The Beach House 🌸Rachel

 

Rachel was happy to finally reach her destination. Of course, Cobie didn't say much other than she better be ready to work by eleven a.m. That sounded reasonable she thought. She couldn't complain. She promised she'd be there on time as she unloaded her suitcase.

"Is anybody here?" She asked as of it wouldn't surprise her if he owned the place.

"I dunno," Cobie shrugged back as if his duty was done. He needed to get something.

"Oh, I..I didn't mean for you to have to close up, just too-"

"No it's fine-" He sped away before she could finish her sentence.

Rachel hoped this was the place. For a moment she was pretty sure this was going to be a dead end and then what? She didn't even ask Cobie for his phone number. Of course, he had her's on the application.  He'd even ran her driver's license and such through his computer. For a moment, it felt like a scam. She hoped not. 

She pressed her lips tight, thinking this was the worst idea she'd ever had in her life, but everything was so miserable back home. Still, she could see herself screaming to the sky five minutes from now stranded on the beach.

Perhaps, she should call her friend Jamie who she knew online. They were long-time friends, really. He was the one who wanted her to come anyway, even if he couldn't be there. Of course, the phone rang and rang and no answer.

Honestly, she was beginning to feel she really was all alone. She nursed her bottom lip as she got up the nerve to ring the doorbell. It wasn't like anyone had sent her her own key as of yet. Nothing. 

Oh, this got her heart racing. She thought for certain she was getting a headache from the heavy sun and the heat. Of course, she was hungry, tired..even thirsty. 

She beat on the door then. What was she supposed to do, break into the beach house? Of course, it looked well secured. She promised herself to keep calm, but she was feeling a little faint.

"Is anybody here?" She made a plea for help. "Anybody? Somebody?" But she felt as if she could hardly talk. She leaned against the door, waiting, hoping someone would be there. Just her luck, she was just as dumb as her brother said she would be. Of course, she was the butt of his jokes, even her mother would join in from time to time. Rachel was on the brink of tears.

Finally, someone said, "Who are you?" from the deck above which was more of an outdoor room.

"Oh, I'm..I'm Rachel, here for the summer," She did her best to step up with a smile, hoping to make a good impression.

"You were supposed to be here, already?" He gave her a sleepy look as if something was not right. He took his time getting to the door. He was barefooted and his sweatpants shorts and a bad case of bed hair.

He let her in and she thought she might crumple in the entryway. At least, he took the suitcase.

"I was expecting Jamie," he told her.

She wasn't sure just how old he was. Possibly just an overgrown teenager, but his name was Huck and he wanted to know how she got here.

"I stopped at Mick's Surf Shop," she told him while he got her a cold bottle of water from the fridge. Evidently, he noticed that he needed it.

"Oh," Huck nodded. "I try not to go there if I can help it." He yawned back and mentioned he'd spent all night on World of Warcraft. He stretched then with a wince. "Damn, I wish Jamie was here."

"Um," she sipped her water.

"He owes me money," Huck said.

"I see." Rachel looked around. The place was a bit messy, but at least the air conditioning was on and she really wanted food. Her stomach grumbled as if it knew food had to be here. 

"I have some cold spaghetti," he went to grab it from the fridge.

"I love cold spaghetti," Rachel said with a smile. There was a whole bowl full. She knew immediately, it was Kraft dinner from the box.

"It doesn't have any meat in it," he shrugged.

"I'm good with that." She sat at the breakfast bar and grabbed a fork. 

"I'll make you a grilled cheese sandwich and you can tell me just how well you know Jamie." He was serious as if the guy had really done it this time.

"Well, I know him from Animal Crossings, but before that, he had a blog and he liked to write Wuxia stories I used to read and I dunno, we're just friends." She said she'd never met him face to face. "I feel like I know him, but.." Rachel was suspecting she didn't know him at all.

"How much does he owe you?" She said between mouthfuls of spaghetti.

"A couple of grand," he said as he put the butter in the hot skillet and got the American cheese on the sandwich bread.

Rachel almost choked on the noodles.

"Don't worry about it, it's not your fault." He was even-lipped about it. Huck went on to heat the sandwich and had it on the counter in no time.

"So, Cobie brought you?" Huck wanted to know. She nodded.

"You're gonna work for him?" He wanted to know. Rachel nodded as she crunched on the toasty and cheesy sandwich. 

"He'll do anything to make me go back to work for him," Huck practically fretted as he went to clean up. "I just wanted a vacation, you know. But my stupid stepbrother can be a slave driver."

Rachel tried to smile. "Maybe I should see my room now."

"Oh, that," Huck nodded. "That'll take some work." He looked back at her with a slight grin. "But I'll get on it." He nodded.