First Choice (Sam Wilkinson/Nash Grier)

Chapter 5

I learned that I had Nash in my 4th period class, Algebra 2 with Sam and I, but I sat by neither of them. The last three periods of the day passed in a blur of anxiety, nail picking, random doodling, and dreading hanging out at Jack's pool. When the last bell finally rang, it became even worse. I couldn't even bring myself to pick up my bag from the floor.

The classroom cleared and I finally grabbed it off the floor and trudged out into the hallway. I kept my eyes low as I made my way through the crowd of exiting teens, to my locker. Sam was leaning against it when I walked up, Nash stood beside him and they were... talking? I thought Sammy didn't like Nash.

I kept my face down when I walked up to them, cutting between them to open my locker. Nash was the first to speak up, "are you ok? You look a little sick." Maybe that's because I feel nauseous just being around you right now.

It wasn't that I didn't like Nash, He was a great guy from what I could tell. Him being here just reminded me that he'd be seeing me half naked in about an hour. It wasn't as if I could just not go in a bathing suit, because everyone else would be in one and I'd be alone and they would judge me.

"Yeah I'm fine. Just looking forward to Jack's." I smiled and he shut his locker, "well, I'll see y'all later then." He smiled before shrugging his bag onto his shoulder, fixing his backwards facing snapback, and heading down the hall.

"Jasmine, what's wrong?" Sam asked. I looked down, the hallway tile was so interesting. "Jasmine," he stepped closer to me, cupping my chin and pulling my face up so I was forced to look at him. "I'm just nervous, Nash is going to see me in my bathing suit and you know how self-conscious I am." I admitted.

A hint of jealousy flashed on his face, but it disappeared as quickly as it had come, "why are you self-conscious about him seeing you in your bathing suit and no one else?" I bit my lip at his question.

"Like, is it an anxiety thing or a 'I have a crush on him and he's gonna see me naked' type thing." He clarified. I knew he'd be upset when I replied, "A little of both, I think." His eyes widened but he seemed to be controlling his jealousy, "you'll be fine, just wear the teal one that you wore last time. You always look amazing in that one." My jaw hit the floor. Oh My God! He'd been checking me out in my bathing suit.

I felt a blush creep up my cheeks, "Ok." I squeaked, earning a chuckle from him. "Now come on, let's get going." Sam grabbed my bag out of my hands and shut both our lockers. When we got out to his car, he opened my door for me and we both got in.

Sam had his swimming trunks and change of clothes in his car so we decided that we'd go to my house while I got ready and then head to Gilinsky's. We walked into the house and I found a note on the counter saying that my mom had taken a late shift and wouldn't be back until 3:00 am.

Sam sat on the couch and began watching some random show and I ran up to my room. I immediately headed to my dresser and ripped it open, desperately searching for the teal bikini Sam told me to wear. When I finally found it, I decided on wearing a pair of jean short and a white crop top over it.

I grabbed a few hair ties and bobby pins, knowing that the second my hair hit the water it would curl up, which was fine. But as soon as my hair would start to dry it would become frizzy and puffy, a terrible look for me.

I quickly changed out of my clothes and into my suit, putting the shorts and crop top over that. I grabbed a pair of flip flops with a white band that Sam bought me, and put them on. I threw a bottle of spray sunscreen, my hoodie, pajama shorts, my phone charger, and a brush into my Aeropostale beach bag. Come to think of it, the bag was another thing that Sammy had bought me.

I removed my makeup because I didn't see the point in wearing it in the pool, besides I didn't really need makeup. I looked fine without it. I checked how I looked one last time in the bathroom mirror and decided that was as good as it would get.

I jogged down the stairs and Sam turned his head, "You ready?" he asked. "Yeah, let's go." I walked through downstairs and turned off all the lights and locked the back door. I walked back into living room as Sam stood up and turned off the TV.

We walked out to Sam's car and headed to Jack's house.

When we got there, I could hear noise coming from inside. I rang the doorbell and hoped that we'd got here before Nash did. Aaliyah answered the door and hugged us both, before we walked in to see that my prayers had been answered. Matt told us that Tasha, Aaron, and Nash were running late. Johnson, and Gilinsky were outside cleaning the grill.

Matt and Aaliyah had been inside watching a movie and waiting for everyone before we arrived. Sam and Matt agreed to change into their swimming trunks and tan outside. Aaliyah and I laughed and refrained from joining them, due to the fact that we weren't in need of a tan with my skin colored caramel, and hers mocha.

We did agree to sit on the patio, though they didn't know we just wanted to check them out. We took a seat on the shaded patio while Sam and Matt laid on the pool chairs, the Jacks behind us arguing about the grill.

After a few minutes, Aaliyah and I decided to get wetting our hair over with. She was the only other friend I had that understood the struggle. Aaliyah shrugged off her beach cardigan which was the only thing she had over her green, yellow, and pink tribal print bikini.

I kicked off my flip flop and unbuttoned my shorts. They fell to my ankles and I kicked them off as well, grabbing them and putting them into my bag. I crossed my arms in front of my chest and pulled my shirt over my head.

We held hands as we jumped into the pool near Sam and Matt. I let go of Aaliyah's hand midair and pulled my legs to my chest just before I hit the waters' surface. I felt Aaliyah's body crash into the water a couple feet away from me.

I swam up to the surface, wiping the water from my face and shaking my head. I ran my fingers through my hair a few times so the curls wouldn't be bunched up. The long ringlets reached just below my breasts rather than when my hair was straight and it reached to my waist.

I turned and looked at Sam and Matt, they were glaring at Aaliyah and I. Apparently, we had splashed them. I laughed and whipped my hand down, cupping water and throwing it towards them. Aaliyah copied my motions. "Alright, that's it!" Matt screamed, getting up and jumping into the water.

I looked at Sam, he was typing away on his phone and I had a feeling I knew who he was texting. My suspicions were confirmed when he yelled, "Sarah's coming." To everyone. "Woohoo!" Matt sighed sarcastically, and Aaliyah smacked his arm. 'Oops' he mouthed before pecking her lips. I blushed away from their intimacy and swam to the far corner of the pool.

To say I was upset was an understatement. I could never get one day where she wasn't butting in. I was too busy sulking to notice Sam jump into the water right beside me. He ran his fingers through his hair giggling, and splashed me.

"Leave me alone, Sam." I rolled my eyes and swam towards the stairs to get out. "Don't be like that." He grabbed my wrist, pulling me back towards him. "I said leave me alone!" I yelled, ripping my arm away and swimming to the stairs. Everyone's eyes were on me, faces in awkward stares, they had all obviously just witnessed that.

"Can you pass me a towel, Jack." I muttered to Gilinsky. He nodded his head and grabbed one off the stack he had sitting on his patio table, there was one for each of us. He unfolded the towel and wrapped it over my shoulder. "Thanks." I looked at the floor as ran the towel over my body and went into the house.