HIDDEN in PARADISE

2 • Through The Looking Glass

In the large backyard, water continued to flow through the decorative pool, trees leaning from wind pushing its delicate breaths. Steamy weather at a diluted feel in the current; comfortable.

The party dedicated to this day. Food, simplistic decorations and tables with chair bought or rented last minute. Nobody arriving until hours later into the day.

Reclining in the back yard, Dustin's body basked in the sun, the shirt she wore tied up with an elastic band to leave more area for vitamins to be taken it. A relative amounts of skin showing in her opinion. The outfit for the casual party not needing to be used yet. The large star trying to bleach out fabric colors when they interact. Dustin could feel its heat, like a radiator above her body.

She didn't have bulky headphones on, nor music playing around her, so when she heard a car door close, it caught her attention. A heavy thump. There wasn't much to do, and a waiting game was what Dustin played. Deciding to walk from the backyard to the driveway, or where she believed the sound came from.

An escalade had pulled up in their driveway, meeting the end of it. Silver in color with less than a handful of people grouped around it.

Walking closer, Dustin stepping into the front yard instead of the hot concrete starting to scorch her bare feet. The cool grass supplying instant relief as she continued to walk closer to her known grandparents who arrived early. Having to talk about some extra pressing matters with the house and what not.

Dustin stood there, loosening the fabric of the shirt she had on so it covered more, knowing her grandmother would complain about it.

The back seat door glistening as it opened, someone else dropping down out of the car. Someone she didn't recognize at first because she hadn't been expecting to see them.

Dustin left light imprints in the lawn as she bolted towards the suv, practically leaping into her cousin's arms, his body prepared to take the impact. He twirled around in a few steps soon as they hugged. The embrace rocked back and forth.

Once she stepped away, she looked at him, his hair light in color and drooping to the sides as it was part in a middle. The popular style that flattered him.

Their ages very close, but their feeling on a different spectrum, feeling the warm welcome like something that hit him. Happy and laughing at her reaction. They lead themselves inside of Dustin's home. Everyone else departing from Dustin and her cousin as they decided to go to her room.

Walking right in, he seemed to like the feel of her room, venturing around it, opening a few drawers that had nothing important in then, if anything like it was his own, and rummaging around. Jumping on her made bed a couple times, pulling her arms with his movements, to force her to join, his goofy side showing. Acting like himself, exactly how Dustin remembered.

Stumbling back, he started to fall backwards, close to a wrong move, but he caught himself. Stepping off the bed before a near death experience happened. Him still giggling from his activities. Dustin dropped her body on the bed, soon sitting up and crossing her legs together.

The long mirror in a corner of her room with peace, hung from the hook in her wall. Its adorning boarder tied together with the color theme disbursed in the rest of the items around.

Dustin turned her head, peering over to Forest, her cousin. He stood in front of the mirror looking at himself, as still as she had ever seen him. The aspects of his mood in a completely different spectrum. Not doing anything besides staring at himself, his hand not ruffling his hair, not fixing the slightly nudged forward fabric of his shirt collar, nothing.

His eyes slow as they moved towards her direction, the gesture saddening to Dustin, almost as if she could feel the burning heartache showing from just his facial features.