CHAPTER 1: KASEY

It's the middle of summer and my best friend Zac is giving me a good hard lecture about… something. I don't really pay attention when he speaks for over five minutes or if he starts ranting on about architecture and buildings.

As he rambles I start to wander in my thoughts. I think about the ocean, the fish, and horses. I love horses. I went to horse camp for a week when I was eleven and I swear I could hear the horses talking. Oh, and I LOVE the ocean. The fish are so beautiful and free. Not a care in the world. I sigh. I wish I could be a fish.

I glance at Zac who is now using hand gestures too while he talks. Great; I'm going to kill him in a few seconds when he raises his voice and shouts his space-less words to make sure everybody listen. 3…2…1…

"BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH!" He rants.

"ZAC! Will you shut up!" I yell as he finally gets on my nerves.

I look at him and realize I hurt his feelings (which only I can do; he's pretty tough) and give him my 'I'm sorry I was a jerk and hurt your feelings, but you were really annoying' smile and he accepts my apology.

"So, want to go in the pool?" He says and looks at me.

"You still need an answer to that?" I ask and give a small smile.

He looks at me and says "dibs on the bathroom!" grabs his swim trunks and races in.

I walk into the kitchen and find a plate of snacks on the counter and next to it a sticky note that read: 'Kasey, I went to the grocery; this is in case you get hungry! Love mom'

'Eep!' my inner self thinks and adds 'You're alone with Zac…' My mind argues 'So? He's just my friend.' Great. I'm arguing with myself.

"Kasey! Bathroom's open!" I hear Zac call.

I rush up stairs to my bedroom and look for a swim suit. The only one I can find is my new bikini. I can't believe I got this. Oh, now I remember. I was at my friend Lucy's house and we were having a sleepover (like anyone ever sleeps) and she invited some other friends over. -As I'm letting the memory play in my head I walk downstairs and into the bathroom.-

She invited Zoe, Emma, and Mia. It was Mia's idea to play truth or dare. I was first of course.

"So Kasey, truth or dare?" Lucy asked.

"Truth." I said plainly because I already knew the question.

"So… what's with you and Zac?" they asked and started to giggle.

"Nothing; how many times do I have to tell you? Zac and I are just friends." I said and then the next thing I knew it was my turn again. I picked dare.

"We dare you to get a bikini and wear it in front of Zac!" they laughed when they saw my expression. I probably looked like a 15 year old tomato that just got squashed.

"Fine." I said.

The flashback ends as I walk out of the bathroom in a highlighter yellow bikini, feeling like the sun threw up on me.