He's A Keeper

9

After James had left, I went into my plan of asking Daniel where the pond was.

"Umm, let me think." He said, tapping his chin.

"I think you follow the dirt path and then make two right turns if I'm correct, then the pond should just be there." He shrugged.

"Should we even call it a pond? It's pretty big." I asked.

"Big pond?" He asked and we both laughed.

Later, I finally got Joey to take me out to where the pond was, and Daniel was correct with the directions.

I even swept off the dock with the broom and Joey picked up some trash that was laying around.

Over the next few days, Daniel came out with us and even started a small garden around the edge of the grass field, and wrapped vines with flowers around the poles of the overhang on the dock.

The flowers were bright and smelled good, it was going to be really romantic when James and I came out here in two days.

"So, I've been meaning to ask, why did you ask where this place was anyway?" Daniel asked me as he watered the plants.

"Oh, James and I are going on a date out here on Saturday." I said.

"Ooh, nice. Be careful though."

"Daniel, calm down I will." I laughed a little.

We soon went inside and I went upstairs to my room to call James.

"So are you packing the picnic or am I?" I asked.

"I'll do it, I'll get my mom to help." He said.

"Speaking of, when can I meet her? And your brother Max?" I asked.

"Soon, I promise. She wants to meet you to." He says.

"Okay. Hey I'll handle plates and stuff for the picnic. And I'll make dessert." I said.

"Okay. Agreed." He said.

"Hey I gotta go, I need to do my homework." I said, noticing the textbooks on my desk.

"Okay, see you tommorrow. Bye." He said and we hung up.

□■□■□■□■□■

"Julia, you're eleven! You can't just choose between three guys to date. You shouldn't be dating at all!" I shouted, frustrated.

We had gotten a call from Julia's teacher, and apparently she was making three guys fight over her and she hadn't been doing her homework.
"You're dating," She said, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I'm sixteen!" I said, getting frustrated.

She rolled her eyes and Aunt Emma said, "Julia, Brynn is right. You're eleven. Take things slow."

"I'm hungry!" Aiden shouted, making us all jump.

Daniel got up, but I said "I'll take care of it."

Aiden followed me into the kitchen and sat at the table.

"What do you want?" I asked, already opening up the freezer to get the chicken nuggets.

"Chicken nuggets! And juice!" He shouted and rolled a hotwheels car on the table.

I cooked the chicken nuggets, then poured koolaid into a cup and set it in front of him.

"Are you good?" I asked him and he nodded.

I walked back into the living room just as Julia stormed out.

"What was that all about?" I asked and took a seat next to Joey.

"I don't even know anymore." Aunt Emma said, standing up and walking outside.

I quietly nodded and headed upstairs to my room.

I grabbed my mandala coloring book and began working on a new one.

My phone started to ring, Piper's name showing up on the screen.

"Hello?" I asked.

"So, how are you and James?" She gets straight to the point.

"Uh, we're good." I said.

"Have you kissed him yet?" She asked.
"Um, why?" I ask.

"I'm just looking out for you." She said and I rolled my eyes.

"Yes, Piper we have. Does that make you happy?"

"Sheesh calm down. I was just wondering." She says.

I tell her a quick goodbye and then hung up.

□■□■□■□■□■

The next morning, I got up a bit earlier, and then walked downstairs to find that I'm the only one up.

I quickly pulled out the blender, then put in vegan yogurt, kale, strawberries, and raspberries and almond milk into the blender.

I quickly made the green smoothie and poured it into a cup with a lid.

I then made myself some oatmeal with cinnamon and sugar.

I was eating it as Julia and Aiden came down with Aunt Emma, already dressed and ready to go.

"Do you need a ride?" She asked me.

"Nah, James is picking me up." I said.

"Okay, well have a good day then." She said as her and the kids walked outside to the car.

I finished eating my oatmeal, turned all the lights off, then waited outside for James.

He finally pulls up and I jog over and hop in.

"Hey babe I missed you," I said as I leaned in for a quick kiss, but he made it last a little longer.

I giggled when we finally broke apart.

"I missed you more." He said, smiling over at me.

He then put his hand on my inner thigh, cupping it.

My face got red and I smiled and turned on the radio.

"Oh my gosh, I love this band, do you?" I asked.

"Yeah me too," He said and turned it up.

"What'd you eat for breakfast?" He asked.

"Oatmeal with cinnamon. And I made this green smoothie." I said.

"Mm okay," He said.

I placed my hand on top of his and looked out the window.

It was bright outside, not a cloud in the sky.

"How'd you sleep?" He asked as we pulled into the parking lot.

"Good what about you?" I asked.

"I had a dream about you. Well, us." He smiled at me.

"That's cute, tell me about it." I giggled.

"I don't remember much, but we were on the beach and you looked beautiful, as always." He said.

My face got red and he kissed my forehead.

I finally opened the door and climbed out, leaving the cup my smoothie was in on the seat.

He came around to the front of the truck and put his arm out in front of me.

I grabbed it and we walked toward the doors.