In the tent raising-that’s what we were calling this who-can make-the-tent-stand-up-in-a-seemingly-normal-way-competition-I finished first, but Xaeren’s tent looked a lot neater, all edges and angles. Whereas mine, well, mine definitely had a tent like structure, but it was sturdy. So while the judges-Morris, Elizabeth, Lili, Taylor, John, and Hunter-conferred, Xaeren and I gave each other death stares. The only reason his tent was so neat was because he was tall enough to fit the rain cover over the top of the tent, I reasoned. It’s not my fault he’s built like a freak whilst I’m…petite.
The score of the contest was presented with a drumroll. The final tally stood at:
Alex-10
Xaeren-10
A tie. I don’t like ties. They’re so indecisive. They’re like the “emo” version of score keeping. Do I want her to win, or do I want him to win? The tie breaker was a race of sorts taking place during flashlight tag. Whoever got caught the most lost. Mwahahahhah! I definitely have an advantage over him. My earliest memories were of hiding behind a shrub, with my butt hanging out of the branches, covering my mouth to try and keep from giggling and giving away my position.
In the meantime, we decided to go swimming. With all of the activities we did in the water, I should have looked like a prune by now, but my skin seems to be just getting smoother, as if the water is smoothing it out like a pearl that needs to be sanded so that it can come into its natural beauty.
Even though I’ve seen Xaeren in a swimming suit at least two times now, it just hit me how good he looks in it. No, not good. How bad he looks in it. He looked like a god, one with a flawless six pack. He caught me staring at him, so I ducked my head underwater and berated myself for thinking about him. He’s only here because my mom-ah, so naive when it comes to teenage social dynamics-forced him to come.
When my lungs started burning and my eyes were bulging, I came up for air. Everyone was looking at me as I emerged, gasping for air.
“What?” I demanded, covering myself consciously. Had my top come off in the water? I sunk down a little so they couldn’t see below my neck, and I checked the straps. Nope, the straps were as sturdy as when I first put it on.
“What?” I demanded a second time, rising out of the water to just above my belly button.
“You were under the water for over four and a half minutes.” Xaeren said dryly, looking at me with a flash of surprise and what looked like hurt.
“Oh, really? Darn. I could’ve sworn it was longer the last time I checked. Maybe it’s time I went to the doctor’s office again. They always said the reason why I can do that is because I have larger than normal lungs, and so I can hold more air than usual.” I said, kind of weirded out by the way Xaeren was staring at me. I sunk down into the water again, this time with only my head showing.
Xaeren tracked my looks like a predator stalking his prey. And I know it sounds sadistic, and again against every feminist thought I’ve ever had, but I wanted Xaeren to chase after me. Little snippets of that dream I had played through my mind. I wanted to dance through the woods with nothing but pure, primal, no savage sensation driving me.
Everyone dispersed, swimming around and having chicken fights. I had floated onto my back, staring up at the jewel bright sky, letting the scenes take me over. A hundred little scenarios played out through my mind. As I felt my limbs give up gravity and fully float, something grabbed my foot. Whatever it was dragged me through the water. Water surged up my nose and into my mouth as I tried to raise my head to see what was happening. Memories of days spent at the beach as a child came swimming back. Of throwing huge tantrums and making everyone leave because water had gotten into my nose.
It was Xaeren. I leaned back and covered my mouth and nose, submerging my head and watching as the sky above me broke into little pieces that were constantly shifting and reforming themselves as the waves surged. When we reached the shore, he slowed down. The joyride would have been fun had it not been for the fact that he caught me off guard and his hand was clamped too tight around my ankle.
“Why the sudden surprise attack?” I asked, trying to stand up and shift my suit back into place.
“Well, you wouldn’t respond when everyone was yelling your name, and they didn’t want to disturb you, so they left. I’m in charge of making sure you don’t drown, although I’m pretty sure that would be redundant.” He said, smirking at me.
“What do you mean ‘that would be redundant?’” I asked, staring at him confusedly. He just sat there smirking. It got really irritating quickly. Oh, I see. It was piss of Alex day, wasn’t it? And no one even bothered to tell me about my own holiday. For shame, world, for shame. First, Jacob had to scare with pretending that one of my books had gone up in flames, and now Xaeren sat there smugly staring at me.
Taylor darted through one of the trees, closely followed by Morris. They were laughing and giggling about something. A pair of bleached orange swimming trunks dangled from Taylor’s hand and a rather, um, indecent Hunter ran behind them, with only a really large leaf covering him. Taylor stopped abruptly, seeing me, and then she proceeded to back away slowly. Morris ran right past her, along with Hunter who quickly whipped around, trying to get back his shorts.
The disappeared back into the woods, with their laughter echoing like ghosts behind them. I stared at Xaeren. Sure, the offenses were small, but I take my books and relaxation time seriously. I smiled up at Xaeren coyly, looking at him through my eyelashes.
“You’ll get yours.” I said, grinning at him the whole time. I set that little comment off with an exaggerated wink.
He looked…scared. Good. He looked around to see if anyone else were around to hear my rather open comment. It left a lot to be imagined. And such a wicked comment had been followed up by a devilish grin, a taunting, manipulative smirk. I may be tiny, but I know how to frighten someone twice my size into thinking twice. I gave him another beatific grin, a nod, and then I walked out of the water.
Was that my version of flirting? Yes. Yes it is. I think, no wait, I know that Xaeren was thinking of something along the lines of “I’m scared.”
At first, my technique of “flirting was just meant to frighten him, but now, now I don’t think I was really faking it…The thought scared me. In all of the relationships I had ever been, I was the one with the commitment issues.
I began to fantasize about being in a relationship with him. He would hold my hand, and brush the hair away from my face. He would hug me, with my head tucked neatly underneath his chin, his long arms wrapping around me.
I didn’t like these feelings. It was okay to love family and friends-which were, for all intents and purposes the same. But anyone else, nope. Not okay. Shake my head and step back. Nuh-uh.
I hated being all lovey dovey with anyone who wasn’t really close to me. And sure, I had been imagining kissing him, but that was based purely on his looks. But his personality and attitude drew me in. I didn’t want to be a cliché. Falling for the new guy? I scoff at those people. I wasn’t a cliché. I was one of the few original people. Sigh.
