Author's Note: "Jersey Love: Apple Dreams & Release" is my entry for Literotica's - 2011 Halloween Contest. I'm sorry it's taken so long to post. I hope the length doesn't scare too many people away. I know it's long, but I had to follow where the story led me. Thanks for your patience!
This is a Romance story through and through, but there are strong paranormal elements present which made categorizing this story difficult. I hope the young spirit who influenced it finds peace.
Note: This is a continuation of "Jersey Summer Love", but is also a stand-alone story. You need not read the first story to appreciate it. I hope readers of the last story are satisfied with this one! There was such a resounding wish for more Raina and Logan, that I worked hard to bring you the continuation. This story is for all of you!
I have to give a huge thanks to estragon for copy editing for me. Thank you also to MidniteRose for reading and offering feedback as the story progressed.
Please Read, Vote, and/or Comment and ENJOY! I love feedback, and constructive criticism helps me grow as a writer. Thanks so much!
~~~~~
Raina gazed up at the early October sky. The moonless night lent itself to a dazzling display of stars. She lay side by side with her boyfriend Logan on the neighbor's trampoline, two houses down from hers. It was midnight and she knew that soon she would have to go home. Logan and his two friends would have pile into their work van and sleep for the night. They lived in North Jersey and she and her family lived on the Jersey Shore. The boys worked during the week at Logan's father's auto-shop, but came on the weekends to visit Raina and her sister Coral. During the summer, all of the summer "bennies" stayed at Jack and his father's house, coined the "summer house." But with Labor Day a month gone, most of the summer visitors had gone back up north until the next summer season.
Coral had a way about her that made most people agree to anything she asked them. The girls and guys had devised a plan to allow the boys to spend the weekends into the Fall months in such a way that the girls' parents would allow the boys to camp out in their van in front of the house. Their parents even agreed that it was a great idea. Raina was still flabbergasted that it had worked. She thought it was doomed to failure; parents agreeing to let teenage and college-aged boys camp out in their driveway with their teenage daughter's only a few feet away seemed impossible. For the past month, the plan had gone along swimmingly. She was still waiting for her parents to wise up or put a stop to the visits. For now, she was enjoying the benefits!
Raina knew that her Mom was a lot wiser and more in tune than she let on. After all, she was their age at one point. But it was more than that. It was like her Mom had some type of sixth-sense about things. She always knew what was going on around them and she had these gut feelings. Her feelings were so strong that family learned to heed her warnings. She saw through people and quickly sized them up. You couldn't get things past her or trick her. It was a trait that annoyed the hell out of Coral. Raina shared in this ability too and often found herself alone, even in a crowd.
Their upbringing was definitely a bit different than that of their friends. While there were certainly boundaries set for the two girls, there had also always been an open-communication and open-door policy in their house. The girls could talk about anything with their parents without judgment, and the house was always open to guests; friends needing a place to escape or crash were welcome with open arms.
"Are you sure Jack's Dad won't mind that we're over here?" Raina turned her head and nuzzled Logan's cheek. He squeezed her hand and flipped onto his stomach, lying on top of her.
"All we're doing is hanging out on his trampoline. It's not like a bunch of people are over here partying and getting wild. There's no one here to worry about invading their space. I'm sure it's fine."
"What if I want to get wild?" Raina smiled coyly, gazing up into his sea-blue eyes.
"We can get as wild as we want in my van, baby," Logan replied, kissing her lips.
"What if I want to get wild right here on the trampoline?" she suggested. The last month or so had seen a positive change in Raina. She had her old spark back and a confidence that had always been hidden beneath fatigue. Other people had remarked on it too; Logan was good for her.
"As hot as that sounds, I'd rather save that for a time where no one is around, including your parents. You're a little temptress, you know that don't you? Get a small taste of love in the outdoors and you want it all the time now." Logan slid his leg between hers.
Raina laughed. "It's all your fault! If you weren't so amazing with your hands and mouth and tongue and manhood, I wouldn't be craving you all the time."
"Did you just call my cock my "manhood?" He twisted a strand of her red hair around his finger.
"Mhm, got a problem with that, Mister.?" Raina tugged on the waistband of Logan's jeans and slipped a hand down into his boxers. "Oh my. Excited already?"
"I've been excited." Logan cupped her breast. "Come on, let's go to the van." He released her hair.
"Great idea."
Logan jumped off the trampoline and helped Raina slide down. He grabbed her hand and they walked to the front of Jack's house and then across the neighbor's yard. When they got to Raina's house, they tiptoed up to the van where Logan pressed her against the door and kissed her lips. She wiggled, feeling his hardness against her, an ache forming deep within.
