08-11-2016, 12:25 PM
Not everyone was on the same flight to Hawaii. Seth and Emma were on the same flight that arrived at six in the morning. They planned to pick up the rental car then go to the beach house to set it up with food from the closest grocery store, and it turned out that they had paid for the bar to be stocked with alcohol. Since no one was over twenty one, it couldn't be purchased through other means.
Dalen and Julian arrived at eight in the morning on another flight together and took a cab to the beach house, where Julian awaited anxiously for Riane to arrive. He had left her with Joe at the airport rather annoyed. Joe didn't want to go alone with Dalen so it forced the two of them apart. He knew this wouldn't have been an issue if they had made their plans a great deal ahead of time.
The beach house was beautiful. The second floor held an open floor plan with the kitchen looking into the bright living room. It was surrounded by windows that allowed them to see the blue ocean that was so close to their porch.
A barbeque was available for use along with lounge chairs on the wood patio. Downstairs were the bedrooms and a play room that held a pool table, gaming systems, a television, and other entertainment.
Sitting on the white couch with blue accent pillows, Julian kept looking at the clock on his cellphone.
Emma and Seth had finished putting away the groceries, while Dalen stared at his friend from across the room. The two were chuckling as they completed their task, and talking about what they had seen on their trip to the store. He too was sitting on a white couch. There was no television in this room and was merely for entertaining guests or as the case may have it each other.
"Her plane hasn't even touched down yet. Give it a break before I break your phone, asshole. You are driving me bat shit insane." Dalen growled.
Julian did not reply with anything other than a cold glare, before picking up his phone and looking at the time again.
"There is a fucking clock on the wall." He hissed under his breath and pointed to the circular clock behind him.
The harsh words could be heard in the open concept kitchen as granite counter tops circled the three of the walls with a large island and attached breakfast bar.
Emma looked towards Seth and spoke under her breath, "We are the only ones looking like we are having any fun."
"I bet Julian talked about Riane the entire time which let me tell you is annoying." He whispered. "Plus, Joe is coming so I bet Dalen has a lot on his mind too. He hasn't said anything, but I am thinking he wants to try to make amends with her."
"Ah, well, regardless, lets get away from them when we finish here." She put a cereal box in the cabinet.
"Want to get our swimsuits and head down to the beach? I think the areas in front of the houses are rather private."
Emma smiled and nodded her head, as she continued to put the boxed foods away. "Anything to get away from this."
"Stop looking at the fucking phone!" Dalen barked. "She barely just got in the air!"
"I wouldn't have to look at my phone, if you hadn't fucked it up with Joe!" Julian snapped back loudly and stood from the couch in an attempt to intimidate, but all that did was make Dalen stand in defiance.
Seth rolled his eyes, "Guys! If they get here and you two are in shitty moods or if they figure out you were fighting, they won't be happy."
That seemed enough to calm Julian down and he tossed himself back onto the couch, but it took a moment for Dalen to sit back down. He slowly lowered himself while he continued to glare across the large coffee table at his friend.
"Why don't you two go pick your bedrooms and unpack your bags? We are here for a whole week, we might as well get comfortable." Emma suggested hoping that it would separate them and also giving them something to do.
The two jumped up from their couches and both headed towards the stairs with suitcases wheeling behind them.
"Are Joe and Riane sharing a room?" Seth asked.
She nodded, "Yeah, Joe was a last minute addition so Riane decided to share her room. It would be unfair for her to ask one of you guys to give up a room."
"It would be more suitable for you as well. Joe and Riane are like sisters so it would be more comfortable for them to share." He was loading everything into the large refrigerator.
They had filled four shopping carts at the grocery store and figured they would leave whatever they didn't consume. After all, they paid for a clean up service after they left.
Even if they would be eating out a great deal it would be nice to have some home cooked meals from time to time. Dalen was more than happy to cook and liked the idea of a large group dinner. Though most suspected it was another attempted to win over Joe, who he hadn't spoken to that morning while they waited in the airport.
"For fuck's sake! I can hear you turning it on and off all the way down the hall!" Dalen's voice filtered in from downstairs.
Seth rolled his eyes, "We should have given Riane and Joe our seats that way the testosterone fueled rampage wouldn't be happening right now."
"Yeah, but then we wouldn't have been able to get here early to set up nor would we be about to swim." Emma chuckled, "I am kind of selfish like that."
"Hey, we would have found plenty of fun to be had at the airport. Trust me, I can make it happen." He sat up on the island now that his task was completed.
She smirked at him and joined him once the last of the pantry items were put away. "So, do you think the puppies will return the moment the girls arrive?"
Seth nodded, "Yeah, but at least you are getting a feel for what it was like to be Riane before Julian fell madly in love with her."
"Lucky me." She said sarcastically and sighed at all the bags on the kitchen floor.
Seeing where her eyes fell, Seth jumped down and began to collect them. Once he was finished he shoved them into the trash compactor and then leaned on the island.
"They won't get here for a couple more hours, so let's get to swimming and leave those two to tear the other's throat out." He smacked his hand on the table before heading down to his room where his luggage was on the bed.
"Ok, but let me unpack first." Emma jumped off the table and headed down the stairs where she was greeted with a long hallway of doors to her left and the entertainment room to the right. Two of them held bathrooms and the one at the end of the hall was the master suit which had it's own private bathroom. The master would be for Riane and Joe since they were sharing.
Heading into her bedroom with a comforter with a large white flower on the center, she began to open her luggage up. The boys only brought one each, but the girls had two each. One carry on and one to check in.
This was her first vacation and she had been excited to go on it, but the more she spoke to Seth the more she realized he might like her. She knew he was engaged to someone else, and she wasn't willing to be that type of woman. She decided it might all be in her head, however, and she need not jump to conclusions just yet.
Pulling out her swimsuit, she set it aside on the bed before opening the closet up and removing the hangers. This would be a long week and she needed to pace herself, she decided.
Stepping out of the taxi, Riane and Joe looked at the large two story home surrounded by palm trees. The ocean was so close that they could both smell and taste it in the air.
Both smiled at each other as they made their way up the long walk way and knocked on the door. Even if they knew their friend's would be inside, Riane feared they might have gotten the address wrong.
The door opened and Emma, who was wearing a one piece red swimsuit and a towel around her waste, smiled at them. "Yeah! I am so happy you are here!"
