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❝The very cunning conceal their cunning; the indifferently shrewd boast of it.❞

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*NOT EDITED*

THE DOORBELL RINGS and I walk down the stairs to get it. Hunter and Jeromy stand in the doorway and I can't help but notice the difference in looks and personality between them. Jer is grinning and Hunter has a nonchalant, blank look. Jer's more of a relaxed and carefree dude, he plays almost every sport there is, and his looks make every girl's knees go weak because of his very tall athletic build and the hot, surfer dude look — his blonde, ruffled hair and green eyes mark his signature look. On the other hand, Hunter is more of a tense, overthinking mystery. His blue eyes sharp and brown hair short, he has the cutting, mysterious look.

"Are the girls here yet?" Jeromy jumps over the couch and unfolds his body on it, his hands behind his head. I laugh at how it barely holds his tall figure.

"Get off the couch, Beckett. Mom just bought it," I say, flicking his forehead and pushing him on the floor to take his place.

"It's a shame she isn't here. I'd totally-"

"Shut up," Hunter and I both exclaim. For some reason, Jeromy has had this crush on mom ever since we were 12.

"What? Hunter, you gotta admit that French chicks are totally hot. Especially French chicks like Nina's mom."

"Hey, Jer, you should try this thing where you sound like nothing. It's called shutting up." Hunter throws a cushion at him whilst rolling his eyes.

"Hey, Hunter, you should try this thing where you're actually nice to your best friend. And-"

I groan and walk away to the kitchen, not wanting to hear any more of their bickering. As much as they can get sometimes, I still get along with them better than the girls — Jeromy more than Hunter. I don't know what it is, but I just feel more like myself when I'm around the guys. A part of my mask is put down, and I don't have to feel like I'm always being watched and judged.

The doorbell rings and I leave the kitchen to get it. I open it to find all three girls and I put up a smile in greeting.

"How's it going, bitch?"

I roll my eyes with a smile at Phoebe's greeting. It's so weird how she acts like nothing even happened between us. I guess it's because I have secrets that can ruin her life. I have secrets that can ruin anyone's life. But to be fair, Phoebe and I have this weird relationship where we're always okay because she acknowledges and accepts the fact that I'll never be afraid to stand up to her.

"Did you get your swimming suits?" I ask in reply as we walk into the living room.

"Of course." Phoebe runs a hand through her hair and looks at her perfectly manicured red nails. Sure enough, I catch the hints of a bikini strap under her sundress.

"I'm going upstairs to change my clothes," Heidi says, already walking to the stairs.

"Me too," Ruby adds, adjusting the Michael Kors bag on the crook of her arm.

"Use the bathroom on this floor, it's closer," I tell them. I don't want anyone going up to my room; everything could be ruined if one of them saw what's inside.

"Okay," Ruby says with a shrug. From the corner of my eye, I see Phoebe staring at me as the girls walk away, but ignore it.

I interrupt Jeromy and Hunter's bickering when I walk into the room. "Come on, let's go. Ruby and Heidi are changing in the bathroom."

They stand up and follow Phoebe and me to the back of the house. I effortlessly pull the glass doors to the side and slip my Bvlgari sunglasses to the bridge of my nose, stepping into the warm, basking sun of Miami.

"Cute shades," Phoebe remarks as I take off my jumper.

"Thanks, I-"

I'm interrupted when a hand pushes me and I fall into the cold, snapping water. Underwater, I hear muffled laughter and talking muted by the water. I open my eyes and laugh, the bubbles forming and floating upwards.

It feels like I'm here and I'm not here, floating aimlessly and wandering under water; it feels fictitious even when my lungs scream in protest.

I finally resurface, in need to resupply my lungs. Spotting Phoebe lying on one of the pool lounge chairs with her sunglasses on, I'm reminded of my own sunglasses.

"Great, now my sunglasses are somewhere down there," I complain. "Whoever pushed me is going to find them for me."

I pull myself out of the pool and walk to the pool lounge chairs. I pick up a towel and squint at Jer and Hunter as they watched me lightly dry myself.

"Good luck, Hunter," Jeromy says, pursing his lips and shrugging.

"Very funny, Jeromy." Hunter rolls his eyes. I can't help but watch as he takes off his shirt and reveals his muscled and fit body. He may not play as many sports as Jer does, but soccer and football do him mercy.

I flit my eyes away from him before he can see me staring and scold myself for losing the sunglasses that I just bought. I'm not the type of person who'd spend so much money and then be careless about it like my mom.

"I don't care who did it, someone's going to get my glasses from down there," I state.

"It's fine, I was going for a swim anyways. I'll get them," Hunter says with a wave of his hand, glaring at a smirking Jeromy.

He dives in and I lay back on the lounge chair, enjoying the warm sun on my skin.

