Summer 20

After finishing eating, the ten of them dropped Richard in the cabin where he is staying. Daniel and Emma saw that the lights in Noel and her three friends’ cabin is still open so they excuses themselves and headed to the house first.

"So we’re gonna be like this everytime", Emma asked along their way.

"Not as long as Noel’s still here", Daniel said.

"What if Noel won’t leave until you leave with her", Emma asked.

"Nothing’s going to happen okay", Daniel said impatiently as they stopped walking.

"Are you mad at me", Emma asked.

"I’m not", Daniel said.

"Maybe it’s best for the both of us to go to sleep", Daniel said as he started to walk away. Emma didn’t say something so they wouldn’t start a fight that would cause them to break up.

Daniel went directly to his room without greeting Emma goodnight. Emma was guilty for being such a stupid. She went inside her room and dumped at her bed. Because of her tiredness, she fell asleep right away without noticing her cell phone rang, Daniel was sending her a message greeting her goodnight.

*

(Saturday)

It was already morning when Emma noticed the message. She ran outside and saw Daniel sitting alone with nobody around him in the fruit shake shop. Emma went near him and sat at his side.

"Are you still mad at me", Emma asked.

"I’m not mad at you, I’m just annoyed. You still have no trust at me", Daniel said, avoiding her eyes.

"I’m really sorry. I didn’t know that I was really that annoying", Emma said.

"Do you remember what I told you? I promised to never hurt and even if I did, I’m going to do everything to make you mine again", Daniel said. Emma held his hand that was placed on the top of the desk and Daniel faced her.

"That’s why I’m sorry because I don’t want to loose you", Emma said truthfully.

Daniel smiled at her and Emma leaned at his shoulders. Daniel put his right arm around her back and Emma smiled.

Meanwhile in Noel and her friends’ cabin, Noel was telling her three friends what happened yesterday.

"What does she looks like", Noel’s friend named Gabby asked.

"She’s beautiful but not as beautiful as me. I think she’s kind", Noel said.

"You think Daniel like her more than he like you", Noel’s other friend, Shayne asked.

"Why are you asking me that question? Of course he likes her – I mean he like me more than her", Noel said.

"But what if he like that that girl more than he like you", Noel’s third friend, Chelsea asked.

"Why are you asking me that question? Besides, who do you think is kinder and who do you think Daniel likes more, huh", Noel asked. They saw Emma and Daniel standing in the seashore while Daniel was holding Emma’s hands. Noel’s three friends, Gabby, Shayne and Chelsea leaned to look at the two agreeing that Daniel like Emma more than Noel. Noel noticed that her friends are more favor for Emma.

"JUST ANSWER MY QUESTION!!!!!!!!"

"My God, Noel, you ", Chelsea said sarcastically, raising her eyebrow up.

"Thank you", Noel boasted. The four girls fell silent afterwards. A few minutes have passed when Noel stood up and went outside. Gabby, Shayne and Chelsea followed her to the restaurant where they will be having their lunch. Noel was very glad to see Daniel but was annoyed to see Emma eating with him. Emma and Daniel were waiting for their orders when Noel and her friends, Gabby, Shayne and Chelsea sat to the table next to them.

"Emma, would you like to eat outside", Daniel asked.

"What? Where", Emma asked.

"I would prefer to eat at the house", Daniel said.

"Okay", Emma said understandably.

"Wait here, I’ll get the orders", Daniel said and left Emma alone at the table. Noel decided to go to the rest room so she left her three friends in the table. Emma was waiting for Daniel when Noel’s three friends joined her in the table.

"Hi", Gabby, Shayne and Chelsea greeted the same time.

"Hi", Emma said.

"I’m Gabby", Gabby said.

"I’m Shayne", Shayne said.

"And I’m Chelsea", Chelsea said.

"What’s your name", Gabby asked.

"I’m Emma. Nice names", Emma said.

"Thank you", Shayne said.

"Well, it’s really not our real names", Chelsea said.

"But Noel changed it because she thought that our real names are ugly", Gabby continue.

"You have a nice name too", Shayne said.

"Yeah", Gabby and Chelsea said in unison.

"Thanks", Emma said.

"May I ask you something", Emma asked.

"What’s that", Gabby asked.

"Is that the type of talking you always use", Emma asked.

"What do you mean", Shayne asked.

"I mean, when you’re talking continuously. You have a pattern in talking. First you, then you then the last is you. Sometimes you talk in unison", Emma asked. The three laughed.

