We arrived at the water park at around 2:30 and we exited the car, excited to go inside. We had to wait ten minutes for Duke to arrive though, so we all took a seat on a bench outside the massive building. Hayleigh wasn't kidding. I hadn't even gone inside yet and could tell this place had everything.

Duke's black truck pulled up into the parking lot before long and my stomach sank when a girl got out of the passenger seat. I don't know why I expected a guy like him to be single, but I shouldn't have been surprised. The girl was blond and had hazel eyes. Her skin was flawless and I could tell she would look a million times better in a bikini than I ever would. I groaned at the thought that I would probably be the only one in this party to be wearing a one piece. Typical me.

Duke and Tyrone exchanged a bro-hug-type-thing and Hayleigh impatiently started to lead the way inside, apparently wanting to get into the water already. I still couldn't get past the fact that none of these people seemed to have a hangover at all after how much we drank last night. Maybe I just drank the most or something. These people could seriously hold their own.

After we checked in at the front desk to get our wristbands, we walked through the gift shop Hayleigh tried to describe to me. We decided we would come back after, because it stays open longer than the water park.

Right before we walked up to the doors that enter the actual water park, Hayleigh quickly ran in front of them and turned around with her hands out, stopping us.

"Asteria, are you ready to have your mind absolutely blown?!" She says, as if announcing she's about to show me the biggest secret of all time.

"I think so?" I said with a bit of caution. She rolled her eyes at my uncertainty.

"Okay, Hayleigh, just open up already," Tyrone said, getting annoyed with the hold up.

Before he even finished the sentence she was already opening up the doors and humidity, that I know does not naturally occur in Vermont, hit me like a truck and I felt moisture already start to gather on my skin. I've never been to a sauna before, but I'm guessing this is as close as you can get without actually going in one.

We walked down a staircase into the huge room that surrounded us. The ceilings were extremely high up and made only of glass which allowed the sun to shine through. I looked at all of the colors around me which belonged to water slides, bathing suits, beach towels, table umbrellas, tubes, everything. Hayleigh was not joking. This place looked like a blast. A smile grew on my face as I watched kids coming down water slides, screaming before hitting the water at the end. This will be fun.

Hayleigh quickly found a table in the middle of the action and set down her things. I didn't notice how much stuff everybody was carrying until they sat it down. There were towels upon towels as the group started to kick off their shoes and remove their clothing or cover up dresses.

"Alright, for the first step in our plan of attack, should we order some food, or go get wet first?" Tyrone announced. Everybody cheered at the last part, so getting wet it was.

I watched as Tyrone, Xander, and Duke all started racing for the biggest pool here. They all 'whooped' as they jumped canon-ball-style into the pool, completely soaking a group of girls not far from them. I rolled my eyes. Classic.

"Alright, Asteria, I don't Know about you, but I'm headin' to the water slide. Comin' with?" Hayleigh pulled her coverup off and rested it on top of her towel. Her hair was done up in two braids as mine had been last night and her mustard yellow bikini complemented her eyes well.

I smiled as I slipped off my shorts and pulled my shirt over my head. "You bet! Whoever makes it down fastest wins!" I yelled over my shoulder as I took off at a run towards the nearest set of twin slides.

We both laughed as we accidentally reached for the same tube and we struggled for it. I finally let go and she almost fell backwards as I reached for another one. Since she stumbled I made it to the top of the slide first, but I waited for her to get there so we could go at the same time. What's the point in seeing who's faster if she's not here yet?

I waited for a few minutes, but a line was forming behind me and I had no idea where Hayleigh was. Did she actually fall and I should've been there to help her up? Was I too selfish in getting to the top first that I didn't notice whether she hurt herself or not?

I quickly scurried up from where I had been sitting in my tube at the slides entrance and apologized to the lifeguard before ushering the person behind me to go. I carried my tube back down the stairs and it wasn't long before I spotted Hayleigh. She had long forgotten the tube behind her and was instead more interested in the tall guy standing next to her.

I rolled my eyes. California or not, girls everywhere tend to be predictable. If there's a hot guy, they practically drop everything they're doing and try to earn their attention.

I scanned the guy up and down. He was pretty hot with his chiseled abs and sharp jawline. His biceps flexed as he talked, causing Hayleigh to giggle and I couldn't help but notice how nicely his hair looked. That didn't stop me from being annoyed at him for interrupting our game. What can I say? I'm extremely competitive and like to prove myself. I feel as if it's a constant need. To prove I'm more than people think I am. I cleared my throat.

Hayleigh turned to face me looking embarrassed and said, "Hey, um, sorry, this is Dakota!" She motioned her arms towards the guy as if trying to throw the conversation elsewhere. He gave a little wave. I could tell they hadn't met before, so I decided to make this quick and painless.

"I'm Asteria, nice to meet you," I stuck out my hand. He shook it. "I'll leave you two to it!" I said over my shoulder as I gave a wave. Hayleigh mouthed 'sorry' and gave me a small smile. More like 'sorry, not sorry' but whatever. I just smiled back.

I found myself walking over to the food part of the building. The part where you can just about never fail to find me, as you should already know. I scanned the menu behind the counter to find that they serve Boba Tea, one of my favorites. I just about broke out dancing for joy. I know it sounds weird, but I have Asian ancestry somewhere on my dad's side and everytime we visited his family they always made it homemade. So I kind of grew up on it and the few weeks I've been here, I have found it's hard to find in Vermont.

