I was about to come out of the water when Luke pushed me back in. I raised an eyebrow at him.
"We're not done yet." He chuckled. I watched as he slipped his shirt off his body.
Great abs, I thought. This must be why he's so full of himself. He stood there in the sun, shining in his tanned glory.
"Checking me out?"
He swirled around like a girl."You wish." I settled back in the pool.He jumped in with a splash that startled me. People cheered, most especially girls.
I watched as he swam around in the pool, greeting people, fist bumping some and high fiving the others.
The guy was really popular. He's not a bad guy afterall. He's just a teenager who likes to date multiple girls at the same time.
"Stop staring, you'll give him sunburn with your eyes ." That high-pitched voice chirped behind me.
I turned around and rested my hands on the poolside.
"What do you want this time?"She sat on the lounger where my stuff was.
"I just came to remind you that Luke's mine,no matter what how hard you try to steal him."
"Are you done?" I heard his voice behind me. Great,at least he can deal with his girlfriend.
"Luke," she chirped loudly.
"Alessia, let this be the last time that you will say that to Theresa. I'm warning you.""She's not even that beautiful!" She stomped off and for the first time, I took in her dressing.
She had a pink bikini on, with purple stones. Five on ten,I graded her.
"Swim with me?" He asked and I felt a headache coming.
"No,I wanna go home."I said and pulled myself out of the water. My hair was dripping.
"What?" He exclaimed. "But we just got here an hour ago!" He whined."I didn't say you should come with me. I was just informing you that I was leaving." I packed the last item into Ivy's bag and slipped on my shorts and shirt.
"Why are you even leaving?" He also got out of the water.
"I'm tired." I replied flatly, scanning the pool to find Ivy.I was about to yell her name when I spotted a big brown spider beneath me.
My breath quickened and I screamed as loud as I could.
"What's wrong?" Luke asked, frantically looking at me. He was totally confused.
I couldn't blame him. I was acting like someone who had mood swings.
It felt like my heart jumped into my throat,I'm suddenly short of breath.
I kept screaming until my throat hurts. Ivy finally took notice of me and came rushing.
My head was spinning and my vision was blurry. I fell to the ground and Luke was hovering over me until I closed my eyes.
"Are you sure she's gonna be okay?"
"Yeah, she'll be okay when she wakes up."I opened my eyes and found Luke standing and Ivy sitting, on the edge of the bed.
I sat up, holding my head in my hand.
"Tess!" Ivy came rushing to me.She crashed into me and wrapped her arms around my neck.
"I can't breathe," I whispered weakly.
"Shut up," she silenced me."So, what happened?" Luke asked when I was released from Ivy.Ivy and I exchanged a knowing look."No, you tell him. I'm not in the mood for stories," I stood up and walked downstairs into the kitchen while they followed.
"She has arachnophobia." Ivy said.
"And that is?" Luke raised his eyebrows. I gave him a ' are you serious?' look."Don't blame me, I'm not that smart." He defended.
"She's scared of spiders."He gave me a confused look before he started laughing. I grabbed a chocolate bar from the counter and went to the living room.
He still followed me.
"You act mighty and all but, you're actually scared of a spider?""I'm leaving," Ivy said.
"What about Scott? He didn't come?""His mom needed him and I brought my car." That was when I realized that she was no more in her bikini. She must have gone home to change."How long was I passed out?"
"It's a nice record today. Just two hours.""Nice," I smiled to myself."Bye,"she banged the door."Since when did you develop that phobia?" Luke asked, straightening up.
"Since when did we become friends?" I stood up and he raised an eyebrow."Our contract ended when we arrived from the beach. You promised not to bother me again if I went with you so,out." I pointed to the door politely.
He took in a deep breath and walked towards me. He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
He caressed my face and tried to kiss me. I took his hand in a swift motion and twisted it behind his back.
"Ouch!" He shrieked. He tried to free himself but that only caused him more pain. "Theresa, please let me go," he pleaded.
"Only if you promise to leave."
"I will,after saying what I wanna say."I let him go and stood arms akimbo.
