The Cartel

Chapter X

That night, when Carly's nerves were soothed and calm, she called Andrew to find out what time would be good to go snorkeling. He'd decided on nine because there was something he wanted to show her, but could only be seen in the dark. The conversation had excited Carly, but also made her anxious. 

Keep him friend-zoned. 

Twenty minutes before nine, Carly pulled her hair into a high pony-tail before changing into mint green bathing suit. She was skinny, but didn't have as much time to exercise as some people did. She'd heard the term "skinny fat" once before, and it seemed that's what her body was now. Not overweight, but no muscles.

I'm thirty-three, yet still as self-conscious as a sixteen year old! she chided mentally, turning away from the mirror to grab an over-sized, white knit cardigan for a cover-up that lay on the edge of her bed. Then she slipped on some jean shorts and a pair of flip-flops. 

Andrew waited patiently just outside the apartments. He was staring at the ground, running his black flip-flops over the floor as he pondered. He wore black swim trunks, and a towel hung around his neck. Confident and rather cocky, he wore no shirt. 

Carly walked out, clutching her towel, and locked her apartment. She saw Andrew and refused to let her eyes wander down, keeping them locked on his face. Andrew glanced up a her. 

"Nice," he remarked. 

"Not so bad yourself," she murmured, walking straight past Yampa. 

* * *

"Here." Andrew handed Carly snorkeling gear after she'd taken off her cardigan, jeans, and flip-flops.

She put the flippers, snorkel, and mask on before wading into the cool water. Andrew chuckled at her funny walk caused by the flippers, but found him repeating the same ridiculous walk. Then he frowned, and hurried into the deeper water to swim. Seeing him getting further ahead, Carly swam quickly after Andrew. 

"What are you showing me?" Carly called after him. She looked up. 

The stars trembled, even with their dark blue blanket around them. The wind was picking up. The waves remained calm around the island. When Carly looked out to the ocean, she watched the waves come rolling in. 

"Just follow me," Andrew replied. 

Groaning, Carly swam after him. She made sure to stay a few feet behind him. Why did it have to be a surprise? 

Andrew swam along the shore line, careful not to go too far. He was strong, and figured Carly was too, but he knew better than to go up against the ocean's tide. It almost never ended well for the human. 

"Here!" called Andrew after a few minutes of swimming. "Come here!" 

Carly swam up behind him and peered over to see what he was so happy about. Was it the surprise? Or just something cool? 

Andrew dipped his head under the surface, and Carly echoed his action. She went under and immediately saw what he was so buoyant about. Something far below glowed. She jerked back above the surface, spitting out the mouthpiece. 

"Was that a fish?" she asked when Andrew surfaced. 

"Yeah!" 

Carly was surprised more about Andrew's reaction than the fish for a second. He seemed so...mush like a little boy at a candy store! 

"Oh," she replied. 

"Wait here," Andrew ordered, then dipped under and swam down. 

Carly bit down on the mouthpiece, putting it back in place, and ducked under the surface. She squinted against the dark water. The glow-in-the-dark fish had disappeared, but Andrew was at the bottom. Seconds later, he resurfaced and held something in his hand.