Riane returned the smile and the two hugged even though they had just seen each other that morning. "You smell like the ocean."
Joe didn't acknowledge her and tried her best not to look annoyed that she had been the one to open the door. All she could think was, "Just make yourself at home, why don't you?"
"Seth and I went swimming." She stepped aside to let them in and they both looked around the entry way. To their right was the kitchen and living area, and to the left was the stairs down.
Riane and Joe stepped inside both holding one case and wheeling the other behind them. When they were inside and the door was closed, they set their large luggage down and looked around the house with wonder.
"This is so beautiful." Riane said out loud.
Joe agreed with a nod.
"Watch this." Emma smirked before walking over to the hallway and shouting, "Riane and Joe are here!"
Within seconds, the sounds of stomping and doors slamming could be heard downstairs. Julian and Dalen ascended the stairway both shoving each other in the arm trying to be the first to reach the top.
Julian smiled at Riane, ignoring Joe completely. "How was your flight? Did they give you something to eat? Do you want a snack?"
Riane returned the smile, "I am fine, thank you, and the flight was just fine."
After hearing from him that she looked annoyed by him in front of others, she realized that she was acting inappropriately. She decided to treat him the same among their friends as she did when they were alone. No more eye rolls or sighs unless they were genuine.
"That's good to hear." Dalen said to her and seemed to be trying his best not to address Joe though he kept taking glimpses out of the corner of his eye.
"Let me take your stuff to your room." Julian reached out of the two suitcases and began to head down the stairs.
Dalen cleared his throat and looked towards Joe, "May I?"
She nodded and offered out the luggage. The two men disappeared while Emma leaned against the wall trying her best not to laugh out loud.
"Wow." Joe mouthed while the two were still in earshot.
"What the hell got into Dalen? He's usually the mature one." Riane finally spoke. "It's like he is taking Julian's Art of Seduction class."
Both Emma and Joe giggled at her comment.
"He is probably just nervous that I am here after what happened. It will pass as we become more comfortable." Joe turned around and headed into the kitchen. She immediately saw the view of the blue ocean. "Riane, come here."
Stepping into the kitchen, Riane looked out of the windows. "So, beautiful."
"It isn't cold either." Emma told them. "Seth is still out there. I just came in for more sun screen when I heard the knock."
"How was your time spent with him?" Riane leaned against the island.
"It was a lot of fun actually."
"Well, head back out there. There isn't much to do on the first day but pick a restaurant." Riane motioned with her hand towards the back of the house.
Emma smiled and gently touched Riane's shoulder before giving it a slight squeeze. "I am glad you are here now. Both of you."
Joe gave a fake grin as she watched the girl skip towards the back of the house and out the door.
"I am starting to think they might like each other." Riane said out loud when the door shut behind her friend.
Joe walked over to the couch and flung herself upon it. "I kind of want to take a nap. That guy sitting next to me kept trying to steal my arm rest the entire flight. I feel like I have fought a battle."
Riane smirked as she heard the sounds of footsteps heading up the stairs. Julian arrived in the kitchen first with a grin followed by Dalen, who looked around to find Joe.
"Do you want to go swimming?" Julian asked when he saw her staring at the ocean and he hoped he had spotted a desire in her. He wanted to be able to fulfill her wish list on this trip as much as possible.
"I thought you didn't like the ocean." Riane partly teased, but she was concerned for him. Before he could make an argument about how it was for the sea creatures, she spoke again. "I don't really feel comfortable in a swimsuit anyway. I thought I would be able to do all that stuff, but I doubt I'll touch the ocean this trip."
"Nonsense. If I am willing to get over my fear of the ocean, you can put on a swimsuit and enjoy yourself."
Riane nodded in agreement, and felt happy to know that she was getting over a fear next to her friend. It would make it easier. "Alright, but tomorrow. I am tired from the flight and waiting around the airport."
"Tomorrow then." Julian noticed Dalen heading over to the living area and sit down on the couch across from Joe. She had her head tossed back and was resting her eyes.
"How about a walk on the beach then? Throw on a sundress and leave out the shoes?" Julian suggested and his heart raced for fear that she would say no. He had been waiting since that morning to see her again and as dark as he made his room the sun shined through those curtians just fine. So there was no meditation room to make his time pass faster. He could have used the bathroom, but he wouldn't have had a bed in there. Instead, he had laid on the blankets and allowed the minutes to pass like hours.
"A walk before dinner sounds nice. I'll go change." Riane left the room and quickly descended the stairs.
Julian smirked at the fact that she liked and had agreed to his idea. "What are you two going to do?"
Dalen shrugged his shoulders and leaned back against the couch with his arms spread over the back. "Hang out."
Joe sat up and stretched out her arms. "I think I am going to take a nap. Can one of you walk me up before we pick a restaurant?"
"Yeah." Dalen told her as she got up from the couch and followed behind Riane.
With the two women gone the house went silent for several moments, as they both waited for Riane to appear. When she did, she wore a light blue dress with large pink flowers and a sunhat.
"Ready?" She asked.
Julian hurried over to the couch and pulled off his socks and shoes. "Alright, let's go. We can collect sea shells along the way."
"Alright."
Dalen watched the two step out of the house and sat forward when they were out of sight. He thought about the woman downstairs and how she was so close right now. They were alone, but he knew he had to bide his time. They had only been broken up for a few days and it had been a rash decision on her part. He was going to try to win her back, but he knew he needed to work slowly and make sure it was her choice.
The group stepped outside with itineraries in hand and backpacks filled with sun screen, swim suits, towels, and any other items they thought they might need. The morning had been spent discussing their plans for the day and ensuring that everybody would know where everyone else would be and at what times.
It was decided where they would eat and find each other to switch partners for those that wanted to do different things. The excitement level was palatable as they all filtered out of the house.
"I am going to eat so much coconut and pineapple while I am here." Emma announced as they stepped out the door.
Riane chuckled at her remark and turned her head so she could see her friend before speaking. "Macadamia nuts for me."
"Oh, good call." Emma spoke with enthusiasm. "We should buy the most outrageous tourist shirt in the world to take home with us as a joke to ourselves."
Seth shook his head with an amused look upon his face. "I think you two should pace yourselves."
Julian snorted, "Riane can move at whatever pace she wants. She's never been on vacation like this before and I plan on doing everything with her that she wants."
