CHAPTER SEVEN:
Swimming, the Morning After

Cassandra's dreams were filled with Lily's shrill voice and bright, dancing lights. She awoke in a haze, groaning as the sunlight hit her sensitive eyes, making her head pound ferociously. Rolling over, Cassandra realized she wasn't even under the blankets, let alone in her pajamas. She'd fallen asleep in her shiny purple top and short black skirt.

Suddenly, the reason for her hangover came racing back — the party. A smile touched her smeared lips as she remembered Ray's able hands and exploring mouth. Frowning, she could dimly recall Lily saying something about him, but that was all.

At that moment, Lily decided to barge into her cousin's room, a bright smile lighting up her features. "Good morning, cuz!" she exclaimed, throwing the curtains open, and causing Cassandra to recoil.

"What's so good about it?"

Lily rolled her eyes. "Hey, it's not my fault you've got a killer hangover." She then pulled Cassandra into a sitting position. "Hurry up and shower; the guys will be here in half an hour."

"Huh? Why?" asked Cassandra, standing with a yawn.
Lily smirked. "For a swim, of course. It's almost one o'clock and a complete scorcher outside." Laughing, she added, "I hope you remembered to bring a bathing suit," and left.

The girl's interest was piqued. 'The guys', eh? That meant Ray... Feeling a spark of happiness through her terrible aching head, Cassandra laid out her bathing suit on the bed: a green bikini top and long, green and black board shorts.

She showered quickly, letting the warm water awaken her and ease the hangover away. Cassandra had attended many parties back in Victoria, and it usually only took a shower to get rid of them. Thinking about her old life consistently brought on memories of her old best friend, Katie, a fiery redhead that always knew how to have a good time. Cassandra blinked back tears as she made her way back into her room, slipping into her swimsuit. The past was the past, and there was nothing she could do about it — they'd said their goodbyes, the promises to email and call each other... Which, in Cassandra's experience, never went on for long.

Grabbing a towel, she headed downstairs, finding her uncle David sitting at the kitchen table reading the paper. Pointing to the deck outside, he remarked, "Everyone's already out by the pool." Cassandra smiled, walking out to the deck. From there she could see Robbie, Travis, Lily, and Ray splashing around in the water of the in-ground pool.

Heading down the steps, Lily's comments about the weather had been right: it was a sweltering day, the sun beating down from between puffy white clouds, sending a humid breeze weaving through her long damp hair.

Cassandra set her towel down on a lounge chair, picking up a bottle of sun screen. Unlike Lily, Cassandra found it impossible to tan. While Lily became a perfect, sun kissed bronze, Cassandra quite literally turned into a daily special from Red Lobster.

Finally, someone noticed she was there.

"Hey Cass!" Robbie yelled, a split second before Travis dunked his head beneath the water. He resurfaced, spluttering, "Dude! You just messed with the hair!" With that, Robbie and Travis were engaged in a watery battle of dunking each other beneath the clear pool water. Cassandra laughed at their antics, beginning to rub her arms with sun screen.

As she watched Ray and Lily toss around a Nerf frisbee, Cassandra was struck by a better way to keep herself from becoming sunburnt. A sly smile curved her mouth. "Oh, Ray!" she called.

He turned around to face her, the frisbee Lily had tossed him narrowly missing his head. "Hey! What's up?"

Twisting a dark curl around her finger, Cassandra continued, "Would you mind helping me? I can't seem to reach my back..."

In his haste to get to her side, Ray stumbled up the pool steps, nearly falling flat on his face. Water dripped from his athletic frame and red swim trunks, nearly making Cassandra's mouth water. She smiled up at him, handing him the sun screen as he sat behind her on the lounge. She moved her hair aside, and welcomed his large hands gliding over her neck and back.

Lily, Robbie and Travis had busied themselves in tossing the frisbee back and forth, but to the observant eye, one would notice the hurt and looks of longing that Lily and Travis were throwing their way. Travis couldn't explain it, not even to himself, why he was so drawn to Cassandra. It wasn't simply a physical attraction, like she obviously had with Ray, but something deeper, and he really wanted to find out more about her. It would be hard, though, especially since she and Ray were all over each other 24/7.

Soon, the two stood, and Cassandra was pleasantly surprised when Ray leaned in, claiming her lips with his. The kiss deepened, with Cassandra running her fingers back through his water-slicked hair, and Ray trailing his hands up and down her sides. Shivering, Cassandra pulled away.

Worried, Ray asked if she was cold.

Shaking her head, she smiled up at him. "Far from it."