The Ocean by Mia Castile Page B

with long dark brown hair lunged for him, her book bag stil on her back.
    “Hailey, hey, baby girl.” He caught her in his arms and lifted her up to him. A woman in scrubs came in behind her with an arm ful of grocery bags.
    “Travis, I have more in the trunk.” She hadn’t noticed me yet, mainly because I was hiding behind him and Hailey.
    “Who are you?” Hailey whispered, as she peered over his shoulder at me with big brown eyes.
    “I’m Gia,” I spoke softly, too, as I smiled.
    Travis cleared his throat, and added, “Mom, I’d like you to meet Gianna.” He pul ed me around him on the stairs.
    “It’s nice to final y meet you, Gianna. I’m Melanie. Are you going to stay for dinner? It’s the least I can do after you’ve been feeding Travis al week.” She smiled warmly at me. Her brown hair was cut in a sleek bob. She had tan skin and wore minimal make up. She had to be in her mid to late thirties. She was very pretty.
    “I was going to take her to get a bite to eat.” Travis led me down the rest of the stairs with the hand that wasn’t holding his sister.
    “No, you don’t; you can’t hide her from me!” His mom teased him. He set down his sister and looked at me wearily.
    “I don’t mind,” I smiled, as I squeezed his hand.
    “Fine, Mom, we’l stay.” He kept his eyes on mine as he answered her.
    We helped her unload the rest of the groceries and set the table for her while she prepared the food. She had a crock-pot of stew going. That was what I smel ed when I first came in. She got to know me by playing the twenty questions game.
    “So you just moved here, right? Where are you from?”
    “Indiana, Fishers, outside of Indianapolis.”
    “Are you involved in any of the school activities?”
    “Not real y. I never real y got into sports, and I stopped playing music when my mom got sick.” Melanie tactful y changed the subject.
    “Do you and Travis have any classes together?” she asked.
    “Speech, that’s it.”
    “That’s nice. Travis loves to surf. Have you ever surfed?” He groaned and adjusted in his seat. She gave him an annoyed look.
    “I haven’t. We moved away when I was real y young. I wouldn’t mind trying it sometime though.”
    “Do you like to play dress up?” Hailey interjected. “I’m too old for princesses, but I like to dress up in my mom’s old clothes.” She kept her brown eyes intent on me.
    “I only get to play dress up on Hal oween, but I used to love it, too.” I smiled at her.
    And so it continued. Around five, Travis told his mom that we needed to go. He went upstairs to get my other shirts and came back down. We went to leave, but his mother held his arm and said something to him while I stood on the front porch. He came out, a look of relief on his face, and took my hand, leading me to his car.
    “Wel , you pass with flying colors.” He smiled as he started the car.
    “Was I being tested?” I asked, only half joking.
    “Kind of. She only has Jil ian to compare, and she’s known her family for a real y long time, so I think it was a sort of test.”
    “Wow, being compared to Jil ian, that’s a high standard. Do I even make it on the same level?” I felt real y insecure. Jil ian was gorgeous.
    “You surpass her on so many levels. I promise that this is the only time you wil be compared to her.” True to his word, that was the last time he brought her up to me in that manner. He reached for my hand as he pul ed up to the curb.
    “I’l see you in a little bit?” he asked.
    “Yes, you wil .” He reached over and touched my hair, and I got out of the car and went inside.
    I made it to the bleachers just as the boys were lining up to run out onto the field. I surveyed the crowd in the stands. I didn’t see anyone that I knew.
    My heart began to race. Then I felt an arm wrap itself in mine. I turned, and Abby was standing beside me.
    “Let’s go find our seats. Nice shirt. Is that a new style? I haven’t seen it before.” She led