"I just wanna be friends with you." He said with a smile."I don't keep friends, Henderson."I tore the cover off the the chocolate bar and stuffed it in my mouth."Do you ever eat more than that?" He pointed to the bar in my hand and I stared at him, expressionless. "You said you don't keep friends, what about Ivy and Scott?"
"BFF's."
"Can't I be one?"I stared at him before laughing so hard that tears started to roll down my face."What's so funny?"
"You.""I'm funny?""Yeah. Remember when you said that I was different?" He nodded."I am."I walked to the kitchen and opened a cupboard. I retrieved a large book and walked back to him.
"If you read through this and you're okay with it,no problem. You can be my friend."I gave him the book.
"Guidelines to being Tess Harvey's friend," he read the title aloud. "Are you kidding me?"
"No, you can drop it if you want."
"You keep books in the kitchen? You're weird."I went upstairs and changed into a Nike sports bra and Nike shorts with my black Jordans. I walked back downstairs and grabbed a bottle of water.
"Where are you going?"
"The gym." I closed the door behind me.ā ā ā ā
"So, you're staying?" I asked excitedly.
"Just for a few days." Ryder said.
He was my cousin from Dad's side.Two years older than me and he was also attending the same college as Julian.
"That Mendes guy,do you have to keep dating him?"
"Julian is a great guy, Ry."
"If you say so," he held up his hands in surrender."I'm bored." I slipped upside down the couch.
"Me too.""If you had a girlfriend, you wouldn't be.""Actually,I have tons of them. Girls line up just to take a pic with me. I'm like a Greek God."
"You're such a player."
"And you love me like that," he teased and I sighed."Sadly, I do.""I got a new tattoo, wanna see?" He pulled his shirt over his head.
I saw 'Ryder' written in calligraphy on his upper back."Wow, it's so nice."
"I know right? You should get one.""I told you and I'll keep telling you that I don't want anything except for piercings on my skin."
"Okay,as your lordship pleases."
"What should we try today?"
"Hmmmm, let's blend pizza and hotdogs together to make a juice.""Even the thought of that makes me wanna puke."I smiled until I felt something hairy on my elbow. I glanced over and saw that dreaded creature that most teenage girls feared.
"Ryder! Spider!" I screamed."Hey, that rhymed." He smiled at me before realizing that I was serious.
I just really miss Ryder. He's the only one that understands me apart from Ivy and Scott. He sympathizes with me when I'm sad, cheers me up and loves me even with my issues.There's also someone who loved me the way he does."Wow, you've got your own gym. You're really surprising me."Luke remarked as he walked backwards into the gym with the friendship manual.I activated the treadmill and started running.He sat down on a rocking chair that grandma left in there and started reading the manual.I really didn't expect him to be serious about that stuff. After running for a bit, I sprawled out on the floor and drank hurriedly from the bottle of water.I sniffed my hair and it smelt really bad. Shower time, Tess. Tatiana Manaois' Helplessly blared out of the speakers of my phone.I brought my phone out and Ryder was on the screen. I smiled to my
Geek day, tomorrow.I screamed my head off and the pizza box dropped from my hand. "You just ruined our food!" Luke whined again."Geek emergency!" Scott burst through the door."Yeah, I saw the text," I raised my phone to him."I had no idea that it was tomorrow," he sprawled out on the couch cross-legged."You guys are still having this childish tradition?" Ryder said, pursing his lips."It's not childish," I snapped. "By the way, why did you come back?" I turned to Scott."My bike's here. I left it in your garage the last time I brought it. I'll get it and leave."I nodded and he walked out."So
I couldn't remember how I fell asleep last night but I opened my eyes to the smell of bacon.Stupid Theresa. Thinking about food when you injured someone.I wanted to get up but a pair of large arms prevented me from doing so.I turned around to face Scott who was still asleep. His bangs fell on his forehead. A tear slipped down my face and I wiped it off immediately.I struggled free and covered him with the duvet. I took a quick shower and helped myself to his clothes.I brought out a pair of black sweatpants and threw it on. I walked downstairs and saw Tanya making breakfast."Good morning," I walked to the kitchen. "Morning dear, how was your night?"I smiled at her. "Is Noah up?" "He went to school two hours ago."Two hours ago? How long did you sleep Theresa?"Can I get..""S
