Chapter Eighteen

"Ooh GIRLS GET OVER HERE THERE'S A JACUZZI!!" I hear June yell from the porch outside our room.

I lift my eyes from my book, and see Erin run out of the room in her bathing suit. She then jumps in splashing water on June, who is wearing her actually cloths.

"Erin!" I hear her yell as she splash her back.

Erin fires back getting June's hair wet.

"You are so done when I get in there!"

June then runs into the bathroom with her bathing suit in hand. I set my eyes back in my book. I reread the sentence trying to get back in the mood when June comes running out, and gets in with Erin. They start splashing and squealing. I take my other pillow and cover my ears to continue reading. I get into the next paragraph when I feel something really cold slip into my shirt. I scream and jump off my bed to see Lillian and all the boys.

"You did NOT just put and ice cube in my shirt!" I jump up on the bed and chase them, as they run out of the room. "Get back here!"

I turn to chase Lillian first, she obviously didn't think I would get her first, and she decided to hide. She opens a closet, when she checks that no ones there I duck behind a corner. I hear the door close, and I go up to it and open the doors quietly. I tap her on the shoulder which makes her jump.

"Your on my team now," I tell her.

"I'll check the front of the house," she says.

We go separate ways looking for the boys. I go in there room first. I check the bathroom and closets first. Then under the beds, as I stand after the last bed my eyes catch move movement on the porch. I turn to see Xander, right as I do he sees me. He jumps down from deck onto the beach, which is only three feet down. I try to take of my shoes and struggle. FUCK SHOSE! I finally get them off, and run after him. I hurry down the stairs and bolt after him. He has a 15 foot advantage. I run keeping my balance in my heels. As I hit the more solid sand, I start gaining ground. He reaches the water, and keeps going he checks behind, which was a mistake. I jump on him making use hit the ground.

"I think I prefer you doing that where I won't get a concussion when I hit the ground."

I giggle and he turns me over again. Before he can say anything else I kiss him, don't ask me I don't know why, but this time I felt the need to. I turn us back over, and slide my hands into his wet hair. The waves hit us over about five times before I pull back.

"Eager are we?" He asks in that deep, delicious voice.

I can feel my face get hot. Before I could defend myself I here Leon, "WHOW! I definitely interrupted you this time. I'll be on my way," he added with a wink at Xander. When Leo turns around, Xander moves his hands to my waist sitting up. He leans in kissing me again. He pulls back, and stands up bringing me with him. We walk up to the house, and Xander takes me into the boys room.

"Go get your book, I'll wait here," he sits on his bed ,and gets the TV remote off the night table.

I retrieve my book from off my bed. It's an old book I " Borrowed" from my mother's bookshelf. I'm reading the third one, but there are two more after about the main character's child, along with another extra book. I'm hoping they chose the person I want them to, because I don't like the other one.

When I walk in Leon is in his bed watching TV with Xander. Not only that he wasn't wearing a shirt, and Grayson ,who was wearing only a towel, was talking to Xander. I stop for a second when I go in, Xander turns and looks at me padding his bed.

"Come on Ray," he said before talking to Grayson more.

I walk over, and sit on his bed. Grayson leaves and Xan turns to me.

"Here," he says handing me his pillow.

"Thanks."

He turns to watch TV, and I opened my book to find my place. I start reading.

Alex looked me in my eyes and in that moment while we were dancing I saw Matt. He was sitting in the corner looking at us, I try to ignore him and close my eyes, as I sway with Alex. Alex moves one of his hands away from my back, to have one wrapped around my waist.

"Saff, Do you like me," he whispers in my ear.

"More," I say back.

"So you like me more than a friend."

I know exactly what he wants me to say, but there's no way I'm saying it first.

"Ya."

"Saffrena, Do you love me?"

"Do you?"

"HEY! Saff!" I hear Cristina yell at me before she grabs my arm and pulls me away.

As I wave at him, I think in my head. I only agreed to this game for a reason, and now. And now I love Alex Mace.

"Noooo," I say under my breath.

Xander turns to look at me, "are you ok?"

"Ya, it's just the stupid character!"

I hear the door open, and I turn to see Erin poking her head through the door.

"Hey guys and Ray, dinner's ready."

We all get up and head for the dining table. Because we have no formalities I sit next to Xander on the long side. I scan the table to see Lillian and Colin looking at each other. Whatever was going on for a second before has definitely passed. I turn to look at Xander as he eats his food, for some reason I had the desire to keep doing it through dinner, stealing glances at him while he wasn't looking. I look at him again ,and this time he catches me he then rests his left hand on my thigh.

I look at him and he leans into whisper in my ear, "I'll come get you later, ok."

I nod a little and we continue to eat.

I stand in the mirror looking at myself. Why am I doing this! Deep down I know why, and I push the thought away. I look into the mirror, I was wearing a silver bikini under the short, silky navy dress. I pull my hair back, and walk into the quiet room. All the other girls were sleeping either from exhaustion, or jet lag. I lay on my bed waiting, and don't even notice myself falling asleep.

I wake to a soft knock on the window, and see Xander standing outside. I giggle softly, and walk over to the door sliding it open. He pulls me outside, and slides the door closed.

"You look beautiful Ray," he whispers.

