I had to wait 'patiently' until Tuesday for art class again.

My paintbrush flies over my canvas, adding in the last details. The strand of light sandy brown hair falling into his eyes and the calluses on his hands that are crossed over his broad chest. Next, the rip in his jeans and those adorable dimples in his cheeks.

"Done." I drop my paintbrush and shake out my aching hand.

Derek walks over, his jaw dropping open. "Wow, is that really what I look like?"

I laugh. "No, I made you look better."

He rolls his eyes at me. "I have to say, you sure do have a talent."

"Awe thanks. Now how would you like me to pose for yours?"

He stares at me, his head slightly cocked to the side. "Sit down."

I do.

"Cross your hands over your lap and sit up straighter."

I do everything he instructs me to.

At last, he picks up his paintbrush but then puts it back down.

"What's wrong?"

He walks up to me and catching me off guard, I find him pushing the hair away from my face, his fingers warm against my skin. He smiles. "Much better."

My eyes are locked on his, my heart fluttering between my rib cage. "Should I pull it back into a pony?"

He shakes his head. "No, it's perfect. Just wanted to be able to see your face better."

"Oh."

He goes back to his aisle and begins to paint me.

I watch him, the way his tongue sticks out between his teeth as he concentrates, and how all his fingers are curled around his paintbrush.

He looks at me and smiles. Oops! I was staring. I glance away, uncomfortable.

That's when the bell rings, announcing class is over and schools done for the day.

I meet Elena at my locker.

"You got paint on your nose."

"What?" I begin to rub my nose.

She giggles. "It's a joke. I can't believe you thought I was serious."

I glare at her. "That wasn't funny."

She shrugs. "I thought it was."

I ignore her last comment, placing my belongings into my locker.

"Are you coming tonight in the end?"

I look at her. "Yeah. What are we going to do?"

"It's a pool party silly. We're going to swim and check out the hot guys I invited."

"Hold on, it's not only us two?"

She smiles sheepishly. "Hey, it's my first night not grounded. I'm going to enjoy it."

I sigh. "How many people did you invite?"

"Not a lot, I promise."

I shake my head. "Please tell me I don't have to wear a bikini."

She grins. "You know the answer to that."

Before I have the chance to argue, she walks off, leaving me standing here alone.

...

Someone kill me now. The only bikini that I own is way too revealing, plus to add to that, it's hot pink. How did I even get ahold of such a revolting thing? And unfortunately, none of my other bathing suits seem to fit me at the moment due to the lack of fat on my body so just going to have to stick to this one for now. Ugh.

I slip on my cover-up and flip-flops, before sneaking out of my room.

"Where do you think you're going?" And of course, I crash into the person I'm trying to avoid.

I look at Danny, my eyes widening. He's all dressed up in a crisp white blouse and charcoal gray suit pants. "I can ask you the same thing."

He turns red. "I um, have a date."

"The second one this week, must be going well?"

His blush deepens. "Yeah, it is!"

I lean against my closed door. "I'm your sister Danny, remember you can tell me anything."

"I know." He rakes his fingers through his hair, an action he always does when he's nervous. "I uh, actually need to ask you something."

I smirk. "Ask away dear brother."

"Ok." I hear him take a deep breath. "What do you think of Sara?"

Ok, that's definitely not what I was expecting. "Oh um well, one she's absolutely beautiful, uh, and two she seems sweet. I just didn't really get to know her better. Why are you asking?"

He looks at me, his eyes shining. "I'm going to ask her to marry me."

My heart stops. Hold on, what?

Shocked, I meet his eyes and force a smile on my surprised face. "I think that's great. You deserve your happiness."

"Thanks, Wonderland." He beams, ruffling my hair. "Oh by the way, where are you going again?"

"Elena, we're going night swimming."

"Oh, okay. Have fun and be careful in the dark."

"There's enough light by her pool to blind you. I'll be fine."

"Okay, good." He smiles, before walking off to hopefully become an engaged man.

...

Blaring music greets my ears. I walk around Elena's large, modern house to her backyard.

"Alice." Elena waves me over.

