ii.

The next day, I slept in until noon, something that wasn't abnormal for me. I would wake up around seven or eight, turn over, look at the time, and then immediately go back to bed until my body wouldn't let me sleep any longer. The comfort of being wrapped in warm blankets while the rest of my room was freezing was something I didn't want to give up.

Around one, I finally dragged myself out of bed, my blanket still wrapped around me, and stepped into the bathroom where I spent another hour getting ready. I had slipped on another high-waisted skirt that reached a bit above my ankles exposing my bare feet. This one was a soft shade of green with bits of red and blue mixed in. I pulled on a tight, off-shoulder crop top, smiling at my reflection in the mirror. I styled my hair so my curls were more defined, and I filed over a few pieces so it sat a bit higher on my head. I debated on pulling on a pair of shoes before shaking my head. It wasn't a huge deal to wear shoes around Santa Carla. If you were barefoot, it almost always meant that you were simply a local. None of the businesses minded, so I didn't either.

I slipped out of my bedroom and made my way to the kitchen where I grabbed a bowl of cereal before pulling myself up onto the counter and stared into my house quietly. I need a dog. I huffed and scooped another bite into my mouth. Why don't I have one? I could bring him to the shop, too. Get one of those doggie things to attach to my bike. I giggled a bit at the thought. It wouldn't be that bad of an idea to get one though. Probably make me feel a bit safer, too. It'll be my little protector. Well, I knew I wasn't going to get a small dog, but all dogs were small in my head.

Maybe I could get one tonight while I was out. Marigold could help me pick one. I nodded a bit and dumped my bowl in the sink. Now, how am I going to waste the next the next four hours?

I had done absolutely nothing those four hours. After stifling through my small collection of books, fiddling with the radio, and trying to draw something decent even though I had no inspiration, I had taken to staring at nothing while listening to awfully loud music for the last two hours. The DJ on the radio telling me that it was now six twenty-four brought me out of my thoughts, and I jumped up. I made sure I still looked presentable and grabbed a good seventy dollars, knowing I would be spending a lot on my new pet tonight, and stuffed it in my bra as I had no where else to put it. I grabbed my keys and also made note of the fact that I really needed a purse as well.

I locked up the house and clambered onto my motorcycle and took off as the sun began to set. The boardwalk was already teeming with life, though most children and parents were already home. The night was for the teenagers and troublemakers ready to jump at the chance to have a good time.

I was a good thirty minutes early, so I chained up my bike where I normally did before looking around. A few feet away seemed to be a jewelry stand, but I could make out a small collection of cross-body bags that would be perfect for me. So, I made my way over, making sure to stay out of people's ways.

I grabbed my money from my bra on the way and smiled at the girl running the stand as I approached. She sent me a tired look, but she was kind nonetheless. "Hey, can I ask how much the bags are?"

The girl looked over and picked one up, checking the small tag on it. "Well, it says five, but nobody really buys these, so I can give you it for like two because it's not like we're gonna miss it." She blew a purple bubble of gum and popped it easily.

I nodded and grabbed it before I caught sight of something else. A brown and green dreamcatcher sat beside a few oddly colorful ones, a tag that read three dollars sticking out. It was beautiful, I couldn't deny. "Hey, can I get that dreamcatcher as well?"

The girl nodded and grabbed it, placing it on top of the purse. I handed her a five and thanked her quickly. I slipped the bag over my body and stuffed my keys and cash inside. I moved back to the front of my shop and leaned against it as I stared at the new dreamcatcher in my hand. It looked like it was made for me. It seemed sturdy enough, and the dull yet bright colors seemed to match my room just enough to pass. I smiled a bit and placed it in my purse carefully, taking note of the fake feathers that looked dangerously close to falling off. I'd have to fix it up a bit, it seemed.

I stood next to my shop for a little bit, staring out into the crowd like I always did, when I saw him again. The curly-haired boy was joking around with another blonde. The hard expression he had on last night seemed to have diffused a bit, and though I still wouldn't approach him, he seemed a bit more laid back. The boy he was standing next to fit right in with the crowd. His blonde hair was styled in a way that made it look incredibly messy yet somehow put together. His style was similar to the curly-headed boy, yet also different in elements. He was clad in a leather jacket with a mesh shirt underneath that looked torn in places, tight, white pants with a slack belt, and a pair of leather boots that reached his knees. He was just as beautiful as the boy around him, and though at the time, he was laughing easily, I could tell that there was something different about him just like the other boy.

I watched them for a little bit, taking in their features easily. I mean, they weren't hard to miss. It was as if the crowd made sure not to step near them as if they were terrified. Maybe they were part of a gang. I never kept with who the troublemakers were. I didn't care. I didn't talk to anyone around here but Marigold. They could be the worst of the worst for all I knew, but here I was, staring at them like they were the sun, and I was given the ability to see it without burning my eyes.

I had to have been staring for at least ten minutes before one of them noticed me. The curly-haired one had turned and made eye contact with me easily. I gulped a bit, but this time, I was able to tear my eyes away. I barely saw him turn to his friend and motion toward me before I was staring in the eyes of the other blonde, his grin falling into a look of shock. I kept eye contact before looking down at the ground, afraid. What was happening to me?

