Moonstruck ⟡ HS

04

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link: spoti.fi/2OPu8BC
PRETTY IN PINK | THE PSYCHEDELIC FURS
MANEATER | DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES
MCKAY AND CASSIE | LABRINTH
TEAR YOU APART | SHE WANTS REVENGE

Under the warm and sizzling September sun, she laid out within the fencing of her backyard, on one of those fancy lawn chairs her father purchased a couple years back when they got some remodeling done on the house, and with her favorite bikini hugging her curves, she could feel her skin absorbing the rays for one of the last times as autumn approaches at a speedy pace. The pool was still, blue and sparkling with light, and as a pair of headphones squeezed around her head and over her ears, electro-pop played from her Walkman.

Life had seemed rather gloomy lately, with the death of Kelley Laken and the newfound fear dwelling among the citizens, a day by the pool while lying in the sun was just what she needed, especially with the school's annual car wash coming up. It was a fund raiser for the school's events throughout the year—parties, dances, uniforms—really anything they weren't given money for from the government, they decided to raise themselves. And while it was questioned as to whether people attend the car wash to support the high schoolers or watch teenage girls get wet and wash cars, it didn't matter, as long as money was being taken and cars were driving away squeaky clean.

She was one of the ones who helped organize the whole thing, throwing herself back into school activities to distract her mind from the subtle sense of anxiety over following in Kelley's footsteps, and it helped, she can't lie. Time to think was time to dwell, and the more time she had to think about bad things, the more anxious she felt. She didn't like feeling that way, so she focused on the car wash that was to happen the following morning and laid by the pool, knowing the last thing she wanted was to show up without a pair of tanned legs and sun kissed cheeks.

With the music flooding through her ears, she gently tapped her foot against the lawn chair to the beat as a pair of sunglasses rested along her nose, and with her eyes shut behind them, she twirled a strand of her hair through her fingers. She was sweating, only slightly as the preparation glistened along her skin, and with a small grumble to her stomach, she decided to stay out until the song finished before heading inside for lunch. That was until noticing someone standing in front of her, blocking the sun from her figure as she opened her eyes and let out a terrified squeal.

Seamlessly her look of horror morphs into a playful scowl as she leans forward to push her away, and when Alice falls into the chair beside her, she tugs off her headphones and pauses the Walkman, only to set it on the nearby table. Alice kicks off her flip flops and rids her extra clothing, exposing the bright blue bikini tight around her body, and with Alice here, she decides to stay out in the sun a little bit longer, knowing she'll be just fine if she waits to eat lunch.

"Saw Harry when I got here." Is the first thing Alice tells her with a nudge to her arm, causing her eyes to roll as she shakes her head. "What? I thought you'd wanna hear about your boyfriend—"

"He's not my boyfriend." She quickly declines, shaking her head as her arms cross over her chest, though the thought of Harry being her boyfriend sends her cheeks heating up more than they did in the sun. Then she can't help the words from falling, which she knows will only amuse Alice, but again, she can't help it. "Did you talk to him?" Her question sends Alice laughing with her head thrown back, though she takes no shame to her question and awaits the answer.

"No, I just waved and walked into your house." Alice responds and lets a sigh drown out her words before she continues, "But he looked so good, Josie—dressed in nothing but a pair of workout shorts, pumping iron in his garage with some rock song playing—"

"Well, what are we doing out here then?!" She can't keep herself from exclaiming, sending Alice laughing once more and because of Alice's giggles she slumps back down from her excited posture with a frown, "You're messing with me, aren't you?"