Chapter 13

A Day at the Pool

Emma and Manny decided to go to the pool, Manny was wearing her signature magenta bikini showing off her body and she appeared confident and happy. Emma figured going to the pool will take Manny's mind off of the family drama. On top of this, Manny got a callback, and was poised to meet Berniece Fine, an agent in the area.

Emma was wearing a pink polka dotted suit and the two friends sort of matched. They were fortunate to find a seat in front of the pool. They laid out their towels on the chairs and sat down for sunbathing. It was a hot and sunny 89 degree day, so they were more than likely going to go for a dip and sunbathe all day long. Emma kept her phone close just in case Jay texts her, they'd been flirty texting most of the morning discreetly but today was a girls day and Jay knew to keep the texting to a minimum. Emma was looking forward to the next party at the ravine that night when Manny dozed off. Emma put on her sunglasses on her eyes instead of her head and laid back. "Aint this the life." Manny told Emma beaming, all day since she got the call from Berniece she's been blabbing to Emma about how excited she was.

Emma was only half paying attention but she was happy that Manny was happy for the time being. It hurts Emma to Manny who is normally a ray of sunshine and the one who tries to lift Emma out of her depression issues down in the dumps.

"We couldn't have asked for a better day to come here."

"So this Peter guy, what do you know about him?" Manny asked.

"He's hot but he's kind of a tool." Emma muttered, looking in his general direction. He was people watching clear across the pool but he hadn't noticed them or perhaps he didn't care. Emma hoped he didn't notice them because she no longer wanted to talk to him. He was nice but that was all she knew or thought she knew. If she only knew what kind of guy he truly was. He was good looking sure, but he was aware of it.

Peter is a trust fund baby. He's the product of an affair between Hatzilacos and her former boss, the headmaster at a prestigious prep school, Peter's current school, Stone Preparatory School for Boys. The parents were briefly romantically linked and are currently divorced, splitting right a few years after Peter was born.

Peter's used to getting what he wants dad shows his love through money he's close with his dad because he gets away with murder the truth is, his dad truly had barely raised him. They're like friends. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Peter's dad hardly knows what a tool Peter is and he's out of control in a way and he's gotten him out of trouble many times. Peter's father allowed him to have a party and even supplied the alcohol because it's nearing the end of the summer assuming Peter hadn't thrown them in the past. Dad is a pushover.

He'd be raised by nannies and his mom was sort of cut out of the equation only seeing him on occasion holidays and during the summer. For school Peter wears a uniform and is no stranger to trouble. He's been expelled from many boarding schools and he's only a junior. He was blacklisted in Switzerland for the pranks he'd pull. His father decided to keep an eye on him and be closer to his mother. They split their time between each other, but he prefers to stick with dad. Co Parenting isn't the Stone-Hatzilacos 'family' dynamic. Dad dates often and marries even more often with a revolving door of substitute step mothers. Daphne doesn't let Peter get away with anything by contrast. Peter calls her by her first name.

Of course Emma and Manny know him to be the charming good looking guy and don't know any of this. If they only knew him, Emma was right to stay away.

If only Manny hadn't been so inebriated she might've been spared.

Peter finally saw Emma, the girl from the party who caught his eye but chose to leave early. She was the next on his list of girls he wanted to play and she seemed innocent enough to be prey judging by that act but like how Emma doesn't know Peter he doesn't know her well enough either. To him she was pretty like a trophy, and he wanted another souvenir. He wanted her to take advantage and toss her leaving her wanting more for the thrill of it, like a conquest like a game. She wouldn't be the first or last.

Peter would be playing with fire, and learn to never judge a book by a cover.

After about forty minutes feeling parched Emma told Manny she's going to go get them some drinks, she collided right into Peter. He smirked, but was a good sport about it. He still thought he had a chance, "Emma, right? You really ought to watch where you're going but I forgive you."

She faked a smile through it and she goes, "It won't happen again. I should really be on my way."

"Can we walk and talk?"

Against her reservations, she flatly stated, "Fine."

"So how's it going?" Peter asked, getting in line with Emma for the crowded concessions stand with Emma.

"Fine." She thought if she gave uninteresting answers he'd take a hint but he just kept talking.

"So dad is out of town tomorrow night."

"That's nice." Emma looked straight ahead watching the line get smaller and they got closer to the front.

"I'm having another party, so if you wanna come, bring your friend it should be a fun night."

