Chapter 5 - First Spring Break
Stacie glared at her brothers as they laughed and splashed water in her direction once again. She closed her book and moved it out of the way as she sat up in the lounge chair.
"Knock it off, you asses. I am trying to read!" EJ rolled his eyes.
"Not even you get to be this nerdy. We are in Belize. Stop being a killjoy," called EJ and Derek nodded.
"Come for a swim," he suggested, but she shook her head.
"I'm good," she mumbled as she grabbed her book and settled back again.
"Usually I don't like them teasing you about being so studious, but they have a point," said her father as he sat down beside her and she rolled her eyes.
"I'm either wasting my potential or being too studious. I can't win with you, dad."
"You and I know you are wasting your potential at Barden when you could be at MIT or Princeton, but that isn't what I am talking about. What is going on with you? You have been pouting since you met us at the airport."
"Nothing, I am fine. All I want to do is read and relax. Why is that such a crime?"
"Because this is your first college Spring Break and you rather curl up with a book and head to bed early than have fun. I know you are upset about the Bellas, but…"
"I am not a Bella anymore, so it doesn't matter," she grumbled and he gave a sympathetic smile as he sat down beside her.
"But this isn't about the Bellas, right? It is about Aubrey," he whispered and her eyes widened.
"What? No, Aubrey and I aren't…well, we…it is complicated. It is over," she stammered out and he smirked.
"It doesn't sound like it is over. You know, Anastacia, you have never been one to give up so easily. This girl must be special." Stacie groaned and tossed her book aside as she sat back up. She wrapped her arms around her legs and tucked her knees up to her chest as she thought about the blonde she couldn't distract herself from for long. She leaned into her father's touch as he stroked her hair.
"Like I said, she must be special, and if she is, then you need to talk to her. You obviously aren't ready to move on."
"She is so damn stubborn and hard to read."
"Good, then she can keep you on your toes. You need someone like that."
"Even if that is true, I don't know if it is worth it, dad. She kicked me out of the Bellas and even if all was forgiven, she is still graduating at the end of the semester."
"Speaking of the Bellas," said her mother as she pulled up a chair to join them. She smiled smugly, which made Stacie roll her eyes.
"What do you know and how did you find out," asked Stacie.
"That was Katherine. You know she is always keeping tabs on all things, Bella. Her daughter wants to be a Bella, so Kat likes to stay current on happenings. Rumor has it that one of the groups that beat you out had an ineligible member. The lead singer is still in high school, which disqualifies him and the entire team from competing. That means…"
"We should be in," said Stacie in shock and her mother winked at her.
"Yep, so don't be surprised if you get a call from Captain Posen soon," said Helen. Stacie hopped up and headed for their villa.
"Where are you going," asked her father.
"To grab my phone, I turned it off because I didn't want to be bothered," she called back before jogging inside. Eric kissed his wife and shook his head in amusement.
"Who knew your penchant for keeping up with Bella news would come in handy for parenting. You are right. She has it bad for this Aubrey Posen."
"Once a Bella, always a Bella. Being able to have fun with my Bella sisters in undergrad is what made it easier for me to focus and get to work during grad school. Stacie needs that too and I told you, my love. Those two have plenty of unfinished business," assured Helen as she curled up next to her husband on the lounge chair to bask in the sun.