Lori pressed her nose against the glass. It was weird when she'd first started thinking about it. How could you get to be 17 and have never fallen in love? Half of Lori's friends currently were and the other half had been before summer started. Lori sighed. It seemed it was her it had never happened to.
It wasn't that no guys had ever been interested. Some even were currently. Lori wasn't bad looking at all. She had long dark hair, curves, and long legs. She was also above average in the smart's department though that seemed to intimidate boys more than anything. The truth was Lori just wasn't a "guy's girl." Back home, she had several friends. Just all of them were girls.
The only guy friend she really had-ever- was Randall. He was good looking sure. Smart, funny, sweet, a good time, and everything else Lori could want to. She'd known him since she was 3 though. The first time Lori's family had gone to Lynn's Beach instead of somewhere cool like Myrtle or Virginia, she'd met Randall. Every year from the time school let out until three days before it began since, Lori and Randall had been inseparable. They also had a few other girl friends up there. One girl, Marisssa, had been Randall's girlfriend two summers ago. She was really cool but Lori wasn't super close to her. Then another girl, Asia, had been Randall's girlfriend the last summer although they'd known her since they were six. Lori was close to her. Then there was Trixie who was Lori's best friend in the world besides Randall. He hadn't managed to date her although he'd had a crush on her for years back in elementary school.
No girl besides Jasmine whom Lori didn't like it at all had ever managed to last beyond a summer. In fact she was even from back home through for three years she'd come with Randall to Lynn's. Lori had been so glad when she'd heard three summers ago it was over between them. Then to her surprise, Jasmine had popped up down the street. Having decided she loved the place, she'd begged her dad to let them summer there. Lori rolled her eyes. Thank God, she was a year older. Hopefully she'd be off on some summer trip this year.
"We have an hour left. What's your beverage of choice?" Lori's dad asked as he did every summer.
"Super iced mocha coffee." Lori's sister Alicia piped up.
Alicia was fifteen with a steady boyfriend, curly hair, curves for days, and an attitude to match.
"Less iced tea." Lori said as she did every year.
Johnson's, just before the beach, was like the Wal-Mart of Starbucks stores. It had literally every coffee, tea, and fruit fresher known and probably some half of mankind hadn't heard of yet. They also seemed to know without being told what things liked super and less iced meant. No one was ever less than happy with their order at Johnson's. The town before Lynn's beach had everything. Lori was thrilled her family had chosen it all those years ago. They pulled into Johnson's not long after. Got out, stretched their legs, ordered, and sat at a bench.
Lori's family consisted of her dog Sparky, an adorable dog with hair that always seemed too long, Alicia, her dad, mom, and baby brother Ben who had just turned two. He always got HiC with extra orange at Johnson's.
"So isn't Randall supposed to be bringing someone this summer?" Alicia asked.
"Yeah, a guy named Jackson. He's a year older than us, like Jas." Lori said.
Alicia wrinkled her nose.
"Isn't Jas that snobby girl you don't like?"
Lori snorted. "I guess so."
Her mom raised an eyebrow. "Jas and your best friend dated. She seemed like a lovely girl."
Lori smiled. "Mom, I like everyone. Every female anyway and even I don't like Jas." Lori said.
"No one does." Alicia said.
"I didn't even like her." Lori's dad said.
"To be fair, dear, you don't like anybody." Lori's mom reminded him.
It was true. He didn't even like Randall and everyone loved Randall.
"What's important is I love my family dear." Lori's dad said.
"I just wish you and Lori gave more people a chance." Lori's mom said.
I think I give plenty of people a chance." Lori said.
"Then how come you don't have a boyfriend? You're not even ugly or anything." Alicia said.
"Even if she were there's more to life." Their mother reminded.
"I guess. Franco's cute and smart." Alicia said.
"He's delightful." Lori's dad said, sarcastically.
"Besides, Lori has the next best thing in Randall." Lori's mom said.
"He's not like my boyfriend. He's more like my brother." Lori said.
"Even I don't believe that." Her dad said. "You're not exactly gullible." Alicia said, smiling.
Her dad laughed.
"True." Lori's mom sighed.
"Are we ready? I did tell Randall's mother we'd be there by sundown." Her mom said.
"I'm ready when you are." Lori's dad said.
"The sooner we get there the better." Alicia agreed.
Lori nodded.
"Ben?" Lori's mom asked.
He nodded happily. Lori's mom picked him up.
They were at their ocean side cottage twenty minutes later.
"You remember the rule. Bags out of the car. Unpacked before you go anywhere tomorrow." Lori's mom said.
They grabbed their bags and went inside. Lori went to her light blue room with the seashells and California King bed. She sat her bags down.
