CHAPTER 2
Fifteen-year-old Kyra lay on the skin of the water. She stared up at the tropical leaves hanging above her as she held a back float. Through the water around her ears she heard a small gas motor buzzing up fast.
With a blink of her eyes she dropped out of the pose and stood waist deep in pool water, wiping her face dry. On the other side of a short wooden fence her friend waited on the seat of his idling four-wheeler.
"I can't believe you actually did it." He said in a low Texas drawl.
"Did what?" Kyra pretended not to know what he was talking about.
"Did what? Did what! You shaved your noggin, that's what!" He exclaimed playfully. "You're as bald as a bowling ball! Your old man is gunna have words with you." He trailed off in a chuckle.
"Its only hair, Earl Jr." Kyra snickered.
"Come on now, Kyra. You know I can't stand that name." He tipped the brim of his white cowboy hat casually and grinned. "I'm goin' by my middle name, Dallas."
"Whatever." Kyra brushed her hand over her smooth scalp. "It'll grow back."
She and Dallas had played a game of truth or dare the night before. Her clean scalp was the result of a bold dare.
Dallas was pulling at his sweat soaked tank top. "I've felt some heat in my day, but never this kind of humidity."
Kyra waded over to the edge of the water and leaned her elbows on the glossy, tile, three-foot marker.
"Get in the pool dummy." She kicked her feet out behind her and floated lightly on her belly.
"Nah." Dallas shrugged. "I don't want the chlorine to tarnish my good looks.
"Sucks to be you." Kyra curled into a ball and pushed back out into the water on her back again.
Another four-wheeler screamed up to the pool and skidded to a sideways stop, throwing a thick cloud of dust up at Dallas. The driver pulled off her helmet and shook out her hair.
"Thanks a lot Shell." Dallas coughed and waved a hand in front of his face.
"Let's go guys! Let's go!" Shelly revved her motor.
Kyra jumped out of the pool and pulled a pair of faded jean shorts over her two-piece bathing suit, then slipped on a pair of beat up sneakers. She was still dripping wet as she hopped the fence and climbed onto her own four-wheeler.
"Hold on a second." Dallas said as Kyra cranked her starter.
He took off his hat and set it on his handlebars. With a sigh of relief he peeled off his tank top, tucked it into the back of his belt, and stuffed his hat back on his head.
"Nice farmer's tan." Shelly laughed.
"You're just jealous of my fine physique." Dallas turned his chin up at her.
"Are you ready or what?" Kyra said.
"Yeah I'm ready. Jeeze!" Dallas rolled his eyes. "But first, I reckon its time we gave the new kid a proper initiation."