Read Because of You for Free Online Page B

parents watch the baby.
    I’m glad it’s always been just Carrie and me. I don’t want another sister or brother. Especially one that only has the same father as us. I’m never going to see that thing as my real sibling.
    “What are you doing here?” I ask her.
    “I came by to take you out. I thought we’d go to the beach and enjoy looking at the tourists one last time, before they’re all gone.”
    “Don’t you remember I get to see them every day at work.”
    “Yes, but you never get to see them with their bathing suits on and their shirts off.” She forms a wicked smile. “Come on Jade, come to the beach with me.”
    I’m not really in the mood to go anywhere, but at the same time I need to get out of this house. “Fine, lets go, but I have to be back early. I have to work tonight.”
    “No problem. Go change so we can go already.”
    I can’t believe how packed this place is already. Lines of bodies are spread out on the sand. What time do these people wake up to get here anyway?
    We choose a spot as close as we can to the shoreline. Both Farrah and I would rather be in the water than lying out on the sand trying to get color. Besides both of us already have a nice tan going on. It’s one of the perks of living in Cisco Beach.
    We begin to lay our towels on the boiling hot sand when I hear that familiar deep voice say, “Are you following me?”
    I slowly twist around and see Austin and Josh standing behind us with their towels in their arms. How in the hell did he find me again? This beach is huge. I’m starting to think he’s the one that’s following me.
    “I should be asking you that?” I exclaim with disgust in my voice.
    “Hi guys,” Farrah sings, with her sexy smile. I know she’s excited to see Josh.
    “Hi,” Josh responds giving her the same smile back.
    “Do you guys wanna join us,” she asks. Oh please let them say no.
    “Sounds like a plan,” Austin says, placing his towel right next to mine.
    “Don’t you have somewhere better to be, like maybe Ariel’s house?” I ask hoping he realizes I don’t want him here.
    “Nah,” he answers with his stupid dimples on display. I’m really starting to hate those things.
    He is totally ruining my day. I kick off my Converse and begin to undo the button on my jean skirt but suddenly stop when I see him removing his orange University of Texas T-shirt to expose his body. He has turned his baby fat into one hundred percent pure lean muscle. His abs remind me of the ones you see on an infomercial for some exercise DVD. I try to look away, but my eyes won’t cooperate. I gaze up at his face and he’s obnoxiously grinning. He must have noticed I was checking him out. “Oh get over yourself.”
    He starts to laugh and sits back on his towel. I finish taking off my skirt and white tank top to reveal my red and black-stripped bikini. I feel a little self–conscious standing here half naked in front of him. I start to wonder if he still thinks I’m gross.
    I glance over at him and see his eyes sparkle with pleasure as they travel from my legs to my chest. I blush feeling my heart pound against my chest. Why is he checking me out?
    “I think I’m ready for a swim.” Austin quickly blurts out, jumping to his feet, and runs towards the water. “You coming?” He calls out.
    Farrah and Josh stand up to join him. They all dive into the water like it’s nothing. I wish I could be like them, but I’m very cautious when it comes to doing things like that.
    I enter the water slowly calculating each step so I can control which part of my body gets wet. I bring my arms half way up my chest, afraid if the water touches them I will go into hypothermic shock.
    I shiver with each step I take. I can’t believe how on a hot day like this the water is so cold. Someone swims by and splashes me with tiny drops of freezing cold salty water. I let out a little loud scream. People really need to be careful where they swim.
    I glance up at Austin and see