Chapter 3.

I wake the next morning to the sun shining through the drape covered windows, warming my pillows and blanket comfortably.

The pretty perfect way to wake on a morning isn't it? Too bad that's not how my morning began.

"I swear to all things sweet and holy, if I find out it was stolen there would be bloodshed," I fume with indescribable rage. 

"Relax. I'm sure it'll be around here somewhere."

The room is a mess. All three of our single beds are turned upside down and our boxes are spread out open on the floor in search of my silver neck chain. 

I was just about putting it on to go for a morning walk when I discovered it was no longer in my bag. I haven't seen it since I arrived in Hawaii but that doesn't mean I forgot it back at home. I always carry it in my bag so I'm still trying to figure out why I can't find it anymore. 

"It's just a neck chain, I can get you a new one," I shoot Lacey a hard glare from her statement and walk slowly towards her.

"It's not just any neck chain so watch your mouth or else I'll..."

"Allie!" Simone comes in between us before I start clawing at her face. I pull out my stress ball from my bag and start squeezing it to contain my energy. It doesn't help a lot, but it's better than squeezing someone's face instead. 

"We are going to find your neck chain," Simone says again. "I promise. Don't fight you guys." 

"What if I lost it? You know I can't lose it!" I squeeze the ball harder, a familiar sting burning behind my eyes. 

"Am I missing something here?"

"I'll explain to you later. Help me clean up," Simone tells her as Lacey stares at me with concern clouding her eyes before joining Simone in arranging the beds.

"We're here to have fun and watch cute half-naked guys tan themselves, Let's not get bitter," Simone says while shoving her things back into her box. 

"Exactly. Let's talk about boys, Who else noticed the Kingston boys are extremely hot?"

I zone out of their conversation and walk out of the room still moody. My whole day is officially ruined and all they have to talk about is boys. Those annoying species.

Everyone's busy getting everywhere ready for this evening pool party when I get out of the building. Alexa is shouting orders to some group of girls trying to hold up a banner on the wall that reads 'WELCOME TO THE SPLASH PARTY' and I roll my eyes at them.

My flip-flops continue to dig into the hot sand as I reach the edge of the beach where there's a volleyball net that is being erected on the beach just little ways above the water. I stop walking and shove my hands into the pockets of my Khaki shorts to watch Cory and some guys play volleyball.

"Come play with us!" Someone hollers, sending me a wide grin making all of them pause the game to await my response. 

Well, this is awkward. 

"It's fine! I'll just watch."

They all shrug and continue their game as Cory trudges over to me.

"You're all alone by yourself. That's very unusual of you," he says and steps in beside me. 

"I'm not in the mood."

"Someone cranked you up. Who needs ass whooping?" I let out a snort.

"You can't help. This is a me problem and ass-whooping won't fix anything."

"I like you, Allie," the hairs at the back of my neck rose and the insides of my stomach do a double flip. Is this it? Are my prayers finally being answered? I should probably go check out that wedding gown I saw online. We're going to have lovely Asian babies! "You're one of the few good friends I have and it's only natural I would like to know what's up with you all the time. Because that's what friends do, they look after each other."

Remember what I said about boys being annoying species? There you go.

"When did you start getting cheesy?" I tease.

He opens his mouth to reply but is cut off by an overly chirpy voice I recognize too well. "Cory!"

We both turn to watch Alexa march towards us and gives me a stink eye before turning her full attention to Cory. "I need your help. Where we're going to place the banner is too high and we need someone tall enough to fix it."

"On it. I'll see you later Allie," Cory says, completely oblivious to Alexa's and I stare off. 

"You're trying too hard, don't you think?" She speaks first when he's out of earshot. "Get a life and stop latching onto him."

"You finished blabbering? You sound like a giant tattooed baby and I'm not listening to any of your horse shit." 

"Oh well, I have job to do. Tell your Dad I said hi... actually, I'll tell him myself." Alexa smirks.

"Don't you ever talk about my Dad or I'll put your head through that wall," I ball my hands into fists by my sides. "Secondly, I'll have that job set up better than you while you're still putting on your baby oil."

She narrows her eyes at me and steps closer, her gaze not leaving mine. "You just reminded me exactly why I hate you. It's your face. Your big, stupid face. Looking at it makes me feel like God is projectile vomiting right in my eyes. And it burns, it really burns." 

"Well for me, it's your voice. Your nasally, prepubescent, Margaret Hamilton's* voice. Every time you speak, it's like dragging my face across shattered glass. And it hurts, it really hurts."

I hear her growl, satisfaction building inside me as I shoulder bump into her and make my way back into the building.

Today is definitely not my day.

• • • • • • •

The sun has already disappeared behind the horizon, leaving everywhere dark and quiet. Not for us. We could hear the music and laughter before we even reached the resort's pool. 

I don't see Cory and the other guys for the rest of the day but I don't really mind. 

I'm wearing a bump short and a long plaid unbuttoned jacket, with a bikini bra inside. Lacey is on a hot pink halter bikini set that's totally going to be a crowd-pleaser tonight while Simone is on her usual baggy shorts and a short-sleeved T-shirt.

Even though it's pitch black outside, the pool and the surroundings are lit up with disco lights. There are people in the pool already, splashing around and throwing rubber ducks at themselves.

Simone whispers something in my ear about getting us fruit punch but I don't pay too much attention to her. I'm more focused on Cory who's at the shallow end of the pool. The top of his body is perfectly visible, water droplets dripping down his sculptured chest and abs.

"Stop drooling," Lacey says beside me.

"I'm not," but my hands fly up to my mouth to check, just Incase.

"I think you should go flirt with him."

"And embarrass myself. Yeah, I'm not doing that."

"Come on," She drags out. "Grow some balls, live a little."

"No. Anyone but him. It'll be too awkward."

"Ok, what about that guy?" Lacey points to someone I recognize as Noah and I cringe. From this side of the pool, I can't see his face but I can imagine how those blue-grey eyes would stare hard at me. 

"Nope. Not him either. I don't even know how to flirt." 

"That's why I'm here to enlighten you on the subtle art of flirting," She gives a cheeky smile. "It all has to do with your body language sissy. Be confident as you speak and make excuses to touch him. And try to laugh whenever he makes an attempt to joke."

"What if it's not funny?"

"You laugh even harder."

"So either way, I laugh?"

"There you go! Now get over there and make me proud," Lacey slaps my butt and propels me ahead. 

I shove my way into the crowd and walk over to him. His back is turned to me so I think of a way to get his attention.

"Hey!" I call out, hoping I didn't sound annoyingly enthusiastic as I think. He turns around slowly and raises a perfect brow at me in question. "How's the party going?"

I rest my hands on the table beside us to try and act cool when my sweaty palms glide swiftly on the surface of the table, making me fall over. 

Lacey would be so proud of me right now.

He's staring at me like I'm completely from another world when my eye catches something dangling around his neck.

My silver neck chain with it's spear-shaped pendant. 

"You thief!" My eyes widen in shock and anger as the boy in front of me growls.

"What the fuck." 

In a reflex action, my fists swing up to meet his face.