Ten Too Many

revenge will be sweet, if i don't drown

A few days later I was laying on my bed and tried to text Zoe, one of my best friends, but I didn't really have any service. I noticed I got about half a bar when I went near the window. Maybe if I...

I opened the window and stuck my phone out. hmmm...

A crazy idea crossed my mind, so I put my foot on the window sill and stuck my top half out the window. The roof was about two feet above me, so I carefully pulled myself up to sit on the edge. Three bars!

My phone received about twenty texts, so I replied. Finally able to text my dad and give them an update, and also forgive him for not telling me about my cousins. Jayden, Jordan, Jake, and I were becoming close. The little kids were taking longer, but we were getting there.

A long while later, I was laying on my bed daydreaming when my door burst open with a bang. I jumped.

Standing in the doorway was Evan, the nine-year-old. He was wearing red swimming trunks and blue goggles that made his ears stick out. A yellow towel was slung over his shoulder and his eyes sparkled as he grinned.

"Jayden and Jordan want you to come swimming with us in the pond. Wanna?"

I smiled at him. This was one of the first times he'd spoken directly to me and he was being nice.

"Yeah, tell them I'll be out in a minute," I replied and got up. He nodded and shut my door with another bump.

I rummaged through the dresser for my purple bikini. I found it under my sundress in the middle drawer.

I slipped it on and took out my flip flops from under the bed. The towels were in the bathroom closet, I knew, so I walked down the hall and took a purple one to match my suit. I also found some sunscreen, so I smeared that all over my face. I didn't want any more freckles than I already had.

The pond was a bluish color as I walked out to it from the general instructions from Cookie. A green, double-decked raft was floating towards the middle. All the boys were at the pond, even Jake, playing around in the shallows in their swimsuits.

I walked over and set down my things a fair distance from the water. I got the feeling there was going to be a lot of splashing going on in a few minutes.

Jordan looked up and spotted me. "Hey Alex! Come on in," he hollered and waved. Noah caught my eye and scowled, but he didn't leave.

I picked my way to the water's edge and stepped over the bigger rocks. As I walked in the shallows, Jayden squinted at my face.

"You have sunscreen on your cheek," he said.

I reached up and rubbed it in. "Better?"

He grinned lopsidedly. "Nothing could make your face better, Alex."

I kicked water at him. "I told you it was a no on the nickname."

Markus came running past, yelling. "Logan, I swear to god, if you do..."

I looked up and saw Logan chasing his big brother with a bucket of water and giggling madly.

Jake was holding Mason above the water a few yards away, trying to coax him in. Mason had a bright blue life jacket on, as did the younger twins.

I walked over to where Mason was twisting above the water.

"What's going on?" I asked. I skimmed the surface with my toes.

Jake looked frustrated. "He tells us he wants to get in but then he refuses because he's scared. Maybe since you're his girlfriend you can get him to." With that he plopped Mason in my arms and dove into deeper water.