"THERE'S NO WAY I'M PUTTING ON THAT LITTLE BIKINI!"

"Oh come on. It's really not that bad."

"GET OVER IT! IT'S NOT HAPPENING!"

I sighed as I was holding up the lavender colored, two piece swimsuit. Natalie was making this more of a big deal than need be. But then again, when is she ever not?

"Come on. I thought you wanted to raise money for that dumb café.

She sat down on her bed and folded her arms in frustration. "Well of course I do!"

"Then squeeze into this bathing suit!"

She blew a few strands of hair from her eye. "I just don't see why I need to have my boobs on display in order to do that though."

A soft, small smile graced my features as I made my way over to my bed, sitting directly in front of her. "Oh, Natalie. Poor, badly trimmed, naive little Natalie. Everyone knows the best way to raise money is to have a car wash."

She rolled her eyes at my words. "How cliche."

I narrowed my eyes at the ungrateful girl in front of me. I had literally dropped everything I could have been doing this week all just to organize this car wash! With my elite notoriety on social media, I spread the word all over. You wouldn't believe the numerous DM's and comments I had to respond to that were about the fundraising event this afternoon. 

"Natalie, there are people already on their way to Santa Monica right now. People who agreed to help raise the cash for the cafe that YOU wanted to save in the first place!" I said seriously. "Now are you really going to just let Mrs. Lilac down like this?"

A sad and guilty look spread across her face as I finished. She looked down at her hands for a few seconds before getting the courage to speak back up, "No, you're right. This is the only way for us to raise enough money to help her on such short notice." 

With a sigh, she stood up and walked over to the white dresser drawer. She rummaged through a stack of clothes before picking out a red, one piece swimsuit and black shorts. "But I'm still going to wear something I feel more comfortable in." With a turn, she headed towards the bathroom to change.

Hn. Makes no difference to me what type of swimwear she wears. It's obvious that I'm going to be the hottest one around anyway. I took a look at myself in the large dresser mirror in front of me. My dark hair was up in a wavy ponytail. A pink barrette clip was placed on the side to keep a few  strands in place. My soft pink eyeshadow and gloss matched my two piece. My light pink spaghetti strapped top held and uplifted me in the most flattering way. The complimenting light pink swim bottom had a few sparkles going across the sides. My naturally small and inward curved waist was on full display today.

Am I a knockout or what?

My intense gaze in the mirror got interrupted by Natalie clearing her throat. "Ahem. If you're done drooling over yourself, we should leave before it gets too late."

I rolled my eyes at her. For some reason, Natalie thinks I can be a little self absorbed. Psh, but if she looked even   an eighth as good as I do, I bet she'd admire herself the same way. I took one final, quick selfie before following her out of the doorway.

----
As we got to the designated area, there were tens of dozens of cars already parked and waiting to be washed. Some cars were clearly intentionally dirty however. Like, really? How could mud be spread all over your windshield, doors and tires? 

Loud upbeat music was playing from a  speaker as people who signed on to be staff were carrying buckets of sudsy, soapy water. The weather was perfectly warm as the slight breeze blew over a few particles of the beach that was not too far off from us. 

"Well, well, well. Who's the cutie in the red Baywatch swimsuit?"

We turned around to see Alex and Kaitlyn walking up along the smooth, black pavement. Kaitlyn was happily bouncing alongside him wearing a magenta bikini top and white swim shorts. A cheeky smile was plastered on Alex's face as his brown eyes scanned Natalie's form, starting from bottom to top.

Hmm, interesting.

"Sh-shut up," Natalie stammered out as a slight blush spread over her cheeks. She self consciously wrapped her arms around herself as she shifted in the same spot.

"Oh look!" Kaitlyn giggled out, "Natalie is blushing, that's so cute."

"I- I am not!"

"I'm only teasing you, Nat," Alex smiled before pinching her right cheek. "Besides, I'm wearing red trunks, so we're matching."

"Hey, great job at organizing this, Daisy!" Kaitlyn interrupted. "This place is absolutely packed. Mrs. Lilac is going to get the money she needs for sure."

"Thanks" I smirked.

"Yeah, good looking out, Daisy," Alex turned to me. "You really came through."

I scoffed. "Well of course I did. Did you honestly expect anything less?"

"You're right, no one should ever doubt you," he chuckled out. "But anyway, Kaitlyn and I are assigned to clean cars five and six."

