The Necklace

18: Pool Crime

Yet another morning waking up with regret about what I did with Calvin in my dreams last night. Sometimes I wonder if I'm crazy and my dreams are just dreams. But the chain around my neck is a constant reminder that they're not.

Despite the weight of everything on my mind, I've been looking forward to today for the past week. My friends are all meeting up at a swim club downtown. It's hot as hell outside so it's perfect for a pool day. I also think it'll serve as a good distraction from all the drama.

I have breakfast with Sienne and throw on my favorite bikini under shorts and a tee. I toss a towel into my tote bag and wait for Sienne to finish packing up.

"You're wearing it to the pool?" Sienne asks, gesturing to the necklace I'm still wearing.

"Well yeah, it's either that or feel like shit. I'll probably take it off when I get in the water, but it should be fine since I won't be in for too long" I reply.

We leave the house and drive to Jesse's place to pick him up on the way there.

We pull up in front of Jesse's new place and Sienne delicately honks. Jesse comes out and gets in the car.

"So who all is coming to today?" Sienne asks.

"Should be us, Kelly, Carter, Mario, Stefan, Gina and Carlie" Jesse replies.

"Carlie?!" Sienne and I say in tandem.

"Carlie Jeffers?" Sienne asks.

"Yeah she's friends with Gina" Jesse replies.

"She's a disrespectful weasel-faced bitch" Sienne says plainly.

"That's nice Sienne. That's how you make friends"

"I'm not trying to make friends. That crust used to bully our dear Elina"

"It's fine, I don't care if she comes" I chime in.

Despite what Sienne says, I really don't mind that Carlie Jeffers is coming. She did bully me slightly but not in a "give me your lunch money" way, more like a "Oh my god Elina your makeup looks so pretty. Ugh I could never wear that much it'd be way too heavy on my skin. And that shirt is so awesome I wish I could have the confidence to just not care how I look" way. She does also have sharp features that may or may not bear a weasel-like resemblance.

Regardless of all this, I don't mind her coming. Now that we're graduated, I think we can leave the freshman bullshit in the past. I haven't talked to her in years so I can't imagine her still being that way.

"If Ellie wants peace, I'll try to be peaceful" Sienne says.

"We'll see how long that lasts" Jesse scoffs.

We finally get to the pool and meet up with everybody else. I hug everybody hello until I get to Carlie. I start to go in for a hug but after eyeballing me down she pauses at the necklace and instantly makes a face.

"Wow Elina I haven't seen you in forever. How are you girlie?" Carlie asks.

"It has been a while! I've been good, how about you?" I reply.

"I've been so amazing. I interned at my uncle's office in spring and I've already transitioned to a communications specialist role. How about you? Find anything yet?"

"No still looking, if you know anyone who's hiring."

"Ugh I could not even imagine not having a job I would lose my mind. I just don't even know how to be lazy, like it's not in my DNA I think. But you'll find something."

This is the part where my eyes glaze over.

"Yeah" I reply dryly.

"I just love that necklace you're wearing. See I could never think outside the box like that. Wearing a formal necklace to the pool. You're so creative I'm like jealous."

"Yeah"

"Well it was nice catching up girl, we have to do drinks sometime. Jesse! Wow, I haven't seen you in forever" She leaves the conversation to saunter over to Jesse to "catch up" with him.

I know I said that I don't mind that she's here, but she's just as bad, if not worse than she was before.

"I told you" Sienne says under her breath while walking to our lounge chairs.

"You were 100% right"

We lay out our towels and bags on the chairs. Sienne decides to lay out for a bit and I decide to go swimming. I don't want to swim with the necklace on so I put it underneath my t-shirt in my tote bag before I get in. Once I'm done in the water I'll just put it back on so I won't be drained.

I jump in to the water and it's cold at first but it feels perfect with how hot it is. Being in the water feels slightly freeing. For a moment I get to forget about the necklace and Calvin and just be a normal person having a normal summer.

After a little while I get out of the pool to lounge for the rest of the time. I get back to my chair to put the necklace back on, but when I move the t-shirt, it's not there. Panicked, I empty my entire tote bag out on the chair. It's not there.

Sienne walks back over from talking to Kelly and Carter.

"What's wrong El?" She asks.

"It's gone." I say.

"What's gone? The necklace?!"

"Yeah. I put it in my bag underneath my t-shirt, went to swim and now it's gone. Did anyone come by while you were laying here?"

"A few people did, but weasel face came over while I was tanning my back so if she did it, I wouldn't have seen."

"I don't think she would do that, she made it a priority to make a dig at that necklace as soon as she saw it"

"Exactly, she's a jealous bitch. She probably made a dig at you because she wants it for herself"

I look over at Carlie and see her laying out with Gina. I don't see the necklace on her, but she probably would have hidden it if she did take it... I don't want to confront her if I don't have proof though.

"Guys! Has anyone seen Ellie's necklace?" Sienne asks everyone.

Everyone says no.

"You probably just lost it in the water" Carlie says.

"She didn't wear it in the water, it was removed from her bag" Sienne snaps.

"It'll probably turn up. I lose and find things all the time" Carlie says.

Kelly, Carter, Gina, Stefan and Carlie all head out to leave in their car and we say goodbye. Jesse, Sienne and I stay back for a little and check the entire pool for the necklace. We even sent a picture to the staff in case it shows up so they could call.

We get back to our car and I start to feel lightheaded and dizzy. I lean against Jesse for support for a moment and he asks if I'm okay.

"I need to get that necklace back"

"I know. We're going to find it" He says.

"Jesse, I'm not feeling good and I'm only going to get worse from here. I really need to you get it back for me. Please?"

"I don't know where it is El"

"We think that Carlie might have taken it"

"Why would Carl-"

"Because she's a thoughtless, sandpapery bitch" Sienne interjects.

"I don't know why she would, but I don't know why she is the way she is so it's possible. It's the only lead we have so can you please just help?" I beg.

"Fine. I'll look into it. We're gonna get it back Elina. Whatever it takes." Jesse says.