Balconies

You would think that when you’re in paradise you would be relaxed and calm. Apparently not when you’re me.

Sure the palm trees surround me and the warm humid air impelled me to wear shorts everyday, but when you’re me something always has to go wrong. Like seeing your brother’s best friend, who tagged along, making out with a random island girl a couple house after you accidentally let it spill that you like him. But other than that, there’s nothing wrong in this island paradise.

But I must say my hiding skills must have magically gotten better. It’s been an hour or two since the unfortunate incident and I haven’t heard from anyone since. It might be because of the fact that they’re all at the party and I’m locked up in my room on the balcony looking out onto the ocean.

But I might as well get ready for bed so I can fake sleep once they come back in the room so they can go to bed.

Getting out of the green stripped chair, I slid open the sliding doors and walked into my room.

My normal black suitcase was almost all packed in the corner, reminding me of the early plane ride that awaited us the next day.

I sighed and grabbed my pajamas from off the bed and walked into the bathroom.

The mirror revealed to me a dirty face with a couple of mascara streaks. My hair was an out of control mess of dirty blond hair, so I just put it into a quick ponytail leaving my bangs to fall in front of my face.

I tried not to think about him but it was truly hard. Is it normal for guys to do that? Who really knows?

Taking a wash cloth from the cold metal rack, I wiped my face off till it was bare. It was just me standing in front of the mirror. My pale face kind of resembled a ghost’s and my oddly weird nose didn’t help in the process. Without my makeup or happy demeanor, there was nothing to hide behind, nothing to cover me. I couldn’t decide weather I like that feeling or not.

Sighing, I threw the cloth into the tub, where some nice lady that worked in the maid service would pick it up later.

Stepping out of the bathroom, I stood still and listened to see if they were back yet. I heard a couple bangs and some laughing. That had confirmed it. The rest of the posse was back from the party.

There was a sharp knock on the door as I was reaching for my ipod, “Claire?”

My breath caught.

“Claire, are you awake?”

I tried not to make a sound; my body was rigid and still.

“Claire, come on.”

I swore I could hear my own heartbeat banging away in the tense silence. Through the darkness, I could see the outline of his shoes from the light that was pouring in through the cracks. He moved his feet around, obviously waiting for me to answer him.

“Claire. I know you’re listing to me. I know you can hear me.”

I saw the creaky door handle start to move. I sprinted as fast as I could over to the door and threw myself against it. I almost caught his fingers in-between the door and the wall.

“Shit, Claire!”

I chuckled a little bit to myself. He acted so surprised.

I clicked the lock on and he tried multiple times to open the door again. Once, I think, he tried even ramming himself into the door. But the lock held.

When the banging and pushing had seemed to stop, I slid down the door. Taking a deep breath, I rested my head on my knees.

After a couple minutes I made myself get up. I slowly walked to the bed and pulled back the dark green sheets. Plugging my ipod into the Ihome that I brought with me, I put it on shuffle turning the volume down low.

I was about to lay my head on my pillow when I heard a low bang and then a muffled moan outside.

Debating in my head weather or not I should get out of bed to see what, or who it was.

I heaved a big sigh and got up; my door was unlocked anyway.

Opening the door, I took a quick look across my balcony. Nothing seemed out of place so I just rolled my eyes. My brother probably brought friends home or something.

I stepped outside and leaned against the rail of the balcony. The warm air hit my face, giving it a tingly feeling.

I was about to go in when I heard a grunting noise. It sounded like it was coming from in-between the space of my balcony and my brother’s.

This is getting terribly cliché, I though. Before I know it, my knight is going to show up and take me to his castle on a royal steed. One problem; my knight doesn’t give a rat’s ass about me.

I looked over at my brother’s balcony. It was strewn with towels and swim trunks. Listening for the odd noise again, I took a slow, cautious step toward the right edge of the balcony.

I heard another muffled grown and I was for sure it was there.

Rushing over to the rail, I peered over.

“Oh, hey Claire. Wanna lend me a hand?”

I shrieked when I saw him holing on to the bottom of the balcony railing, trying to push himself back up.

Stretching my hand out as far as it would go, I leaned my body over the balcony, desperately trying to get a hold of his outstretched palm.

It only took him one try to grab my hand. I tried with all my strength to pull him up but I only ended up pulling him high enough till he could climb over by himself.

Sitting next to him on the ground neither of us said anything for a moment. I mean what was there to say to him? He had just tried to ump from his balcony to mine.

I leaned over and looked in his eyes, then proceeded to whack him upside the head. “You’re such an idiot!”

“Ow… what was that for?”

“What do you think that was for!?”

He looked at me his blond hair was all messed up. “What do you think I climbed from balconies for?”

Oh if he thinks he’s gonna get off easy and be buddy buddy with me again, “To tell me your sorry for never coming back with my drink?”

It took him a moment to think, “Well, that but something else-”

You would think boys would be smarter, he could have said his apology through the door. And that’s exactly what I said, “You could have said your apology through the door you dumbass!”

“There’s something I had to tell you in person, Claire!”

“You’re such a dumbass! What if you fell! What if I never would have heard you? Huh! What would have happened then!”

“Holy Mother above, I love you god damn you, Claire!”

Then he kissed me. Which was terribly cliché on his part if you ask me.

But my last coherent thought?

He’s still not getting by with that island girl. I might love him, but not so much to let it slide. He’s got some explaining to do. But I think that can wait.

At least a couple more minutes.