"That's nice of you, Julian, but I will want to hang out with Joe and Emma. WE have a girls thing already planned." Riane tried to tell him in a pleasant voice.
"Don't worry, he'll stalk you from the bushes." Dalen teased.
"Yeah, Riane, don't you think for a moment that Julian will let you out of his sight." Seth added and the group laughed, except for Joe who had been icy all morning.
"Hey, guys!" A familiar voice rang out and they all looked across the screen as a woman came hurrying down the sidewalk. It was as if she had been waiting for them.
"What is Adonia doing here?" Julian asked as he stared at the woman who was running towards them with a purse in hand.
Dalen gave a long groan, "She called me and asked about our plans. I should have realized that she was fishing for information."
Riane snorted, "She did the same to me. Actually, I might be the reason she called you in the first place."
Adonia arrived in front of the group of six with a big smile on her face. "I heard you guys were going to be here and I thought I'd surprise you!" She was speaking more to Julian than anyone else.
"That's wonderful, but we already have everything planned out for the day. Maybe you can join us tomorrow?" Emma knew of the woman but they had never been formally introduced.
Adonia had seen Emma sitting down with Riane and Julian during lunches, but she didn't know why she would address her. "That's fine. I'll just hang out and do whatever you are doing." She was definitely speaking only to Julian that time and it was emphasized by the way she grabbed his elbow with one hand and his hand with the other.
Joe sighed audibly, "I am going to use the bathroom." She announced before heading back inside. In truth, she just wanted to get away from this conversation as she could already see it would head no where good.
Dalen said nothing as he followed her inside, though everyone knew it was probably to talk with her alone.
Riane frowned at the woman in front of her and wondered what had gotten into her sweet friend. This wasn't the Adonia she knew and she didn't like that way she freely handled her fiancee even if it was fake, Adonia didn't know that. It was disrespectful.
Seth and Emma shared a glance before heading back inside themselves. It was obvious that they weren't part of whatever was happening between the three of them.
"Well, we were about to go have lunch together and then split up for the day. You are welcome to join us." Riane invited her.
Adonia bounced up and down in excitement though it seemed as if she was trying to rub her chest against Julian's arm.
Julian pulled his arm away after another moment and tossed his free arm around Riane. "Riane and I really wanted some alone time today, so today is not a good time. I am sorry, maybe one of the others want you to come along."
"Don't be rude." Riane mumbled under her breath and tried not to be bothered by his arm around her shoulder.
Adonia had frowned for a moment but a smile slowly reappeared. "Thank you, Riane."
"No, we had plans." Julian growled to Riane though his frustration was with Adonia.
"I promise you I won't be a bother. Please? I know it was rude to show up without telling you first, but this was a last minute idea. All my friends are in Europe and Blake and I broke up. Please?" She directed this inquiry towards Riane because she knew she was the softer one of the two. Placing her hands together she begged to add to the look of desperation.
"You can come with us." Riane told her and with that Julian mumbled several curse words under his breath and headed back inside.
Adonia bounced once more. "Oh, thank you, Riane. I appreciate this so much. I promise I won't get in the way."
The thought of telling her she already did crossed her mind, but she decided to keep that rude comment to herself.
"And for being so nice, I have something to tell you." Adonia stepped closer to her and spoke softly into her ear even though there was no one around to hear her, so it seemed more theatrical then necessary. "Do you know the reason that Blake broke up with me?"
Riane didn't know what was an appropriate response, so she remained quiet.
"He is in love with you." She said almost proudly. The look on her face wasn't one that Riane would expect to get such news from. I mean if she was a best friend telling her that her crush liked her then yes, but this was not the look of a jilted woman looking for revenge.
"I don't think so." They were the only words that she could combine together after hearing such a thing and seeing such a sight.
Adonia nodded her head, "It's true. I accused him of it and he admitted it. He has been in love with you for a long time, and he was always afraid to act on it."
"I see." Riane still had no idea how to respond to this information and she wondered if it was even accurate.
"Anyway, I am going to take a peek at your place, alright?" She asked and headed inside before she even saw Riane nod.
Sitting down on the cement stairs, Riane wondered why her heart didn't flutter at this news. Was it because Adonia, Blake's ex-girlfriend, was telling her? It was strange to receive such information in such a friendly way from a woman who had just been broken up with by that very same man.
The door behind her opened and Emma stepped outside to sit on the cement stairs with her. "Are you alright?"
Riane nodded, "Yeah. I think Seth is right, I just need to pace myself or I'll be exhausted before anything happens." She didn't want to tell Emma what Adonia said, and she had no idea why she wouldn't. Emma and Joe would be better suited to figuring out why Adonia would tell her such a thing.
"Alright, well, we should gather everyone up and head to the restaurant. It's late enough in the day as it is. If those dumb asses hadn't gotten so drunk and hung over last night, we would be out and about already."
Riane laughed and gave a nod. "Yeah, let's get started."
While Riane and the other had been chatting outside with Adonia, Joe had made her way to the patio to look out over the ocean. There were some families nearby that were playing on the beach, but for the most part it only looked like people that owned or rented the beach houses.
She knew she shouldn't have come along. Since she arrived all she had done was act annoyed by Emma and tried her best to avoid Dalen. She couldn't even explain to herself the former, and knew exactly why she was avoiding the latter.
All evening long last night, Dalen had been looking her way and trying to start up conversations with her. It took everything she had to not ruining the evening by yelling at him to leave her alone.
What had she been thinking? She broke up with Dalen and then she thought it would be a good idea to go on a one week vacation with him. It was especially annoying considering that everyone else had found pairs. Emma and Seth seemed to be enjoying each other's time, and Julian would not be letting Riane out of his sight.
This would mean that she had no choice but to be someone's third wheel unless Dalen was there in which case she would be abandoned to him. It was difficult to decide who she would even hang out with anyway. She had decided on Riane and Julian, but Julian was far more annoying than Emma could ever be.
She liked him better when he was a complete ass, but this cupid's arrow version of him was intolerable. She didn't know how Riane didn't punch him in the face every time he opened his mouth. Such uncomfortable declarations of love and cheesy lines. It was worse that Riane didn't even act annoyed by it anymore, she simply played along. If her friend really didn't want to be with him, she wasn't making it any easier on herself.
