/attached pic of Sidney/

•

•

•

•

"You!!" I spluttered, instantly recognizing Lamborghini guy. I reluctantly locked my arms around him because Lambo guy was wearing a lifejacket and over smart me wasn't.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

"Yeah, thanks. "

"Can you empty your pockets? You  totally stole the dance today." He was smirking at me now, his wet hair spiked up in all directions. On seeing my puzzled expression, he added, "I saw you at the mall today."

"Oh." I said, mentally waving it off. I had a more important question I'd forgotten to ask Mom in the midst of the most boring lecture in the history of geographies I got yesterday. Surprisingly, my parents hadn't mentioned anything about therapy and had settled on just giving me an earful on violence.

"What were you doing at my house yesterday?"

"Wrong address." He said, casually tightening his hold on my waist. I would've said something but the water was making everything slippery.

I pulled my eyebrows together,
"Then how did you get inside?"

"The door wasn't locked so I walked in- "

"You walked in?- "

"But," he rolled his eyes, "I saw family photos framed in the hallway and figured it certainly couldn't be my friend's house.. Although I'm glad I got the address wrong." He leaned forward and tucked a strand of my loose hair behind an ear, smiling mischievously. For some reason I didn't feel repulsed at all. If anything, I was mildly amused.

"By the way squirrel, dark blue and bare skin looks even better on you than red. Or orange, whatever."

Bewilderment was my initial reaction. Realisation next; it hit me like a truck.

"You're the pick up line guy?" I burst out laughing.

"Yep." He grinned. "Sidney's the name"

"Boy, are you stalking me?" I asked out of genuine curiosity.

His grey orbs were staring into mine, challengingly. He said, "Squirrel, I don't stalk. I'm more of the 'go and get it type'."

I rolled my eyes at that. His hands travelled downwards slowly. I caught hold of his wrists.

Leaning close to his ear, I tilted my head and said, "Well, Sidney darling, this time you're not getting anything." With that, I dropped his hands and smoothly waded back to my motorboat. Thankfully, it was upright and unharmed. In one not so swift movement I was on top of it. I peeked over my shoulders to see a stunned expression on Sidney's face. I rolled my eyes and started the engine. He  definitely wasn't used to hearing that.

"Do I at least get the pleasure of knowing your name?" He called out, running a hand through his dark hair.

"Nop" I popped my 'p' and everything, not bothering to sugarcoat it. Sidney placed a hand over his heart and pretending like he just got stabbed, all the while grinning widely.

I was smiling all the way back to the shore. Such a flirt. My smile dropped off my face once I realised I'd lost the race. Dang it. I frowned, looking around and spotted Van and Blake busily making out.

Sidney's mischief seemed to have rubbed off on me because the next thing I know I bounced up to them and declared loudly,

"Yes, yes, of course you can continue eating each other's face off." I casually waved one hand in the air, "You don't need to feel embarrassed about that. No, not at all." The pair jumped apart at my comment. Vanessa was blushing tomatoes. Blake started laughing at her reaction and pulled her into his chest.

I chuckled. "Sorry, sorry. I'm just kidding. Please continue eating. I mean kissing. I- I mean, uh, I'll leave." It was my turn to get embarrassed. I quickly departed from the scene. Behind me, I could hear Blake howling with laughter at my expense.

I trotted up to the shack in the dusty evening light. The sun was leisurely dipping into the ocean. I rubbed my arms as a cool breeze blew over my now dry body. Jumping over the shack counter, I quickly located my clothes and donned them. I jumped back and scanned the sitting area for Rhys and JoJo. I found the latter occupying a corner table, quietly sipping on a juice. He looked up at me with a surprised smile as I slipped in beside him.

"Hey, where's Rhys?" I asked.

His smile changed into a cunning one as he pointed towards the other end of the shack counter. It was wooden and extended in a semicircle around the front. I followed J's finger to a curvy blonde skeptically eyeing a familiar brown haired boy who had one eyebrow raised and a flirty smile stretched across his face. Familiar my arse. It was Rhys. I exchanged an excited glance with JoJo as we settled in for some spicy, live entertainment.

Rhys got off his bar stool and took one close step forward. His hand went up to probably hold Blondie's hand. But it never succeeded. As we watched with bated breath, the blonde lifted her palm at the speed of lightening and smacked it across Rhys' face.

Ouch. My hand subconsciously went to my cheek. Dude, even I felt that.

Blondie whizzed past Rhys who was rubbing his cheek, looking shocked. I turned to see J laughing hysterically. He was literally weeping with all the laughter. I protectively grabbed his smoothie out of the way as he fell off the chair, howling wildly. Rhys pushed himself in the seat across us with a sullen look on his face.

