Ezra

I slept on the couch after I saw Tali sleeping on my bed when I got out of the shower. She was black-out drunk, and I didn't want to disturb her. I talked to Zack when I got dressed that morning.

"Sorry for interrupting. I just wanted to get coffee," Tali yawned.

"Good morning, sleeping beauty. Ezra and I were wondering when you would surface," Zack joked.

"How's your head?" I asked.

"Pounding, the aspirin I took earlier hasn't kicked in yet," Tali groaned.

"Too much alcohol tends to do that. You were busting a few moves last night on the dance floor." Zack said.

Tali cringed at herself and bit the tip of her thump in embarrassment. "I really should be supervised around alcohol."

"Don't worry, you will be in the future," I said. My phone buzzed in my pocket. "I need to take this," I answered the call. "Pheonix, talk to me." I moved to my bedroom and locked the door to take the call privately.

"You father wanted me to warn you about Tali and that we found nothing on her, I have searched countless databases and have found nothing," Pheonix explained.

"Pheonix, what the hell are you saying?" I was confused.

"I'm saying I don't trust Tali. We don't know the deal yet, but Tali Santiago doesn't exist." Pheonix said.

My eyes widened. "What?! How is that possible?"

"We don't know yet. All we know is Tali came to live with Jona three years ago and where she was before that we don't know yet." Pheonix told me.

"Is Tali even Jona's daughter to begin with?" I asked.

"We don't know yet Ezra. There is every possibility Tali is working for Jona and your father wants you back home today with the girl," Pheonix said.

"Well that's not happening. I have plans for spring break and I'll be damned if I'm canceling them," I refused.

"Ezra come on. You know it's a lot easier to just follow orders. I can tell your father you will be here in a few days and see how he take it." Pheonix offered.

I scoffed. "Fine." I hung up and exited my room. Zack was waiting by the door. "I'm assuming you heard nothing?"

"I heard nothing bro, you look flustered, everything alright?" Zack said.

"Don't ask," I shook my head.

Zack nodded. "Tali is gone to get ready. She is coming with us to the beach with us."

"Good, I need to keep her where I can see her for now. I'll tell what is going on later man. I just can't deal with all this bullshit right now," I said.

When I finished, I returned to my room, put on swim trunks, and went to the living room. By the time I arrived, Tali had already put on her swimsuit. Zack needs more time to get ready. Fucking hell, the swimsuit Tali has on looks sexy on her, and it's a bit revealing, not that Im complaining. What the hell am I thinking? "Don't you think you should cover up a bit?" I said, and Tali raised her head to look at her as she played on her phone.

"Why? What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" Tali asked.

"Nothing, if you were planning on staying inside," I said.

"Are you saying I don't look good?" Tali grinned.

"I didn't say that. I said maybe it's a bit much. Would you not wear a jacket or something until you get to the beach?" I said.

"You have a boyfriend after all. Would he be happy with you wearing that in public?" I said.

"Why wouldn't he be, Ezra? It's too warm for a jacket during this time of year," Tali gave an excellent poker face, even though I couldn't tell what she was feeling right now. I just shook my head as we were getting nowhere.

"Forget it, let's go," Zack, Tali, and I said. We went to the car, and I started driving to the beach. When we got on the highway, I had to tell Tali I would return to my parents' house tomorrow. "Tali, we are heading back to my parents' house tomorrow," I said.

"What? We just got back from your parents' house. Why are they calling us back so soon?" Tali was shocked. "It doesn't matter anyway, I'm not going,"

"Yes, you are," I growled.

"Take your fucking girlfriend with you," Tali hissed.

"I would if I could. But it's my fiancee they reuested and that's you," I smiled.

"Good luck with that hun, but the fact remains that I'm not going back," Tali said.

"Yes you are," my voice deepened threatenly.

"Please don't start anything today. You two are worse than a married couple," Zack groaned.

Tali and I remained silent on the beach. Tali got her things and headed to the spot Zack had reserved in advance. "Samara and Karin are here," Zack pointed to them.

