Secrets untold

Chapter one

A smile painted my lips as the warm, crisp sand sunk between my toes. The tranquil ocean waters lapped around my legs and hugged them in a welcoming embrace.

From beside me my best friend Lena whispered,"I love the beach."

"Yeah," I sighed contently."it's beautiful."

I rested my cheek against her shoulder as together we say down where the waters met the sand.

My eyes drifted up towards the deep azure of the sky. A few stars were sprinkled across the night sky.

"Hey Paige,"someone called to me. "What's wrong with you?"

My soft gaze slowly hardened as I swiveled my neck sharply to face Daniel. My brother, Seths, best friend.

"What now?"I angrily muttered.

"You didn't pack food?!"he shouted incrudelously. I inhaled loudly. "If u wanted food, you should have made yourself,"I snapped.

Seth came up behind him and clasped his shoulder. "Daniel stop," he stated. "I mean really?! Why can't we all just get along for once? It's ridiculous were all friends!"

Hope and Ethan, who are sister and brother, ambled up to us. Hopes eyes found mine and she mouthed 'fighting?'

'Yeah' I replied with a frown.

Lena took my hand and whispered,"don't be upset, all best friends fight."

That answer should have pleased me right? Wrong. We're all so close yet so far away. Everything we try to tell one another comes out in the form of a threat or just plain defensive.

"Ok whatever,"I appeased. "Let's just relax."

Ethan smiled at me and I swear my heart skipped a beat.

He slithered up next to me and whispered softly,"thanks." His breath hit the sensitive spot below my ears and I shivered. I but the inside of my cheek, trying desperately to ward of all evil spells Ethan cast on me.

"Come on,"Lena giggled pulling my hand towards the ocean. "Let's swim."

................

Two hours later we all lay sprawled across the sand tangled into each other. My head on Hope's lap, Seth's legs across my stomach, and Lena's hair mopping my forehead.

My wet raven black waves clung to my shoulders as I looked up into the darkness blanketing the night. Shady, yet beautiful.

The crescent moon took its post as the leader of night, and I reveled in its mystical beauty.

Someone's stomach buzzed and I think it was Hope's but I wasn't sure. "Hungry?"My brother, Seth, questioned eyebrows raised. "Yeah but your sister forgot to pack food,"Hope mumbled angrily.

An irascible feeling rose in my chest and I retorted," I'm not your mother make your own food. Show some appreciation!"

That sickening feeling sunk to my stomach. I loved yet hated the presence of my best friends. Seth glared at Hope slightly and muttered,"guys, give the girl a break. And Paige is right. If your so worried about no food make your own."

With Lena's damp blonde curtain of hair in my eyes, the view of the sky was blurry. I began to play with it, stroking her hair with my pruned fingers. Silence pervaded throughout are small area giving it an eery quietness I was familiar with. A small breeze wrapped around me sending goosebumps rippling up my arms.

Lena,who was sitting beside me, noticed this and mumbled tiredly," I have a jacket, would you like to wear it?"I gave her hand a gentle squeeze and nodded. "Thank you," I whispered into the darkness.

Breaking away from our mangled bodies, Lena ran across the sand which was glinting in the moonlight, to collect her jacket.

But as she came back she flashed me an apologetic frown. "Sorry," she muttered,"I must have left it at home." I shrugged and nodded and tried desperately to cover up the violent shivers shooting up my arms. But Ethan, who was laying sprawled out on Daniels back looked into my eyes and said,"here I'm not cold wear this."

My eyes flitted nervously to lenas but she smiled at me, clearly elated. Then to my dismay, Ethan pulled off his hoodie and passed it to me. But not Before his shirt lifting upwards and exposing a sliver of his skin. A giggle erupted in my throat but I swallowed it hastily before it was exposed.

"Thank you,"I squeaked pulling the warm hoodie onto my shivering skin.

I wallowed at its prominent warmth enveloped my body. I knew we were just friends and everyone here does that, but then why does his sweatshirt have to smell so good?

No one is supposed to be born with perfectly disheveled brown hair, forest green eyes, and tanned skin. He's an exception to nature.

Everyone's close proximity drew in body warmth which protected us. Soon we are bejng lulled to sleep. My heavy eyelids began to flutter shut but before the darkness rimming at the side of my vision could lapse into sleep, Lena shook me.

"Do you see that?"she whispered into my ear. I narrowed my eyes, squinting into the darkness.

At the edge of the water, being pulled by the tide, sat a frail raft.

Fatigue danced in my eyes making my vision blurry.

"Let's go check it out!" She jumped up, grabbing my hand. I grunted before pushing myself up. On the way up my thigh brushed into Daniels knee.

"What is your problem. For god sake Paige," was his lovely response. I growled before announcing to everyone,"Cmon guys lets go."

Everyone grumbled under their breath and ambled over to the raft.

It was an ordinary abrased wooden raft with logs as the support and grass entwined with the logs. It lay perfectly brushed up against the sand, basking the moonlight. As I peered at it, I suddenly had a sudden urge to use it.

Strange.