Sometimes life does give you everything you want, and then some. Sometimes you just got to take what's coming your way, good or bad and deal with it later. Just let go and have fun, live in the moment. There are things in life we can't control, but then there are things we brought upon ourselves.

Oh, sweet victory.

"You have to, you can't back out now," Kenzie said.

"You guys, seriously." Jade pouted.

"Just run really fast," Skylar said.

"I'm not a fast runner!"

"Look there are only like three people, and that old guy is asleep, see." I pointed out.

"I'm not doing it."

"How about some liquid courage?" Aphrodite smirked and pulled some vodka out of her bag.

"Where did you get that!?" I hissed and forced her to put it back, looking around to see if anyone saw.

"Brought it from home. Well?" she looked at jade.

Jade eyed all of us and sighed in defeat. Oh, this is going to be good. First, it was the best two out of there, then five out of six. The poor thing still lost. What can I say, karma is a bitch with a cruel sense of humor.

"Give me that." Jade snatched the vodka took three rather large gulps before handing it back to Aphrodite.

It was already night and we waited until the last possible second, right before the pool closes so that no one would be out. Before this, we went to the room. A three-bedroom villa at the Bay Lake Tower with a theme park view.

This room cost 2,500 a night. We have it booked for 7 days. I, of course, got to pick the master bedroom. Downstairs. Upstairs were two bedrooms with two queen beds in each. Skylar and Jade share one room. Kenzie and Aphrodite share the other. The room is perfect. Jacuzzi tub, nice kitchen, great view. Large flat screen tv's. A pull-out couch both upstairs and downstairs. Literally anything anyone could ever want.

We geeked out a little bit. Then I went on a journey of discovery, just walking around the resort and exploring everything there was to explore. After that, we went back to our room to change into our swimsuits. Normally September is a cooler time in Oregon but it was really warm in Florida. A major temperature difference from what we were used to. Skylar said it reminded her of Texas in that way.

We went to the pool and swam around until closing time, waiting for the perfect opportunity to force Jade to hold up her end of the bet. She went to the bathroom and stripped down before covering herself in a complimentary robe.

Which brings us back to now.

Most of the hotel guest were either watching the fireworks show about to start, watching the water parade out front, or off at the park still. Only three old people filled the pools. Two ladies, and an old man asleep in his chair.

Jade took a couple of deep breaths and untied her robe, holding it close to her body.

I was already snorting in laughter, Skylar hit me in the stomach and shushed me, also holding in her laugh.

We were all hiding out at the top of the slide. Jade was going to slide down and then swim to the stairs before running around the pull once, all while singing a whole new world from Aladdin. That last part was my idea. I couldn't resist.

When she was done, we'd throw down her robe to her and she'd book it to the bathroom to hide from her shame.

"Okay, someone do a countdown," Jade said.

"Oh my god, I can't believe you are actually going to do it." Kenzie snorted in laughter.

"Shut up! Or I won't." she hissed.

"Three." I started.

"Two," Aphrodite said.

"One!" Skylar grabbed Jade's robe while Kenzie pushed her down the slide.

"I hate all of you!" Jade screamed on her way down.

We all quickly ran to the side to see her splashdown below. She came up for air and immediately started singing.

"I can show you the world,"

We only made it that far before all of us started dying in laughter. We were laughing so hard that the old ladies looked at us first before Jade got out of the water and started running.

"I can open your eyes! Take you wonder by wonder."

"I can't, oh my god!" Kenzie was doubled over in laughter.

"Oh my goodness!" One of the ladies exclaimed.

As Jade passed the stairs she slipped and fell on her ass, which only made us laugh harder.

"Ow, fuck. A whole new world! A dazzling place I never knew." She got up and ran back over to the slide.

Skylar threw down the robe and Jade caught, quickly slipping it on and running away.

I was laughing so hard I was crying. The old ladies quickly got out of the pool, waking up the old man. He was confused but the three of them quickly left. We stayed there laughing for a good ten minutes.

Then one by one we slid down the slide and made our way back to the room.

Jade was waiting for us, red a tomato. She had already showered by the looks of it. She must have booked it back. I would too if I was her.

"I recorded it," Aphrodite announced.

"You did what!?" Jade said.

We all started laughing again.

"I couldn't resist." She smirked.

"Delete it!" she demanded.

"No way, blackmail now." She laughed.

"You guys!" Jade pouted.

Skylar was trying hard not to laugh, but failing miserably.

"Hit the showers everyone," I said.

There were four baths, only three with jacuzzi tubs.

After we were all showered and changed we went out for dinner.

Jade was awfully silent. Her face still hadn't turned back to its natural shade.

"Hey, come on. It's not that bad. You looked kind of hot doing it." Skylar tried to cheer her up.

"I can't believe I did that." She said quietly.

"Me either, wait till mom hears about this," Kenzie said.

Jade grabbed Kenzie by the shirt collar and said, "If you tell her or anyone I will murder you in your sleep."

"Relax, what happens in Florida stays in Florida," I said.

Jade pouted and let Kenzie go.

"Relax, it was all in good fun," Aphrodite said.

Jade grumbled and sunk lower in her chair. Skylar wrapped her arm around Jade to comfort her, pecking her lightly on the cheek. Jade smiled appreciatively at her.

After dinner, we went back to the room. Skylar put on some work out clothes and said,

"I'm headed to the gym for a run, anyone want to come?"

"No thanks, I like being lazy." Kenzie sprawled out on the couch and turned the tv on.

"I hate sweating," Aphrodite said.

"I'm never showing my face again," Jade grumbled and grabbed a pillow before smashing it into her face.

"I'll go, I could use a good run," I said.

Skylar eyed me cautiously but didn't try and stop me.