"Oh yeah, we'll see you guys later!" Kaitlyn waved before following behind Alex.

A smirk formed on my face as I turned to my left. A blush was still on Natalie's face as she watched Alex's shirtless form walk into the distance. "Goodness, Natalie, all he did was touch your face and yet you're red as a tomato."

"I- Am not!" she protested.

"You can't fool me," I laughed. "You so like Alex."

She kept quiet as she looked away nervously. Well this is just rich. Sweet little Natalie is finally growing up, huh?

A sneaky thought came into my mind. I was going to get the truth out of her, even if it may torture her a bit. "Hm," I pondered. "Well, Alex is kind of cute when you think about it."

Kaitlyn quickly turned her head to finally face me. Her blush was replaced by furrowed eyebrows and a slight pout. Perfect. Now I just need to push her a little further.

"And I never really noticed it until he took his shirt off, but he's actually kind of fit," I said as I watched him water off a windshield. "Hm," I smirked. "Maybe I should ask if he'd like to go out sometime."

I could only walk forward two steps before a hand firmly grabbed my left arm, stopping me in my tracks. I held in a giggle as I turned my head back to see an annoyed Natalie. "What?" I innocently asked.

She released her grip before explaining. "W- why do you like Alex anyway? He's nothing like your type!"

"Hm? I don't know," I said. I put my finger up to my face, tapping it as if I was in thought. "I think it's about time I broaden my horizon. I mean, you met Chad, right? I think it's due time that I switch up my taste in men."

"Well yeah," she scoffed. "But why Alex of all guys?"

A smile formed on my face. "Well come on, Natalie. Alex is nice, caring and just a great person." An unpleasant grimace formed on her face as she took in my words. I knew she was close to breaking. I couldn't stop now. "And plus, let's be real here," I said as I flipped my hair over my left shoulder. "He's still just a guy. I doubt he'd turn this down. So what's stopping me from going after him?" 

I took a final smirk at her before turning on my heels, only to get the answer I desired.

"Because I like him!" 

I turned back to her. Her face was redder than before, this time with a mix of embarrassment and anger. 

"I knew you did," I smirked.

"So then why are you going to ask him out?" She shot back.

I rolled my eyes. "Oh please. I'm not interested in Alex. By all means, you can have him. I only said those things to get the truth out of you."

"Ah-" she opened her mouth in astonishment. She was clearly at a loss of words. "That was a mean idea!"

"No, that was an amazing idea."

"Well okay! You win, alright?" She folded her arms and took a huff of air. "Just go tell him then. I bet that's also part of your plan, isn't it?"

I turned my dark brown eyes up, rolling them dramatically. "How juvenile would that be, Natalie? Don't worry, I won't say anything."

Her features softened up into a smile as she looked over at me. "Thanks. I've been trying to keep it a secret for a while now."

"Well you should tell him soon," I said seriously. My thoughts then wandered over to Chad. Much to my dismay. When we broke up, he brought to my attention that I had neglected him. I was so caught up in myself that I couldn't even express my feelings for him anymore. "If you like someone, you should let them know."

She kept quiet for a moment as her eyes wandered over to something in the distance in front of her. I could tell she was contemplating my words. She let out a breath as she spoke, "You're right." Her gaze focused back towards me as her eyes showed sincerity. "One day. Preferably sooner than later. I'll let him know."

Deciding it was best not to press her further on the sensitive matter, I nodded. "Good for you, Nat."

"Yeah," she sighed. "Well, I'm assigned to wash that Hummer over there," she said, signaling to the gray truck parked nearby. 

"Cool. I've got the Range Rover parked a little up ahead."

With a nod, she made her way down the pavement. I sauntered over to the lined up buckets of soapy water sitting on the wet concrete and reached down, grabbing the handle. That's when I felt a sudden pressure of cold and wet liquid dripping down my thighs.

I was pissed off to say the least. Looking down at the ground from my bent over position that I was in, I saw the clear puddle surrounding my feet. I'm totally going to pulverize the idiot that just sprayed that hose on me! This is couture beachwear, i.e. not made to actually get wet!

Ignoring the feeling of a wet bum, I stood up straight and turned around to give the perpetrator a beating of a lifetime! A grimace soon formed on my face when I saw the smirking, muscular, shirtless culprit standing in front of me...