"I forgot to tell you, I got the alcohol," Phoebe tells me, staring ahead.

I smile in excitement. "Where is it?"

"I kept it in Ruby's bag."

"Ugh," I groan. "I'll go get it. What's taking them so long?"

"I can do that for you," she offers.

"No, it's fine. I need the bathroom, anyways," I lie.

I can't tell if she's looking at me or not, her tinted glasses keep her eyes obscure. I stand up and slip on my flip-flops, walking back inside.

Sliding the glass doors to the side, I spot Jeromy shirtless sitting on one of the countertops in the kitchen with a cupcake in his hand.

"What are you doing?" I ask.

"Eating a cupcake," he says, his mouth full.

"Don't get anything dirty," I say, "the staff is on their off."

He nods and I leave him in the kitchen, walking to the left hallway where the bathroom is. Mom may spend too much money on the house and all the antique furniture, but I have to give it to her; she does a good job on it. The walls of the hallway are decorated with large, beautiful paintings and the carpets on the floor are plush and soft.

I'm about to open the door to the bathroom, my hand on the doorknob when I hear yelling and shouts. It sounds like they're arguing.

I place my ear flat against the door and concentrate on what they're saying inside. It's muffled at first, but I can make out a few things here and there.

". . . You never try, it's like I'm the only one who's trying to make this work!" It distinctly sounds like Ruby's deep and raspy voice.

"I am . . . people are going to find out . . . and-"

"So, what? What about us?"

My eyes widen. This can't be possible. Except it can; they're both single, they're always together, and every time they play with a guy, it doesn't last more than three days.

"Nothing's going to change . . . I'll always love you."

There is no more talking for a few seconds, and then I hear heavy breathing; they must've kissed.

I'm still in a state of shock as I try to process what just happened. I get why they'd keep it a secret, but it pains me that people would have to keep such secret. Ruby might not be the nicest person, but that doesn't mean she shouldn't be allowed to be with the girl she loves. Heidi is just this bubbly and giggling girl who got caught in the wrong group. They're so different, opposites really do attract.

I remember why I'm here again and I knock on the door. There is ruffling behind the door before it opens to reveal a grinning Heidi.

"What took you guys so long?" I ask, looking between them.

"We forgot where the bathroom was so we had to look around," Ruby answers.

I nod, knowing very well it's not true. "Phoebe said that the alcohol is with you?"

Heidi side-steps me and Ruby follows her out, patting her handbag. "It's in here."

"Let's go, then."

I close the bathroom door and lead the way back to the back of the house. I catch Hunter and Jeromy play fighting with each other. It looks like they were trying to make one of them fall into the water.

I grin and walk up to them slowly. They were too caught up in trying to win that they didn't notice me. After I'm a good five feet away from them, I run and attack Jeromy, hugging his torso and throwing us both into the water. I catch a glimpse of his shocked face before we both fall into the cold water.

Underwater, I see Jeromy looking at me. I laugh, making the bubbles form and float upwards before I resurface. I push my hair out of my face and see Hunter laughing as Jer resurfaces with an annoyed expression.

"I was so close to winning him, Nina," he says.

I laugh and shrug my shoulders, turning to the girls. "Aren't you going to jump in?"

"I'm going to wait for a few more minutes for my tan," Phoebe says.

Heidi walks to the pool and peers at us over her glasses. "When are we going to open up the alcohol?"

I share a look with Hunter and he nods. I look back to an expectant Heidi.

"After a short while-"

"AHH," she squeals as Hunter snakes an arm around her waist and pulls her with him into the water, splashing me all over with water.

"That was so not cool," she says when she resurfaces. I would've taken her seriously, but her tone and smile don't match her words.

"What's the point of coming here if you're not going to jump in?" Jeromy asks.

"Uhh, tanning?" Heidi suggests in a 'duh' tone.

"Flaunting my amazing body?" Phoebe adds.

"The alcohol," Ruby pipes in.

"You guys got the wrong points," Hunter says, shaking his head.

I leave them arguing and swim away peacefully, enjoying the water. There may be times when I can't stand the girls, but I get why they - Phoebe specifically - are like this. Pheobe's home and family are a bit messed up, high school is where she is queen. If she can't do it and be herself at home, then the school's definitely the place for her.

If you get close enough to her and play your cards right, you'll know that very very very deep inside, she's not that bad. She'll care for her friends and will have their backs . . . unless someone does her wrong.

I'm the type of person who will never hesitate to do someone wrong if I have to. And Phoebe's been walking on very thin ice lately.

I look back at her to see her staring at me. I'd do anythingto find what's going on in that calculating, whirring mind of hers. I smile and she smiles back.

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Author's Note:

Hey, guys! I'm sorry for not uploading yesterday, but I hope I did you justice by posting a long chapter today.

Leaving a comment or a vote would be very much appreciated :)

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