Masked Risks

Chapter 4

I informed my circle of friends of the plans I made with Erik. We decided to just go to my house after school and get ready then walk over together to avoid even more awkwardness than the situation already called for.

Avery was standing in my walk-in my closet looking for something to wear over her hot pink bikini that showed off her tan. Pepper was doing a final check of her outfit and hair at the mirror hanging on my closet door that was never closed. Kevin was lounging across my four poster bed, lying on top of my zebra print comforter, which was still unmade from this morning. Chad was sitting in the black desk chair, which sat behind my white desk. Both of them had changed into swim trunks and t-shirts in a matter of minutes, while it took us three girls about 20 minutes to all get changed.

When I redecorated my room during my freshman year of high school, I decided to go with a black and white theme because I found a lot of black and white photography that I thought would look nice on my walls. I figured I could always change the colors of the walls when I felt like I needed something different, and it would always match the color scheme of my room. Right now, my walls were a bright Carolina blue color, which matched the pillows on top of my bed.  

I was in my bathroom brushing my hair, which matched the same black and white theme with blue walls. I had just pulled it into a ponytail when I walked back into my room.  “Are we all ready to go?”

Avery finally stumbled out of the closet wearing a white knit cover up that still allowed her to show off her long legs and slinky bikini, probably to show off for Chad, who was paying attention to his phone. “Yes! Finally!” she exclaimed.

I opted for a simple purple halter bikini, which was covered by a pair of jean shorts and tribal patterned tank top. Pepper was dressed similarly, with a peach polka dot bikini underneath denim shorts and a loose white tank top.

We started to exit my room. When we got downstairs, I found my mom in the kitchen. “We’re going to Erik’s.”

She looked at the crowd of teenagers carrying towels and wearing sunglasses that just appeared in her kitchen. “Oh, okay. Will you be home for dinner?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “I’ll text you later.” I kissed her quick on the cheek. “Bye, love you!”

We all left the air conditioned house into the hot California air, our flip-flops slapping against the pavement on our short walk across the street to Erik’s house.

“Why does he want to hang out with us?” Avery asked the question everyone seemed to be wondering.

“I don’t know… I guess he just really hates Lindsay and saw that we all hated her, too,” I guessed. It was weird that he wanted to hang out with us, not that there was something weird about us. Maybe he thought it was just safe because his parents were friends with my parents.

Everyone seemed to be okay with that answer, for now.

Pepper reached her out hand out to ring the doorbell as stood at the entry. After a few seconds, a familiar woman with short blonde hair, who I remembered as Erik’s mom, answered the door.

“Oh, hello. Are you Erik’s friends?” She shined the same friendly smile as the night we first met.

Before she could continue, Erik came up behind her. “I got it from here, Mom.”

“Oh, Olivia, I didn’t see you there! How are you?” She ignored her son.

“I’m fine, thank you,” I answered, feeling awkward. “These are my friends Pepper, Avery, Chad, and Kevin.”

“Nice to meet all of you.” She gave them a small wave and a warm smile.

Erik looked utterly embarrassed to have his mom there as if this was some play date in kindergarten. I thought I should try to save him. “My mom’s home, if you want to go over or give her a call. I’m sure she’d love to catch up.”