Life's a Beach; Episode 2: Crush on You

Episode Two: Crush on You

The Wooden Rooster

"This is delicious, Shauna," Julie mumbled. Her mouth was full of the first home-cooked breakfast it had tasted in awhile. The table was scattered with empty plates which used to hold bacon, hotcakes, and an assortment of eggs cooked in various styles. The surrounding chairs were all empty, save for the one where Pauline sat, finished with her breakfast.

Shauna laughed, "My pleasure, dear. You got in kind of late last night, so I trust you had a good time with some of the girls." Julie nodded, unable to speak as she continued to stuff her face with the food. Shauna continued, "I knew having my sister introduce you to Nicola was a great idea."

Julie swallowed the last of her food and smiled. "Yes. Thank you so much Pauline. And you too Shauna. The girls last night were great. They even suggested we meet again tonight, but since it's Saturday, they want to go to Crystal Hills, or something?"

"Oh the casino!" Pauline interrupted. You girls will have a helluva time there tonight! It's always bustling with kids your age."

Julie laughed, "Oh good. Well I'm hoping it will be a good night. I think I might spend this morning at the beach, and then let life take over from there."

"Always a good idea," Shauna agreed, "You never know who or what you might see at the Jersey Shore."

Pauline laughed lightly and then added, "Especially here in Kentmore Beach!"

Kentmore Beach

"I better get you home," Owen turned to Farrah as they walked along the cold morning sand after falling asleep on the beach the night before. "Your mother will be worried about you."

Farrah stopped walking and let Owen's hand drop. "No." She disagreed. "She won't. She has a lot to think about, and she knows that I do too. We both need some time to figure out what's going on."

"I know, baby." Owen said understandingly, "I totally understand. Even though I don't really get what you're going through with your dad, well my dad isn't around either so ..." He let his words drift off.

Farrah leaned in close to her boyfriend, "I love you so much, do you know that. Moments like right now make me realize how important it is for me to have you in my life." She sighed gently. "You make me incredibly happy."

Owen kissed her on the nose and she giggled. He whispered, "I love you baby girl, more than anything in this whole world." He gestured to the vast ocean around them, calm and empty. "Forever."

The Isaacs Home

Jeffrey Isaacs sat quietly typing at his computer, a typical start to any day at his luxurious coastal mansion. Suddenly, the door swung open, and his young wife Chantel Woodward strutted into the room and drew the heavy curtains over the window, revealing and incredible beach view.

"I don't know how you can sit it here with it so dark, love. It's a beautiful day out. Can't we go outside or something?" She begged, allowing her face to fall into a slight pout.

Jeff rolled his eyes. "I don't have time for this, Chantel. I have a lot to do at work right now, and, why are you here?" He suddenly questioned. "Don't you have breakfast to cook? Or kids to watch? Or something?" He hoped silently.

She shook her head, allowing her hair to wave in an obvious manner around her small face. "We have help to do things like that. And trust me, sweetheart, I wouldn't have married you if we didn't." She looked outside the window longingly. "It's just ..." she began.

"What?" Jeff interjected. "What do you want from me? Money?" He reached into his wallet and pulled out a few hundred dollar bills. "Here, have some money. Go buy yourself a dress or something. I'm busy."

She pouted again, and waved the money away with her freshly manicured hand. "I can buy anything I want. This is about what we need, and that is a romantic vacation for just the two of us."

"Two?" Jeff glanced up from his computer. "Darling, you know I'm not much for one-on-one time. Chantel huffed and crossed her arms. Finally, after a few moments Jeff agreed, "But a vacation couldn't kill me, I guess." She smiled smugly.

Kentmore Beach

The tide had begun to come in on Kentwood Beach, so there was only a tiny strip of sand between the crashing waves and the forbidden sand dunes. Julie plopped herself down and began to watch the water. "It's so beautiful," she mumbled to herself.

"It really is." The voice, belonging to a man startled her, and she immediately jumped to her feet and began to run down the beach. "Please!" He called after her. "I didn't mean to scare you! I'm sorry." She stopped running and let the man catch up.