"Oh that. It’s not style", Gabby said.

"Its coincidence", Shayne said.

"We do it normally when we meet new friends like you", Chelsea said.

"Oh okay", Emma said.

"I’ll tell you, Uhm, what’s your name again", Gabby asked.

"Emma", Emma said.

"I’ll tell you Emma, stick with Daniel everyday. Don’t let him be alone when he is outside. You don’t know what Noel will do", Gabby said.

"She’s evil. She’ll do everything to make you and Daniel split up", Shayne said.

"Speaking of Noel, what took her so long", Chelsea asked. The three went back to the table and sat.

"Just follow our advice and it will never happen. And never tell Daniel what we said", Gabby said.

"And speaking of the devil, here she comes", Shayne said. They pretended that they didn’t talk with Emma and sat straight at their chair. Daniel was heading back too.

"Ugh! Their restroom don’t have any tissue", Noel said exhaustedly.

"Let’s go", Daniel said. Emma stood up and turned to walk. She decided to thank the girls so she stopped walking and faced them.

"Uhm, Noel, right? Well, the tissue you’re looking for was behind the door," Emma said. Gabby, Shayne and Chelsea laughed silently then Noel eyed them angrily. The three stopped and Emma mouthed ‘thanks" to them. Emma and Daniel continued walking towards the door.

"Why did she thank you? What did you say to her", Noel asked continuously.

"Nothing", Gabby, Shayne and Chelsea said seeming to be pleased.

"Oh, okay", Noel said as if nothing had happen.

"Did Gabby, Shayne and Chelsea joined you in the table", Daniel asked Emma along the way.

"Yes. They’re so funny. They’re like triplets who talks by pattern and sometimes talk in unison", Emma said.

"You’re right. When I first saw them, they’re like that but when you’re with them in the second time, they’re not that kind of all", Daniel said.

"But be careful, they can be sometimes mean", Daniel added.

"I think they’re not", Emma said, disagreeing.

"Why did you thank them", Daniel asked.

"That’s between the four of us", Emma said.

"Whoa, this was the first time you’ve met and you have a now a secret", Daniel asked.

"Yes, is that bad", Emma asked.

"No, it’s just unbelievable", Daniel said.

"Can we go faster? I’m starving", Emma asked. Together they headed to the house and caught Vanessa arguing with Rico.

"But I want to", Vanessa said.

"Hey guys, what’s happening here", Emma asked Vanessa and Rico.

"I planned to sing at Nicole’s summer party and I want him to play the guitar for me", Vanessa said angrily.

"You can play the CD if you want to but I will never ever play guitar in front of everyone. Maybe I’ll mess the keys again", Rico said.

"Hey guys, stop", Daniel warned.

"You’ll sing in Nicole’s summer party? What I great idea", Emma said.

"I know but this man here don’t want to", Vanessa said.

"It’s not that I don’t want to, it’s just that I don’t want to humiliate myself like last time", Rico said.

"That’s why we’re going to practice until you’ve memorized the keys", Vanessa said.

"Vanessa’s right. Nicole would be glad to see you performing in her summer party. No one had ever performed in her summer party. Not once", Emma said.

"Yeah, and you won’t die when you humiliate yourself, won’t you", Daniel asked.

"No", Rico said.

"So why don’t try", Daniel asked.

"Could you bear if I don’t talk to you in one day", Vanessa asked.

"I can", Rico boasted.

"Well, maybe the whole year, you can", Vanessa asked. Emma and Daniel laughed at the sound of this.

"No and please don’t do that", Rico pleaded.

"I won’t do that if only you play the guitar when I sing", Vanessa said.

"Okay, okay. But if I can’t, please understand", Rico said.

"Of course I’ll understand’, Vanessa said and the two hugged.

"Okay guys, break it up. Do you want to join us in breakfast, we can’t eat these all", Emma invited.

"You’re timing is right. We’re hungry", Rico said.

"I wonder where Nicole and Matt is’, Vanessa asked.

"Why", Emma asked.

"I didn’t see them the whole morning and I think it’s too early to start cleaning", Vanessa said. Suddenly Christine, Hadey, Sabrina and Matt came bursting in.

"What happened to you guys", Daniel asked when he saw Christine, Hadey, Sabrina and Matt’s tired faces.

"Guys, did you see Nicole", Matt asked exhaustedly.

