Fifteen

Chapter 36: Work It

Aria stood by the finish line waiting for her friends. She had passed Jaden up awhile back and watched as groups made their way down to the slip and slide. She didn't realize there would be pictures taken of the top three runners and was thankful for the magic the dance team's glam squad managed with her hair.

She could see Jaden running towards her and smiled as he caught up. "You're fast," he sighed winded from the sprint. "No," Aria blushed. "I just really enjoy running." They waited as everyone slowly made their way towards them. At the end of the slide was a giant foam party that seemed to make last night's dinner look like a toddler's play date.

"I swear nothing that I read about Texas U stated it was a party school," Elsa observed through scrunched eyebrows. "Relax, E." Stefan smiled placing an arm around her. "This is just for Fish Fest, I'm sure." He wasn't, but he was grateful for the festivities so far. "Looks like we're just missing Faye, JT, Caleb, Gracia and Preston," Sophia Kate observed as their mini mob moved out of the way.

"There they are," Olivia spotted pointing at a grinning Preston. "I won! I won!" He exclaimed holding up his phone! "Not yet, mister!" Gracia retorted. "The night isn't over yet!" Preston scowled. "We said whoever got the most numbers during the race! And you, sweet cheeks, are one number short!" He beamed at his newfound victory as Gracia rolled her eyes.

"Phones," Faye asked opening her camera bag for them all. "You're not coming into the foam?" Olivia asked a hint of anxiety in her voice. "Can't risk the camera getting wet." She winked at her sister. "You guys go have fun. I'll be around snapping photos."

She and JT made their way down to the nearby tables while the rest of them prepped for the slide. "Is it just me or did this hill get steeper?" Aria asked looking down. "Here," Stefan smiled. "Hold my hand. We'll go down together." It was a small gesture, but sweet all the same. Aria couldn't contain her smile or the butterflies fluttering.

"Let's do this!" Preston announced moving backward to get a running head start. "On your mark...get set...GO!" They all slid down as fits of laughter and screams followed them. The hill was steep and Aria clung onto Stefan for dear life. Caleb and Gracia slid laughing with each thud and bounce.

They each slid into clouds of foam that seemed to engulf them. "This is insane!" Gracia exclaimed helping Sophia Kate up. "Seriously!" Sophia Kate laughed. Gracia gently brushed the foam on Sophia Kate's cheek. It was the smallest of motions, but neither could deny the electricity that seemed to fire.

"I'm going to get us some drinks," Sophia Kate announced heading for the tables in need of a distraction. Daisy and Aria ran towards the dance floor as everyone followed suit. For the next thirty minutes the sounds of hip-hop filled the air, and the throngs of the crowd gyrated to the deep bass beats.

Aria heard the dance hall beat and grinned at Daisy. It might have been old school Sean Paul, but this was music she easily recognized. It was music that spoke to her soul. There were so many countless days where her mom and her would just dance to the music reveling in the beats and sounds.

As his voice blared from the speakers about giving him the light, Aria closed her eyes and rolled her hips. It took several minutes to realize no one bumped into her any longer. When she let her eyelids flutter open, she noticed everyone had given them a wide berth and looked on with interest.

Daisy laughed as she leaned in. "Congratulations, you've created your very own dance circle. Shake that ass, girl. Give these size-four bitches something to envy." Aria rolled her eyes. "Like you are one to talk!" Daisy chuckled. "Hey, I may be a size four, but I have the island trademark." She pointed to her ass and hips. "Please, please, please show these country boys what real twerking looks like." Daisy said in a Jamaican accent.

Her parents were both from the island and the combination was dynamite on her. Her café au lait skin, wide, almond-shaped eyes, full lips all on a tiny stature with curves was enough to drive any guy wild. Brooke clamped a hand on both of their shoulders. "Whoa now! I don't think they're ready for all that."

Elsa laughed, as she joined in. "Seriously, I don't think anyone is. I mean you're already blowing their minds with your dance moves as it is. You start twerking, next thing you know we'll be part of an urban legend. Two black girls brought the house down at the annual Undie Run. Texas white boys have never been the same."

Aria giggled even as she scanned the crowd for him. Daisy nodded at some guys by the nearby table. "I think we've got a few already mesmerized by Aria." Unable to help herself, Aria glanced over her shoulder. Sure enough, Caleb stood beside Jaden and Tyler.

He held her attention. Heat prickled on her skin that had nothing to do with the dancing she'd been doing. Twisting her hips and rotating, she danced her way into position to face him. The corner of his lips tipped up when her gaze locked with his.

Oh yeah, he's definitely watching me. It should have made her nervous. Instead, it made her skin flush. She wanted him to watch her. Wanted him to see how she moved. She might not have a lot of life experience, but one thing she knew she could do was move. A small part of her liked showing that off.

Jaden eventually turned his attention to the parade of girls wearing barely-there outfits, but Caleb's gaze never wavered. She wished she were daring enough to keep her gaze locked on his. Or even better, to pull a Daisy or Sophia Kate and walk right up to him, but she wasn't that brave. Instead, she danced for him, and he watched her.