She's lounging on a beach chair, in a hot pink bikini just like mine. (Now I remember where mine came from. She bought it for me two years ago.)

"Are you going to take off your cover-up?" I shake my head, sitting down at the foot of her chair. She sits up, frowning. "You're not going to go into the pool?"

I shrug. "I'll see soon."

Then I begin to scan her backyard for any familiar faces, spotting Kayla batting her eyelashes at Derek, who's shirtless, showing off his impressive abs.

"You invited Derek?"

"Of course. Remember I told you they'll be hot guys here tonight!"

"Oh, I remember."

Sensing me watching him, Derek glances my way and smiles. Kayla doesn't look too happy losing his attention.

"He's staring at you, take off your cover-up now," Elena squeals, poking me with her red-painted toes.

"What, no?"

"NOW!"

My response is getting up and walking away.

"Alice," she calls after me.

I ignore her, heading for the pool.

"Hey there gorgeous."

I glance at the guy who's spoken. "What?"

"Nothing just wanted to introduce myself, I'm Sam."

I look behind him at his two friends who are snickering. This has to be some foolish boys' prank. "Excuse me." I begin to walk off and he grabs hold of my arm.

"It's rude to walk away."

I glower at him. "And it's rude to touch a lady without permission." I find myself shoving him and watching him fall right into the pool. He comes up sputtering. "Don't ever approach me again and tell your friends to bug off too," I tell him, before marching off.

Elena finds me in her room, spinning around in her fluffy pink chair.

"What's your deal tonight?"

"Nothing."

"I'm your best friend; I know when you're lying."

"Danny is going to propose tonight to his girlfriend I just found out he had on Saturday," I blurt out, relieved to get it off my chest.

"Wow, that's insane," she breathes.

"You think," I huff, continuing to spin around, making myself dizzy.

"Stop that." She puts her hand out and grabs hold of the chair, stopping me mid-spin. I scowl. "Can you please come back outside?"

"No, since you won't stop bothering me."

She flinches. "I'm sorry. I won't do it again."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

I take hold of her outstretched hand and allow her to drag me back to the party.

...

I sit by the pool, my feet in the heated water.

"You okay?" Derek sits down beside me.

I try not to look at him because all I see is that six-pack of his and hard, broad chest. "Yeah, just fine." I stare at those swimming.

I can sense the smirk on his face. "You'd think you've never seen a guy shirtless before."

I look at him from my peripheral vision. "I've had boyfriends before and been to plenty of pool parties."

He places his hand on my knee and whispers, "I know."

I finally glance at him, my eyes tearing. "I-I miss him."

He gives my knee a comforting squeeze and opens his mouth to say something...

"Hey, you two, come on in. You don't know what you're missing out." Elena swims up to us and rests her elbows on the edge of the pool.

I share a look with Derek. "Why not?"

Derek gracefully slides into the pool and then takes hold of my hand, pulling me in.

"Hey," I cry, sputtering.

Elena then squeals as two guys splash her. "Oh no you didn't," she yells, starting a water fight.

Water hits me in the face and Derek laughs. Before he can blink, I splash him back.

"Oh, you're so going to regret that, missy."

"You asked for it."

His strong hands wrap around my middle. Before I know it, he's dunking me under the water.

"That was evil." I push my wet hair out of my face.

He smiles. "I like being evil."

"I can see that."

That's when a cool breeze washes over us and I begin to shiver.

Derek glances down at his watch. "It's late, we should go."

"I agree."

I blow Elena a kiss goodbye, before following him.

...

After a nice warm shower, I change into my PJs.

Danny doesn't get home until past two am.

"You waited up for me," he asks, obviously surprised to find me in the kitchen.

"I couldn't sleep till you told me how it went."

He smiles, his eyes sparkling. "She said yes!"

I fly into his arms. "Oh my god, congratulations!"

He holds me close. "We plan on getting married in the summer."

"That's great! I can't wait."

He pulls away, his hands on my shoulders. "Now that you know the good news, you should go to bed. Don't think you're going to school late?"

"First tell me when the engagement party is?"

