Winding Roads {A Creative Writing Journal}

Adrian (Part 3)

MARIA

"Veronica!" Emmy squealed and leaped to wrap her arms around the stranger's neck in an affectionate hug. "Oh, Vivi, you have to meet my new neighbor Maria!"

Veronica looked her up and down, and Maria felt herself doing the same. The new arrival possessed an exotic beauty with thick black hair pulled away from her face and into an intricate series of braids. Piercing green eyes and a toned, slender frame with deeply tanned skin-she commanded attention in a way Emmy didn't.

While Emmy beamed with sunshine bright smiles and open friendliness, Veronica held her gaze like an incoming storm. Her smile remained friendly but closed off, the introvert to counteract the extrovert. With the way she didn't immediately shove Emmy off her, Maria suspected that they had been friends long enough to break down any social boundaries.

"Nice to meet you," Veronica replied, her voice slightly lower than Emmy's, "I'm guessing she's showing you around."

"Yep!" Emmy answered before Maria could open her mouth, popping the p for emphasis. "I'm taking her on a full tour of the boardwalk. Is the rest of the gang here yet?"

"Almost. Everybody's hanging at Big Mouth's."

"Great!" Emmy clapped and immediately latched onto both girls. "Come on! We can grab some lunch and then full shopping tour! We've got to get you some proper island wear, Maria."

Maria grimaced at Emmy's observation. While both local girls wore ripped jean shorts, sandals, and tank tops, she was still in the camo jacket, black graphic tee, jeans, and checkered Vans she wore on the ride down, which wasn't the most adept outfit to battle the Florida heat.

Still, she frowned and unlatched herself from the hyperactive brunette. She liked her NC outfit just fine, and unless Emmy agreed to pay for a wardrobe change today, she'd update her closet in her own time.

Big Mouth was the perfect name for the beachside cafe because a giant red-orange fish head framed the double glass entry doors like it had been caught mid-swallow. A kaleidoscope of vibrant colors assaulted Maria's eyes as soon as they stepped inside; each wall dedicated to at least three vertical stripes of various colors intercepted by large windows. The only reprieve came from the wicker and marble counters and the hanging black lamps with matching metal seating.

The reasonably crowded diner made Maria hesitate, but Emmy and Veronica plowed forward until the threesome reached a loud corner table filled with three boys. One of them, a blond with a perm mostly hidden under a while Ron Jon cap looked up and grinned.

"Hey! Here's the girls! And I see you brought a plus one," he winked.

Emmy rolled her eyes and pulled out a chair, prompting the girls to do the same.

"Don't mind PC. He's a horrible flirt and a total Kook. Dylan is Gym Rat #1 in the red T-shirt, and Tyler's Gym Rat #2 in the Hawaiian shirt and navy tank."

The two boys on either side of the comparatively scrawnier PC waved and nodded accordingly. Dylan had blond hair a shade darker than PC's cropped short. His muscles bulged underneath his shirt, but his imposing build was undermined by his warm, puppy-like face.

Tyler shared Dylan's bulkiness, but the similarities ended there. Shaggy dark hair hung over pale blue, keen eyes, and the open Hawaiian shirt did little to hide the definition of his biceps. While still open and friendly, he didn't share Dylan's obvious, trusting nature.

All three boys wore white puka shell necklaces with shark teeth of varying sizes as the center ornament. Now that Maria thought about it, Emmy and Veronica had matching necklaces too. Maybe the gang reference wasn't so far from the real thing? Oh, what had she gotten herself into?