Lion's Gift

Chapter 15

When we make it to where Belle and Julie are sitting, I notice that the rest of the students who came to the beach are here as well, spread out along the shore. The girls reserved two seats next to them and are chatting animatedly, though Belle seems worried. I examine Julie, who looks pretty in her deep yellow one-piece. Her dark frizzy hair is short and covers her shoulders, and she wears a silver charm bracelet while holding an orange popsicle.

Belle finally spots us and relief washes over her face.

"Hey, Caspian," Julie greets, "Who's this? I thought Vivienne was with you guys?" I roll my eyes and put my hands on my hips while Caspian smirks and Belle stifles a giggle. I take the seat next to Julie while Caspian takes the seat on the other side of me, and Julie looks at all of us, confused, while Caspian gives Belle her strawberry ice cream and me my vanilla.

Belle texts me.

B: All three of us are going to talk later

I send her a nod of affirmation before focusing back to the conversation.

"Julie, this is Vivi!" Belle exclaims, surprising Julie.

"Wow, girl, you look hot," She starts, apparently awestruck, "I didn't know this is what you were hiding under your clothes," Then she looks inexplicably guilty, looking over my shoulder. "You might want to either run or say you are someone else; Noah and Sophie are coming over here,"

I almost choke on air, in the middle of removing my hat and summer dress. I put them on the back of my chair and lounge on it, one leg straight while the other is bent, an arm over my forehead, keeping the sunglasses down and letting my hair flow down my back and down my side.

"Why are they here?" I hiss to Julie after glancing behind me and seeing that they are getting closer to where we are sitting.

"I may have invited them and a couple of other kids to play a few rounds of truth and dare," Julie explains, a nervous smile on her face and her hand rubbing the back of her neck. I take a deep breath before pinching the bridge of my nose.

"Well, there's no backing out now, I guess. You three," I say, pointing at Belle, Caspian, and Julie in succession, "My new name is...Analise. You even mention my real name and I will strangle you," Caspian smirks, knowing my threat is real, Julie rolls her eyes, and Belle lets out a nervous giggle.

The ice cream starts dripping so I start taking small bites out of it, fearful of a brain freeze.

Noah and Sophie finally reach us, Noah shirtless and in tropical shorts, his eye slightly bruised where I punched it, while Sophie has her straight platinum hair out to her mid-back and is wearing a very revealing pink two-piece bikini. Her face is loaded with makeup, which is caking and acting very weird from the heat. Though they both smile, they don't touch each other, presumably still in an argument. I feel everyone's eyes on my hair as it is in full light for the first time today. It looks like a mix of auburn, red, brown, and dark gold, smooth and flowing in loose ringlets and waves.

I push it behind my shoulder before looking up at Noah and Sophie, Noah who squints at me and Sophie who glares at me like I shaved all her hair.

"Hey, Julie, Belle, Caspian. Who's this?" Sophie asks, a little jealousy leaking into her tone. I look down at myself. I don't want to be the object of someone's envy.

Caspian clears his throat. "This is Analise, she's um...Vivienne's cousin," I shoot a glare at him while he shrugs, as if saying what am I supposed to say? Belle covers her face with her hands while Julie frowns a little. Sophie looks even angrier while Noah looks like a lightbulb turned on in his head.