“Holy cow, you’re a lesbian now?” he laughed.
“What, no, that wasn’t what it looked like.” You quickly got up and away from me.
“I thought you dumped me for some other guy, turns out it was a girl. Clara always said you looked at girls a little too long.” He poked fun at you.
“Shut up! What are you doing here Beck?” you snapped at him.
“We rent out the beach house every spring break remember?”
“Yeah well, I thought after last time you would all steer clear.”
“Well we thought about it, then we just said what the hell.” He shrugged.
The longer he talked the more I hated him. I hated how confident he was in himself, how I wasn’t as confident. I hated his perfect face and perfect body. Most of all I hated how similar we looked, how like me he had black hair, like me he had green eyes, and like me, he had olive skin. A sick taste formed in my mouth.
“So what are you doing here, and whose the girl?” he asked.
“That wasn’t what it looked like okay, I’m not gay or anything.”
“Holding hands and making out with a girl pretty sure that makes you gay.” He crossed his arms.
“Will you just shut up, I’m not gay!” your anger made me flinch.
“Then who is she and why were you kissing her?”
“This is Zara, she is my um…” you looked at me, then I looked away.
“Stepsister.” You finished.
“Why were you kissing your stepsister?” he asked.
“Not that it’s any of your business but since you aren’t going to let this go I was just asking Rosey to show me how to do it, there’s this guy I like but I’m too shy to make a move. She was giving me pointers. It’s a girl thing.” I stood to defend you. Though I felt like I had just swallowed a hot coal.
“I think I saw that in a movie once.” He laughed.
“You are such an asshole.” You sneered at him.
“Hey come on, I was just messing.” He wrapped his arms around you.
“Stop it.” You pulled away.
“How long are you going to be mad at me?” he whined.
“Forever, now if you will excuse us I have to get back to my mom.”
“Wait why don’t you come by the house, since you’re here. Wait are you here on vacation or something? Did you guys get a beach house too?” he asked.
“Yeah we did, but if I would have known you’d be here I would have reconsidered.”
“Look why don’t you come by and say hi to the others, if you do I’ll keep what I just saw between us.” He teased.
“You really think threatening me is the way to my heart?” you cocked your head at him.
“So there is a chance?” he smirked at you.
“None what so ever.”
“Yeah okay, I see you Rosey.” He winked.
“You are so---”
“Adorable?”
“I was going to say obnoxious.”
“You know you can’t resist me, so you two coming or what?”
“Zara?”
I had to turn away from you to hide the tears welling up in my eyes. I wrapped my arms around myself to keep from feeling horrible. It didn’t work.
“I’m going to go check in with my dad,” I said.
“Zara wait.” You grabbed my shoulder. You must have sensed that I was not a happy person right then.
“You should go, I’ll cover for you.” I pulled out of your grasp.
“Zara come on.” You begged.
“What’s the issue babe?” Beck asked.
“The issue Beck is that you’re an asshole. She’s shy you know.” You covered up the truth.
“Look I wasn’t really going to tell, come on, I’m sorry. Look, Zara, I’ll make it up to you, I’m a good guy honest. I’ll carry you on my shoulders how about that? Come on.” He offered.
“No thanks.”
“Hey, I bet if your guy sees me carrying you on my shoulders he’ll get jealous.”
“He’s not even here.” You snapped.
“You can take a picture, here come on.” He outstretched his arms.
“Fine.” I relented.
“What!?” You snapped.
If the goal was to make you jealous I think it worked, but it wasn’t. The goal was to go along with the lie so he would have no reason to doubt you and tell everyone you were making out with your stepsister.
“Well if I can’t get out of this, might as well get a free ride.” I shrugged.
“That’s the spirit, Hey Rosey your stepsisters not so bad.” He smiled.
Then he hoisted me up onto his shoulders and said,
“Onward to the castle.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at his dorkiness. I can see why you liked him, he and I had a lot in common.
“Zara get down here, I didn’t even agree to go!” you chased after us.
“Come on Rosey don’t be a sourpuss. How many times did I carry you on my shoulders?”
“Beck just please stop and give me back my stepsister.”
“No way, we’ve all missed you since you moved and if this is the only way to get you back then your sister is my prisoner.”
“Zara!”
“Put me down.” I sighed.
“She’ll have to catch me first.” Then he took off running me still on his shoulders. I had to cling to his head to keep from sliding off.
“Beck!” you chased after us.
“Woah Beck where’s the fire, who’s the chick?” another guy asked.
He is pretty cute too. With his ebony skin and grey eyes. He is even more muscular than Beck.
