After Ever After

Chapter Two

Triton Beach

Friday Afternoon

The mid-afternoon summer air hung rigidly as it engulfed every person who was brave enough to step outside their air-conditioned houses. The unbearable heat left them gasping for breath and craving a tall glass of ice water. Even in the shade, the heat and humidity still managed to sneak in. No one was safe.

Unless, of course, they were at the beach.

People scattered amongst the grainy, beige colored sand were lying face down on their multicolored towels working on their tans, playing volleyball, or splashing around in the bright blue water without a care in the world. Triton Beach was remarkably lively for two in the afternoon and would remain that way until the heat finally died down after sunset.

Amongst the crowds of people were newlyweds Ariel and Eric, along with her six older sisters. They were currently trying to start a jet ski race.

Attina, the oldest who was still protective of her sisters even though they were all grown, was vehemently against it. "No, no, no, no, no. No! We are not racing on those things. They're unsafe! What if one of you gets hurt? What if one of you falls off and drowns? What if--"

"What if you just shut up and got on the damn boat?" Andrina replied dryly as she mounted a blue jet ski behind Alana.

Attina folded her arms across her chest, not amused in the slightest by Andrina's quick wit, though she was more than used to it by now. Eric laughed at her bland expression. " It'll be okay, Tina. As long as we have our life jackets on, we'll be fine."

"Yeah, Tina," Arista teased. "Let us have some fun."

Attina huffed out an aggravated breath, giving in to her sisters as usual. She knew they'd do it with or without her, and she'd be better able to deal with a disaster if she was with them than if she was stranded on the beach.

"Fine, fine," she said, climbing onto the jet ski occupied by Aquata. "If one of you does end up getting hurt, I don't want to hear about it later."

"Losers have to buy lunch!" Ariel exclaimed as she locked her arms around Eric's waist.

The four teams all lined up by the dock: Attina and Aquata, Andrina and Alana, Arista and Adella, Ariel and Eric.

Ariel counted them down. "On your mark! Get set!"

"No cheating!" warned Arista.

"Go!"

And they were off. Eric's nearly reckless driving put them in an early lead, but it left Ariel clinging tightly to him and burying her face in his muscular back. He turned his head slightly to peek at her, and she felt his body rumble with laughter. She turned her head around and saw her sisters' expressions ranging from determined to downright angry at their apparent loss. She threw her head back and laughed musically, which brought a grin to Eric's face.

"Oh my god, Alana, can't you drive any faster? It's a race, dammit, have you ever heard of them?" Andrina fussed as she tried to take control of the handlebars, causing the pair to swerve wildly.

Meanwhile, Attina was gripping onto Aquata for dear life. "Aquata, slow down! You're going too fast!" Aquata, being the least graceful of her sisters, accidentally hit the gas instead of the brakes, sending the both of them jutting out farther across the water, screaming their heads off.

Arista and Adella were the only ones successful at keeping up with Eric and Ariel, but Eric's dangerous maneuvering cut them off and put the couple as the winners. Arista and Adella were not far behind them, and Attina and Aquata had regained control of their jet ski to come in third. As Alana and Andrina came up to the shore, Andrina gave Alana a shove.