"Thank you Casanova. So what did you want me for?"

"For now, a walk fair lady," he says taking my hand in one of his and bowing.

I jokingly roll my eyes. We walk across the beach. I feel Xander slip his hand in mine as we walk. I look at him having the feeling to do so. It was dork, but I could still see his face from the light of the moon. His eyes were magnificent in the sun, a warm amber brown, but in the moonlight they were darker almost black blue color. His hair was fuller and fluffier from being near the ocean. All I wanted to do was run my fingers in it, but I refrain from doing so. He was like some mythical beings to perfect to be human. To carrying, smart, lovely, and handsome. I fight myself to look away. Instead of looking at him, I draw my attention to the ground looking for shells.

As we walk I spot a teal shell hidden in the sand. I bend down ,and pick it up turning it in my hand I slip it into the inside pocket of the dress. While we walk we come up to a blanket and a tray of sweets.

"Xander!"

"Yes Ray."

"This is so, so-"

"Nice, beauty, perfect," he says counting on his fingers, as we walk up to the blanket I knock into him a little, making him stop.

He guides me over to our seats. We sit down, and he takes out the paistris. He takes a chocolate one, and I take a flaky one filled with banana cream. I bite into mine savoring the delicate texture, and creamy banana taste.

"Mmmm," I humm happily.

"Do you like it?" Xan asks, I nod enthusiastically.

"Its delectable," I say with a smile.

"I made them myself, so it's nice that you like them."

Not only does this man know how to ride horses, sword fight, and paint, but he can also cook. This man is perfect.

I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek,

" thank you for making them for me."

He blushes and the sight makes me smile, "your welcome."

I hunt through the basket till I find a strawberry tart. I take it and lean against Xan looking at the ocean. I pull it apart into pieces, so I don't get the jam on my face as I eat it. I wish this could last forever. I eat the last of my tart, and I stare out over the ocean. I close my eyes to listen to the ocean. I was so peaceful I didn't notice myself slipping into sleep.

"Rayanna! RAYANNA WAKE UP!!"June yells in my direction.

I am usually up early but because I stayed out with Xander, I was tired, and the girls giggling at the TV at 7 o'clock didn't help. I chuck one of my pillows at her.

"If it's not past 8:30, I'm not leaving this bed!"

I turn over, my face burred straight in the pillow as she opens the curtains.

"Ray get up it's important."

"Fine!" I yell still muffled by the pillows.

I get out of bed, there's no need to change since I'm still wearing what I was last night. I follow June out into the living room, as I wrap my hair up in a bun. When we get there everyone is looking at the TV.

"Look!" She points at the TV.

"So," I say slight anger in my voice, "you got me out of my bed to watch a wedding?"

I rub my eyes allowing myself to see clearer. As I study the video I freeze.

"June where did you find this."

"Ummm, well, your mom left to do something and she had logged into an account on the TV and-"

"YOU WENT SNOOPING IN MY MOTHER'S FILES!"

My mother didn't use technology a lot, but my father convinced her to buy a camera to record important things in there life.

"Heh," he laughed guiltily.

I go over to the couch to watch. I myself had never watched this tape. I had seen photos of the wedding a long time ago, and I only knew about the tapes from my Dad.

I watch, my grandma holds me as a baby in her arms next to my mother. The camera zooms in on us for a second then onto my parents. I put my hand over my mouth and quiet tears fall from my eyes and run down my face. The clip ends and moves to the next one.

My Dad looks into the camera setting it up then smiles he stands a couple feet away and yells, "Rayray!"

He turns looking around, I sneak up behind him and hug his leg, " There you are my little foal!"

He bends down picking me up, and spins in circles. I laugh as he dose.

"Wait, that's Rayanna," Leon says surprised, "So you used to be playful?"

"I will hurt you." I shoot back.

I go back to watching, a lot of the clips were my birthdays along with other things now and then. We watch my sixth birthday, and I think everyone notice the sleep in my parents' eyes. I hug my father and the clip skips. I hear instruments play our anthem, I look and see royal nights in there formal wear on white horses. Each horse has red roses braided into their hair, and the knight in the front holds our flag, as they trot towards the group of people. Before I see it I turn away from the screen. The song ends and I sink to the floor. The TV goes silent.

"Did we lose the audio?" Grayson asks turning up the volume.

All of a sudden the sound of me crying ecos through the room. I push my hands up to my ears trying to block the sound. I don't have to hear it myself, but I know what's coming next, and it rings in my head.

"Silence you worthless child." My mother says.

I tuck my knees to my chest, pressing my hands to my ears . No. No. No. I repeat in my head rocking. "Worthless" the word ring in my head like a poison slowly killing me from the inside out. Xander comes rushing over to me pulling away my defences then my hands, which left fingernail marks behind my ear. He sits on my legs, so I can't pin them to my chest anymore. He pushes my hands away, and rubs the marks behind my ears with his fingers. He uses his thumbs to wipe the tears from my cheeks.

"She can't get you, I'm here, it's okay."

I start crying out with pain. He pulls me to him,and holds me which makes me hug him tightly. I place my head under his, as he comforts me with his words. After a minute I feel limp, and he picks me up to take me away tears still streaming down my face.