If there's one thing I learned today, it's to not take Journee anywhere with jet skis. Unless I want my eardrums busted or my skin decorated with dark red marks, scratched up so much to where I'd bleed, Journee can't go jet skiing with me ever again.

This woman had some claws on her. It's as if I were captured by Cat Woman and being tortured to death. Let's not go there with Journee hollering and screaming in my ear. The large range of screams are still echoing in my head; they won't go away. They could wake the entire world if she wanted them too.

Journee held on me so tight that, if she fell, I fell with her. She wasn't playing when she meant that she wasn't cool with deep waters. No adult left behind when it came to Journee.

Anyway, after we finish riding on the water, we go to a nearby crab shack; specifically, my favorite place to eat. I'm inviting Journee to my preferred place to stuff my face.

We get settled, order our drinks, have a decent conversation, catch each other's looks through the menu, and order our food. Surprisingly, Journee isn't a huge fan of shellfish.

"I'm not surprised that you eat crab."

Hell yeah, I love crab. I was born and raised in a state surrounded by nothing but water and seafood restaurants. What else could I really eat? Plus, crab was the main entrée at our family gatherings. Not everybody eats seafood here but most people do. I was most people and enjoyed every bite.

I also love how Journee tucks a loose braid behind her ear as she keeps studying the menu. Focused, concentrated, slightly disappointed, and...there it is. Interested in something on the menu.

Once we get our food, Journee complains about my plate of crab legs, refusing to eat any crab she was offered. "Sorry but Angie has ruined them for me. All the sucking and slurping that comes with it. It's awkward."

'Slurping and sucking'? Who does all that? All you do is crack the shell and take the meat out. Never met anyone who sucks and slurps on crab legs. Well, more for me, I guess.

We continue eating, having an engaging conversation and enjoying our time together. She knows how to keep a conversation going...

Until that good vibe dies down and it becomes awkward again.

We can blame it on us focusing on our food but we've been eating for a minute and having a fabulous conversation. Something else is going on. She's biting back her bottom lip and her head is tilted to the right. Her face goes from joy to worried in the matter of a millisecond. Oh yeah, she's thinking about something that ain't good.

"Tripp, it's been fun getting to know you and all but, if this were to ever be a serious thing, what would happen when I leave? Have you been in long-distance relationships before? Because I've never been in one and that doesn't seem like a good idea right now."

Damn, Journee. We've only known each other for five days. We have another week and two days for us to figure all of that out.

Then again, it's a good thing she brought that up because things are going way too fast with us. I blame myself for all of this because I pursued her first. Journee's giving me that chance, opening herself up to me, and I could be using this to fill a void?

What if these feelings stem from my past loneliness? What if I'm caught up in Journee due to my disappointment on the beach about a week ago? Could I be filling that moment of rejection, from Kyra, and not realize it?

How do you write about someone you have feelings for and not believe your own words?

I'm too confused to even acknowledge Journee's question so I keep eating while watching other patrons moving in their chairs to the live music.

Journee deserves an answer but what can I give her? What would be the right thing to say to that? 'Oh, hey, maybe we should stop doing this because we barely know each other'? Why would I say that when things are good between us?

I just don't know how to explain my answer to her.

Avoiding her question, I continue watching the band play and sit while thinking to myself.

What would happen if she left? We both have no experience with long-distance relationships and aren't looking to date outside our hometowns. So, what would happen after her time here? Maybe it's meant to be a bump-n-pass thing; a, dare I say it, fling. I don't know. It's too much to think about.

We need more time and we have more time, now that she's staying for another week. So, we don't have to talk about it now.

Can you tell it's been a while since I've felt this way? Got me confused about my feelings and shit.

"Can you hear me, Tripp? You're not answering me."

Damn it, Journee. She wants my attention and I should tell her I'm confused but my silence seems to give away my answer. Not accurate but she got an answer.

Looking from my peripheral, I can see Journee eating slowly and nodding to herself, coming to terms with my silence. Shit, gotta say something now.

"Can we just enjoy this moment together? We got a while to think about all of that. You came here to have a good time."

Wrong thing to say to a woman in her feelings. I can never find the right thing to say when I'm lost in my own head.

Journee's eyes move to me, in frustration, and she sighs. Yeah, she doesn't like what I said.

Shrugging her shoulders, she gives of a fake smile and agrees. "Oh, yeah. You're right. Let's have a good time because we still have time to think over it."

Her tone conflicts with the words she's saying; sarcasm at its finest. This situation is so difficult that I want to avoid it all together.

A nice, smooth jazz sound plays throughout the restaurant and people get up to dance with their partners. This seems like the perfect time to get Journee out of her funk.

Nope, bad idea. I turn to her and she's poking at her food while biting down on that bottom lip again. The look of discomfort, mixed with frustration, takes its toll. It wouldn't hurt to try-

"I'd like to go back to the beach house now. The girls and I have to talk about some things for work."

Well, there's my answer to dancing with everyone else. All the happiness and fun that was in Journee is gone now.

I ask for the check as my eyes watch Journee type on her phone. Well, work won't be the only topic they have to discuss. You know how most girls are.

After paying for the meal, Journee marches off to the car and we're back on the road in the matter of minutes.

No words, no spellbound eyes, nothing. The whole time we're on the road, Journee's looking out the window. She's pissed off and I'm at a loss for words once again.

We pull up to their beach house and she sits in the car for a quick minute. It's pretty quiet as we are thinking about what happened at the restaurant.

Finally, I come up with something to tell her. "Look, Journee. Everything is going by so fast; so fast that I can't catch up with myself. I wanted to give you the answer you were looking for but this is all I can come up with that's close to the truth."

Bam. There it is. Pretty simple but good enough for something that's put together at the last minute.

Not the head nod and sucking on the teeth in anger. After all of that, she gets out of the car and shuts the door, marching into the house. No response or look at me. She just up and leaves.

That doesn't make me feel good so I have to get myself together, especially my feelings, before this week is over.

****

Heeeeeyyyyyyy everybody!

Thanks for reading, voting, and commenting! I hope you enjoyed it!

Late update because my sister passed away yesterday so I wasn't really feeling like posting this. Good thing this chapter was already written.

Anyway...

Y'all...Tripp is all over the place with his feelings. They're still fairly young but also about to be at that age where they need to know what they want.

What do you think will happen next?

Don't forget to vote and share if you can!

Love ya!