All Roses Have Thorns

Erin VIII

"Hey, Saf!" Erin smiled as she walked up to her friend. "I already asked Dee and Maggie, also the guys and Reese, so... would you be free after Christmas to go to the beach? It'd just be from the twenty-seventh to January first."

She paused, going through the details in her mind. "Since my mom's still not traveling, my dad is going to stay here with her, so Jake is going to drive. Y'know, since he's the responsible one... And the only one with a license."

Erin looked toward an approaching figure. Her eyes met Sierra's and she could see the light bags under her eyes. She knew they were her fault and she quickly looked away out of guilt. "So what do you think?" She asked Safiya.

"Yeah, I think that'd be okay," Safiya answered. She smiled at Sierra, who had finished walking to the table. "Erra!" She turned back to Erin. "Why don't you invite Sierra to join us?" She smiled sweetly.

Erin felt her eye twitch as Sierra asked, "Join you... where?"

"Why don't you tell her, Erin?"  Safiya smiled again.

Erin turned to face Sierra, plastering a smile on her face as she did so. "I am taking a group of friends to the beach from the twenty-seventh to the first of January. There would be no supervision on the road and for the majority of the time, because my parents are unavailable, but a few of my trusted family friends are going, if you're okay with that. Rooms would be provided by the friend we're visiting, and yes, the rooms will be separated by gender. Would you be interested?"

"Oh, I-I don't think you want me to come," Sierra stuttered.

Safiya smiled, "Nonsense! We definitely want you to come. Isn't that right, Erin?"

"Yes," Erin ground her teeth together, "We definitely want you to come."

Sierra gave a small, weak smile. "I-I guess I'll see if I'm free."

"Great," Erin gave a forced smile before swiftly turning and walking to her lunch table.