Elements

43. friends?

  I stand from the couch and walk to Jesse as we sit on the bar stools up against the Island.

  We all end up helping cook supper after a while, Cliff joining us after getting out of the shower, letting his hair down.

  I make a salad with Jesse while they all cook the rest of the food, we end up going and sitting around the table getting out of the way.

  "I think willows into Malek" Jesse says and I watch her in the kitchen as she's never far from him

  "He isn't giving her any attention" Jesse adds watching me stare her down

  "No?" I say turning to her

  "No" Jesse says and I believe her. I know I can always trust her

  "Cliff almost made a move on me" I say quietly looking down at the table

  Jesse shoots up in her seat leaning into me wanting more details

  "He asked me if me and Malek are together, and I don't know so he asked if we're just having sex and I mean that's kind of what's happening. The lines are so blurred I don't know if we're just hooking up or if we're together because people who date actually trust each other and he doesn't tell me anything so I don't know" I say and Jesse nods

  "You need to talk to him and settle it" Jesse says. "You need to find out where the line is"

  "I know" I say but then I remember Holly telling me he went to prison after the 'incident'. That's like a big deal. That's something you mention. I don't even really know who he is and if I want to be with him without knowing.

   Supper is served and Malek sits down beside me resting his hand on my thigh and it startles me making him look down at me confused but he doesn't say anything.

   Cliff sits across from me and places down the vegan options infront of us as we eat. I've noticed Malek has also switched his diet slowly and has started eating what I eat and the thought makes me smile.

   We eat listening to Nova tell the story of how she got here and what she told her family before ledger starts telling us about the old tenants. Apparently most of the older elements lived here in their 20s before going back to their countries to have family's and lives and that one of the elements became a millionaire, building this house and property for future elements.

   Supper wraps up and we finish cleaning up when willow pipes up. "We could go down to those hot springs tonight?" And cliff looks over to me and grins.

  "Absolutely" Jesse says agreeing and the plan is set.

  "I don't have a anything to wear" I say to Jesse, I'm not even the size of any of the other girls to burrow anything

  "There is a small shop down at the bottom of the hill with bathing suits, it's where I go" Willow says overhearing me

   "Okay" I say "but.. I don't have any money" I say and she nods

  "It's all cool" She says standing up.  How the hell am I supposed to be mad at her for flirting with Malek knowing what I know and when she's so nice to me.

   We end up going outside around the house when she hits something on the wall and the garage opens to a teal Jeep with no doors on it?

   Jesse crawls in the back as I take passenger while Willow gets in the front. We drive down the hill passing the property gates to the bottom and down the road at least a mile when we come up onto a small strip mall like she said. We park on the road and I look down the mountain and I can see the beach and ocean as the waves ripple up on the beach.

   "Cmon" Willow says opening the door as we enter into a small bathing suit shop.

  We look around as the old lady who owns the store mingles around cleaning up.

   "This one" Jesse says pulling it off the rack and holding it up it's a plain white ribbed fabric bikini with thicker straps and a high wasted thong.

  "Your kidding" I say and she hands it to me

  "Try it on" Willow says smiling and I roll my eyes at them before going back to the change room.

   I try it on and look into the small mirror and it makes my boobs look good but my ass is very out, more that I've ever shown in a bathing suit, except for that time in my thong of course

   I open the curtain and willow smiles as Jesse shoots her hand over her mouth

  "You have to get it" Jesse says smiling

  "It's the one" Willow says and I blush at their response

  "Spin" Jesse says and I do and I can hear Jesse gasp as she smacks my ass making me spin back around

  "You have to" Jesse says laughing

  "I need to get a bathing suit now, hold on" Jesse says now looking for one.

  "You look really good" Willow says making me smile

  "Thank you" I say and she nods. I change back into my clothes as Jesse tries some options on, landing on a black bikini, at least I know I'm not the only one showing a lot of skin.

   "We should go shopping sometime with Nova" Willow says and Jesse immediately agrees as we walk up to the cash register and Willow pays

  We leave back out to her car and make our way down the road before turning back up the dirt road through the mountains to the gate before parking.

   It's getting dark now as we make our way inside and everyone is hanging around waiting so me, Jesse and Willow quickly go change. I pull a oversized graphic t overtop myself before grabbing a towel, meeting Jesse in the hall as we join the group in the kitchen.

   We make our way outside as a group, walking down the dirt path that's just illuminated by the moon light as I can start to hear the sound of flowing water and smell the sulfer when we come down the hill to a natural rock hot spring in the mountain.