The Shy and the Popular

Chapter 4

-Lily's POV-

It's sort of hard not to faint when a super fit stranger is hovering over you, but I managed to compose myself as slowly brushed sand off me and began to sit up. His eyes lock with mine for one more second, before he gets up, breaking the magical moment and clearing his throat.

'She's fine now,' he says bluntly as Jesse nods.

'God, you got us so worried,'Vi sobs as she hugs me tightly. Penny is next in the queue and she too is silently crying.

'Now come back to the hotel and just relax, okay,'she whispers gently.

Jesse, Sasha and Alex wrap me in a group hug as they began cursing themselves and saying that the idea of water 'it' in the evening was a little stupid. I immediately shut them up and told them that it was my own stupid decision to go further into the water, so they are not to be blamed one single bit. Then I thank them for saving my life.

Jesse shakes his head.

'It wasn't us,' he says looking over at the guy who saved me. 'You're alive only because of Carter.'

'Thank you,' I whisper sincerely to him. To Carter. Carter.

He simply shrugs back nonchalantly but I could see a faint tinge of red pouring into his complexion. Was he blushing?!

'Don't worry about it, s'okay,' he mumbles back to me, which makes me smile.

'So errm... let's get you back to Mauna Lewa,' Jesse says awkwardly.

'Thanks...wait, you know where we're staying?!' I ckoke as I realise this. What? I have make sure to be stalker-free right?

This time a third person comes into the scene. ' Your super-hot BFFs just told us when Carter was too busy being lover-boy and saving his love's life. Oh and FYI, we're neighbours. I'm Luke by the way, the remaining friend of Jesse.'

I am speechless. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Carter scowling and blushing furiously, Vi and Penny are giggling and Jesse and Sasha smirking in approval. Alex is just shaking his head at Luke, in a teasing, yet disapproving manner.

***

Everyone waves a hearty godnight to everyone else as the retire for the night, off to their own cottages. By chance, Carter's cottage happens to be right next to mine, making me dance in joy, in my mind of course. However, that joy was short lived when I see Sasha and Carter waving goodbye, smiling and entering the same cottage for the night. My heart shattered.

It was true, I'd only met Carter for short while, but I cannot help but think that something happened. There was a spark between us. Now thinking about, I was merely a foolish person. Anyone could see from miles how perfect they look together- when they speak, smile, socialize. Sasha with her tan skin, brown hair and green eyes, looked like a perfect match for him. I was just a shy, little girl, who had hopes for something big. The pain felt...painful when she fell hard.

Maybe I am being too dramatic about the whole situation. I was only 17, I had a life to live, waiting ahead of me. I need to get over a small, unsuccessful crush.

Depressed, I cry myself to sleep.

***

'Lily!' someone whisper-shouts. 'Wake up!'

'What?' I mumble, half asleep.

Penny bursts into my room and shakes me awake. There is a glint of disappointment in her eyes as she stares at me.

'We must leave now Lily, pack your bags and we'll leave, Vi's just packing her's,' she says with a tone of urgency.

I stare back. We had just come on this holiday. It had seemed the perfect getaway from my stressful daily routine. I'll admit that maybe the drowning part was not the best idea and my heart did get broken by a guy met a few hours ago, but that does not mean I'll go back just yet. Indeed this break, I'd do anything for a little bit of fun.

'Why?' I ask simply.

'School actually starts tomorrow Lily! TOMORROW!' she yells as I stare back wide-eyed by now. The return date was of a week later! This is downright injustice.

'Turns out, we read it wrong,' she mumbles before resuming her frantic packing.

School. Senior year. The reality dawned upon and I was immediately nervous. Senior year would be my last year at Ashcombe High School, which meant that I had to start applying for all the colleges I want to go to. But I had my mind fixed completely on one goal. MIT.Massachusetts Institute of Technology. My dream since I was 10.

I know it is incredibly hard and competitive to actually get accepted but I have been trying, studying for 7 years. The day I held my dad's hand as we visited my cousin Rosa, who was studying there at the time, I had made up my mind to get there one day.

I shouldn't be worried really. I've been a straight A student all my life since elementary school, right up till now at high school. Teachers' pet. Never drinks. Never goes to parties. Doesn't date. Reads. I'd get accepted any day. But the fear never does go.

So to say I'm nervous about senior year, would be the understatement of the century. There's nothing I can do though, right? So I guess, 'School', here I come.