Ashlee
UGH. You won’t believe who just showed up at the beach house!!
Ashlee
Josh Franklin 🙄🙄🙄
Ashlee
And don’t tell me that this isn’t a big deal…
Ashlee
Our friends pooled money to rent this place for a reason—
Ashlee
We were supposed to spend one last, special summer together before going off to college.
Ashlee
But now this jerk is going to ruin our good time!!
Ashlee
Who even invited him?
Manny
Could you chill out for a second, Ash?
Manny
We are still going to have an amazing summer. I promise.
Manny
Maybe you should just give Josh a chance, okay?
Manny
He’s actually a cool guy.
Ashlee
Um…he’s a cocky baseball jock, Manny.
Ashlee
And, for 4 years, he teased me about being the class brain.
Ashlee
But at least I HAVE one of those!
Manny
Hmm…you might want to ask yourself something right now…
Warmth floods Ashlee’s face.
Ashlee
Why would you even ask me that?
Manny
Because you always get heated up about Josh.
Manny
And that’s because you are into each other.
Manny
It’s really obvious to all of us.
Manny
But both of you are just too stubborn to admit it.
Then looks out the front window again.
Josh is at the door with his surfboard and duffel.
That’s all it is, right?
Ashlee
Manny, when are you guys getting back from that food run?
Ashlee
Can you please hurry?
Ashlee
I don’t want to be here all alone with him!
And Josh’s lean frame fills the doorway.
Ashlee’s pulse blasts as they lock gazes.
Then he gives her that smug grin she HATES.
Ashlee
I’m…surprised to see you here.
Josh
Good to see you too.
Josh
Have you been waiting by the door for me to get here?
Ashlee
Ha. Ha. Excuse me while I ignore you.
Josh
I really didn’t mean to start off this way.
He puts down his surfboard and duffel.
Josh
It’s just…I know you don’t want me here.
Josh
So I automatically became defensive.
He starts to say something else.
Ashlee’s stomach is full of butterflies.
Ashlee
Josh, maybe we should talk about how we’re going to coexist this summer.
Ashlee
We can’t ruin everyone’s fun by squabbling.
Their gazes connect again.
There’s something different about the way he’s looking at her today…
Josh
We should smooth things out.
Josh
I mean, high school’s behind us now.
Josh
And it’s time for new beginnings, anyway.
Josh
So should we make a truce?
Josh
Don’t look so suspicious.
Josh
I want everyone to have a great summer just as much as you do.
Ashlee
Then we’ve got a truce.
He runs a hand through his thick blond hair.
Ashlee
All right, I’ll admit it…
Ashlee
It’s a relief that we’re making peace.
Josh
Yeah. It’s good to leave that high school junk behind.
Josh
Well, on the night of graduation it hit me…
Josh
This summer is the last time I’ll really get to spend time with everyone.
Josh
And…it’s my last chance to be honest with the people I care about.
His smile isn’t as sure now.
Josh
You know that I care about you, right?
Ashlee
But I thought you couldn’t stand me.
Josh
No, Ashlee. I really like you.
Josh
I just…whenever I have your attention…
Josh
Whenever you look at me with those big brown eyes…
Josh
And any compliment I want to say…it comes out wrong.
Ashlee
What?! This happens to you?
Ashlee
THE Josh Franklin?
Ashlee
I don’t get it though. Why would you be interested in me?
Josh
Because you know exactly who you are.
Josh
You were always so focused on your classes.
Josh
You didn’t seem to chase anything else that wasn’t right for you.
Josh
And ugh, I wanted to be right for you.
Her breathing gets shaky.
Josh
Every time we talked, I hoped…
Josh
I hoped you might finally see me, too.
Josh
God, you make me so nervous.
His honesty makes the air catch in her lungs.
Ashlee
Is that why you came to the beach house, Josh?
Ashlee
Because you wanted to tell me that?
Josh
I thought it’d be a good start.
This thing she felt for Josh was never really about hating him.
It was always something totally different.
She takes a step toward him.
Ashlee
Since we’re smoothing things out, maybe I should tell you something.
Ashlee
But unlike school, or hanging with my friends…
Ashlee
It wasn’t easy to be around you.
Ashlee
You make my stomach flip.
Ashlee
And I didn’t know how to deal with that feeling.
Josh
You were nervous, too?
Ashlee
Yeah. Because I like you too, Josh.
Ashlee
I finally can admit it now.
Ashlee
Can you tell I’m more nervous right now than I’ve ever been in my life?
Then tucks a strand of hair behind her ear.
Josh
Do we keep hating each other?
Ashlee
I don’t know. We’ve already spent lots of time doing that.
Ashlee
Maybe we should start this truce by doing something more like this…
On a blast of heat, she finally gives in to what she’s been feeling for years.
She pulls him down to her.
Catches his lips with hers.
Every part of her turns to hot liquid.
And then she hears people cheering.
They look over to the window.
Their friends are wildly applauding outside.
She narrows her gaze at Manny.
And he gives her a thumbs-up.
Ashlee
Josh, was Manny the one who invited you here?
Josh
Actually, everyone in the group did.
Josh
Apparently everybody in school could see what was happening between us.
Ashlee smiles at her friends.
And then keeps smiling as she shuts the curtains.
There’s a collective 'AWWW' outside.
Then pulls him back to her, her heartbeat thundering.
Ashlee
We can always thank them later, right?
They fall into a long, slow kiss.
Starting the hot summer off just right.