"This Saturday."

"So soon. What am I going to wear?"

"You can go shopping after school tomorrow. Now go to sleep my little Alice in Wonderland." He kisses my temple and then ushers me into my bedroom.

...

I hardly slept last night, not when my brother just got engaged.

Skipping downstairs, I'm shocked to find the kitchen empty. Danny must be sleeping in, or already out.

I have a quick breakfast and then head to school.

"Someone's in a good mood."

I grin stupidly at Elena. "She said yes."

She looks confused.

"Danny's engaged!"

"Oh my God, I totally forgot." She hugs me. "This is amazing, congratulations!"

"I'm still kind of in shock."

"I don't blame you. So when is the engagement party?"

"This Saturday."

"So soon?"

I laugh. "I said the same exact thing."

"Well, great minds think alike." She smiles.

I roll my eyes at her.

"What are you going to wear?" she asks.

"Danny gave me permission to go shopping after school. Want to come?"

"Heck yeah."

I snicker, heading to class.

...

"This was designed just for you." Elena lifts up a  way too short, low cut dress.

"I believe you're mistaken." I take the dress from her and place it back on the dress rack.

"Ahh, you're so annoying! Alice, you have a gorgeous figure that you're supposed to be showing off."

I glance over her V-necked tank and floral mid-thigh skirt. "I'll never dress like that."

"Well, I don't expect you to. Plus wearing crop tops and really short shorts isn't any better."

I have to say, she does have a point there.

Sifting through the rack of dresses, I stop at a mid-knee, lace, black dress.

"Boring," Elena comments.

I ignore her, entering the dressing room with the dress.

I emerge two minutes later.

"Okay, I take that back. You look breathtaking."

I smile. "Thanks."

"How much is it?"

"Hmm." I check the price tag, my mouth dropping open.

"Uh, oh, show me." Elena looks down at the tag. "Four hundred, that's insane."

"I know. What should I do?"

"Buy it."

I bite my lip. "Danny's going to kill me."

"For goodness sake, it's his engagement. You have to look your best."

Of course, I end up buying the dress. That's why you should never go shopping with Elena because you end up buying everything.

...

"Four hundred, really?"

"Please don't kill me." Taking a step back, I raise my hands in the air.

Danny gestures to the shopping bag with the dress. "You better look good in that thing."

"She looks more than good," Elena says, defending me.

Oh, do I love that girl!

Danny sighs. "Okay, go hang it up somewhere safe."

I head upstairs, Elena on my tail. "Now what am I going to wear?"

I glance over my shoulder. "You have at least a dozen dresses to choose from."

"True, but which one?"

"I'll come over tomorrow night to help you. How does that sound?"

"Perfect." She smiles. "You're the best!"

I smirk. "I know."

She rolls her eyes. I laugh, walking straight into Derek, which I tend to be doing a little too often.

"Sorry," I say, heat rising to my face.

"It's okay." He steps aside and I brush past him. "Oh, Alice?"

I look back at him. "Yeah?"

"Congratulations on Danny's engagement."

Smiling, I thank him, before entering my room, and plopping down on my bed. The mattress dips as Elena adds her weight.

"You're so lucky."

I prop my chin on my hand. "Why?"

"You have one of the hottest guys I've ever met living in your house!" Her voice drips with envy.

I shake my head. "You and appearances. Looks aren't the important thing about guys; it's who they are on the inside."

"I know," she sighs, "I just wish I could find my dream guy."

I place my hand on her arm. "Don't worry, you will."

She looks at me sadly. "Why Alice, do you get all the guys?"

I shrug. "Honestly, I always ask myself that."

"I think I know why." She rests her head on the pillow beside mine. "You're perfect. Beautiful, strong, funny, and fierce--- every guy loves that."

I turn my head, so I could see her clearly. "Well you're beautiful too, has a great sense of humor, and a fashionista..."

This gets a smile out of her. "I have to go. I'll see you tomorrow."

I nod, watching her go. "Good night, darling."

She blows me a kiss. "Good night, beautiful."

I fall asleep instantly.