Introduction

"Matt-ay!" I screamed, grasping at nothing as I felt my body lurch forward and crash-land into the deep end of the oversized pond. Pushing myself up from underwater and back to the surface, I spluttered and flipped my dark hair away from my face, glaring up at my stupid best friend.

"You should've seen you're expression!" He laughed, pointing at me. Hopping out of the murky green water, in my now soaked clothes; I looked up through the darkness of the Texas night and into the pale British face of Matt Roberts. His blonde hair stood on end as per usual, and his bright blue eyes had tears of laughter leaking from them reflecting the light from the glowing pond he shoved me into. That is, until he saw the smirk of evil on my lips.

“You are so getting it.” I hissed, arms outstretched towards him.

“No-no, Kriss I-“ Matt laughed, backing away from me. I took three steps closers, “I-I was just having fun, no need to be - cold!” He yelped as I leapt on him wrapping my soaked arms around his skinny body.

“Do you feel that? That my friend is wetness!” I laughed evilly as he struggled to get himself out of my vice like grip. “Not in the wrong way.”

“Krissy, gerrof me!”

“You should really tell your parents that pools would be better then ponds.” He shouted something back before I shoved the tall eighteen year-old into his family’s fishpond. Just then, Mrs. Roberts's head popped out the third floor window of their house as she began yelling at her son and me.

"Both of you, stop!" She screamed. "Please don't push each other into the pond. I don't want you killing the fish!” Immediately Matt swam to the edge and pushed himself out of the water.

“It’s alright Charlie, I think the fish can survive them.” Her husband’s head appeared from the window beside her. Mrs. Robert’s looked at him in shock.

“What are you doing? Zigzag, you shouldn’t be sticking you’re head out of windows.” She said. Her husband laughed.

“Your memory is going, dear. You’re head is outside as well. I think we should change your nickname eh, Smarts? ”  Matt’s mom glowered and her cheeks reddened, and she turned back to look at us.

“Just stop playing in the pond.” She smiled down at us embarrassed as she brushed her blonde hair out of her face.

"Yeah sure thing, Mrs. R.” I replied as angelic as possible and put a hand on Matt’s droopy wet hair. When she sighed and closed the window I snickered with my friend. Matt's parents were so funny sometimes. My own and his sometimes called each other their old detention camp names. I had heard all of the stories from the amazing ‘Camp Green Lake’ that our parents had been at together. Now at seventeen, the stories didn’t seize to continue, no matter how much I could recite them. 

“I'm going to get my bag upstairs and put on something else." I said, running a hand through my tangled hair with disgust. Matt looked me up and down and laughed. I gave him a sarcastic glare. “You should too Mr. Lightning Bolt Head.” I then ran away from him before he could get me back for insulting his hair. I had known the kid since I was born; I knew all of his weaknesses and strengths. One being his beautiful golden locks. The other-

"No! Kris! Come back! They – the aliens! They’re coming back for me!” I stopped in my tracks, wide eyed and ran back to get him. This was the worst of his weaknesses. He had acute paranoia, inherited from his dad. It was strange that he was the only child out of all three that had it. The fifteen-year-old Robby didn’t and neither did ten-year old Elaina. His two younger siblings were quite the opposite really, Robby would rather find the topic of aliens interesting and tell you a bunch of boring facts, where as Elaina would pull a face and change the topic to fairy princesses. His family was an odd one, but I couldn’t really talk. After reassuring him that there weren't any extraterrestrials to get him, though he did seem a little off put, I helped him off of the grass and slowly walked back to his large house, our shoes squelching with every step. When we were inside I took of my ruined Toms and gave him a little hug and told him that aliens can’t get you if you’re inside. Thankfully he believed me and I went up the spiral staircase to my guest room in his house. I took a right at the second level and walked down the long ornate hallway. Yes, it was a big house. Yes, he did have a big garden. Yes his family was rich and seeing that I lived in the estate next to his, so was I. But, his parents worked for it. My parents worked for it. (Though my Mom did inherit the house from her already ‘rich’ great-aunt) But, at the end of the day what does it matter? We weren’t snobby rich shits. We were ourselves. Matt and Krissy. I suddenly realized I was dripping water all over the cream carpet of the hallway.

“Shit.” I sprinted down the hall as fast as I coul. When I got to the door of the guest room I flung it open, wincing as it slammed against the inside wall. “Oops.” Hope it didn’t leave a dent. I ran for the bathroom door, wincing once again as I flung that one open too. God, I need to stop harassing doors. I grabbed a towel and quickly dried my body down a couple times and then wrapped it around my head and into a turban. Going back into the room, I rummaged through my bag and found my change of clothes. I ran back into the bathroom and got changed into my brightly patterned top and red jeans, accompanying them with a grey cardigan. When I found a hairdryer in one of the drawers, I dried my hair, making it end up like a puffy brown cloud around my face. “Jesus.” I quickly found my emergency hairbrush and attacked the cloud until my long straight hair was sleek and pushing my fringe to one side; left the bedroom. Accidently slamming the door open of course. I quickly checked my watch. 9:30 - it blinked. Oh god. We were late for the meet up! I groaned and swiftly took to the stairs, going down two or three at a time. “Matty! Matthew! Matt! We need to go!” I shouted, sliding into the Roberts’ living room with my socks.  

“Wha- What?” He stuttered drying his hair with a towel. I couldn’t help but notice that he wasn’t wearing a shirt…he did have nice abs.

“Put a shirt on-show off-and come on! The gang will be waiting!” I tied the lases of my Vans as Matt pulled on his white t-shirt and checked shirt.

“Ready?” He asked.

“Yeah-Oh! Wait!” I snuck into the kitchen and grabbed hold of my bag and lighter. When I turned back, Matt already had the door open. "My precious." I hissed clutching the bag to my chest.

"You are such a retard." Matt rolled his eyes and ushered me quickly out the door. We hopped on our bikes and pedaled down the street.

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