Trixy's pov
It was Saturday.
Not any classes, not any pressure, not any hurrying. Just a lovely sunny day hanging with friends. We were working at Luna's residence today. She had talked to Dad and somehow persuaded him to let me out for the day on one condition: I couldn't stay out late.
Okay fair.
Near her garage, where every instrument was meticulously ordered, we convened. Just a short distance further was the pool, sparkling in the sunlight. Warm and breezy, it was the sort of weather that inspires you to laugh for no apparent cause. With me were Luna, Erlyn, Sydnee, Phoebe, and surprise! my unruly young brother Zac. He had trailed along assuming practice was at home and somehow converted himself into our official audience.
With a pen between my fingers and a notepad on my knee, I sat on a metal chair near the open garage, guitar resting on my lap. The song was still a jumble of half-rhymed ideas and disjointed stanzas as my eyes searched the lyrics I was sketching.
Zac sprang up next to Luna with hopeful eyes, "Can we swim after your practice? "
Luna laughed. "Zac, dont you have a pool at your house? "
I eyed him and raised an eyebrow. "Really, Zac. At home you're not drowning in adequate water? "
"But I want to experience swimming in someone else's pool," he whimpered, folding his arms like a recalcitrant tiny prince.
Sighing, I remarked "Unbelievable. "
Luna laughed, tousling his hair. "Let him swim," she said. "Sure, Zac. You can swim later. "
Zac sulked. "My hair! Luna, please leave it alone! "
Her laughter was airy and infectious in the air. Phoebe slipped into the empty chair next to me.
She inquired, peering at my notebook, "Youre writing again? "
"Trying to," I remarked. "Just parts and pieces. Today it isn't truly flowing. "
Have you got a title yet?
"Nothing that stays. "
"You'll find it," she remarked. "The proper words always show up; they just take their sweet time. "
Sydnee hollered, fiddling with the drum set, "When are we beginning? "
Zac interrupted, pointing toward the gate. "They're here; they wanted to see you ladies perform. "
Phoebe raised an eyebrow. "Your brother ought to be our boss. "
I rolled my eyes just as two cars pulled up at the gate. First was a sleek black sports car, the sort that drew attention wherever it went. The driver got out and my breath caught; he had black shades on, but I knew him right away.
Xavier.
He was in his house? Not now; he did not say anything.
I turned to see Zac acting as though he didn't see my uncertainty. The second car door then opened. A man in white shorts and a brown shirt came out sporting shades as well. Someone else emerged from another door in a brown shorts and printed black-and-yellow shirt. Like it was a team uniform, both sported identical sunglasses.
Walking toward us were all three of them, relaxed but stylish. Then they took off their glasses.
Xaviers face was indecipherable. His gaze fixed on mine, and my stomach knotted. That glance it was certainly not casual, yet it was not rage.
Ever the energetic emcee, Zac started, "You all know Xavier and Zyron; this man right here—" he pointed to the one in the printed shirt, "is Prince Ryker Vilz, son of Princess Angelica and Prince Ryan Vilz. "
Prince? Sydnee looked about.
"Yes," Ryker said with a grin.
Xavier moved closer. I sought to maintain coolness.
Bro, brother, you neglected to mention you were coming. I joked but it came out a little wobbly: Wheres my souvenir?
He grinned and bent towards my ear.
We have to talk after practice. At home.
I nodded awkwardly; his whisper made my spine tingle.
I murmured fast, retreating to my position, "Alright girls, lets start. "
We just went over past songs and one I had been working on for roughly thirty minutes of play. The guys were sitting nearby, relaxing in plastic chairs and nodding along. Xavier never once turned his gaze away from me.
I tried to concentrate on the music, on Lunas' steady beat, on the strumming patterns, but I could feel their eyes burn into me. Particularly Zyron. Every time I looked up, he was staring at me. Viewing. Evaluating. Protecting?
Once we finished up, we headed to the pool area. There was a long plastic table and folding chairs arranged under a huge umbrella. Table chips, iced tea, sandwiches, and Zacs favorite, cheese sticks, were strewn about.
Sydnee said proudly, "Guys, Trixy nailed her history presentation yesterday. Totally embarrassed Scarlett. "
Nobody answered.
"Okay. . . she scowled, "why does everyone look like someone just died?
Ryker was seen pushing Zyron. He seemed to be deep in contemplation.
Zyron asked, shaking himself back to consciousness, "Sorry, what did you say? "
Sydnee said, snatching an empty bottle and setting it in the table's center, "Ugh, never mind. Let's just play a game. "
I repeated spin the bottle?
Yep. Truth or dare. The person the bottle falls on must pick; the person who spun asks the question or issues the dare. "
"Fine, let's go." I laughed.
She turned the bottle. It slowed, then aimed straight at Zyron.
Ryker exclaimed, "Truth! "
Dare, Zyron remarked gently, voice lower than normal.
Sydnee grinned. "Right. Go to the edge of the pool and dance for three seconds. "
Ryker exclaimed, "Yes! We get to watch Zyron dance at last!
Zyron stood up and sighed, then ambled towards the pool's edge. Over his shoulder, he glanced at us before making a humorous, uncomfortable dance with his body.
We started to giggle. He seemed utterly out of place yet somehow. . . charming.
There then
Splash!
He slid. Perhaps he leapt. Either way he fell into the water with a big splash, getting his hair and clothes soaked.
We guggled.
Zyron! I stood up and went toward the pool, kneeing down at the edge. Get hold of my hand.
He grinned, reached for meand pulled.
I yelled as I dropped into the water. The cold slapped me like a hand, then my surprise changed to chuckle.
Wiping my face, I rose to the surface and turned to face him.
He was already looking at me.
His eyes stayed fixed on mine—not teasing, not lighthearted, only strong. Like he couldnt say something but wanted to. We were the only ones that mattered, like in this instant when water clung to our clothes and our laughter resonated in the air.
His fingers brushed my arm lightly and lingered more than needed.
He grinned.
And somehow, I no longer cared about being dragged into the sea.
Not at all.
From the side, the others chuckled. Sydnee yelled something about grabbing towels, yet I could hardly hear her.
I only saw him.
I questioned, wiping water from my face, Whyd you pull me in?
He shrugs, his voice subdued. "I just wanted to be close to you."
My heart missed a beat.
I said, trying to sound light, "You're acting odd.
Under his breath he chuckled. "Perhaps I am. Perhaps I have always been.
We stayed there a few more seconds before getting out. Luna offered me a towel. Phoebe gave Zyron one more.
Quietly drying my hair, I could still sense his gaze upon me.
Later that day, after the sun had started to set and the snacks were nearly all gone, and laughter had faded into subdued conversation, I glanced over at Zyron again. He was laughing with Ryker, but every so often his eyes would wander back to me. Like confirming I was still there. As though verifying I had not gone.
Between us, anything had shifted.
Anything authentic.
And for the first time in a long time, I didnt feel like I was simply acting a part in someone else's story.
I felt visible.
Through him.