"Yeah, I see them. Where is Tali?" I asked.

"She pulled out her phone as she headed to the beach spot I picked out for us," Zack said. Zack started walking.

It's time to tap that phone of hers. "Hey honey," Samara tapped my shoulder.

"Samara, I wanted to apolizie what happened at the club," I said.

"Already forgiven, fancy for a swim?" Samara asked me.

"Later, we just got here," I said, pulling her to me and kissing her. Samara pulled away and got mad, but her eyes weren't towards me.

"What is she doing here?" I sensed that Tali was behind me.

"I see you're still enjoying my fiance," Tali said playfully, clearly trying to piss Samara off.

"Don't start either of you. We are at the beach, if you want to fight do it somewhere else," I said with annoyance.

Tali laughed. "I have better things to do with my time,"

"Slut," Samara coughed.

Tali walked closer to Samara. "If you have something to say, just say it. Don't be a coward,"

"I said you're a slut!" Samara hissed.

Tali laughed even harder. "You're the one sleeping with MY fiance. I think that makes you the slut, ta ta tramp," Tali laughed as she turned her back and walked to the water.

"I want her gone Ezra," Samara clenched her teeth.

"That's not going to happen anytime soon Samara. So get used to it," I said.

"Get rid of that bitch Ezra, NOW!" Samara growled.

"Don't tell me what to do, Samara. You will not like the result of what I will do to you," I said. I left Samara as she was throwing a childish fit. I went after Tali and saw she was in the process of building a sand castle. "Really, Tali, sand castles?"

"It's quite therapeutic," Tali said, facing the sand.

"I'll take your word for it. I'm going to get food for everyone at the beach cafe, do you want anything?" I offered.

"No need. I can go myself," Tali smiled.

"You can inside dressed like that?" I said

"It's a beach town cafe; I'm sure people walk around all day in their swimsuits," Tali said.

"I doubt that. I might have a jacket in the car," I said, turning around and heading to the car.

"I do not want a jacket, don't be an idiot. If I didn't know any better, Ezra Halliwell, I'd say you were jealous," Tali smirked.

"I don't do jealously. Come on I will go with you," I said.

"Don't you need to ask permission from your girlfriend first?" Tali crossed her arms.

I smiled. "Very funny. Let's go,"

Tali ordered a chocolate cupcake and urged me to eat something, but I refused. "I'll get us a table while you wait for the cupcake," I waited for Tali to come to the table to pick for us, and she was already eating her cupcake. "How the hell do you eat that crap?" I asked.

"With my mouth," Tali said.

"You really are a smart ass," I said. "I meant that I don't get the whole cupcake thing. Aerith has some sort of addiction to cubcakes also,"

"Aerith? Who's that?" Tali asked.

"My sister, did you not meet her at the party?"

Tali shook her head. "No, I just met your parents. Well, your mother. I wasn't officially introduced to your father,"

"Lucky you," I laughed.

"Ezra, there you are, I've been looking for you everywhere," Samara said as she walked into the beach cafe.

"No getting away from you it seems," Tali moaned.

"Was I talking to you?" Samara yelled.

"Tali wanted a snack, what's the problem?" I asked.

"How is her wanting a snack your problem?" Samara sneered.

My phone began to ring in my pocket. I was saved by the phone—or, in this case, by my mom. "Mom?"

"Ezra, there has been a change of plans. Your father wants you back home as soon as possible. Also, the wedding is going to be sooner rather then later," Mom said.

"What?! Mom, you can't be serious; you and Dad can't do this to me," I said, but I knew that fighting my mom on this would get my father involved, and he would have more of a headache. "I have to go; I'll see you later," I hung up.

"Ezra, what's wrong?" Tali asked.

"We have to go back to my parent's house straight away," I said.

"You're going back to the Halliwell Manor with her!" Samara said, flappergasted.

"And that's not even the worst part," I said, then faced Tali. "Our parents are bringing the wedding forward," I said.