The scene put her in mind of the day she gave her virginity to Logan during the summer. She had had her first orgasm while riding on the back of his motorcycle and was flustered and aroused when he pried her off the bike. He had noted her condition and had backed her up against the bike with suggestive words. Things had felt right to her. His patience and understanding nature was enough to let her guard down and let him in. He had been tender and patient and careful with her. It had been perfect.
"I want you," she told him, "so bad."
"Shh." Logan reminded her, gently laying his hand over her mouth. She licked his palm and then nipped.
"What was that for?" he whispered as he slid the van door open.
"A preview," she grinned. Logan held up his finger for her to be quiet and pointed into the van. Raina peeked her head in, hearing sounds coming from inside. She saw a blonde head in the back of the van and heard a girly giggle and then a sigh.
"Are you sure that was your first time kissing?" a young male voice asked in disbelief.
"Uh huh. Why? Did I do it wrong?" the girl's voice asked nervously.
"No, it was....my first time kissing too," the boy said shyly.
"Oh. Want to try again?" Coral asked.
"I think you should go in the house now, Coral. It's bedtime." Raina broke into the conversation, realizing she had just walked in on her little sister receiving her first kiss. Coral turned her head and blushed probably for the first time in her life.
"Well, shouldn't you be going to bed too?" Coral shot back at her sister.
"I'm older."
"Goodnight Ryan." She blew him a kiss.
"Night," Ryan mumbled.
"I guess you should go now too, huh?" Logan asked Raina.
"Yeah. Raincheck." She gave Logan a quick kiss.
"Bike ride on the boardwalk tomorrow?" He asked.
"Yup, goodnight." She blew him a kiss.
***
In the morning, Logan stretched, kicked off the blanket, and rolled to his knees to peek out of the van window. He smiled when he saw his beautiful girlfriend standing on the top step of the front porch. Raina rubbed her eyes, probably to remove the sleepies the sandman had left, he assumed. The morning sunlight shined on her copper hair which was bedraggled from sleep. She looked adorable in her capri pajama pants and matching tank top. He could see the soft swell of her breasts beneath the fabric and licked his lips thinking about how responsive she was to his touch. When she got a little closer, he'd be able to see just how perky they were this morning. He knew she was coming out to wake him up and greet him. He was about to lie back down and make the pretense of sleep, wanting to see what his impish pixie had planned for him, when he saw her falter on the step. She grabbed the railing to steady herself as her legs went out from under her.
Logan slid the van door open with a slam and ran to her.
"What's wrong?" he asked, catching her and gently easing her to the step.
"My knee just went. I'm fine. Thanks." But he could tell she wasn't fine. Raina had told him that she had Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome and that she was in chronic pain, didn't have a lot of energy, and was weak. But other than her knee going weak at the boardwalk a month ago, he hadn't seen it until very recently.
He had been noticing when they'd hung out lately, that she'd yawn a lot and have to walk slower, asking to sit down at regular intervals. She had also been scattered and unable to focus for too long.
"Maybe you should go to the doctor." Logan sat beside her.
"The doctor won't tell me anything different than usual or do anything different for me. It's pointless." He could see the frustration on her face as she tried to regain her footing.
"Does it hurt?"
"My knee doesn't hurt, that's just weakness," she said stubbornly. "But my body does ache." Raina's Mom, Jennifer walked out and sat next to her. It was her idea to be called by her first name. It took Logan a little while to call her that. He had been taught to use proper names.
Logan figured Jennifer must have seen Raina go down too.
"Raina, I saw you fall. I really think we should go back to the doctor and see if your medication doses need to be changed. Ever since you started that new one, you've been off-kilter." Logan saw the concerned look on her Mom's face.
"I'm okay. I just need to sit down." Raina looked pale to Logan.
"What are your plans for today?"
"We were thinking of going for a bike ride on Seaside boardwalk." Raina stood.
"Do you think that's a good idea with how you're feeling?" Logan could see that Jennifer wanted to say more, but held back.
"I'm tired of my body ruling me, Mom. It'll be fine. I'm not a baby."
Jennifer sighed. "I know you're not and you can go. But this conversation isn't over. I'm making you an appointment."
"Fine." Raina stood on her wobbly knees and use Logan's arm to climb to the top step.
Logan felt awkward seeing the look of determination on Raina's face meet the frustration on Jennifer's. Raina opened the door and stepped into the house.
