Second Nature by Ae Watson Read Free Book Online Page A

was
the person I always felt comfortable with. I wished I could talk to Ashton the
way I talked to Jake.
    He swam at me, dunking
me. When I came up he was closer, looking menacing. I faked right and swam
left, but he grabbed my foot, dunking me again. I kicked at him, swimming hard
for the wall.
    Jake laughed as I splashed him, again not playfully.
    “Want a drink, Lain?” He
smirked and wiped his face.
    “No.” I scowled.
    “Not of pool water, I
mean a soda.” He swam to the edge and jumped out, lifting himself with his
massive arms. He was the thickest of our guy friends and the tallest. I had
always seen him as something of a giant meathead but realized the goofy nature
was an act. There was more to him than I expected, but he was the opposite of
me. He liked being underestimated.
    When he got to the bar,
he lifted a Cherry Coke. I sighed and nodded, swimming to the edge to receive
it politely after the merciless drowning I had endured.
    I spun in a circle,
seeing Lindsey try to play with Vincent the way Jake had with me, but Vincent
was stone-faced and annoyed. He was on my side, awaiting the next thing, worrying and wishing everyone were taking things a
little more seriously.
    But they were all playing
and laughing.
    I had assumed Lindsey
would be like me with it all, but she was trying very hard to enjoy her denial.
Not that I blamed her.
    Her dad was potentially
divorcing Louisa, her scheming stepmonster. She had a serious amount of PTSD
from being in the pool house of doom. She was in love for the first time ever.
And Sage’s eyes never left Lindsey and Vincent unless one of us noticed she was
staring at them. We might be getting framed for murder. And her dad might be
sharing that fate with us.
    Denial was exactly what
Lindsey should be doing even though I
wished she wasn't.
    I didn’t want to be alone
with Vincent as the only ones taking it seriously. It made all that much more
work for me. I watched people watching them. I noticed for me and for all of
them. And I knew Vincent did too.
    Jake handed me my Coke,
still in the can and unopened, as he sat next to me and dipped his feet back in
the water. “I am taking this seriously, Lain. I’m also just trying to enjoy my
senior year. Last bit of freedom, ya know?”
    “I know.” I nodded, not
mentioning that surviving senior year was more important.
    Sierra popped up out of the
waves, spitting pool water at me. “Tell me you’re both coming to Rita’s
tonight.” Her bright eyes darted at the two girls who had become thick as
thieves. They giggled on the lounge chairs and made plans for the
back-to-school party.
    Jake shrugged. “When
don't I come to a party?” He didn't sound excited about it.
    I blew the pool water off
the top of my can and opened it. “I guess. I don't know why we’re having a
party when we should be strategizing and figuring things out.” I didn't want to
go, but the text from my mom pretty much sealed my fate. She was already
picking out outfits and had the stylist coming to do my hair and makeup.
    “Dwelling on the summer
isn’t healthy, Lain. Rachel got herself into trouble and dragged the rest of us
with her. We all need to try to get on with life.” Sierra gave me a soft look
before darting her eyes to Jake. “You agree, right?”
    He bit his lip, offering
nothing.
    She shrugged. “You're
both coming, so don't even.”
    “Oh, I’m coming. Mommy
Dearest has already ensured I will be there.” I sighed as Jake snorted.
    Changing the subject,
Sierra lowered her voice, “I just don't know anyone who throws their own welcome-to-town party. It’s tacky.”
    Jake stood up. “I’ll let
you two get catty.” He walked over to a lounge chair and stretched out.
    I glanced back at Sierra
and nodded. “It’s not something any one of us would be allowed to do. Our
mothers would forbid it even if we were ill-mannered enough to try.”
    “You don't like her
either, do you?” Sierra’s eyes sparkled with delight and