Summer Fling

Chapter 4:

Picture: Levi Lancaster

"I didn't see it coming." Alex states with a sigh, sitting in the toilet as I brush my teeth.
I knew exactly what she was talking about, it didn't take a genius to.
"I know right, who would've thought Ray Prescott, the town's philanderer would have a new girlfriend." I try and speak with sarcasm and toothpaste dripping through my mouth.
"I'm being serious." she says playfully rolling her eyes.
"Yeah so am I."  I say, spitting into the sink and rinsing my toothbrush.
"When I would talk to him he'd always ask about you." she states.
I rinse my mouth and dry myself on the small hand towel.
"Look we weren't even official, we didn't even know what we were." I say realistically.
"I don't believe that." she says.
Ray and I were never into commitment. Avoided it actually. So when he stopped all contact with me eight months ago, I had thought the only valid reason was because he didn't want a relationship. I guess the real reason was Claire.
"Okay well while you think about it, i'm gonna go eat breakfast." I say walking out of the bathroom.
"Wait! You said you'd wait for me!" she screams out to my retreating figure.
I walk back into the bathroom to Alex sitting on the toilet with a big frown and two pouted lips.
"Huh, funny, Ray also told me the same thing and look at him now."
"Ha! I knew it! You do care." she says proudly as if she just solved the worlds biggest mystery. My only mystery right now is when she's going to get up from that damn toilet.
"Of course I care Alex." I whisper.
"Rae... Let me wipe really fast so I can give you a hug. Don't go anywhere."
"Alright i'm out." Turning my back I walk away leaving Alex once again on a sitting toilet. This time for good.
"Raelynn get back here!"

I walk into the kitchen to aunt Cassie cooking eggs and the aroma of bacon.  Just like that I forget all my sorrows, cause if bacon can't get you to forget you'reproblems than you're in some serious deep flux. Straight facts.

"Aunt Cassie your daughter is trying to get me to watch her wipe." I complain to my aunt.
"Alexandra! How many times have I told you that people do not want to watch you wipe!" she yells, taking the bacon pan out of the oven.
"I have to be telling my 8 year old the same thing. I just don't understand it." Amber speaks up.
She's sitting at the table sipping coffee with Giselle looking at me amused.
"I didn't know you were both here." I say, surprised to see them both.
"Would've hated missing the wiping story." Giselle jokes.
Giselle Prescott has olive skin with chocolate brown hair and chocolate eyes. Slime nose and medium sized lips with perfect cheekbones. Sharp features that make her undoubtedly beautiful.
I go over to Giselle and give her a hug.
"Welcome back sweetie" she says returning my hug.
"Nice to see you Elle."
We release from the hug and I take a seat in the chair next to her on the table.
"How long are you going to be here for?"
"The summer, i'm hoping."

"Alright I got the text! I'm here for breakfast." Kate Prescott sibling number 3 rushes in through the front door and shuts the door behind her.
"Kate honey, that text was sent like three hours ago." Amber says turning towards her sister.
"Oh... Really?" she asks.
"Don't worry hun there's enough here for you to eat." Cassie speaks up.
"Well that's fine with me. I'm eating." Kate says plopping down on a chair at the table.
Kate was just as beautiful as her other sisters. No one has better genes than the Prescott family. They're the type of family that comes out siting on a couch for a furniture magazine or some dumb bullscat like that.
Kate has fair skin with dark shiny straight hair and almond eyes. Rosy lips and a button nose.
"Raelynn! Whats up?! When'd you get here?" Kate greets.
"Just yesterday."
"Nice. I had gone out of town for a few days and just got back and- "
"Let me guess your phone was uncharged, hence the late Kate." Giselle looks at her sister knowingly.
"Mhhh something like that." Kate responds.

"Okay i'm here." Alex enters the dining room, coming over to sit at the table.
"About damn time. I thought the toilet ate you." I mumble.
"I heard that." she says narrowing her eyes over at me and I give her a sheepish smile.
Aunt Cassie places bacon, egg, and waffles on the table. Placing plates in front of us along with silverware.
"So on to important things, has my brother seen you?" Kate questions excitedly, wiggling her brows over at me.
"Yes! Give us details." Giselle adds looking over at me.
I furrow my brows in confusion. I look up at Amber who was starring down at her plate and Alex who was staring back at me with the same puzzled look.
"Uh, yeah he has actually." I say. Not making eye contact but focusing on smearing butter on my waffles.
"So.. tell us!" Kate pushes.
After exactly 3 seconds of silence Amber clears her throat.
"Guys, Ray actually has a girlfriend now..." Amber explains slowly. Looking back and forth at both sisters.
"No way! You guys made it official?!" Kate squeals happily.
"I mean we knew this was going to happen but that's great!" Giselle continues.
"No, Ray has a new girlfriend, a girlfriend who's not Raelynn." Amber clarifies.
It went silent. Not a peep was made. I was silent, Alex was silent, aunt Cassie was silent, and the three Prescott sisters were silent. Everything was silent. It was so silent I could hear my own breathing. And I couldn't deal with it any longer.
"I actually met her yesterday. She seems nice." I say breaking the awkward silence.
I drown my waffles in syrup, while this conversation drowns me in awkward silence. Cause even after I said that, no one dared to talk.
Amber finally clears her throat for the second time. I was definitely counting.
"Her name is Claire and she actually comes from a nearby town." Amber speaks. Taking a long sip of her coffee right after.
She must be feeling the awkwardness on some level as well if she was willing to chug a hot liquid down her throat.
"Claire? What type of basic ass name is Claire? She's named after a damn tween store." Kate finally replies.
"Well I still buy earrings from Claire's." I reply lowly.
"Shut up Raelynn." Alex blurts rapidly.
"Thank you Alex." Kate says.
"Why are we just finding this out now?" Giselle questions.
"Well it happened a while ago and he didn't really mention it much. I actually just found out a week ago." Amber answers.
"Where is he right now?" Kate questions.
"He's at my house." Amber replies.
"I'll be back." Kate gets out of her chair and grabs her bag. She walks out the door, closing it behind her.
"Do you think I can go over to your house to watch?" Alex throws the question over to Amber.
"Alex no,  you're staying here." Aunt Cassie quickly decides before Amber even has a chance to answer.
With Ray being the youngest and the only boy, his sisters have always protected him. They've always taken care of him for everything. With their background they've always felt the need to.