I looked up to see the new boy trying to drag his friend to come toward me when Marigold finally showed up, wrapping her arm around me, grabbing my face, and pulling me into a kiss. I let out a surprised shock, and she giggled loudly into the action before pulling away, her permanent grin on her face. "Hey! I'm sorry I was late. My mom was yelling at my dad again, so I had to make it past them without being noticed."

I smiled and looked at the boys from the corner of my eye. The curly-haired one had the same look from last night on his face, his eyes watching me as his face was set to a hard expression. The other blonde looked hurt, and I silently wondered why, but I ignored it for the time being. "It's fine. I was just people watching."

Marigold shook her head and intertwined our fingers, pulling me away from the shop. "Well, I was thinking that maybe instead of doing the rides tonight, we could go to the beach? I know you don't have any clothes or anything, so I brought you one of my old bikinis that I knew would fit you."

I stared out at the beach and raised an eyebrow. "It's going to be freezing, babe!"

"Come on! We can keep each other warm!" She sent a wink and pulled me through people easily.

"I don't think this is a good idea."

Marigold turned back and shook her head, that smile still plastered across her face. "You never think any of my ideas are good! That's why you're always stuck in your room all day."

I pursed my lips before sighing lowly and shrugging my shoulders. "Well, then what's the worst that could happen."

"Ooh, don't say that! Makes it sound like we're in a horror movie!"

I laughed. It feels like I'm in one.

Marigold dragged me to one of the stalls used for changing and tossed a bag at me, a grin on her face. "Hurry!"

I sighed but complied, stepping into one of the cramped stalls. She had given me a red bikini that thankfully covered everything it needed to, but it left me a little self-concious. I wasn't fat by any means, but I wasn't the skinniest girl around. I had a bit of thickness to me, and it made me aware of myself, but I could always hide with my skirts. This was something I wasn't used to.

I stared at myself in the mirror in front of me and sighed a bit. I pursed my lips and debated on taking it off and calling quits, but Marigold was soon pounding on my door, telling me to hurry up and come out.

I grumbled and stuffed all my stuff in the bag she had handed me before stepping out. I immediately wanted to cover every inch of myself as Marigold stared at me with wide eyes. She took a deep breath before letting out a loud "when did you get those tits?"

I gasped and shushed her, rolling my eyes. Of course, she would say something like that. "Marigold, as much as you know I love you, is the beach even open at night?"

"Well, I mean, technically, yeah, but there's like no lifeguard or anything."

"Is there ever?"

"You have a point."

Marigold was – of course – in a shining gold strapless bikini that made her look stunning. Her curves pulled the whole outfit together, and I silently wished for a body like hers.

Marigold noticed my look and quickly pulled me in for a kiss, his larger lips covering mine easily. I hummed a bit and smiled into it. She was the one to pull away this time. "You look fucking stunning. I'm scared to let you walk out there because all those boys and girls are going to drool over you."

I smiled a bit and shook my head. "Have you seen yourself?"

Marigold rolled her eyes and easily intertwined our fingers once again. "Now, let's go swimming in some freezing cold water on this very hot evening." She wasn't lying. For night, it seemed to be as hot as the daytime, and it annoyed me just a bit. Where was the cold weather when I wanted it?

Marigold and I stepped away from the stalls easily, and I caught a few people looking our way before I simply looked down and followed Marigold's lead. Her hand always stayed intertwined with mine as she pulled me down to the beach, giggling every now and then as I stumbled behind her.

She pulled me down the steps and towards the water. I barely had enough time to drop our bag of things, silently praying for nobody to take it, before I was being dragged into the water that was surprisingly warm. I blamed it on the sun having just set only thirty minutes ago. Marigold laughed loudly and swam out until she could barely stand on her feet with being underwater. The water was calm around us, and I took the time to take in her form. Her golden hair was fanning out around her, getting tangled in the salty water. Her smile seemed to shine extra bright in the moonlight, and I loved her. I really loved her.

I swam toward Marigold, and she wrapped her arms around me, pulling me into a soft and passionate kiss. I wondered quietly what she saw in me enough to put enough emotion into such a simple guesture. Her nimble fingers ran down my sides under the water, and I felt her cup my ass easily. "Hey, sunshine," I mumbled after pulling away to breathe, using a nickname I hadn't used in almost a year. "What are we doing?"

"We're just feeling the love, baby," she mumbled back before dragging me back to her, kissing me quietly before moving down, running her lips down my neck and to my collarbone. I faintly recognized her pulling me up to wrap my legs around her waist, the water making me almost weightless. She kissed me breathlessly again like she wouldn't be able to do this again, but that's how she had always done it, relishing every moment as if it were our last.

I sighed against her, pulling away and resting my head on hers. "I love you to death, Marigold Winter, but I am not having sex with you in this water."

Marigold giggled her infectious giggle and shook her head. "No, baby, I was just enjoying you."

"Well," I mumbled, pressing a chaste kiss to her lips, "if that's the case, then I challenge you to a race to shore." I jumped out of her arms easily and ran my way through the water, laughing as she let out an astounded 'hey!' before I could here her following me.

As I looked up towards the boardwalk, happiness rolling off of me in waves, I saw the two again, though this time, they were with two other boys. They looked down toward me, watching my movements. I just ignored them, not wanting to ruin any moment with my girl.

Unfortunately, she was much faster than me, and she quickly made her way to our stuff and grabbed the bag, yelling a 'you better catch me if you want these clothes!' I simply smiled and played her game, chasing after her easily as her laugh sounded loudly.