She allowed herself to look at his face, strong bone structure, pale grey eyes. "Umm," she began, "You scared me!" She laughed nervously. "I guess I was kind of lost in my own world. I've never seen an ocean before."

"Really?" He eyed her suspiciously. "Well then, you must be new around here. The beach is a pretty popular hang out for the kids here. I grew up building sand castles and surfing."

"You surf?" Julie asked him, very interested suddenly.

"I try," the man laughed. "It often failed." He stuck his hand out to her. "I'm Eric. It's a pleasure to see a new face in these parts."

Julie bit her lip, completely charmed by this young man. "Julie," she responded, "Nice to meet you."

"Is it too soon," Eric began, "to invite a lovely girl to share lunch with me over at Polly's Diner?" Julie shook her head and blushed. "Good, then off we go."

Main Street

"Farrah," Owen began to break away from their embrace, "let's start heading back to my mom's B&B, okay?" She nodded and the young couple walked from the beach to Main Street in town, where Shauna's bed and breakfast was located.

"I'm kind of hungry," Farrah said quietly, "Do you think your mom will make us waffles or something?" She smiled up at her boyfriend.

He laughed, "I'm sure she'll make you whatever --" He was cut off by the sharp trill of Farrah's phone ringing.

She sighed, "My mom, probably." She pulled the phone out of her pocket and glanced at the number, unknown. She was a little worried, but didn't think too much into it. "Hello?"

"Farrah?" A deep voice came over the line. It seemed familiar to Farrah, but not so that she could place it. "Farrah, is that really you?"

"Yes it's me," she responded sharply, with a hint of nervousness. "Who is this."

"I need to see you." The voice said. "I'll come find you." The phone cut out and that was it.

Farrah was shaking as she put the phone back into her pocket. "What was that about?" Owen asked, "Who was that?" She shook her head but didn't answer. Owen pulled Farrah in close and squeezed her tight until she could speak.

"I need to hide," she said finally. "Someone is following me. I think I need to leave town or something."

Owen continued to hug her. "Don't be ridiculous. If you need a place to stay, my apartment is always free for you. It's no problem."

The Isaacs Home

The office door flew open another time, but now it was the glamorous, yet extremely uninvited Nicola who appeared in the doorway. "Nic," Jeff sighed. "Good to see you." He looked up and smiled, allowing his face and words to both soften in her presence.

Chantel on the other hand was furious at the sight of this intruder. "What are you doing here?" She asked in an accusatory tone. "This is my house," she continued through clenched teeth, "and I've told you before never, ever, to come here."

Nicola brushed off Chantel and rushed over to Jeff's desk. She placed her hands on the edge and leaned over, showing just enough cleavage to make his head spin, she knew. "I have news for you," she whispered.

Chantel pushed her away, and Nicola's body crashed onto the hardwood floor of the office. "No one cares what you have to say, slut." She stood over the victimized girl and placed her heel on Nicola's stomach. "Especially not my loving husband."

"I highly doubt that," Nicola coughed as she pulled herself back to her feet. "I happen to know that your husband cared a lot about what I had to say the other night in bed."

Chantel dove at Nicola and began to scratch her arms and tear at her flowing dark hair. "Ladies," Jeff interrupted. "This isn't really necessary." He pulled Chantel off his girlfriend and ignored her childish attempts to break free from his grasp. "I know Nicola wouldn't come here solely to antagonize you, and I'd like to hear her explanation," He locked eyes with the girl and smiled.

"Thank you, Jeffrey." She smiled at him and brushed her hands together. She smoothed out her shirt and took a deep breath. "I met someone last night."

Polly’s Place

"Have you been here before?" Eric asked, but didn't wait for Julie's response. "I only ask because I'd feel awful if I happened to have taken you to the one place you've already eaten in town. I mean," he paused for a breath. "There are plenty of good restaurants but Polly's is just, woah. You have to try for yourself."