"Hey." Dalen's voice called her out of her thoughts as he opened the sliding door and stepped out onto the porch.
Joe turned around quickly and put her hand over her heart. She had been startled and the angry burning up inside of her wanted to yell at him even though it wasn't his fault, but she calmed herself before she was the cause of drama on this trip. Not that she could beat out Adonia. That woman had won the crown. "You scared me."
Dalen smirked, "I see that. Sorry."
She shook her head and turned back around to look at the ocean as Dalen walked over to stand next to her. They both leaned on the wooden banister and watched the waves for a few moments.
Joe wondered why he had come out here, but she didn't want to be the one to start a conversation. Surprisingly, she wasn't ill at ease with his presence even though her mind told her that the lack of feeling uncomfortable is what made it uncomfortable.
"So, I was thinking." Dalen finally spoke and turned to face her so that he was only leaning on one arm.
Joe already didn't like the start of this conversation as she had a feeling she knew where it was going to head.
"Emma and Seth are hitting it off, and I think those two are going to end up ditching the group entirely. I also think that Julian has several plans that include annoying Riane in his attempt to woo her. We won't be invited to some of those, which means you and I are going to have a lot of time either walking this island alone or awkwardly together." He watched her nod.
"Yeah, I had similar thoughts. I shouldn't have come. I am not in the mood for this type of trip and I don't want to be the wet blanket." She inhaled deeply of the ocean air.
"Yeah, the wet blanket is Adonia. Like what the fuck is up with that? She literately got information from Riane and I in order to like stalk Julian here. Did you even know she liked Julian? I mean I am reading that right, right?" He chuckled.
Joe shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know, but the two of them are a match made in heaven. If only we could get Julian to look Adonia's way again. That would ease Riane's life."
Dalen laughed, "I think he is pretty dead set." He sighed and went quiet for a moment, "I want to suggest something, if I may."
Joe turned towards him as she stood completely up. "What is that?"
"Let's use this week to be like a trial run of our relationship. We aren't together, but we aren't broken up yet. If at the end, you really don't want us to be together then we will be done." Dalen swallowed for fear that he would get an immediate response of no.
She seemed to think about it for a moment, "What do you mean exactly?"
"I mean we both seemed to misunderstand each other in our first fight, by the way. I think I deeply offended you and didn't try to understand where you were coming from, and I think the reverse can be said about you. Do you agree?"
Joe nodded her head.
"So, let's retract our break up for one week, but with no belief that we will remain together or in any way have to act as a couple. I guess I am saying is, Jolene Bradford, will you be my friend on this trip while being open to the idea that you could be my girlfriend again?" He put his hands together and pouted his lips.
She chuckled, "Alright, but only because this shit will get awkward fast. I don't want to be running around Hawaii by myself or acting as a third wheel."
"Whew, good, because neither do I." He looked inside to see most of the group had come in from the front yard. "So, that guy Neil..."
"I am allowed to have male friends. You have female ones. Don't go there." Joe frowned.
Dalen immediately threw up his hands, "My bad, let's not start our new friendship this way then. Um, any reason that you dislike Emma?"
Joe sucked on his bottom lip and glared at him. "Drop it."
"Ok." He stood for a moment thinking about what else he could talk about that would be safe. "Oh, I got one. How fucking weird if it that Julian actually fell for Riane, but not her for him? I mean, did anyone see that coming?"
She began to smirk, "I know, right? After that big stink he made about this whole ordeal for him to suddenly want a relationship with her, so strange."
"No kidding. And what kind of fucking dork is he? I can't believe that person was secretly living in my friend all along, and Riane was the one to pull him out. Who is that person? What is happening?" He turned his back to the banister and leaned his back against it before crossing his arms. "He is constantly running around trying to do things for her."
"I am more worried that Riane is just accepting the behavior now. It's like she doesn't even notice it." Joe didn't know why they were having this conversation, as she wasn't usually one to gossip, but it was a safe topic to discuss at this time.
"Do you think Adonia will be able to win him over?" He had already said that he didn't believe she could, but it was the only question that came to mind.
She shrugged and pressed her lips together, "By every measurable account, Adonia is better than Riane. From a man's perspective, I mean."
"I guess so. She is prettier. She doesn't have anxiety. Her family has an established career waiting for her. However, there is one thing that Riane has that Adonia doesn't."
"And what's that?" Joe asked as they watched Emma, Seth, and Julian talking to each other in the kitchen.
"Everything Julian wants." He looked over to her. "Her."
Joe smiled gently, "You really think that he is that into her?"
"I know he is." Dalen knew he was speaking about himself more than Julian, but he doubted that was getting through to her.
"Is that Adonia?" Joe stepped forward as she watched Adonia look around the house. "That bitch convinced Riane to let her follow us around, I just know it."
The little place they found for lunch was just a small building that was entirely made up of a kitchen with outdoor seating of picnic benches. Their food came in Styrofoam containers and mostly everyone ordered some sort of meat over rice.
Dalen and Joe had excused themselves from the group for the day before even arriving at the restaurant. It was odd to see them head off together, but they explained that they were going to hang out just the two of them. Everyone understood, even though Riane didn't like the fact that her guest was being taken away. She didn't say anything, because it was just one day.
On one side of the bench sat Seth and Emma and on the other was Julian in the center between Riane and Adonia.
Adonia had ordered kabobs and was pulling all the items off the stick to place over her rice. She mumbled under her breath that this should have been done for her. The other four members of the group who ate with plastic forks shook their head at her, and gave annoyed knowing glares to each other.
"Here try some of this." Julian took a piece of his meat out of the container and gently laid it on top of Riane's rice.
She picked it up with her fork and chewed it, "That's really sweet. Mine is more spicy." She grabbed a piece and set it on his rice.
Julian hurried to eat it and coughed, "Too spicy." He swallowed it down and drank some of his water, while the group laughed.
"Can I try some of yours, Julian?" Adonia asked with a sickly sweet tone in her voice and hit his arm gently with her shoulder.
He frowned and spoke harshly. "No, I can't be sharing with everybody otherwise I won't have any for myself."
"Julian." Riane called his name as if it were a reprimand.
"What? Is it not true?" Julian asked her and then looked at Seth and Emma to gain their approval, but they both immediately looked down at their own food.
