He let out a short laugh that nearly turned into a groan as his traitorous eyes dropped back down to the smooth globes of her barely covered breasts. "Fair point," he managed to say.
A peal of obnoxious but familiar laughter cut through their tranquil air like an air raid siren signaling bombers. They both winced at the sound.
Cameron couldn’t help but say the obvious out loud. "Out of all the girls in school, why the hell Sienna Chase?"
Ebony gave him a look that said she couldn't agree more, but she was far too polite to say it. Instead, she said, "Do you know what's up with him? One day everything was fine and then the next…he's acting like this," she gestured behind her toward the basketball courts where Gavin was.
He probably shouldn't say anything, keep treating it like a secret that everyone in school tiptoed around. He said it anyway. "I wish I could tell you what the fuck is going on with him, but I'm just as confused. He walks around with a goddamn chip on his shoulder snapping at everyone and everything while allowing that idiot Sienna claim to the world they’re in a relationship."
Ebony let out a deep breath.
He could kick himself. The last thing he wanted to talk about was Gavin. "Change of subject. We can either sit here and take bets on which couple is currently using your bathroom as a cheap hotel right now or we can play the game my sister is currently obsessed with."
Ebony shuddered and shook her head. "No thanks. I can never go down into the den after one of these parties until a cleaning crew does a deep clean of the whole place. What's the game Anna keeps wanting to play?"
"Would you rather," he announced dramatically, earning him a laugh. "Let's start off with one she asked me just this morning. Would you rather be lost at sea on an island or in a jungle?"
Turning onto her back Ebony looked pensive. "Mmm that is a good question. It really comes down to dehydration or jungle predators. I'm going to say jungle and hope a jaguar doesn’t kill me. You?"
"Jungle of course. At least then there is a chance to run for help."
While the party progressed around them, they continued to play the game their questions evolving from broader topics to more personal ones.
"Mmm," Ebony hummed sitting up. "That's a good one. Would you rather know the truth and hate it, or live a lie that feels good?" she repeated. "I'll have to think about that one but first I have to go to the bathroom. I'll be back."
Cameron sat up too. "Prepare yourself. I'm eighty percent sure there was more than one person in there earlier."
Ebony closed her eyes and made a face at that. "And people wonder why we lock the doors to the rest of the house."
He watched her walk away trying and failing not to look at the dip in the small of her back right before her ass. It mesmerized him. He hardly ever got to see her this unclothed. Normally she only ever wore sports swimsuits, the ones with shorts and sports bra tops. Nothing at all like this. It had taken the might of God and not to mention a certain someone's burning stare against the side of his head, to keep his eyes from falling to those two glorious purple triangles.
Cameron sighed and took a breath and turned, expecting to see those glowing demonic eyes staring back at him but he was surprised as he watched Gavin walk up to the DJ booth instead and grab a mic.
"Okay, now for the main event. Let's play a game of Last One Standing. Rules are simple. Throw any and every one into the pool and be the last one standing. Winner gets five thousand dollars cash."
A roar of excited screams and whoops shook the air. All at once people from every direction came to line up around the massive pool. Maneuvering his way through the crowd Cameron came to a stop beside his friends Ethan, Luis, and Gavin. A hush settled over everyone as they waited for Gavin to call the start of it.
Lowering the mic, Gavin fixed Cameron with a stare, his eyes blazing bright. "Sure you want to play? I won’t go easy on you this time."
A muscle snapped in Cameron's jaw. He knew he was talking about their last match, the one he lost. None of the extra training had helped. Countless nights sparring with Master Chun one-on-one, sneaking into late sessions just to get good enough to enter the tournament under Gavin’s nose. And for what? Just to end up on his back, hearing the ref count him out while Gavin stood over him like he’d always belonged there. Like it was never a question who would win. Bitterness twisted through him like a black fog smothering his soul as he recalled Gavin’s cocky grin and offered hand to help him up.
Cameron lifted his chin, eyes hard. "Let's do this."
A sick delight lit Gavin's eyes and he lifted the mic. "Game on," he shouted before tossing the mic to Taylor who was standing behind the DJ booth.
Mayhem broke out. Screams and shouts filled the air as bodies collided into each other. Cameron dodged two girls grappling each other before ducking out of the way as a guy from his chemistry class lifted another girl and tossed her into the deep end. Cameron tensed as a cool, wet arm slid around his neck. He could feel the chest of a guy pressing into his back as he attempted to drag Cameron towards the pool's edge.
Cameron reacted. With a hard elbow to the guy's ribs, Cameron didn’t pause at the satisfying grunt of pain. He turned swiftly on his heel and grabbed the guy, this time itwas Steven from his Government class, and grabbed him by the back of the hair. Steven's yell was too late. It was swallowed by the water as Cameron sent in hurdling in.
He was sending a girl flailing backwards into the pool when he heard a familiar voice. "What the hell?"
Cameron turned to see Ebony standing near the French doors looking stunned by the chaos. A few yards away, he heard Gavin let out a growling curse. Like a linebacker, he moved through the sea of clamoring bodies toward her with ridiculous ease. Cameron followed.
A girl in a yellow bikini reached for Ebony’s wrist. The look Ebony shot her could’ve set concrete on fire. She recoiled instantly, stumbling backward. Ebony turned and glared at Gavin as he reached her side, shouldering a guy out of the way. Cameron joined them, coming to stand on her left. They had her cornered against the glass doors and completely sheltered from the madness.
"What are you doing out here? I thought you went inside." Gavin leaned into her, his voice just above a growl.
"How was I supposed to know you were going to play this? You never talk to me, remember? And I had no idea I was supposed to shut myself away from everyone so you can pretend I don’t exist," she shot back.
