Hybrid

FIFTEEN

⫷ ARIA ⫸

Gem drives the four of us in a small, red car. I snagged shotgun, despite James insisting for the two of us to sit in the backseat. Despite the tension from behind me, I lose my focus to Gem shout-singing to One Direction, pre-breakup.

On the opposite side of the city, nestled just beside Carleton's renowned downtown, is a strip of golden sand. Farther from where most people swim in rows of docks with boats roped to them.

The first thing I notice is Kasey's medium brown skin glowing against the sandy background. She has a natural tall and hourglass figure, so of course her body looks perfect in her bright pink bikini. I take off in a sprint, ignoring the questions shouted from behind me. My beach bag slams against my back and sand covers nearly all of my sandal clad feet, but I don't care.

Not yet noticing me, Kasey rambles on about something to Payton, all the while fixing her caramel blond hair in a high, messy bun. When I'm halfway there, she tilts her head up, then spins around to see me running. Kasey drops what she's doing and sprints toward me.

Our collision causes us to fall, but the sand cushions us. "Aria"! Kasey laughs. "Ah! I missed you! I could kiss you right now."

A growl comes from behind, causing me to roll my eyes. "Ignore him," I say to her. "God, I missed you, too! I mean, it's been two months, but it felt like years."

Kasey's cat-like, marble grey eyes blink dramatically. "Two very excruciating months without my two leading ladies. I'm only one third of a soul without you, my love." Springing up to stand, she offers me her hand to pull me up, too. "It doesn't matter, anyway. In six days, we'll be roomies!"

Payton joins us, though her icy blue eyes examine the people behind me.

"Oh." I gain my other friend's attention. "This is James, Gem, and Finn. Guys, this is Payton and Kasey. I'm living with them just outside of the city until our lease starts."

I feel James loom beside me. "Wait, you're moving out?"

I shift from foot to foot. "Yep. In a week." Before he can reply, I turn to Kasey. "Let's swim!"

"It's like you read my mind, Ar." Kasey flicks her hair back. She grabs my hand and we both run toward the water. "That is one hot tamale, Ar. And you're living with him? Scandalous."

"It's not like that... I don't think... I don't really know." We're knee-deep in the water by then. Looking back, I see James trying to make conversation with a difficult Payton. Gem and Finn look like they're bickering again.

"I expect all of the deats. All the dirty deats."

My cheeks redden. "There's nothing to say."

"I'm sure there will be. How much self-constraint do you have? Just look at him. Meow." In order to shut her up, I splash her with water. She shrieks and jumps about three feet in the air. "Aria!" She splashes me back, twice as hard.

Surprisingly, nobody else joins us. Payton makes sense; she's more of an observer than anything, but I figured the others would join. James is too busy talking up a storm with Payton. Maybe he thinks she's cute. Maybe that idea annoys me. Gem and Finn spend their time bickering back and forth.

"Come on," Kasey blurts. She takes my hand in hers and leads us back to the others. "You smell like jealousy. Just so you know, I'm, like, ninety-eight percent sure that Payton is a lesbian. Besides, he's not giving her the flirty eyes. You'r safe."

I shoot her a glare. "Stop reading my mind."

She grins. "It's what I do, Ar." Kasey's hearing is spectacular, which is why I assume she must have heard something Finn said upon our arrival. "Ou, someone is a grumpy gills," Kasey teases him. "Do you need a hug?"