"Don't be rude." She scolded, before turning her attention to the woman beside him. "Do you want to try some of mine, Adonia?"
She shook her head, "No, I have an aversion to spicy foods."
Emma could see the snark in the woman's reply and decided it was best to change the subject all together. "We are going scuba diving after this, right?"
Seth nodded his head excitedly with a mouthful of food, but he tried to say yes anyway only to cover his mouth to prevent any food loss.
"I love scuba diving. I bet you are a natural, Julian." Adonia said with a smile before cutting up a piece of the meat. She then stabbed it onto her fork before stabbing a piece of pineapple.
"Julian doesn't like the ocean." Riane told her and tried her best not to frown.
Adonia was obviously trying to flirt with Julian, but she had no idea that her relationship with Julian was fake. This was quite rude behavior and Riane didn't care for it, but she didn't know what to say other than to outright accuse her of it. Julian didn't seem bothered by it and Riane thought maybe it was welcomed otherwise he would say something to that effect.
"Oh." Adonia frowned, "Why not?"
Julian's pressed his lips together and his face started to turn red. "It's unnatural for humans to go into the ocean. That's where sharks live not us!"
Everyone but Adonia laughed at his reaction.
"What's so funny? You shouldn't make fun of someone's fears. That's rude." Adonia snapped at them. "You are right, though, Julian. It really isn't our place. Why don't you and I do something else while the others go scuba diving? I bet there is all sorts of fun we can find around here."
"No, I promised Riane that I would go with her." He continued to eat his food and seemed oblivious to what Adonia was actually asking of him.
Riane swallowed down some strange feeling in her chest. "You don't have to come, Julian. I am sure you would have more fun with Adonia then dealing with the ocean."
He brought his brows together and glared at her for a moment. "We said we were facing our fears together. Do you think I make promises like that and then run away when it is my turn to pay up? I am going scuba diving and none of you can stop me."
"What fear do you have, Riane?" Emma asked with concern.
She cleared her throat as she thought about wearing a swimsuit in front of everyone, but before she could answer Julian slammed his hand onto the table.
"Don't ask people that. They'll tell you when they want you to know." Julian barked but it somehow came off as more playful than anything else.
Emma grinned, "Of course. You're right." She knew he was protecting Riane and she would ask her later. No doubt the person he was protecting her from was Adonia. No need to give her any weakness since it was obvious that Adonia was coming after Julian, and Emma could see that this made Riane anxious even if she didn't see it herself.
Adonia smacked her lips together briefly and continued to eat. Emma could see the annoyance growing within her and wondered what the hell the woman was really up to. She hadn't interacted with her much especially not at school, but this just didn't seem to be the way she normally acted. She usually smiled and waved at Riane and the others and seemed polite enough.
This sudden interest in Julian seemed suspicious, but Emma was new to the group and didn't know exactly what Adonia's place among them was. It was another item to add to the list of things to ask Riane later.
"So, Joe and Dalen running off together is a little weird, right?" Emma once again wanted to change the subject. "I thought they broke up."
"Yeah, they didn't even talk much to each other last night, and suddenly they want to spend the day together. Do you think they made up?" Riane poked at her food, even she needed small breaks between spicy bites.
"I think Dalen would have told me that." Seth interrupted before Emma could speak. "He has been talking non-stop about trying to convince her to get back together though. Maybe this is all part of his plan."
Julian snorted as he shoved more food in his mouth then began to talk. "She's kind of a bitch. I don't know why he'd want any of that."
Riane frowned, "First of all, don't talk with food in your mouth. Second of all, that is my best friend you are talking about."
He swallowed his food down, "Sorry."
"Wow, you just boss your fiancee around like that, Riane? That is rather harsh right in front of all of us, isn't it?" Adonia scoffed and looked towards the people sitting across from her for validation. They both looked down at their food.
Riane was about to defend herself and even apologize a little, but Julian spoke up before her.
"She can talk to me however she fucking wants. I'll decide if its rude or not. I don't need someone running to my side to protect me." Julian didn't sound angry, it seemed like he was genuinely explaining the situation. "Do you see how tiny she is? I think I can take her."
Riane smirked at his comment, which made Seth and Emma chuckle, though Adonia seemed unamused.
"I see." She hissed and returned her attention to her food.
Emma looked between the three and wondered if anyone was aware of what was happening here. Adonia was obviously frustrated that her attempts were failing. Julian seemed blissfully unaware that anything was happening, while Riane looked distressed and then relieved whenever Julian chose her instead. It wasn't her place to say anything so she decided to just watch the drama unfold, at least for now.
Dalen and Julian arrived at eight in the morning on another flight together and took a cab to the beach house, where Julian awaited anxiously for Riane to arrive. He had left her with Joe at the airport rather annoyed. Joe didn't want to go alone with Dalen so it forced the two of them apart. He knew this wouldn't have been an issue if they had made their plans a great deal ahead of time.
The beach house was beautiful. The second floor held an open floor plan with the kitchen looking into the bright living room. It was surrounded by windows that allowed them to see the blue ocean that was so close to their porch.
A barbeque was available for use along with lounge chairs on the wood patio. Downstairs were the bedrooms and a play room that held a pool table, gaming systems, a television, and other entertainment.
Sitting on the white couch with blue accent pillows, Julian kept looking at the clock on his cellphone.
Emma and Seth had finished putting away the groceries, while Dalen stared at his friend from across the room. The two were chuckling as they completed their task, and talking about what they had seen on their trip to the store. He too was sitting on a white couch. There was no television in this room and was merely for entertaining guests or as the case may have it each other.
"Her plane hasn't even touched down yet. Give it a break before I break your phone, asshole. You are driving me bat shit insane." Dalen growled.
Julian did not reply with anything other than a cold glare, before picking up his phone and looking at the time again.
"There is a fucking clock on the wall." He hissed under his breath and pointed to the circular clock behind him.
The harsh words could be heard in the open concept kitchen as granite counter tops circled the three of the walls with a large island and attached breakfast bar.
Emma looked towards Seth and spoke under her breath, "We are the only ones looking like we are having any fun."
"I bet Julian talked about Riane the entire time which let me tell you is annoying." He whispered. "Plus, Joe is coming so I bet Dalen has a lot on his mind too. He hasn't said anything, but I am thinking he wants to try to make amends with her."