“Trade me, hurry!” he said.
“What?” then Beck lifted me off his shoulders and sat me on the other guys.
Just then you ran up to Beck, he swooped you off the ground and sat you on his shoulders.
“Got ya.” He said in triumph.
“Asshole!” you hit him on the head.
“Ow, have mercy!” he laughed.
“Rosey?” My ride said.
“Hey, Darius.” You sighed in defeat.
“Found her and her hot step sister as I was going to get Quint,” Beck said.
“Well hot stepsister, what’s your name?” Darius asked me.
“Zara. Can you put me down now?”
He chuckled and helped me to the floor.
“What’s all the ruckus?” A girl walked out of the red house.
She is also drop dead gorgeous, I think I have a pretty good idea of the crowd you used to run with now. The people who know they’re hot and flaunt it around. The hot people who always, always, know what is happening and when. The It people.
Her red hair was down to her shoulders, her freckles are just right, not too much, just enough to know they are there. Her pale skin compliments her hazel eyes. She had on a red swimsuit.
“Look who we found.” Beck shook his shoulders.
“Rose?”
“Put me down.” You snapped.
“This is Zara, Rose's new stepsis.” Darius motioned to me.
“I’m Lonny.” She held out her hand.
“Hi.” I shook it.
“Beck stop torturing her.” Another girl said looking out the window.
I could tell she must be the ringleader. The way she draped herself out the window like she had no care in the world. Her deep caramel skin, her dark mysterious eyes. The way her hands seemed to be perfectly placed no matter what. Not to mention her very revealing swimsuit. I knew she had to be Clara.
“Fine.” He sighed.
When you were finally placed on the ground you walked over to me and took my hand from Lonny who was still holding it.
“Traitor.” You hissed in my ear.
That was funny coming from you because at that moment I felt like you were the traitor. You were the one who denied me, who said you weren’t gay at the top of your lungs. You were the one keeping things from me. I was just caught up in all of that.
“You guys staying on the beach too?” Clara asked.
“Yeah, my mom wanted it to be this new family thing.” You grumbled.
“Lame.” She sighed.
“Yeah, it’s whatever. This is Zara, Zara, Clara.” You formally introduced us.
I gave a sheepish wave.
“You can just call me C, right Rosey?” She challenged.
A sick feeling settled in my gut. Why did I have a feeling this Clara girl knew more about you than I did?
“Where’s Quint?” You changed the subject.
“He went down to the corner store to get beer but he is taking forever.” Beck supplied.
“Still using his fake Id.” You rolled your eyes.
“Hey don’t mock the fake Id,” Quint said walking up.
He had three cases of beer. I doubted they would drink that much beer, but hey what do I know. He looked like someone who was related to the rock, dark tan skin, tribal tattoos down his arms, really tall. I swear he could be a movie star.
“Well, we just came to say hi, come on Zara.” You grabbed my hand.
“Don’t leave you just got here.” Clara walked outside to meet us.
“Yeah, come on Rosey, like old times,” Beck begged.
“Last time I was here it sucked, I think I’ll take my chances.”
“It was only bad because you can’t handle a few drinks.” Clara walked over to you, getting too close for comfort.
“Whatever.” You grumbled.
“Come on, we missed you,” Quint added.
“Some more than others.” Darius laughed.
Beck elbowed him in the side.
“It will be fun, just like last time remember.” Her lips brushed against yours.
The guys cheered and whistled.
Then she kissed you.
What’s the worse thing that could happen? I had to say what’s the worse thing that could happen. This was definitely the worse thing that could happen.
I watched your eyes go wide and your face turn beet red. You didn't move to push her away, you just let her kiss you. I felt my anger flare up instantly. I couldn’t stop myself from pushing her so hard she fell on her butt in the sand.
“What the hell?” she spat.
“Zara.” You tried to calm me down. How could I be calm after that?
“Keep your sister on a leash.” Clara spat.
“Shut the hell up Clara. She’s just protective. Maybe if you hadn't kissed me out of nowhere! And stop telling people I’m gay, you’re the gay one!” you shouted at her.
“Are you sure about that?” she got in your face.
I pushed her again not so hard, just hard enough for her to stumble back.
“Oh shit,” Lonny said.
“Zara stop.” You pulled me back.
“Don’t touch me!” I snapped. Then I turned to leave. I couldn’t stay there anymore.
“Zara wait!” you jogged after me.
“Wait for what!? For you to keep making a fool out of me! For you to kiss someone else again? Just leave me alone!” I started to run.