Without hesitation I ordered a large and also a burger with onion rings. I'm mixing cultural foods today. I quickly paid and was excited to have my order out within ten minutes. I excitedly sat down at the counter on one of the bar stools and popped the giant straw through the plastic lid of my drink before squirting ketchup all over my burger and beside my onion rings. I took a big swig and mentally moaned when the sweetness hit my taste buds that have been going through Boba withdrawals for too long. Just food withdrawals in general. I haven't eaten all day, so give me a break. I'm probably on the verge of mental hysteria.

I was on the third bite into the best burger I've ever tasted when a voice behind me made me jump.

"So, girls like you do exist."

That voice took up residence on the bar stool next to me and my mouth almost hung open in surprise. Good thing I was able to stop my jaw from slacking before my mouth full of burger tumbled out. That woulda been real cute.

I was almost scared to look into his prison of green eyes that I may never get out of again. But I couldn't resist. A smirk took over Duke's facial features as he took in what must've been my stunned expression. And full mouth of food, I must add.

I struggled to swallow before I asked, "What?"

"Girls like you, they aren't afraid to eat. Most girls lack that these days." He smiled at me, obviously amused. His voice was deep, smooth. I realized this was the first time I had ever heard him speak before.

Not knowing what to say, I let the silence hang between us like a weight, feeling heavier and heavier every moment. He ordered a soda as well as a burger, same as me. I knew this meant he planned on staying.

"You know, I did mean that as a good thing, if I offended you, I'm sorry." He offered, obviously not liking the silence any more than I. I just nodded at him as I swallowed my onion ring. I looked at him as he frowned at me.

"Girl of few words also, huh?" 

I just rolled my eyes.

"Okay, okay, just tryna be nice," he held his hands up in defeat. "But you do have a little something on your nose."

Oh my gosh, I swear if I've had something on my nose this whole time and I didnt know it...

I tried wiping at my nose, but nothing came off on my napkin. After another attempt Duke just chuckled and he took a bite of his own burger.

"What's so funny?" I ask, slightly annoyed.

"Ah, so she speaks! I was beginning to think you had gone mute since we got here, but now I can see I was clearly wrong." He smiled before taking a gulp of his soda.

I just shook my head at him. "There was nothing on my nose, huh?"

"Nope," came the muffled answer around his mouthful of burger. I punched him in the arm.

"Ow, that hurt more than I thought it could coming from you." That just earned him another blow.

"Jerk."

"Okay, now I'm just offended," he said, feigning an expression of exactly that. I stuck my tongue out at him. He shook his head.

"Okay, what are we now, five?"

"Nope," I said this time, finishing the last onion ring on my plate. "Six."

He just rolled his eyes at me, not even trying to hide his smile.

"Where's your girlfriend, anyway?" I carried on, taking another sip of my Boba.

He arched a brow at me. "Girlfriend?" I nodded my head at him.

"Ohhh, you must mean Alison. She's not my girlfriend, she's my cousin. That's why it took longer for me to get here. She texted me last minute saying she wanted to come too."

I could've face-palmed myself. I felt so stupid. But, then again, how could I have known? He must've seen the embarrassment creep into my cheeks.

"So you thought I had a girlfriend? That's why I was getting the silent treatment. Someone was jealousss." He dragged out. This only caused my face to burn brighter.

"Me? Jealous? Never. I'm probably the least jealous person you'll ever meet." I crossed my arms, standing by my point.

"Oh, really? It didn't seem like that a few minutes ago, now did it?" He smirked at me. My confidence wavered.

"It's fine, I get it. I've had so many admirers I've honestly lost count." He gulped down the remainder of his drink and looked at me. Now I'm just mad.

"What, something I said?" He asked, laughing.

"You know, you were startin' to do really well until your ego took hold of your personality." I stated.

"Really? Well, at least you admitted that much."

I shook my head at him before I got up from my seat and grabbed my wallet.

"What's wrong, doll face? Can't look at me anymore?"

"Why don't you just keep on flattering yourself. It's all you'll ever get when talking to me. Also, never call me that again."

"How about love bug?"

"No."

"Sugar plum?"

"Nuh uh." I started to walk away.

"Princess? Honey bun?

"That's no and no."

"Snuggle bear?"

"Definitely not that one." I scoffed.

"I didn't think so either, you don't seem all that 'snuggly' to me." He laughed and got up to follow me. "How about peaches? Queen? Baby? Oh, how about Catnip? There's no way you can tell me you didn't enjoy the Hunger Games."

At this point I just turned around and I about face planted into his chest, not realizing how close he had been following behind.

"Just don't call me anything, okay? None of those are my name." I looked up into his eyes. I didn't realize how much he towered over me until he was this close. We were almost breathing the same air, but I couldn't trust him this close to me. I couldn't trust myself this close to him. 

I turned around to walk away for the final time when his soft words sent a shiver down my spine.

"Whatever you say, Blue." 

✰✰✰

And that's a wrap! Asteria and Duke finally got to talk for the first time! What do you guys think of his personality? A bit much? Probably. Is it who he really is? That's for me to write and you to read. Lemme know if you liked this chapter! Votes and comments are very welcome ;) 

If you ship Duke and Asteria please leave a ship name here ~

Until the next chapter, Hazel Rae