Malibu Carmie by Leah Komaiko

Author:Leah Komaiko [Komaiko, Leah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-53814-7
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2005-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

“Can you believe that guy?” Jenny asked.

“I told you he liked you,” Carmie said, moving fast.

“Well, of course he likes me.” Jenny laughed. “What a burnout! Let's see if he asks for my number this time. Whatever. Are you okay? Don't you want to go back and wait for Coady?”

“He's probably way farther out than Jon was,” Carmie said. “Those guys never come in when there's surf. I think he's, like, a professional surfer.”

“Whoa,” Jenny said.

“All I want now is my towel.” She passed the Malibu girls lying on their perfect beach blankets. She could tell they were seeing her as the wet dog she knew she was. But at least she was the one who had gone in the water. Jenny hadn't even gone out there.

“I think I'll give him my number in Colorado,” Jenny said, running to keep up. “You think I should? That will be the real test. My mother says if a boy really likes you, he'll be happy to spend some money on you. And this is nothing.”

Carmie was cold, and for the first moment in her life, she hated Jenny. She hated it when Jenny talked about all the things boys were supposed to do for her, as if she was a movie star. It was better that Coady hadn't come out. He would hate Jenny too.

Carmie got to the postage stamp–sized spot where their towels were. She dropped the sopping-wet cover-up on the sand and picked up her towel. Her mother wasn't there, but Carmie wasn't worried this time. It felt so good to be warm and safe that Carmie was afraid she would start to cry.

“Uh-oh,” Jenny said. She shielded her eyes, like she was looking out at the ocean. “Oh my god, if she's out there, I want to watch again.” Jenny laughed. “You know she's, like, a million times better than Jon!” Jenny turned as if she was going to run back to the shore. “I watched Mamma surf and today I watched her little baby, Carmie, surf!” Jenny said too loudly. “How come you're not freaking about your mother for the first time in your life?”

“Because,” Carmie said. She wrapped the warm towel tightly around herself. “Follow me.”

“Where?” Jenny asked, looking back.

“I've got to tell you something,” Carmie said, standing up and heading toward the pier. The beach was so crowded it was hard to see if the big blanket was at the other side.

“What?” Jenny sounded excited. “Where are we going? Are there boys?”

“Well, sort of.” Carmie laughed. “Maybe something even a little better than boys.”

“What?” Jenny asked, running. “More boys?”

“What I've got to tell you is a secret. But I mean a real secret,” Carmie said, stopping. Her brain was moving as fast as it could. She had to figure out a way to let Jenny know that she wasn't the only one who was God's gift to sand. She had to figure out a way to let Jenny see where her mom was, tell Jenny the secret and then get her out of there fast, in case Coady came back and saw Jenny.

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