"No, why", Rico said.

"We’ve been searching for her all the time", Christine said.

"We know that you were the roommates of Nicole so we thought you’ve seen her", Sabrina said.

"No, did you check her at the swing or at the hall or at the pool or at the seashore or everywhere", Vanessa asked panicky.

"We looked over and we saw no sign of her", Hadey said.

"Did you try to look for her in Mr. and Mrs. Jacobe’s house", Emma asked confidently but there was a little of nervous in her voice.

"No, we didn’t. Can you help us", Matt asked.

"Okay", Emma and Daniel said.

They went to Mr. and Mrs. Jacobe’s house but when they asked the caretaker, Mr. and Mrs. Jacobe was also not there.

"Where could she be", Matt asked when they arrived back at the house.

"Hi guys! Why so early", Nicole asked anxiously then Matt hugged her making the bags of groceries flew upward but still Nicole was holding it.

"Where did you go", Matt asked when he let go of Nicole.

"We looked all over the place for you", Emma said standing up and going near to Nicole and Matt. Vanessa was the only best friend of Emma but when she slowly knew Nicole, she treated her as best friend.

"We were worried to death", Vanessa said.

"Thanks for worrying guys but there’s really nothing to worry about. I went to the airport with mum and dad to fetch my cousins from Canada and decided to buy some groceries like some junk foods", Nicole said as she put the groceries to the kitchen table. All eight of them stared at Nicole who stared blankly at them.

"What", Nicole asked.

"You’ll see what", Emma and Vanessa said after exchanging looks. All of the girls started chasing Nicole outside and into the seashore while the boys followed them outside and watched them. The boy’s went nearer to the girls and laughed at them. Suddenly Emma parted with the girls then she splashed seawater to Daniel. Daniel covered his face by his arms then he smiled. He chased Emma into the seawater then Emma gave up and flung herself to Daniel. Daniel lifted her and then the two of them walked at the seashore.

Slowly, Christine, Hadey, Sabrina, Vanessa and Rico left Nicole and Matt when noticing Nicole and Matt were avoiding each other. When the two of them are already alone, Nicole approached Matt quickly before he could leave.

"Are you mad at me", Nicole asked Matt.

"What made you think that I’m mad at you", Matt asked.

"You’re avoiding me", Nicole said.

"Then why are you asking me", Matt asked then he started to walk to go back to the house.

"Matt, talk to me", Nicole said following him at the back.

"What for? You didn’t tell me. When I called you, you won’t answer the phone and last you made me worried", Matt said, stopping.

"I’m sorry. I need to hurry because mum and dad would leave me if I don’t leave you", Nicole said.

"Then why didn’t you answer my calls?"

"I left my cell phone in my bed. I wanted to wake you up to tell you that I will be going to the airport but when I opened the door into your room and you were sound asleep and I don’t want to disturb your sleep so I decided not to wake up ‘cause I know that you slept late last night", Nicole continued explaining.

"Sorry", Matt said and started to walk back to the house. Nicole ran towards him and stood beside him. She held Matt’s hand and faced him, Matt faced her too.

"There’s nothing to say sorry about", Nicole said then smiled. Matt smiled too in understanding what Nicole what trying to say. He put his arm around Nicole’s back and together they went to the house.

Meanwhile, after an half an hour, while Emma and Daniel were walking in the seashore, Noel was watching them in the distance, planning to do something to disturb Emma and Daniel. Noel went nearer to them and approached Daniel.

"Hi Daniel", Noel shouted as she ran toward him.

"Hi", Daniel said and stared at Emma.

"Hi", Emma greeted too because that’s what Daniel wants her to do.

"What are you going to do today Daniel", Noel asked blocking Emma from Daniel’s view. Emma gasped.

"I will help my friend in cleaning the hall", Daniel said. Nicole and Vanessa headed to Emma and stood beside her.

"Why would you help your friend in cleaning the hall? You’re not a staff either a janitor. It’s the owner’s fault because of their carelessness", Noel said and Nicole heard everything she said.

"Actually, I’m the one who’s Daniel’s talking about", Nicole said then Noel turned to face her.

"Then", Noel asked raising his eyebrow.

"Then I’m the daughter of the owner. I’m Nicole Jacobe", Nicole said.

"Oh, I’m so sorry. Daniel didn’t tell me. What I am saying, this place is beautiful, and I know that before the heavy storm, this place is more beautiful", Noel lied to save face.