"Don't wait up!" Skylar called to Jade before walking out with me on her tail.

We worked out for a good two hours or so. But it was already midnight and we decided to head back.

"Man, I've must have been letting myself go," I complained as I rubbed my aching calves.

"Told you, you need a workout routine. How long have I been telling you that? That way your body is more conditioned and less prone to injury."

"Look at you being all smart." I playfully nudge her.

"Ugh, I'm going to need another shower, I'm all sweaty." She pouted.

"You can use mine that way you won't have to wake up Jade." I offered.

She eyed me.

The elevator dinged and we walked off on our floor over to our room. When I unlocked the door, the room was quiet. I glanced around and the lights were off. No one was downstairs. Skylar eyed the stairs then eyed me.

I glanced at my room then back to her.

She relented and followed me.

"So, earlier today I saw you glaring at Aphrodite."

"I was not." She denied.

"I saw you," I sang.

"And so what if I was?"

I closed the door behind her and smirked.

"So what indeed." I wiggled my eyebrows at her.

"Darleen." She warned.

"I know you want it, I know you do. I can feel it. You wouldn't have followed me in here otherwise."

"Maybe I do, but I don't want to start something I can't finish. I love Jade, Darleen. I mean what I want from you isn't a relationship."

"Then what is it?" I walked closer to her.

She shrugged, her face turning bright red as she backs up towards my bed.

"You can say it, I won't tell." I closed in on her.

"What do you want from me? Do you really want me back, or I am right to assume you only want one thing?"

"I don't know. I'm confused. I want you, but I don't know how much. All of it, some, I don't know. I just need you."

"We shouldn't," she whispered and I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her close.

"What if it doesn't have to mean anything. What if, just for this one night. We are both weak. Nothing else has to come of it if you don't want. It can just stay between us." I press my forehead against her own.

"I know you, I know you can't mean that."

"Let's just enjoy the moment, deal with everything else later." I kiss her neck.

"Darleen we can't." she pulled away.

"Just this one night Skylar, we might never get a chance to be with each other ever again. This could be the last time, let's end it on a high note." I pleaded.

She walked over to the door and for a moment I thought she was going to leave, instead, she locked the door. I felt my stomach flip in excitement.

"Not on the bed, I'm too sweaty, I don't want to ruin your bed."

I ran up to her and smashed our lips together. She sighed into me, a sigh of relief. I picked her up and slammed her on the bed, sheets be damned. I could always call the front desk and get new ones.

She kissed me back hungrily. I let out a sound between a growl and a moan as she kissed down my neck to my shoulder. God, I've wanted this so bad. I pull her out of her shirt and throw it somewhere out of sight.

"Wait, wait, wait," she pushes me back.

"No," I whined.

"Wait," she glared at me and we sat still and evened out our breathing as we listened.

"What?" I asked.

"I think someone's awake." She whispered.

I listened closer and I could hear footsteps above us. Kenzie and Aphrodite's room.

"We'll be quiet, it's not Jade," I said.

She slowly relaxed back into the bed, her arms around my neck. I met her sky blue eyes and she nodded for me to continue.

"I need you to say it," I whispered against her lips.

"Yes, I want it."

I smirked before kissing her.

"No, emm, marks" she moaned as I bit down on her collar bone.

Those damn words came back to me then, of all fucking times! The way Aphrodite was on top of me, just like I'm on top of Skylar now. How I asked her not to leave any marks.

I pulled back.

"What? What is it?" Skylar opened her eyes and looked at me.

It was like an epiphany moment. I said those words because I didn't want Skylar to find out about what I had done. Yet that didn't stop me from doing it because at that moment my mind had decided then and there that I didn't love Skylar. Her feelings were less important to me than my own.

I didn't want Skylar back, what I wanted was clarity and I suddenly had it. I wanted to know how a girl I loved so much, could mean so little to me at my weakest moment. When I was stripped down to my core, exposed raw all of my emotions. It wasn't Skylar I wanted, it was her. I wanted Aphrodite to comfort me, I wanted Aphrodite to love me and kiss me like she used to. I wanted more than anything for someone to choose me for once.

Skylar couldn't do that, she can never do that.

"Darleen, you okay?" Skylar sat up and looked at me in worry.

"You don't love Jade," I said.

"What!?"

"Just like I don't love you."

"Okay, where is this coming from?"

"That night I cheated on you... I remember why I did it now. If you really loved Jade, you wouldn't be in here with me right now. Just like if I loved you, I wouldn't have done what I did. I wanted you to choose me, but you are never going to choose me. I don't know why you are here right now, but I remember why I did what I did. Because she chose me, and I didn't choose you."

Skylar blinked at me in confusion, slowly it registered on her face. I saw pain and betrayal. Heartache and a look that said she was going to be sick. She quickly got up and without a word grabbed her shirt and left the room.

The door closed softly behind her.

I stared at my bed as a sudden hollowness filled me. I was holding on to Skylar, holding on to what we had because I was afraid that if I let her go, I would have nothing. That I would close off again and that would be that. I would never love again. I was afraid to feel again, to fall in love again. I thought I could just go back to what we had, use those old feelings as a blanket of lies to protect me. But she can't protect me, because even if she would have slept with me, I would still have to face this hollowness eventually.

I took a shaky breath and closed my eyes, holding my tears in.

I felt shaken to my core. What else am I supposed to do when the thing I have been chasing after, doesn't hold the answers after all? When the person I thought could complete me, turns out to be just as broken and damaged as I am.

I was back at square one without a single clue as to where to go from here. Well not entirely true, I knew where to start. But the thought of letting Aphrodite back in scares the hell out of me. What if she breaks me all over? What if she leaves again?

What if I can never fall fully in love again...