"Ah, well, regardless, lets get away from them when we finish here." She put a cereal box in the cabinet.
"Want to get our swimsuits and head down to the beach? I think the areas in front of the houses are rather private."
Emma smiled and nodded her head, as she continued to put the boxed foods away. "Anything to get away from this."
"Stop looking at the fucking phone!" Dalen barked. "She barely just got in the air!"
"I wouldn't have to look at my phone, if you hadn't fucked it up with Joe!" Julian snapped back loudly and stood from the couch in an attempt to intimidate, but all that did was make Dalen stand in defiance.
Seth rolled his eyes, "Guys! If they get here and you two are in shitty moods or if they figure out you were fighting, they won't be happy."
That seemed enough to calm Julian down and he tossed himself back onto the couch, but it took a moment for Dalen to sit back down. He slowly lowered himself while he continued to glare across the large coffee table at his friend.
"Why don't you two go pick your bedrooms and unpack your bags? We are here for a whole week, we might as well get comfortable." Emma suggested hoping that it would separate them and also giving them something to do.
The two jumped up from their couches and both headed towards the stairs with suitcases wheeling behind them.
"Are Joe and Riane sharing a room?" Seth asked.
She nodded, "Yeah, Joe was a last minute addition so Riane decided to share her room. It would be unfair for her to ask one of you guys to give up a room."
"It would be more suitable for you as well. Joe and Riane are like sisters so it would be more comfortable for them to share." He was loading everything into the large refrigerator.
They had filled four shopping carts at the grocery store and figured they would leave whatever they didn't consume. After all, they paid for a clean up service after they left.
Even if they would be eating out a great deal it would be nice to have some home cooked meals from time to time. Dalen was more than happy to cook and liked the idea of a large group dinner. Though most suspected it was another attempted to win over Joe, who he hadn't spoken to that morning while they waited in the airport.
"For fuck's sake! I can hear you turning it on and off all the way down the hall!" Dalen's voice filtered in from downstairs.
Seth rolled his eyes, "We should have given Riane and Joe our seats that way the testosterone fueled rampage wouldn't be happening right now."
"Yeah, but then we wouldn't have been able to get here early to set up nor would we be about to swim." Emma chuckled, "I am kind of selfish like that."
"Hey, we would have found plenty of fun to be had at the airport. Trust me, I can make it happen." He sat up on the island now that his task was completed.
She smirked at him and joined him once the last of the pantry items were put away. "So, do you think the puppies will return the moment the girls arrive?"
Seth nodded, "Yeah, but at least you are getting a feel for what it was like to be Riane before Julian fell madly in love with her."
"Lucky me." She said sarcastically and sighed at all the bags on the kitchen floor.
Seeing where her eyes fell, Seth jumped down and began to collect them. Once he was finished he shoved them into the trash compactor and then leaned on the island.
"They won't get here for a couple more hours, so let's get to swimming and leave those two to tear the other's throat out." He smacked his hand on the table before heading down to his room where his luggage was on the bed.
"Ok, but let me unpack first." Emma jumped off the table and headed down the stairs where she was greeted with a long hallway of doors to her left and the entertainment room to the right. Two of them held bathrooms and the one at the end of the hall was the master suit which had it's own private bathroom. The master would be for Riane and Joe since they were sharing.
Heading into her bedroom with a comforter with a large white flower on the center, she began to open her luggage up. The boys only brought one each, but the girls had two each. One carry on and one to check in.
This was her first vacation and she had been excited to go on it, but the more she spoke to Seth the more she realized he might like her. She knew he was engaged to someone else, and she wasn't willing to be that type of woman. She decided it might all be in her head, however, and she need not jump to conclusions just yet.
Pulling out her swimsuit, she set it aside on the bed before opening the closet up and removing the hangers. This would be a long week and she needed to pace herself, she decided.
---***---
Stepping out of the taxi, Riane and Joe looked at the large two story home surrounded by palm trees. The ocean was so close that they could both smell and taste it in the air.
Both smiled at each other as they made their way up the long walk way and knocked on the door. Even if they knew their friend's would be inside, Riane feared they might have gotten the address wrong.
The door opened and Emma, who was wearing a one piece red swimsuit and a towel around her waste, smiled at them. "Yeah! I am so happy you are here!"
Riane returned the smile and the two hugged even though they had just seen each other that morning. "You smell like the ocean."
Joe didn't acknowledge her and tried her best not to look annoyed that she had been the one to open the door. All she could think was, "Just make yourself at home, why don't you?"
"Seth and I went swimming." She stepped aside to let them in and they both looked around the entry way. To their right was the kitchen and living area, and to the left was the stairs down.
Riane and Joe stepped inside both holding one case and wheeling the other behind them. When they were inside and the door was closed, they set their large luggage down and looked around the house with wonder.
"This is so beautiful." Riane said out loud.
Joe agreed with a nod.
"Watch this." Emma smirked before walking over to the hallway and shouting, "Riane and Joe are here!"
Within seconds, the sounds of stomping and doors slamming could be heard downstairs. Julian and Dalen ascended the stairway both shoving each other in the arm trying to be the first to reach the top.
Julian smiled at Riane, ignoring Joe completely. "How was your flight? Did they give you something to eat? Do you want a snack?"
Riane returned the smile, "I am fine, thank you, and the flight was just fine."
After hearing from him that she looked annoyed by him in front of others, she realized that she was acting inappropriately. She decided to treat him the same among their friends as she did when they were alone. No more eye rolls or sighs unless they were genuine.
"That's good to hear." Dalen said to her and seemed to be trying his best not to address Joe though he kept taking glimpses out of the corner of his eye.
"Let me take your stuff to your room." Julian reached out of the two suitcases and began to head down the stairs.
Dalen cleared his throat and looked towards Joe, "May I?"
She nodded and offered out the luggage. The two men disappeared while Emma leaned against the wall trying her best not to laugh out loud.
"Wow." Joe mouthed while the two were still in earshot.
"What the hell got into Dalen? He's usually the mature one." Riane finally spoke. "It's like he is taking Julian's Art of Seduction class."
Both Emma and Joe giggled at her comment.
"He is probably just nervous that I am here after what happened. It will pass as we become more comfortable." Joe turned around and headed into the kitchen. She immediately saw the view of the blue ocean. "Riane, come here."
