Summer Lovin'

22-Pool Party

Shayla was having a pool party. I was throwing bikini's all over the place. It was hard to decide what to wear when I didn't want to even wear a bikini. It was foolish of me only to pack bikinis for the whole summer. 

I gave up and sat on my floor feeling defeated. There was no way I was wearing a bikini. I am not the most body confident at the moment and the thought of wearing one was making me spiral.

I heard footsteps coming up the stairs and Jere appeared in my doorway. "Hey Kirst." He said seeing me sitting on the floor. "You're early." "And you're on the floor." He said holding out his hand to help me up. He greeted me with a kissed me when I stood up. 

"I'm trying to decide what to wear." "Oh! I like your hot pink bikini!" He said jumping onto my bed. Yeah, no. "Maybe." I said sorting through my swim suits again. 

A couple minutes later he said, "Hey let's go to that one Mexican restaurant before we go, I haven't had dinner yet and that sounds so good." Eating? Before a pool party? Hell no. "I'm not really hungry." I say. "Okay?" He said in a questioning tone, but I chose to ignore it. 

"Okay let's go!" I said walking out in a tee shirt and shorts. He got off my bed and looked at me. "You look great...you know it's a pool party right? Like you're gonna get in water." "Yeah." He furrowed his eyebrows, "Wait, you're actually wearing that?"  "Yeah? What's wrong with it?" I said grabbing my bag and sandals. 

He stayed silent for a moment, "Okay, what's wrong?" "Nothing's wrong." I said avoiding eye contact with him, he could read me like a book. I started walking towards the door, "Kirsten Stark, I know you're lying to me." I stopped but didn't turn around. He's too good. 

"What's going on?" Tears started to well up in my eyes, this seems to happen when I share how I'm feeling. I felt his hand on my shoulder and he turned me around. Concern flooded his face. "Kirst talk to me." I shook my head and looked down at my feet. 

"My mom mentioned my weight a couple weeks ago-" Shock overtook his face, "And I don't want to wear a swim suit because I don't look good in any of them and I definitely don't look like the girls who are going to be at this party." Tears were streaming down my face now. 

"Kirsten, you don't believe that do you?" I nodded and he embraced me in a hug. Then he forcefully pushed me back still having ahold on my shoulders. "Is this why you haven't been eating?" I stared up at him not knowing how he knew that. "Jere-" "I know you've been skipping meals." 

I didn't know what to say to him. "You have to eat food." He said cupping my cheeks in his hands. "I know." I whispered and started to cry more. He hugged me and held the back of my head while rubbing my back. 

Then he picked me up and set me down on my bed. He crawled on top of me.

 "Kirsten you have to realize you are so beautiful. And you are not fat at all. I wish you could see yourself how I see you because you are so perfect." He paused, "And not to mention incredibly sexy." He kissed my cheek. Then he started kissing all over my face. 

A small smile grew on my face, "There we go! There's a smile." He said smiling in return. "Okay...I feel a little bit better." 

After a little more talking with Jere I did feel a lot better. "Okay here's the plan." He said standing up and leaving me sitting on my bed. He came out with my hot pink bikini. "You are going to put this on, we are going to get your favorite food and then we are going to have such a great time at the party...and an even better time after."  ;)

*****

Me and Jere arrived at the party and I had on one of my coverups. I grabbed Jeremiah's hand as we walked up to the door. He turned and said, "I'll be with you the whole night." I flashed him a smile as we walked inside. There were people scattered in Shayla's living room and kitchen but mostly everyone was outside.

Belly immediately greeted us. "Where have you guys been!" She was drunk. Before me or Jere could answer she said, "Oh! I get it!" She smirked at us and then pulled a girl towards her. "This is Taylor! My friend from home!" "Hey Taylor." Jeremiah said, "Hey Jeremy." 

Huh. 

"I'm Kirsten" I greeted, "It's so nice to meet you!" She said. "Well we will see you guys later!" Belly yelled and they ran off. "Does she know your name is Jeremiah?" "Yeah she does, she has always called me Jeremy."  "I like Jeremiah better." He smiled, "Don't be jealous, Taylor is crazy." 

I smiled, he really knows me too well. We walked outside and met Steven and Shayla in the hot tub. 

We stayed there most of the night. It was nice to relax, drink and talk with friends. I did notice a weird tension between Shayla and Steven though. I brushed it off. 

I also forgot about my problem from earlier so the night got a whole lot better. 

Conrad ended up joining us, he seemed to be bummed out for some reason. Must be in the air tonight. "I'm going to go grab more drinks I'll be right back." Steven said and got out of the hot tub. "You good Con?" I asked. "Yeah, I'm good." 

"So, Conrad" Shayla started and I already knew where this was going and I knew it was going to be bad. "Belly told us about your little hookup...?" "Woah woah woah, you kissed Belly?" Jeremiah said. Looks like I forgot to tell him. Oops. 

"It was nothing, we were drunk." "What happened to Nicole?" Jeremiah asked. "Didn't work out." "So, how do you feel about it?" Shayla pried. Conrad looked between all of us, "It was fine, I don't know why it's such a big deal, it's just Belly." "Don't be a dick." Jeremiah said. 

"I wasn't!" Then Conrad and Jeremiah started bickering back and fourth. Me and Shayla glanced at each other, "Should we go help Steven with those drinks?" "Yes!" We got out of the hot tub and walked inside towards the kitchen. 

Steven was no where to be found. "Where is he?" Shayla asked no one in particular. "Maybe he went to the bathroom?" 

Me and Shayla were pouring drinks for all of us when we saw Steven run past us. "Found him," I said. "What is he doing?" Then Tyler...no, Taylor ran after him. I got a sinking feeling in my stomach, something is up. 

The Belly appeared. I grabbed her arm, "What is going on?" "I just walked in on Taylor and Steven making out!" I dropped her arm and she ran after them. I turned to look at Shayla who was looking down at the drinks. 

"Is there any way you didn't just hear that?" I said hopeful. "Nope, I heard it loud and clear." "I mean Belly's drunk maybe she didn't see it right." I said trying to think of anything to make this situation better. 

Shayla stayed silent, "What are you thinking?" "I'm going to kill him." I stared at her and watched her walk after them. The way she was walking and not running made me feel incredibly nervous for Steven. 

I was going to walk back to the hot tub and thought, well, why not see what happens? I took a drink and followed her.