"There, there. It's okay." I patted his hand sympathetically and generously offered him the smoothie.

J finally recovered and made a reappearance from the floor.

"Oh Lord," He said, gasping for air. "That was epic." Turning to me, he said, "Blondie was the first to take up physical abuse among all four."

"And that's mine." He said possessively, snatching the smoothie from Rhys.

"That's yours? Eww," Rhys exclaimed, furiously rubbing his lips. I rolled my eyes.

"Holy macaroni." We turned to see JoJo gawking at something with his jaw hanging open. The source of his fascination was in fact, a someone. A tall, black haired girl to be precise, who was leaning against the counter, her back to us. Now, why does she look familiar? Rhys whistled to himself and got up, running a hand through his gelled hair, apparently trying to fix it.

"Watch me get her number. Oh and don't be jealous Kia, you'll always remain my first love." Rhys said and attempted a macho walk to the counter.

I raised my eyebrows and mumbled, "Sure." As I watched, he said something to the girl and smugly offered her a pen. She turned around to face him. My eyes widened.

"Avril? Uh oh. J, Rhys is in trouble." I turned to see J still staring at Avril with a fixated look in his eyes.

Okay...

Suddenly, there was a cry from up ahead. Avril had Rhys' arms twisted behind him.

He yelled, "Kia help! She's trying to kill me!"

Avril turned to look at me, her face instantly brightening with recognition.

"Kiara! What a surprise!" She said as she started towards our table. I met her halfway and grinned back.

"Hey Avril,"

"D'you know this guy?" She asked pointing at Rhys who was sneaking back to the table.

"Him? Yeah, my best friend." I caught his arm and pulled him back. "Rhys meet Avril, Avril, this is Rhys."

"I'm pretty sure we already met." Avril said, giving Rhys a sour look.

"I- I'm sorry about that pick up line. It was lame." Rhys said laughing nervously.

Avril nodded. "It's okay. Oh and I hope I didn't hurt your arms too bad."

"Why don't you join us?" I asked.

"I'd love to, but Johnson is waiting for me. Maybe next time."

"Oh. Fine, but first let me introduce you to J."

We walked back to the table. J rose from his chair as we neared him. Close your mouth boy, or you're going to catch flies, I thought.

"Avril, this is Jeremy AKA J. And J this is Avril. She recently transferred to our school. Vanessa and I already invited her to sit with us during lunch."

"What?!" Rhys exclaimed. I kicked him in the shin and he hastily corrected, "I mean yeah, sure. That'll be great."

But when we turned, neither of the two were listening. Both of them were staring at each other, completely oblivious to us. J lifted his hand,

"Hi."

Avril took it, smiling. "Hi."

Ed Sheeran was so right. People fall in love in mysterious ways, maybe just the touch of a hand. This wasn't a mere handshake. It was the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. It was the most enchanting thing in the world.

I smiled.

It was a love, at first sight.

•

•

•

•

We slowed to a stop. I exited the car while Rhys continued to the second driveway of his house that led to the garage. Vanessa had left with Blake. And JoJo.. let's just say he was in no mood of leaving Avril.

I yawned and walked up to the gate. We were having a sleepover here at Rhys'. I gasped and stopped short when I saw a dazed Sidney descending the steps.

"You again!"

He looked up, startled. His grey eyes swept over me once, twice as if for the first time.

I narrowed my eyes. "God, you really are stalking me, aren't you?"

Sidney started blinking rapidly. He shook his head and resumed his walk and halted when he was right in front of me.

Looking straight into my eyes, he breathed, "I'm not stalking you, Kiara." I was paralyzed for a second. His eyes were brimming with sincerity and something else. Recognition. And confusion.

Huh?

"Then how were- wait," I said, as I suddenly realized something. "How did you find out my name?"

Sidney's eyes widened a fraction. He immediately looked away.

"Uh, If I can get your number, the name has got to be the easy part, right?" He stepped around me.

"And how'd you find that?

"Squirrel, sometimes we're better off not knowing certain things." He said, backtracking.

What.

"Like what? Knowing how a creep got my number?" I said skeptically.

He grinned, seriousness vanishing like poof.

"Maybe I'm a creep. But a sexy creep. And I know you secretly already think so. See you soon, squirrel. Don't miss me too much."

With that he left, disappearing around the corner, taking with him his planet-sized arrogance. And leaving me to ponder on this highly confusing, borderline narcissistic but admittedly cute boy.

And how the heck he got my number.

•

•

•