~Mia's POV~
I screamed, my life flashing before my eyes as cold sea water came plunging into my face. I batted by eyelashes, trying to get the water out before glaring up at the culprit.
"Caleb?!" I squealed and Aleecia burst into a fits of evil laughter. She was wearing a white flower patterned bikini and was in the swallow of the water looking all brave and wonderful. I sneered at them both.
"Get in the stupid water Honey Bear" he smirked, dropping the container at his feet and I flashed the wet sand from my hands. Caleb along with Ray wore beach shorts only, which made looking at them quite satisfying. I mean other than the fact that Ray and I weren't on understandable terms, he was droolingly hot. If he was an ice-cream flavor, I would spend my life working ten jobs, just so I could buy the company.
I looked around. He was nowhere to be found. Which was good. Whenever we were too close we'd fight about the stupidest things, like appropriate beach wears or the best place to visit. It was exhausting, especially because I could care less. I just had a hard time talking about the bigger things, like our fight or me sleeping over at Caleb's house.
"You are so going to die" I mumbled, getting up to run after him.
This evening started out as another evening of retaliation. I had been sleeping at Caleb's since the last time Ray and I fought. He didn't come looking for me and I pretended not to care.
Caleb and I had planned to go to the beach on the other side of the forest. Unfortunately fate was against me and on the way to buy myself a bathing suit, Ray and Aleecia showed up. After minutes of pleading, begging and wining, Aleecia decided I could go but only if they came along. Having no other choice, I agreed. Now I was at the beach being harassed by Aleecia and Caleb. Ray well, aggravating words or silence.
Caleb ran into the water and I stopped where the sea kissed the sand with a defeated sigh. It wasn't worth it. I loved the scenery and the cool sea breeze but the thought of going into the water made my skin crawl.
"What? Bug girl can't swim?" Ray whispered behind me and I screamed as he swept me up and carried me into the shallows.
"I swear to God if you drop me…"
"What?" He deadpanned "Gonna tell your boyfriend"
"Piss off Ra…" He dropped me and I held my breath as I went under and came back up in a breathless squeal. I frowned, regaining my balance and standing up. The water was leg deep but it felt as if I was being swallowed up by the ocean. I glared at him, shaking the nervous energy from my body.
"How about we play some beach ball?" I challenged, ready to kick some ass and they cheered in excitement but there was nothing exciting about this. I wanted to destroy Ray. He went to retrieve the ball and I prepared myself mentally.
"Caleb and I against you two. First team to 20"
"Let's make a memory our children can be proud of." Caleb winked, catching his hair in a ponytail with an elastic band he always seemed to carry on his hand.
I laughed and the ball came launching into his head. I choked, looking over to see Ray staring at us.
He forced a smile "Hand slipped" his smile disappeared and he locked eyes with Caleb. I looked over at Aleecia and she shrugged, rolling her eyes. I was going to annihilate him. I summed up a smile, laying a perk on Caleb's cheek.
"Let's" I whispered into his ear, taking up the ball and his face became flushed with blood, a longing smile slipping across his lips. I wasn't going to let Ray have all the fun. I could be the manipulative bad guy without emotions too. I turned to look at Ray to finish my act but he was playing with Aleecia. I felt my insides burst and I threw the ball at him. He caught it, twirling it perfectly on a finger before turning to face me, his face becoming cold and emotionless.
"Are you finished?" he questioned and I felt the nerves in my head twitch. There was no winning with this guy, was there?
"Let the games begin" I scoffed
The game was fierce but my team won the first round, like I knew we would. I used to volunteer for an infirmary that promoted water volleyball as a means of improving fitness. The people at the infirmary were really good players; it would have been a shame if I had let them down. Despite of, I wish we hadn't won because it was only then that the real competition began. Round two, Ray's team won, round three ended in a tie, round four Aleecia and I became too tired to continue, round five, round six, round seven- all went to Ray and after round eight, Aleecia and I decided it was best if we got the picnic ready.
"Get out of the stupid water and come get something to eat!" Aleecia yelled at Caleb and Ray after we had taken out the food Caleb had prepared. They pretended not to hear and Aleecia sat on the blanket staring at me. I looked up at her, wondering what was on her mind. Until today, I had no idea she could laugh or that she was capable of having fun. Every part of me wished she wouldn't spoil it.