Stepping into the kitchen, Riane looked out of the windows. "So, beautiful."
"It isn't cold either." Emma told them. "Seth is still out there. I just came in for more sun screen when I heard the knock."
"How was your time spent with him?" Riane leaned against the island.
"It was a lot of fun actually."
"Well, head back out there. There isn't much to do on the first day but pick a restaurant." Riane motioned with her hand towards the back of the house.
Emma smiled and gently touched Riane's shoulder before giving it a slight squeeze. "I am glad you are here now. Both of you."
Joe gave a fake grin as she watched the girl skip towards the back of the house and out the door.
"I am starting to think they might like each other." Riane said out loud when the door shut behind her friend.
Joe walked over to the couch and flung herself upon it. "I kind of want to take a nap. That guy sitting next to me kept trying to steal my arm rest the entire flight. I feel like I have fought a battle."
Riane smirked as she heard the sounds of footsteps heading up the stairs. Julian arrived in the kitchen first with a grin followed by Dalen, who looked around to find Joe.
"Do you want to go swimming?" Julian asked when he saw her staring at the ocean and he hoped he had spotted a desire in her. He wanted to be able to fulfill her wish list on this trip as much as possible.
"I thought you didn't like the ocean." Riane partly teased, but she was concerned for him. Before he could make an argument about how it was for the sea creatures, she spoke again. "I don't really feel comfortable in a swimsuit anyway. I thought I would be able to do all that stuff, but I doubt I'll touch the ocean this trip."
"Nonsense. If I am willing to get over my fear of the ocean, you can put on a swimsuit and enjoy yourself."
Riane nodded in agreement, and felt happy to know that she was getting over a fear next to her friend. It would make it easier. "Alright, but tomorrow. I am tired from the flight and waiting around the airport."
"Tomorrow then." Julian noticed Dalen heading over to the living area and sit down on the couch across from Joe. She had her head tossed back and was resting her eyes.
"How about a walk on the beach then? Throw on a sundress and leave out the shoes?" Julian suggested and his heart raced for fear that she would say no. He had been waiting since that morning to see her again and as dark as he made his room the sun shined through those curtians just fine. So there was no meditation room to make his time pass faster. He could have used the bathroom, but he wouldn't have had a bed in there. Instead, he had laid on the blankets and allowed the minutes to pass like hours.
"A walk before dinner sounds nice. I'll go change." Riane left the room and quickly descended the stairs.
Julian smirked at the fact that she liked and had agreed to his idea. "What are you two going to do?"
Dalen shrugged his shoulders and leaned back against the couch with his arms spread over the back. "Hang out."
Joe sat up and stretched out her arms. "I think I am going to take a nap. Can one of you walk me up before we pick a restaurant?"
"Yeah." Dalen told her as she got up from the couch and followed behind Riane.
With the two women gone the house went silent for several moments, as they both waited for Riane to appear. When she did, she wore a light blue dress with large pink flowers and a sunhat.
"Ready?" She asked.
Julian hurried over to the couch and pulled off his socks and shoes. "Alright, let's go. We can collect sea shells along the way."
"Alright."
Dalen watched the two step out of the house and sat forward when they were out of sight. He thought about the woman downstairs and how she was so close right now. They were alone, but he knew he had to bide his time. They had only been broken up for a few days and it had been a rash decision on her part. He was going to try to win her back, but he knew he needed to work slowly and make sure it was her choice.
---***---
The group stepped outside with itineraries in hand and backpacks filled with sun screen, swim suits, towels, and any other items they thought they might need. The morning had been spent discussing their plans for the day and ensuring that everybody would know where everyone else would be and at what times.
It was decided where they would eat and find each other to switch partners for those that wanted to do different things. The excitement level was palatable as they all filtered out of the house.
"I am going to eat so much coconut and pineapple while I am here." Emma announced as they stepped out the door.
Riane chuckled at her remark and turned her head so she could see her friend before speaking. "Macadamia nuts for me."
"Oh, good call." Emma spoke with enthusiasm. "We should buy the most outrageous tourist shirt in the world to take home with us as a joke to ourselves."
Seth shook his head with an amused look upon his face. "I think you two should pace yourselves."
Julian snorted, "Riane can move at whatever pace she wants. She's never been on vacation like this before and I plan on doing everything with her that she wants."
"That's nice of you, Julian, but I will want to hang out with Joe and Emma. WE have a girls thing already planned." Riane tried to tell him in a pleasant voice.
"Don't worry, he'll stalk you from the bushes." Dalen teased.
"Yeah, Riane, don't you think for a moment that Julian will let you out of his sight." Seth added and the group laughed, except for Joe who had been icy all morning.
"Hey, guys!" A familiar voice rang out and they all looked across the screen as a woman came hurrying down the sidewalk. It was as if she had been waiting for them.
"What is Adonia doing here?" Julian asked as he stared at the woman who was running towards them with a purse in hand.
Dalen gave a long groan, "She called me and asked about our plans. I should have realized that she was fishing for information."
Riane snorted, "She did the same to me. Actually, I might be the reason she called you in the first place."
Adonia arrived in front of the group of six with a big smile on her face. "I heard you guys were going to be here and I thought I'd surprise you!" She was speaking more to Julian than anyone else.
"That's wonderful, but we already have everything planned out for the day. Maybe you can join us tomorrow?" Emma knew of the woman but they had never been formally introduced.
Adonia had seen Emma sitting down with Riane and Julian during lunches, but she didn't know why she would address her. "That's fine. I'll just hang out and do whatever you are doing." She was definitely speaking only to Julian that time and it was emphasized by the way she grabbed his elbow with one hand and his hand with the other.
Joe sighed audibly, "I am going to use the bathroom." She announced before heading back inside. In truth, she just wanted to get away from this conversation as she could already see it would head no where good.
Dalen said nothing as he followed her inside, though everyone knew it was probably to talk with her alone.
Riane frowned at the woman in front of her and wondered what had gotten into her sweet friend. This wasn't the Adonia she knew and she didn't like that way she freely handled her fiancee even if it was fake, Adonia didn't know that. It was disrespectful.
Seth and Emma shared a glance before heading back inside themselves. It was obvious that they weren't part of whatever was happening between the three of them.
"Well, we were about to go have lunch together and then split up for the day. You are welcome to join us." Riane invited her.