“Zara stop, it’s not like that.” You caught me and forced me to stop running.
“Then what is it like Rose? You’re not gay right? No being gay is gross right? I’m just your stepsister.” I spat.
“Will you just like cool it, you think I like this? I’m just as miserable as you are. You think I want to be lying to everyone, you think I want to be pushed around by Clara? Because I don’t!”
“Just leave me alone Rosey.” I wiped my tears and started back to our own beach house.
“What’s going on?” Beck asked. He chased after us.
“God, Beck just leave me alone!” you snapped at him.
“Okay, okay, I was just wondering if this had anything to do with what I saw earlier.” He held up his hands in surrender.
I stopped walking and turned to you.
You looked at me and shook your head no.
“What’s going on?” he asked again.
“Nothing, I just want to leave.” I sighed and turned to continue walking.
“Don’t leave, come on. You seem like a pretty badass girl. I’ve never seen someone put Clara in her place like that. Come on.” He begged.
“You want to know the truth Beck?” I whirled on him.
I wanted to retaliate against you, I wanted you to feel the shame you put on me. My anger knew no bounds. I thought I would never want to hurt you, yet here I was thinking of how to get back at you. I’m sorry I am such a horrible person.
“Zara.” You tried to stop me.
“The truth is I wasn’t kissing Rosey because I’m shy, I was kissing her because I like girls. Do you get it now? Do you see why I’m upset?” I snapped.
“Oh my god.” You covered your face.
“Wait so you were kissing Rosey as a way to practice being able to kiss a girl, not a boy? You like girls what’s so bad about that? I think that’s awesome. I can see why you would be mad at Rosey and Clara for making light of your sexuality.” He nodded.
I can see why you liked him. His obliviousness was adorable. I couldn’t help but laugh.
“When you put it like that.” I smiled.
“There you go, a smile. Come on, let’s go put Clara in her place once and for all. I think she deserves it. And screw anyone who thinks you being gay is a bad thing.” He said.
“Thanks.” I smiled at him.
“Come on give me a hug, no one can stay mad at me.” he made his pecks pop up.
I laughed again.
Then I hugged him.
“Really Rosey, you didn’t have to lie,” Beck said condescendingly as he held me.
“But I’m not gay…” you trailed off.
“So what? Being gay isn’t a bad thing. No wonder poor Zara here hates you. Grow up.” He rolled his eyes.
“It’s fine, not everyone is as accepting as you,” I said.
“One day they will be.” He started leading me back to the red house.
“Zara, I’m sorry, really.” You followed after us.
“Whatever,” I said. I was still mad at you.
“Beck my man,” Quint high fived him.
“Come on you know no one can stay mad at this face.” He smiled.
“What’s your problem anyway?” Clara asked.
“My problem is that I am gay, and I don’t appreciate you and Rosey here using it as an insult. There’s nothing wrong with being gay.” I snapped at her.
“Well sorry I didn’t know, you don’t have to bite my head off.” She got red in the face and crossed her arms.
“But seriously even I was getting tired of the gay jokes,” Darius said.
They all gave a collective agreement.
“Whatever.” Clara stormed inside.
“Up top,” Beck said giving me a high five.
“She only gets all weird because she is secretly gay. Seriously though it’s not a secret.” Lonny shook her head.
“For real, the girl should just come out already.” Darius sighed.
“Hey if she wants to live in a closet that’s her prerogative.” Quint started moving the beer inside.
“Wow look at you using big words.” Lonny followed him.
“You two coming or what?” Beck asked.
I looked at you, you were looking at the floor. It was then that I started regretting blowing up like that. I had no right to try and force you out of the closet. I felt horrible.
“Can you give us a minute,” I asked.
“Sure thing, just walk in whenever you're ready,” Beck said, then he and Darius went inside.
“I’m sorry.” We said in unison.
“Rose I shouldn’t have done that, I was just, angry. I’m sorry.”
“No, you were awesome, standing up to Clara like that. I’m sorry I made you feel bad. I’m just not ready yet.” You kicked at the sand.
“I know.”
“Truce?” you looked up.
“Truce. One question, was Clara like your secret girlfriend or something?”
“Zara! No! Okay, we may have had a few drunken kisses before, but nothing like what you and I have. Trust me I don’t even look at her like that.”
“Really?”
“Promise.”
“Okay.” I smiled and kissed you on the cheek.
“Do we have to.” You whined looking at the red house.
“We at least have to say goodbye.” I shrugged.
“Fine.” You grumbled.
Then I followed you into the house.
Comments (3)
See all