Beneath His Mask

Chapter 7- Blemishes

CHAPTER 7. ENJOY!!!

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My head bobs as I break to the surface, spitting out the salty water as I do so. I guess I deserved to be thrown in here.

I turn my head and notice that Zach has just come up from the water as well, of course, looking his perfect self. Nothing phases him, I notice.

"Why did you throw yourself in with me?" I question him, flashing a smile.

"What fun would it be if I just watched you suffer from the sidelines?" Zach replies, a smug look on his face. I notice his dimples on his cheeks growing bigger. 

My eyes trail up to his, which are occupied on the water. They glimmer brightly, almost the color of the sky. His eyelashes are semi-long, longer than mine at least, and they hold beads of water on them. 

His eyes look up and meet mine, and I look down to avoid awkwardness. 

It's incredibly hot out today, and the sun blazes down on my skin. My black halter top bikini has ruffles on the side that will surely give me a tan line. 

I flip over on my back lazily, letting the bay take me where it wishes, forgetting about payback on Zach and Sadie and John for just a moment.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Zach do the same. He floats on his back, hands beside his head, eyes closed.

"So what's your story," I say through the comfortable silence. "I can't plot revenge against someone unless I know a good amount of information about them first."

"I grew up here. I live in this house with Luke, who you met, and a few other friends."

I look over at him to see that his head is already tilted towards me. I feel a blush creeping over my cheeks...

"You live there without any parents?" I manage to squeak.

"Yea, my parents arranged something with the landlord since we're underage. I mean, juniors in high school aren't allowed to roam that freely."

"So you're 17," I ask, making ripples in the water with my finger.

"Yep. I assume you are, too?" Zach asks, and I can tell he rigged his last sentence to reveal his age to me.

"Yes, I am. I go to Virginia High School. I'm just here visiting for the summer," I answer Zach, noticing a change in his expression. "What?"

"Nothing," is his reply. I mentally score a touch down as I finally find one thing Cali-boy can't do- lie.

I turn back to the sky, once again closing my eyes. I hear the birds chirping and water moving beneath me. It's funny how ironic this scene is right now. I'm swimming over a bunch of unknown, which is sort of like the status of my summer here. Who knows what will happen. I'm doing something I normally would never back home- swimming with a hot shirtless guy in the bay. To boot, I barely even know him. It's weird, though, because there is no awkwardness or unsureness between us. It's like we already know each other. 

"What's your full name?" Zach asks abruptly, interrupting my train of thought. That's an odd question to ask.

"Reagan Taylor Wells," I answer, a hint of skepticism apparent in my voice.

"Zachary Wilson," he says next. I hear a hint of sadness in his voice. "After my grandfather."

"That's nice," I reply, not sure what he is implying. How does such a pretty boy like this hide his troubles so well? I looked in him for a moment and noticed a blemish. His grandfather is dead.

I don't press on the subject.

It feels like hours the two of us lay there for. Our bodies soaking up the sun, the ripples drifting away from our bodies. A comfortable silence lingers above us, a secret understanding of each other already formed. I listen to the birds chirp in the trees and the distant screams of kids jumping in the bay before I decide that it's time to go.

We get out, dry off, and get ready to part.

Wringing my hair out, I take a towel from Zach and promise to return it. He says, "take your time."

I start towards my house, a new feeling drifting over me... it is peace.

I look back one more time, viewing the sky and the beautiful water.

"See you, Zach." I beckon, a hint of humor in my voice... I wonder if he notices it.

His expression matches mine as he says, "see you around."

"I'm still plotting revenge!" I scream over my shoulder as I walk back to my house.

"Have fun with that!" Is his very predictable and snarky response. I smile at the thought.