Dad's Best Friend

Surprise

     I stood in front of the mirror in my bathroom, trying to decide if I should wear my hair up or down. "Suzie!" I could hear dad yelling at me from downstairs. We had all just finished putting away the groceries and were changing into our swimsuits to hang by the pool. "Coming!" I dropped my hair, letting it fall along my shoulders in messy curls. My suit was black with gold clasps on the top. I quickly put some waterproof mascara on and raced down the stairs. I could hear everyone laughing from the patio, a smile spreading across my face as I followed their laughter out to the pool.

     "I can't tell you enough how grateful I am that you're letting me stay with you." standing at the edge of the pool in jean shorts and a white crop top was Carly. "Oh my god!" I screamed and raced towards her. "Z!" she screamed back, wrapping me in a hug as I slammed into her. We squealed at each other, swaying back and forth as we hugged. "What are you doing here?" I finally pulled away from Carly, staring at her perfect blond hair. "Oh I was going to text you but I figured I would surprise you by showing up early!" she clapped her hands and pulled me back into a hug. I laughed, squeezing her back. "Okay but the catch is I can only stay till Tuesday." she let me go now, looking around at my parents in the pool, at Rena sitting on the side of the pool, then to Chris who was staring back at her. 

     "But it's Sunday, that's no time at all." I frowned at her. "I know, I was supposed to be able to stay the next to weeks of summer but someone quit at work and they need me back." she shrugged at me. "That sucks." "I know but that just means we have to go out tonight and have a bonfire tomorrow night!" she gave me a high five, turning to my parents again. "Yes, I wanted to go out tonight anyway!" Chris walked up to Carly and I now as I looked around for Owen. He was sitting up on one of the loungers, looking at me. "I'm Chris by the way." Chris held his hand out for Carly and she batted her eyes at him. "Excuse us." I wrapped my arm around Carly's shoulders, pulling her away from my brother who glared at me. 

     "He's too old for you." I said to her once we were out of ear shot. Carly rolled her eyes at me, taking off her crop top and shorts to reveal a white bikini. I could see Chris staring. "Calm down mom, he's not that much older than me. No older than your friend over there, who by the way cannot keep his eyes off you." she nodded to Owen. "Shut up, keep your voice down." I pulled her onto the lounger I was sitting on, the two of us giggling loudly. "He's not even looking at me anyway." I told her, "Really? So why is he coming over here then?" she looked straight ahead at Owen who was slowly making his way over to us. He stopped in front of Carly and I, Carly was practically drooling. I stared up at him, holding my breath and waiting for him to speak. "I'm Carly." Carly stood up suddenly, holding her hand out to him. He smiled, taking it in his. "I know, I'm Owen. I just wanted to say Chris invited me out with you guys tonight, I hope that's okay?" he turned to me now, Carly fading into the background. "Who invited Chris?" I laughed nervously, Owen smiling. "I guess he overheard you two talking." He shrugged at me. "Well either way you have to come tonight. It will be a blast." Carly stepped in now, putting herself between Owen and I. I could see him glaring at her over the top of her head. I had to look away from him, those eyes..."Good." He nodded and turned around, heading over to Chris who was not hiding the fact he was staring at Carly. She turned to me now, a huge grin on her face as she fell onto the lounger next to me. "This is going to be epic!" she shook my shoulders, pulling me into her ecstatic mood.