I wake up the next morning at 10:45 am. Zyair's party doesn't start for another six hours.

I lay on my back and contemplate whether to get up or not. My mind drifts back to last night's kiss with Gray, and I rub my lips slightly with my fingers.

I had no idea what that kiss meant and wasn't ready to start overthinking it.

It probably meant nothing to him. He was drunk after all.

I decide to not talk about it unless he does. Yes, typical Dove, avoiding her problems.

I swing my legs to the edge of the bed and wear my pink flip flops. I walk into the bathroom, brush my teeth, and wash my face.

Walking out the bathroom, I see Fawn leaning over my phone. "You've got a weird text," She says, her brows furrowed.

I walk towards her and grab my phone. I frown when I see a weird text message from an unknown number.

Or else what?? I wanna know.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Fawn asks me.

I shrug, delete the text, and block the unknown number. I tie my hair in a messy bun and begin to apply my moisturizer to my face.

"What did the person mean by, stay away from Gray?" She asks again.

"I don't know and don't care, " I reply in a monotonous voice.

It was probably some harmless threat from one of his fangirls. I went through a lot of that when we started dating. I just didn't understand why they would text me now.

"I'm hungry, " I clutch my tummy and pout at Fawn.

She sighs and rolls her eyes. "Go make yourself something to eat," She jumps on the bed.

I purse my lips and walk out of the room. I guess I'd just have to make toast. Don't want to experiment and burn down Zyair's house.

On getting downstairs, Zyair and Gray are playing a video game and screaming at the tv.

I wasn't expecting to see Gray so soon. To be honest, I didn't want to. I turn to walk back upstairs when someone calls out my name.

"Good morning, Dove, " Amy calls in a cherry voice.

Gray's head snaps to the side, and his eyes meet mine. I give him a blank stare, refusing to react until he does.

He grins widely and gets up from the sofa. "Dude, what the fuck, " Zyair groans and grabs Gray's PlayStation.

He tries to play the game with both hands but eventually loses. He throws the PlayStation on the sofa angrily and turns to glare at Gray, his hands on his hips.

"Dude."

"Hey, " Gray smiles at me, ignoring Zyair.

"Hey, " I smile, shyly.

I mentally roll my eyes at how soft my voice sounded. That wasn't how I intended to speak.

"Hey?" Zyair frowns at me, his hands still on his hips.

Why was he mad at me? It wasn't my fault Gray stood up.

Then it hit me.

"Oh shit. Happy Birthday, Zyair. Happy Birthday, " I walk up to him and pull him in for a hug. "I love you."

Zyair chuckles and hugs me back. "Thanks, tiny."

I roll my eyes and smack his chest. "I'm 5'6."

"Exactly."

"Are you hungry?" Gray asks, walking towards the kitchen counter.

I follow him into the kitchen. "Extremely."

"Omelette?"

"Pancakes, " I grin and tilt my head.

Gray chuckles and grabs two eggs from the fridge. "Pancakes are unhealthy."

"Then I strive to be as unhealthy as possible," I reply, placing my hand on my chest.

"Can you make it?" He narrows his eyes, teasingly.

I think for a while and nod my head. "I can make the mixture while looking at the recipe. But the gas cooker and I have a different relationship. My pancakes always end up burnt 90% of the time," I babbled.

"So, no?" Gray raises a brow.

I shake my head. "Not really-

Gray raises his head, silencing me. He brings out his phone and scrolls through it. "Let's just go through the recipe together."

Luca and Aaron walk in, sweating slightly. "The firewood is outside. We got two cords, " Aaron tells Zyair.

Luca smiles and waves at me. "Morning."

"Hey."

"Got some pancakes from Urban Girddle, want some?" He asks, holding up a box of pancakes.

The smell was enough to make me drool.

Gray looks up from his phone. "Kelch prefers homemade food."

Who? Me? I barely eat at home.

Luca raises an eyebrow at me. "Really? But I already bought it?"

"Well, I guess I'd take it then, " I reply quickly, and grab the box from Luca.