Julie laughed, "I was here ..."

"Oh I'm so sorry, we can go somewhere else if you want. Really. I know this great little fast food joint on the corner of Main and South." Eric stood up and began to walk over to Julie to help her up.

She bit her lip and looked up at him. "It's fine. I didn't eat anything."

Eric rushed back to his chair, plopped down, and flipped his menu open. "Great!" He said over-excitedly. "You are in for a real treat then. If you're not sure what to order, I'd recommend the open turkey face sandwich, or the open face turkey sandwich." He paused and Julie giggled softly.

"I barely give you any chance to speak," he continued. "I apologize. I'd like to get to know you, really. It's just, I tend to ramble. It's not even a nervous thing like some people might think. I just talk. My brothers say I like to hear my own voice but that's not even it -- oh! There I go again."

"Don't worry," Julie responded, "I'm not much of a talker myself, so it's fine."

Eric laughed, and gently reached across the table to touch her hand. "Good. I think we'll get along great then. So tell me, what are you doing here in Kentmore Beach?"

Main Street

Farrah refused to let go of Owen, scared for her life now. "I don't want to stay with you. What if he knows that I'm with you. What if he knows we're together?"

"Almost no one knows we're together," Owen responded. "It will be okay. You know that you can trust me."

She scrunched up her face and looked up at him, "Can I stay," she began, but then second guessed herself and stopped talking.

"Where?" He asked, "I will take you anywhere. I'll hide out with you until it's safe for you. You know that."

She nodded, "Okay," tears began to well up in her eyes. "You have no idea how amazing you are being right now."

"Shh," he whispered as he continued to hold her close. "It's nothing. It's easy to be amazing when you love someone as much as I love you."

Farrah smiled through the tears and then finally asked, "Can I stay at the Wooden Rooster?" She was referring to Owen's mother's bed and breakfast.

The Isaacs Home

Jeff raised his eyebrows after hearing Nicola's brief but alarming news. He turned to his wife, "Chantel, you should probably leave."

"Oh, you are not," Chantel fumed and then whipped her head around to face Nicola, "You will so pay for this later you little whore." She turned on her heel and stormed out the office door.

Jeff stood up from his desk and walked over to Nicola. "My beautiful Nic, I don't normally approve of lunch-hour visits, but I'll make an exception just this once." He began to kiss her hand and then slowly up her wrist to her shoulder.

Nicola pulled her arm away reluctantly. "This really isn't about you and I right now." She held his hand gently. "I really did meet someone."

"Another man?" Jeff questioned, "Because if it is, it would kill me, and you know that." Nicola shook her head, "Then who?" he asked.

Nicola sighed, "Her name is Julie Bennett, she's the daughter of --"

"Bennett?" Jeff cut in. "Amber. I remember her, from years ago. My God, we must have been in college. Nicola, I've cut all ties with her, you know that. I'm with you solely now." He paused, "Well, and Chantel, but that's all for appearances."

Nicola nodded sharply. "She's dead, Jeff. And her daughter is here to find her father ..."

Jeff jumped away and looked at Nicola in alarm. "Me?" He questioned.

Polly’s Place

Julie and Eric waited patiently at the diner for their lunch, and didn't suffer a silent moment thanks to Eric's constant flow of words. "So yeah, that's why you should really check out the night club. It's a little bizarre your first time there, but it's pretty cool. Is there anywhere else you want to know about?" He asked.

Julie laughed lightly, "No," she added, "I think you've covered the whole town by now."

"Possibly the entire planet," Eric interjected. "Don't worry. I know I'm pretty impossible to be around. Listen, I'll make you a deal. If after this date --"

For the first time, Julie cut into his speech, "Is this a date then?"

Eric smiled, "Yeah, I guess it is. After this date, if you think that I'm too difficult for you to be around, you never have to see me again. I'll just go back to my old life and it will be like we never met. Deal?"

Julie shook her head. "No way. You are probably the most interesting person I've met here." She laughed. "I don't want to, umm, lose you yet."