‘No, it isn’t.’
‘It’s raining.’ I point at the sky, as if she hasn’t noticed the wind slapping against the plastic pool cover piled up on the side.
‘So? I’m already wet.’ She shrugs, a coy smile dancing on her lips.
I internally groan. I really don’t need my mind to go there right now.
‘Either join me or go away.’ She shrugs again, the teasing grin on her face remaining as she stares up at me.
I raise an eyebrow, surprised at being invited to stay, considering she asked me to leave her alone after the party. I watch her for a moment, then turn to the sky, which is darkening by the second.
‘Fuck it,’ I mutter. Peeling off my shirt, I toss it on the ground. The tiles are cold and slippery as I walk to the edge of the pool. The raindrops hit my shoulders and slide rapidly down my back.
Anya’s entire body is under the water. Her stare doesn’t leave mine as I step into the pool. With the low lighting and her dark hair pooling around her, she looks as terrifying as she does remarkable.
The water is surprisingly warm. Moving towards her, I don’t stop until I’m just inches away. She stays where she is, silent and watching. God, she is beautiful. No matter if she is dressed to the nines, in her pyjamas or head-to-toe covered in water.
‘How was your day?’ I ask. A droplet slides down her forehead, between her eyes, before sinking below the water’s surface.
‘Good,’ she answers. ‘Had classes, then went out to lunch with Nora and Cami.’
‘They seem nice,’ I say.
‘They are.’ She smiles, moving forward just the slightest bit.
‘Do you like your classes?’ I question, wading my hands softly through the water, causing small ripples across the surface.
‘Yeah. They’re very different from high school. So far so good. Do you like yours?’
‘They’re fine.’
‘And your day?’
‘Terrible.’
‘Why terrible?’ she asks curiously.
‘I want things I shouldn’t want. It’s messing with my head.’
‘What things?’ she murmurs, dipping a little further under the water. Her eyes are a piercing dark green in this lighting. Goosebumps scatter across my skin, and not because of the cool wind.
‘I think you know.’
‘Where’s Zayden?’ she asks, her arms slowly drifting underneath the water.
‘Out,’ I whisper, even though there is no need to be speaking so quietly.
‘Why aren’t you out?’
‘I wanted to be home,’ I reply. ‘I wanted to see you.’
Her expression doesn’t waver. She’s changed. A lot. She used to be an open book, but now I find it very difficult to guess what she’s thinking. Instead of telling me off – like I assumed she would – she tilts her head, staring openly at me with those gorgeous eyes of hers.
‘Why?’
‘Because I want you,’ I murmur, the words falling from my mouth before I can stop them. When I was growing up, I had to shut people out and keep my thoughts hidden to survive, but I’m tired of that. I don’t want to play this cat-and-mouse game with Anya anymore. After being separated for so long, and knowing I can’t fill the void she left, I want to be honest and real with her for the first time in my life. ‘Even though I shouldn’t.’
‘I see.’