"Make sure that’s right. Emma, Daniel, lunch is ready", Nicole said.

"Okay. Tell the others that we’ll be there in a minute", Emma said.

"Okay, bye", Vanessa and Nicole said then walked heading to the house.

Emma went near to Daniel and held his hand and last faced Noel.

"Please excuse us but we have to go", Emma said and dragged Daniel away from her.

"Bye Daniel. Hope to see you again’, Noel said as she waved at Daniel goodbye.

"Well, she wants it that way, so I’ll give it her way then", Noel said, looking at Emma sharply as if Noel was a hungry eagle seeing a rat, that is Emma. Then she turned back dramatically and went back to her cabin.

*

Meanwhile back at the house where nine of them slept, all of them were happily eating lunch. The dining room was filled with the sounds of their laughter.

"If you could have seen her face when I told her that I’m the daughter of the owner", Nicole said trying he best not to laugh hard.

"Maybe she expects a blonde hair girl with make-up all over the face", Matt teased.

"Well, at least, I didn’t let her see the sophisticated me. Maybe she’ll get a little more ashamed of what she was wearing", Nicole joked. Everybody laughed.

"You should tell us if that girl annoys you again Emma", said Vanessa.

"I think I’m not the one who is annoyed", Emma declared and indicated the seat where Daniel was seated. All eyes turn to where Daniel was seating, busy in eating. He didn’t even notice until he felt all eyes on him, he didn’t even hear what Emma had said. He lifted his head and watched the whole group watching him.

"What?"

"Oh nothing. I just told them that I’m not the one who was annoyed by Noel", Emma said with a devilish gleam in her eyes and Daniel easily understood what she said.

"Ha-ha, not funny and not true", Daniel said, amused. As the happiness in the dining room continued, Nicole was called so many times into the living room by the house helps because of so many phone calls for her.

"Whew!" Nicole collapsed dramatically on the couch in the living room after answering many phone calls.

"What was all that", Vanessa asked. They followed her into the living room and Emma and Vanessa seated themselves beside Nicole while the other girls occupied the other couch. The boys sat at the floor facing the girls.

"That was all my, your, and our classmates and friends. I wonder maybe this resort will be full in the middle of summer vacation."

"All that?" Sabrina, Christine and Hadey asked in unison.

"I guess our guest hall will be filled with students." Matt stood and handed his hand to Nicole. Nicole accepted his hand and stood up. She linked her fingers through his.

"Where are the two of you going?" Rico said while standing up. Vanessa followed as well as the whole gang.

"Just going around. Wanna go?" Matt asked.

"Who wants to go shopping?" Nicole asked. "I saw a small boutique just a short walk fro here when I joined my parents bought groceries."

"Maybe I could find a simple dress there for the party." Vanessa said. All the girls agreed.

"Okay. We could make ourselves useful by escorting the young ladies there." Rico said and the three boys curtsied as the girls passed them. When all of them were out, they were laughing and Noel and her three friends heard them. Noel and her three friends felt instantly jealous not just of Emma but from all of them. She had never had fun like that all her life. Noel had an instant urge to join them and laugh with them. What would it be like to have them as a friend? She thought. So many "what would it be like" questions swirled inside her mind when Shayne's face suddenly focused in front of her that brought her out from her trance.

"What was that?" Noel asked, irritated.

"Nothing. I was just looking at you because you see to look dreamy when you saw them", Shayne said.

"I looked dreamy because Daniel is in that group." Noel defended herself and cursed herself for coloring.

"Oh well", Noel said and started to walk away from the three.

"Where’re you heading?" Shayne asked her, one eyebrow arched.

"Rest! You go and play or whatever three people do when they bored and instead they bother the person who has given them what they like!" Noel snapped at them angry at the three of them, angry at Daniel, angry at that girl friend of his whose name was Em-whatsit and their friends, and most of all, angry at herself for thinking of the "what ifs" a while ago. She watched the three of them exchanged knowing glances and shrugged. Noel scowled at them but when she turned and headed for their cabin, her scowl turned to a frown. Did they know that I had been jealous at Daniel’s friends? She dismissed the thought and marched seething to the cabin.

Meanwhile, Shayne, Gabby and Chelsea was heading for the beach when they met Emma heading towards them.

Emma was happy to see the three of them. She liked them even Daniel told her not to trust them. She knew that they are not like that to the people who will respect them. She smiled as she walked towards them.