few seconds. No tongue no nothing. Just warm lips against warm lips. My hands started to sweat.

Melly: he confuses me.

Johnny: eh.

Melly: whatever I don't want to talk about him anyway.

Johnny: me either.

Melly: we should get a puppy.

Johnny: we?

Melly: yeah. We.

Johnny: why we?

Melly: so it could have a mommy and a daddy.

Johnny: that's like couple shit...

Melly: I know, but we can ignore that and still get a puppy. Together.

Johnny: and where would it live? You or me?

Melly: me duh.

Johnny: then it'd be your puppy.

Melly: but we can choose it together, so it'd be like our thing ya know.

Johnny: why not take Jenn to get a puppy with you?

Melly: because I want you.

He smirked. I shook my head.

Melly: stop it.

Johnny: I knew it was only a matter of time you admitted that.

Melly: I don't mean it like that.

Johnny: yeah right.

I rolled on my side facing away from him. He chuckled.

Johnny: the view is just as good on this side.

I rolled onto my other sid. A glare on my face. He kept chuckling. I jabbed a finger in his small gut.

Johnny: you know you love it.

I kept making faces at him. His hand rested on my hip. I snuggled up to him. Making random noises as I did. I pressed my face to his bare chest. His arm held me close.

Johnny: if you ever moved back. I would miss moments like these Melly Mel.

Melly: me too.

I nuzzled his chest. I let my arm wrap around him. My hand resting on his back. Only with Johnny could I ever be this comfortable. It was like we were supposed to be this close. His fingers drummed on my lower back.

Melly: Johnny I don't know what I'd do without you here.

He chuckled.

Johnny: cuddle with your cousin.

Melly: yucky.

I got a sudden urge. I licked my lips and planted them on his lower neck. He went tense. Then I blew producing a farting noise. After he realized what I was doing he relaxed and laughed.

Melly: sorry dude I couldn't help it.

Johnny: its cool. Its cool. I can hear Brian right now. Fuck Johnny! Why do you gotta be all over my cousin like that?

I laughed.

Melly: yeah then you'd say something like, man she's the one who jumped on me.

Johnny: and Jenn would be cool and say shut up Brian. She can do whatever she wants.

Melly: yeah.

Johnny: Matt thinks we're so cute.

Melly: what?

I laughed out.

Johnny: yeah he said we look cute together. All buddy buddy and shit.

Melly: that man is such a softy.

Johnny: a gentle giant.

Melly: does Brian really not like you hanging around me?

Johnny: I dunno you'd have to ask him.

Melly: I think he's just frontin'.

Johnny: maybe. Either way he's just watchin' out for his baby cousin.

Melly: whatever.

I sat up and looked down at him.

Johnny: what Melly Mel?

Melly: you're my bestfriend.

Johnny: here in Cali?

Melly: anywhere. Cali, Seattle, the moon if we ever go there.

Johnny: really?

Melly: why is that surprising?

Johnny: I don't know.

We both smiled.

Melly: and you don't get a say on whether we are or aren't.

Johnny: I'm not complainin' people already think we're goin' out. Besties won't hurt any. I suppose subconsiously I knew that though.

I drew circles on his tummy.

Melly: I guess I didn't need to tell you then.

Johnny: nope.

His arms went behind his head.

Johnny: I think the moon would be a nice place to visit.

Melly: I hear its nice about this time of year.