Page 35
Story: MeK
Kirashakes her head whileDaRsmirks. “Anyway… there’s food, games, sunshine, and plenty of places to relax.IhopeI’vecreated a little piece of home for y’all and welcome toEthra, the official name of your new homeworld.”Everyonecheers as she blows us a kiss asDaRsets her back down.
“Comeon,Lace.Iset us up our own little paradise over this way so that we can watch everyone.”Briarpulls me across the sand to a nice, level, sunny spot.
“Oh,Ilike your choice of real estate,Briar.”
“I’mglad you approve.Nowget those clothes off, and let’s soak up some reflective rays fromEtherium.”
Halfnaked, we’ve just laid down and gotten comfortable when a large shadow hovers over us.Raisingup the new sunglassesBriarmade me,IseeBuKstanding over her with his tongue practically hanging out.
“Youwant to play this game,Briar?Theysaid they need a few more players, butIdo not know the rules.”
He’slike a puppy eager to play with his master, and it’s so obvious he’s really intoBriar. “Goon,I’mjust going to lay here for a while.”
BuKholds his hand out to help her up, andIcan’t help but laugh when he pulls too hard, and she almost flies past him only to end up in his large, pink arms.Theblush on his cheeks shows that he didn’t mean to do that, but he isn’t letting go of her either.Shepats him on the shoulder playfully, and they run off together.Leaningup on my elbows,Itake a minute to look around.
JamesandCarlaare sitting at the water’s edge under a large umbrella, their feet in the water.She’sreading a book while he appears to be napping.Thevolleyball game is quickly gathering a cheering team asDaRandKyTjoin opposite sides.VedeceandKiraare both yelling out instructions as they try to teach everyone the game.
Atleast they both have decent bathing suits on, unlike me.Theirswimming shorts and tank tops cover them completely but still look adorable.Kira’slong hair blows around her like a halo of golden light, whileVedece’sebony skin shimmers as the wind carries a light mist their way.Herbeautiful amber eyes are bright and cheerful for a change, the ghosts in her eyestemporarily pushed back as she enjoys a rare moment of peace.Briar, who has more confidence than any other femaleI’veever met, is in a tickling war withBuK.Everyoneseems to be all smiles and evenRickyis here.
Shockingly, he comes my way with his towel in his hand. “HeyLacie, just wanted to congratulate you on that outstanding performance this morning.Youwere the only girl who passed every simulation the first time around.Iwas impressed.Thatwas some fine shooting for someone without proper training.”
“Oh,Ihad proper training sinceIwasPapawapproved!”Weboth laugh, andIcan’t help but admire how wellRickyis built, even though he’s slightly older than the majority of us. “There’splenty of room here if you want to throw your stuff down.”
“Thanks, butI’mheaded toward the water.I’llsee you at the next class.”Heruns to the water, whereOwenand a few others are fighting over whose team he’s going to be on since someone has found a football.Iwatch as several girls approachRicky, he’s always polite but never allows their flirting to go any further.Hesmiles often, but it never really reaches his eyes.Thatwife of his was a lucky woman, and he’s still convinced she’s out there somewhere.Forhis sake,Ihope he’s right.
Ihave no idea whereKiracame up with all of this stuff, but my mind and heart needed it.Asmy eyes scan the area,Iknow whoI’mreally looking for, but he would never willingly come.Layingback down,I’vealmost dozed off whenIfeel sand hit my legs.
“Heybeautiful, what’re you doing over here all alone?WowLacie,Iknew you were cute, butIhad no idea you were hiding that rocking body under all those baggy clothes.”
Ibarely stop the groan that wants to leave my lips.Sittingup,Ipull my cover-up over my lap. “Whyaren’t you frolicking with everyone else,Eric?”
“Oh, we both know you were just waiting for me to make my move.YouknewIwas watching when you shimmied out of those shorts you had on.”
“Nope,Ithink you’re mistaken.Tobe honest,I’mnot all that comfortable showing this much skin.”
Hereaches a hand toward me, “Howabout me and you sneak off for a little bit and get to know each other better?”
BeforeIcan respond,IfeelHIMheaded my way. “Youneed to remove yourself, orIwill.”Andthere he is … six foot plus of pissed-off male.
“Whothe fuck do you think you are?Backoff, alien … you have your own women.Leaveours alone.”
IswearIwatchMeKgrow as his runes flash wildly.I’mon my feet between them instantly. “Ok, everybody cool it.Eric, your buddies are yelling for you.Whydon’t you head their way?”
“Yeahwhatever … big alien gotta have a female fight your battles for you?Lacie, this conversation is not over.”Hewalks backward, literally tauntingMeKlike he’s some kind of badass or something.Weall know thatMeKcould break him in half, butEricis trying to impress.
“Eric, no one needs this shit today, just go on.”
Withoutrealizing it,Ihad pressed my hand againstMeK’schest, and when he started to move forward,Idid my best to hold him back. “MeK, look at me, he’s not worth it.He’sjust trying topush your buttons because bullies are like that.”WhatI’mnot prepared for is for him to truly look at me. “Oh, shit!”
Chapter Seventeen
MEK
“Frack!”Thisis the third timeIhave put this panel on.Iswear that even though the beach area is nowhere near here,Ican hear her laughter on the wind … teasing me.Tauntingme.Howis a male supposed to focus like this?!Throwingmy tools down,Irun my hands through my hair, agitated.Aday of rest?Whata waste of a good rising.Thesebeings have nothing, yet instead of working every moment, they frolic in the water,playing.Itis disgusting.
Ifeel likeIam fighting against myself asIpace back and forth.Tryingto rationalize in my own brain seems to help.MaybeifIsimply check on her and the others, this feeling will subside, andIwill be able to get some work done.Quickly,Istomp through the trees, my aggravation evident in every heavy footfall asItake a different path through the woods to that area.Througha break in the trees,Ican see the beach, and everyone is engaged in various activities.ButwhatIam not prepared for is their state of undress … it is unseemly, to say the least.Theyare all naked, with brightly colored scraps of material that barely cover their treasures from prying eyes.Howand why would my father allow such a thing?
Myeyes find him andKyTtossing a round object back and forth with several others, and it shocks me to see that he is also in a state of undress.Ashamedby the display of wantonness before me,Istart to walk away whenIhear her voice.
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- Page 35 (Reading here)
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