Gray furrows his brows at me, and I shrug in reply. Nothing gets in the way of me and my food. Not even cute guys.

~~~~~~~~~~

I glance at the clock and take one last stare at my body. I could hear the faint music playing, signaling that Zyair's birthday party has begun.

I was wearing a CUPSHE Rambling Rose High-Waisted Push Up Bikini Set. My curves were on full display, making me feel a little self-conscious.

I grab my denim shorts and wear them over the bikini pants. I curl my lashes again and apply lipgloss to my lips.

I walk downstairs, and Gray's not in the house. Luca was leaning against the wall, waiting for me. His eyes widen when he sees me, and a grin spreads across his face.

"You look fire," he whispers in my ear.

Gray walks in with a can of Pepsi in his hand. "Zyair, the guys from-"

He stops mid-sentence, and his eyes land on me. He chokes on his drink, coughing slightly.

Zyair looks from me to Gray and rolls his eyes. "I'm embarrassed I know you, " He pats Gray's back gently.

Gray grabs a tissue from the table and wipes his mouth. He stands straighter and runs his hand through his hair. "The guys from the...uh.."

He sighs and licks his lips, scratching the back of his neck. "I forgot what I wanted to say."

Aaron runs in, pointing frantically at his back. "Those idiots are causing a ruckus. Zyair, can you take care of this."

"Yeah... What he said, " Gray adds, pointing at Aaron.

Zyair's eyes turn a visibly darker shade before he storms out of the house. Gray gives me one last glance and walks out with Aaron.

I frown due to the lack of compliments from Gray.

I walk out with Luca, and my heart skips with joy at the scene before us. Remember what I said about the night? I take that back.

The sight of the bright blue sea and golden sand shimmering in the sunlight was enough to change my mind.

The environment was loud yet calming. The smell of barbecued chicken and hamburger fills the humid air. There are people playing volleyball, swimming, and water skiing.

I see a few tan bodies laying in the sun, a female lifeguard in her high chair with binoculars in one hand, and some guys grinding to the music.

Luca grabs my arm. "Wanna go for a swim or wanna lay around like those pesky Barbies?" he asks.

I look at him and scoff slightly.

To be honest, I was more of a pesky Barbie than a surfer female. Swimming was a chore for me, and I'd rather sit around lazily, doing nothing.

What I didn't appreciate was his tone when he said 'pesky Barbies'

Before I could reply, Zyair calls us to where they were playing volleyball.

"Wanna play volleyball?" he asks.

"Sure."

"Okay, Aaron and I are team captains. We'd flip a coin to determine who gets to pick their members first, " Zyair announces to the crowd around us.

"Why are both team captains males?" Amy huffs, crossing her arms.

Zyair sighs and rubs his temple. "Wanna be a team captain?" he asks.

"Not necessarily me, " She shrugs.

"Does any female wanna be a team captain?"

"You...you?" He asks, pointing at different females.

"Me, " Fawn raises her head.

"No baby, you're in my team, " He says softly, and his eyes land on me. "Dove?"

I nod my head. "Sure."

Zyair grins at me. He brings out a coin from his shorts pocket. "Heads or tails?"

"Heads."

He flips the coin, and it lands on tails. He turns to me with a grin. "I get to pick a member first."

I nod with a sigh.

"I pick Gray, " He says. Gray shakes his head slightly and glares at Zyair.

"Gray, " Zyair says in a louder voice, tilting his head. Gray refuses to move, his eyes shooting daggers at Zyair.

They exchange glances for what seems like a while before Zyair finally gives up.

"Luca, " He sighs, and Luca went over to his side.

"Gray, " I point at him, and he walks over to me with a grin.

"Aaron."

"Pick Ashley, " Gray whispers in my ear. I raise an eyebrow at him before rolling my eyes.

"Elliot."

Elliot gives me a high five and smiles.

"Fawn."

"Pick Ashley, " Elliot and Gray whisper in my ear at the same time.

"Why?" I whisper back.

"She's good, " Elliot whispers.

Gray nods at me, and I raised a confused brow. I had been best friends with Ashley for more than ten years and didn't know she could play Volleyball.

Maybe it's a new skill she just acquired.

"Ashley."

The game begins after our teams are full of six members each. Halfway through the game, I don't regret my decision to recruit Ashley.

The object of the game is to send the ball over the net so that the opposing team cannot return the ball or prevent it from hitting the ground in their court.

And Ashley was great at it. The opposing team was only able to bat her ball back twice.

"I didn't know you were great at volleyball," I grin at her, trying to catch my breath.

"When did you ever know anything about me, " She snarls harshly.

Hmm...okay.

The game ends with a win for us. The night was setting in, and a bunch of students from neighboring schools had joined us.

A few students from our school had returned home, but the beach still looked like a public beach due to the number of party crashers.

The guys take off their shirts and jump into the cold water, earning them whistles from some girls.

I lay on my chair, my eyes subconsciously trained on Gray.

There are three girls next to me, and I couldn't help but overhear their conversation.

"I'm obsessed with the dark-haired guy with blue eyes. His body is to die for, " one whispers, clearly not low enough, to her friends.

I trace her eyes and see that she's referring to Gray. "I can't help but imagine his body pressed to mine, my tongue tracing his abs," she giggles seductively.

"I'm more interested in the blond-haired guy in blue shorts, " the second one licks her lower lips.

My eyes scan the crowd. Blond hair, blue shorts. Blond hair, blue shorts.

I snicker when I see she's referring to Aaron. Too bad, girl.

"I think the dark-skinned guy is the sexiest. He looks ridiculously hot," the third one whistles.

Zyair's taken. Sorta

"The Italian guy, though. Damn, he's hot. I noticed he has an Australian accent too," the second one groans, hugging herself.

"Shall we move to New York?" the first one giggles, and they all laugh.

Their conversation is interrupted by a loud bullet sound. Everyone screams in fear, and I intuitively cover my ears.

Gray and the guys sprint out of the water. Their mouths were moving, but I couldn't hear them over the loud ruckus.

Another gunshot, louder than the first, is heard. I spring from the chair and start to run.

"Run! Everyone get the fuck inside," Zyair shouts in a louder voice.

"I can't believe they brought guns," I hear Aaron say.

I feel a hand grab my wrist and relax when I see Gray.

Another bullet goes off, convincing me these guys just want to show off their guns. Either that or they enjoy torturing people

Remind me again, why guns are legal in this country?

My legs slip on the sand, and I fall face down on the ground.

"Fuck, are you okay?" Gray bends to ask me.

I wipe the sand off my body and nod.

Before I know it, I'm flying in the air over Gray's shoulder.

He carries me with ease, sprinting towards the house.

••••••••••