Flatly answering an affirmative, "Maybe."

"I'll take a maybe." He affirmed adding, "and I figure it's pointless if a certain someone isn't going to be there."

"You mean me?" Emma asked him less than enthused acknowledging and engaging with him she was rolling her eyes on the inside but she tried not to on the outside. It was cringeworthy how he was asking her but she didn't have the heart to straight up brutally reject him. He was trying. She'd only rejected one person and well look how that turned out with a gun pointed in her direction. She was slightly amused at his attempts at flirting but it was an act. Reverse psychology, pretend to be pathetic to get the girl but with a hint of confidence. He really thinks he has game, she shook her head, "I guess so. My friend could use some fun."

"Well when you say it like that - don't even bother." He pretended to be angry. "Ugh, don't be like that," She amused , finally advancing to the window and ordering herself and Manny a large sprite and two pretzels. Peter swooped in and took out his dad's American Express and told the cashier, "It's on me."

The cashier took the card and Emma was shocked yet confused by his gesture, "Um thanks?"

"What?"

"I was more than capable of paying for it. You didn't have to do that, Peter." Emma told him, "but thank-you."

"It was nothing Emma, really. You know I'm a gentleman, I couldn't stand to see a girl pay for her things."

Now Emma's was visibly getting red in the face mad because she was not about to become entangled with Peter and have him paying for everything because he's the man in their hypothetical relationship. It was simply anti feminist she made a face and while she could've just took it stride she didn't it wasn't in her mind, "Well that's pretty misogynistic thing to say."

Peter put his hands up, "I meant no harm. I'm sorry."

"Of course not." She told him sarcastically before she told him, "I wasn't raised like that."

"I take it's a no on the party?"

"Thanks but no thanks." Emma hurriedly left Peter in the dust and returned to Manny with the sodas and pretzels in a brown paper bag.

"What took you?"

"Who does that Peter think he is?" Emma muttered opening her can of sprite. "Drink up though courtesy of Peter."

"What did he say?"

"It doesn't matter." Emma spat, "he ain't my type."

"Evidently it does, how did you come to that conclusion?."

"He told me about this stupid party at his place tonight and how he wants me to go so bad." Emma sighed, "I mean as much as I relish being able to drink to excess he's lame company and what happened out there is proof. So glad he doesn't go to our school."

"Yeah what a relief," Manny was glad she was wearing her bug eyed sunglasses so she could say what's really on her mind, she warned Emma, "Em honestly I wouldn't go if I were you."

"I wasn't gonna. I'd rather eat the meatiest of meat than go to his party."

Manny and Emma roared with laughter at Peter's expense and Emma took notice of him looking at her. "So she's a bit of a difficult woman? Psh, she doesn't know now but hasn't seen anything yet." He said to himself, Peter saw her glaring at him with a nasty expression on her face, he was angered and agitatedly kicked a stone in his path and left the pool. If there was one thing that Peter hated it's being rejected and humiliated but it gave him even more determination. He'd have Emma one way or another, and he'll find a way he thought to himself.

A few hours later, Emma and Manny all tanned and sunkissed decided to leave the pool. Emma checked her phone and saw a text from Jay.

Just thinking about you, what are you wearing?

Emma typed back:

A bikini

Jay texted back instantly:

Sounds v hot so pic 4 pic?

Emma excitedly took a selfie while Manny was showering off her tanning lotion and hit send.

beautiful emma

so what time you think u will be the ravine?

He sent a picture of him with his white tank top on, Jay didn't have air conditioning so he was hoping she'd come out sooner so he could get out of the house. All he had were a few oscillating fans and a ceiling fan keeping him cool as he was trying to study. He was smoking a cigarette and reading over some notebooks in his room from when he actually attended school.

She thought for a moment finally she typed. She heard Manny come out of the shower and called out to Emma, "Your turn."

You look like you're hard at work. I'll let you go gotta shower I'll text you when the coast is clear xo talk later

Emma got ready for some loafing around until Manny went to sleep. She knows Manny would likely fall asleep before the movie they put on will end. Jay smirked and put his phone down at his desk blowing out some cigarette smoke in his room excited to finally see her again. He had some big plans but nothing grand. He just wanted to spend time with her and didn't care what they did. Even if they just looked up at the stars and made out and got drinks, maybe a bite to eat in no particular order for no rhyme or reason.