Kate took about 25 minutes before making a reappearance. They began what seemed like a family meeting so I decided to step out while Alex's nosy ass stayed to listen.
I was sitting in the backyard on a bench when Giselle came out and sat next to me.
"How are you doin hun?" she asks with a miniature smile.
"I'm good." I say wrapping the blanket tighter around my body as the small breeze of Windsor summer seeped through my skin.
"How you holding up with the whole Claire and Ray thing?" she asks.
I hated the question. And I knew it wasn't going to be the only time it was going to be asked. That's the thing about small towns. Everyone knows everybody and everybody knows everything. And everyone knew about me and Ray.
"I know I don't want to be asked this question by the whole town, cause I know I will." I say.
"I'd by lying if I said you won't."
"I also know that as much as I want to say it doesn't bother me, it does. It really does." I confess. There was a certain confidence I held with Amber, Giselle, and Kate. And usually you wouldn't be confessing your feelings about a boy to his sisters, but I was. Cause no matter what happens between me and Ray I would never hold it against them.
Chicks before dicks right?
"I know hun. I know. I had no idea this would happen. But I do know it hurt him a lot when you left." She says.
"But don't worry that little douche is going to hear from me."
"No please don't mention this to him, or to anyone." I plead.
I didn't want Ray thinking I sent them, I wanted to avoid that humiliation and desperation. Grandma would say desperation is for sluts. And I quote, "No grandchild of mine will be raised a hoochie.". Or for them to make him feel guilty for something he doesn't think he should be guilty for. Cause the truth is I didn't own him before and I don't own him now.

"Okay. But if you need anyone to talk to, i'm here. I know a thing or two about men leaving." she tells me with a sad smile.
"I know, thank you." I say giving her a hug.
Giselle's husband left her and her daughter a couple years back. Reasons I don't know, I didn't dare to ask. All I know is two things. First, that a woman like Giselle didn't deserve it nor did her 5 year old daughter. And second, a man who leaves a wife and a daughter by choice, isn't a man, but a coward and a straight up dick.

     I put on a light blue floral bikini and Alex puts on a red striped one.
I put on some jean shorts and a loose white cover up with sandals. Alex puts on a pink dress cover up.
"Hazel you ready?!" Alex yells from her room.
"Yup." Hazel says walking in. She has on a hot pink one piece with tiny light pink flamingos. She has on her floaties and her sandals.
After a 3-4 minute walking trip, we arrive to a semi- packed pool. I instantly recognize people I don't want to be recognized by.
This is why a small town should only be filled with old people. Half the drama in their life is just being able to wake up breathing each morning. Lucky bastards.
"Raelynn can you get my sandals? When we get there I want to jump in." Hazel says.
"Okay but only if you make a big splash." I say smiling.
"Don't worry I'll make the biggest splash ever." she says.
When we get there, Hazel goes running straight to the pool and throws herself in.
I go over to some pool chairs and set the pool bag down. I lay down on the chair closest to the shade and remove my sunglasses from my face and place them on my head.
"Oh damn. Raelynn, Raelynn." Alex says rushing over to me. I get up and look at her.
"What what happened?"
"Look over there." she says pointing her finger over at something. I follow her finger and see where it lands. Ray, Elly, Adrian, Abel, and Claire.
"Oh." I say
"Oh? That's it?" Alex repeats confused.
"Yes that's it." I say laying back down and closing my eyes.
"No that can't be it. Don't you want to go say hi or see what they're doing here?" she asks.
"Not really. And I what they're doing here I don't need to ask. It's a public pool you know." I say opening my eyes only for a few seconds to look over at her and then I close them again.
"Well guess I don't have to tell you because they're coming over here." she says.
I open my eyes faster than a ray of lightening and sit up in my chair.
"No they're not." I say staring at her, hoping to step into one of her jokes or any sign confirming she's messing with me.
"Oh yes they are." she says with a smirk.
I look over to where her line of sight was at and I see them. Walking over, towards us. Freaking hell.
"Hi." Claire was the first one to greet when they reached our table. She has a smile on her face and her hand intertwined with Ray's.
Can I go drown now?

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