"I've been meaning to tell you…" she began and I felt my stomach knot. "Ray and I…"
I held my breath, as the possibilities of her next words trailed across my mind. I didn't have to pretend that I didn't care because Ray wasn't here. I did care. I couldn't stop caring, no matter how hard I tried.
She hesitated "Ray and I, um…"
I unintentionally leaned into her, anxiously waiting for her next words but she was interrupted by two running idiots. Ray deflated all his exhaustions unto Aleecia's lap, after spreading an extra blanket on the ground. Caleb sat beside me and I shrunk- they were getting married, weren't they? Even worse, they were leaving…
Aleecia drew back her words "I see you're finally hungry" she smiled victoriously, patting Ray in the forehead and he nodded wearily, twirling the ball in his hands. The sun had set, painting the sky a beautiful orange and yellow beyond the glassy ocean. We used a few small flashlights for extra light.
Ray stopped twisting the ball "You know you're not that ugly" he teased looking up at Aleecia and she laughed
"And you're not that cute." She countered, pushing his head off her lap, he got up and tossed the ball at her.
I squirmed, hating how they got along perfectly. "Can we eat?" I prompted, feeling my jealousy taking the wheel in my mind. I dished out the plates and shared my own food, taking a beer from the cooler. The others did the same and we sat there eating in silence.
"Let's play a game" Caleb blurted, after we'd all finished eating and Aleecia and I both glanced at each other with widened eyes. We laughed. I honestly thought he'd be worn out from the beating he received from Ray. Still Caleb wasn't a sore loser, he loved games. That was one of the many things I liked about him. He was light, simple and fun.
"Come on. I have alcohol" He smiled holding up a bottle of Jamaican white rum.
"O my God" my mouth dropped, I couldn't believe my eyes. How did he get it past the guards? I couldn't even get a bag of peanuts inside.
"Do you have pot too?" Aleecia squealed with excitement and he shook his head, looking at her like she had said something despicable. She retracted her excitement with a playful frown.
"No." Ray commanded and we all turned to look at him. "I'm not comfortable with this" he explained
"Lighten up man" Caleb suggested
"Yea, lighten up. It's only us. Plus we can handle our liquor" Aleecia agreed, punching his shoulder.
"Afraid of a little fun Ray?" I smiled, pulling his strings.
"This, is considered peer pressure" he spoke after a moment of consideration and Aleecia clapped her hands with glee
"Is that a yes?" she enquired and he nodded, looking over at me. I fidgeted, looking away. His gaze made me flustered and a bit too nervous.
"What are we playing?"
"Never have I ever" Caleb smiled and we approved "You've done it, you drink. I'll start" he poured us all shots. "You have to drink that first. It's the rule" he and the others swallowed theirs and I followed hesitantly. I could feel its burning sensation traveling down the back of my throat and into my stomach like a small contained fire.
He refilled our shot cups "Okay. Never have I ever, slept with my best friend?"
Both Aleecia and Ray drank and I felt a nerve pop. I could throw a tantrum.
"Never have I ever… uh… Never have I ever gotten a tattoo" I said the first thing that popped up in my mind and Aleecia eyed me suspiciously before dunking the contents of her cup into her mouth. I held back a chuckle.
"You have a tattoo?" Ray whispered "Of what? Winnie the Pooh" He laughed doubtfully
"Shut your face" she replied and I tried not to entertain the questions that were building in my mind. Like, what kind of sex life they had? Or didn't he ever see her naked? Questions like that.
"Never have I ever lied about my name?" Aleecia smiled, furrowing her eyebrows playfully at Ray.
"Wow. That's gold" he flicked her before gingerly swallowing the shot. I sighed, I knew nothing about Ray. Maybe they were better off together than I thought.
"Never have I ever lied to someone here?" Caleb scanned us
They drank hesitantly and I started to feel a bit giddy. I placed my thumb and index finger in the space between my nose and eyes, willing my lids to stay open. I looked up, Ray and Aleecia were laying on the ground, motionless.
"Are you okay?" he asked calmly, too calm if you ask me.
"Wha- what did you do?" I managed, speaking becoming extremely difficult.
"It's time to go Honey Bear" he soothed, lifting me over his shoulder. I tried to scream, to fight back but couldn't. The last thing I saw was Ray trying to get up and failing miserably. He reached out to me and I tried reaching back but it was already too late. The moment we drank the first shot, our fate had become inevitable. Caleb had drugged us and none of us saw it coming.