I woke up to find myself on the couch. I sat up and worried faces surrounded me. "Are you okay?" Scott asked, concern written all over his face.I nodded meekly."You're fainting too much these days." Ivy observed.I sat down on the front porch while Ivy and Scott did their business inside.I swear if they do it on the couch, I'm never sitting there again. I fiddled with strands of my hair.It was too long. Whenever I let I loose, it reached down to my hips.Ivy stormed out with anger, huffed and sat beside me."Scott is not responding."I quirked an eyebrow at her. "How?" "I kissed him and he just pushed me away. I tried to scoot closer to him and he went to his room.""That's unlike him. Try again?"She nodded and went inside.I logged in to my account. Seventy friend requests.Two new messages.Thirty five no
I whirled around and found Scott looking at me. He was not looking good. He had puffy eyes and he looked stressed."What?" "I'm sorry. I know I yelled and all this evening, I'm sorry.""Yeah, whatevs." I waved my hand.He walked away, brushing a hand swiftly through his hair. I gaped at his retreating back. I was actually pulling his legs, I didn't expect him to leave.I turned to the bartender."A cup, please.""Yes ma'am,"he winked.I grabbed the cup and sipped my vodka slowly.Different thoughts whirling in my head."Hey," I felt someone sit beside me. I turned on my seat and faced a really hot guy. When I say hot,I hope you get what I mean.He has big dark hazel eyes, a straight nose, perfect jawline and everything. You could see it through his face that he was a flirt."I've noticed you since I arrived. It seems you're a regu
I led them to their rooms and entered mine. I fished out a hoodie and went downstairs. "Change him," I flung the hood at Ryder who groaned. I reappeared with a bowl and a towel. I sat and placed Scott's head on my lap as I cleaned his face.This guy reeked.After I was done, I grabbed my things and turned to the staircase. Luke was standing there, resting on the railing. "You need anything?" I asked him and he turned on his heels.Weird.I checked on Lucas before I went to my room. The guy was snoring away. I held in a chuckle as I closed the door. I looked over at Luke's room. I walked slowly to the door and raised my fingers to knock but I retreated.I entered my room and found his sitting on my bed, monk style."You startled me," I said and he looked up. "I never said you could come in.""I never asked," he replied calmly. For th
This is a terrible day for me. Why did he have to call me right now? He couldn't have chosen a better time?I hung up on him and went to my next class. I entered and almost every eye turned to me.Damn, this popularity of mine.''What are you looking at?'' I growled and they turned back to their businesses.I took an empty seat back and settled in.''Hey,'' a voice said beside me. I glanced sideways and saw Max smiling at me. This dude still had the nerve to smile at me after all that confession.''Look, I didn't know that you were not aware of your reputation. I just thought that you knew. I'm really sorry if I hurt your feelings or anything.I'm sorry about the shirt too.'' He looked down at my shirt and so did I. It still had that terrible stain.''Maybe you should go wash it in the bathroom or something." He su
Lucas stopped his music, Luke ended his call and Scott sprayed mouth juice onto my face. "Dude! What the hell?" I quickly grabbed a tissue and dabbed at my face."What are you wearing?" Luke asked me, raising his lips. "Is this the wedding dress?" He turned to Ryder who was having problems with his tie."No, idiot. That's not the wedding dress. Tessa, what are you wearing? " He gave up on his futile efforts on the tie and walked closer to me."Clothes?" I inched closer to him and started knotting his tie. "What about the dress?" He fidgeted."Relax," I patted his back. "It's in the bag. I just wanna give them a shock first. Hopefully, they'll get a heart attack and leave me alone!"I finished the knot and tucked it perfectly."Are you guys staying here?" I turned to the guys."My house is a tornado right now so, I'll stay."Lucas plopped on the couch."I've got nowhere