Adonia bounced up and down in excitement though it seemed as if she was trying to rub her chest against Julian's arm.
Julian pulled his arm away after another moment and tossed his free arm around Riane. "Riane and I really wanted some alone time today, so today is not a good time. I am sorry, maybe one of the others want you to come along."
"Don't be rude." Riane mumbled under her breath and tried not to be bothered by his arm around her shoulder.
Adonia had frowned for a moment but a smile slowly reappeared. "Thank you, Riane."
"No, we had plans." Julian growled to Riane though his frustration was with Adonia.
"I promise you I won't be a bother. Please? I know it was rude to show up without telling you first, but this was a last minute idea. All my friends are in Europe and Blake and I broke up. Please?" She directed this inquiry towards Riane because she knew she was the softer one of the two. Placing her hands together she begged to add to the look of desperation.
"You can come with us." Riane told her and with that Julian mumbled several curse words under his breath and headed back inside.
Adonia bounced once more. "Oh, thank you, Riane. I appreciate this so much. I promise I won't get in the way."
The thought of telling her she already did crossed her mind, but she decided to keep that rude comment to herself.
"And for being so nice, I have something to tell you." Adonia stepped closer to her and spoke softly into her ear even though there was no one around to hear her, so it seemed more theatrical then necessary. "Do you know the reason that Blake broke up with me?"
Riane didn't know what was an appropriate response, so she remained quiet.
"He is in love with you." She said almost proudly. The look on her face wasn't one that Riane would expect to get such news from. I mean if she was a best friend telling her that her crush liked her then yes, but this was not the look of a jilted woman looking for revenge.
"I don't think so." They were the only words that she could combine together after hearing such a thing and seeing such a sight.
Adonia nodded her head, "It's true. I accused him of it and he admitted it. He has been in love with you for a long time, and he was always afraid to act on it."
"I see." Riane still had no idea how to respond to this information and she wondered if it was even accurate.
"Anyway, I am going to take a peek at your place, alright?" She asked and headed inside before she even saw Riane nod.
Sitting down on the cement stairs, Riane wondered why her heart didn't flutter at this news. Was it because Adonia, Blake's ex-girlfriend, was telling her? It was strange to receive such information in such a friendly way from a woman who had just been broken up with by that very same man.
The door behind her opened and Emma stepped outside to sit on the cement stairs with her. "Are you alright?"
Riane nodded, "Yeah. I think Seth is right, I just need to pace myself or I'll be exhausted before anything happens." She didn't want to tell Emma what Adonia said, and she had no idea why she wouldn't. Emma and Joe would be better suited to figuring out why Adonia would tell her such a thing.
"Alright, well, we should gather everyone up and head to the restaurant. It's late enough in the day as it is. If those dumb asses hadn't gotten so drunk and hung over last night, we would be out and about already."
Riane laughed and gave a nod. "Yeah, let's get started."
---***---
While Riane and the other had been chatting outside with Adonia, Joe had made her way to the patio to look out over the ocean. There were some families nearby that were playing on the beach, but for the most part it only looked like people that owned or rented the beach houses.
She knew she shouldn't have come along. Since she arrived all she had done was act annoyed by Emma and tried her best to avoid Dalen. She couldn't even explain to herself the former, and knew exactly why she was avoiding the latter.
All evening long last night, Dalen had been looking her way and trying to start up conversations with her. It took everything she had to not ruining the evening by yelling at him to leave her alone.
What had she been thinking? She broke up with Dalen and then she thought it would be a good idea to go on a one week vacation with him. It was especially annoying considering that everyone else had found pairs. Emma and Seth seemed to be enjoying each other's time, and Julian would not be letting Riane out of his sight.
This would mean that she had no choice but to be someone's third wheel unless Dalen was there in which case she would be abandoned to him. It was difficult to decide who she would even hang out with anyway. She had decided on Riane and Julian, but Julian was far more annoying than Emma could ever be.
She liked him better when he was a complete ass, but this cupid's arrow version of him was intolerable. She didn't know how Riane didn't punch him in the face every time he opened his mouth. Such uncomfortable declarations of love and cheesy lines. It was worse that Riane didn't even act annoyed by it anymore, she simply played along. If her friend really didn't want to be with him, she wasn't making it any easier on herself.
"Hey." Dalen's voice called her out of her thoughts as he opened the sliding door and stepped out onto the porch.
Joe turned around quickly and put her hand over her heart. She had been startled and the angry burning up inside of her wanted to yell at him even though it wasn't his fault, but she calmed herself before she was the cause of drama on this trip. Not that she could beat out Adonia. That woman had won the crown. "You scared me."
Dalen smirked, "I see that. Sorry."
She shook her head and turned back around to look at the ocean as Dalen walked over to stand next to her. They both leaned on the wooden banister and watched the waves for a few moments.
Joe wondered why he had come out here, but she didn't want to be the one to start a conversation. Surprisingly, she wasn't ill at ease with his presence even though her mind told her that the lack of feeling uncomfortable is what made it uncomfortable.
"So, I was thinking." Dalen finally spoke and turned to face her so that he was only leaning on one arm.
Joe already didn't like the start of this conversation as she had a feeling she knew where it was going to head.
"Emma and Seth are hitting it off, and I think those two are going to end up ditching the group entirely. I also think that Julian has several plans that include annoying Riane in his attempt to woo her. We won't be invited to some of those, which means you and I are going to have a lot of time either walking this island alone or awkwardly together." He watched her nod.
"Yeah, I had similar thoughts. I shouldn't have come. I am not in the mood for this type of trip and I don't want to be the wet blanket." She inhaled deeply of the ocean air.
"Yeah, the wet blanket is Adonia. Like what the fuck is up with that? She literately got information from Riane and I in order to like stalk Julian here. Did you even know she liked Julian? I mean I am reading that right, right?" He chuckled.
Joe shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know, but the two of them are a match made in heaven. If only we could get Julian to look Adonia's way again. That would ease Riane's life."
Dalen laughed, "I think he is pretty dead set." He sighed and went quiet for a moment, "I want to suggest something, if I may."
Joe turned towards him as she stood completely up. "What is that?"
"Let's use this week to be like a trial run of our relationship. We aren't together, but we aren't broken up yet. If at the end, you really don't want us to be together then we will be done." Dalen swallowed for fear that he would get an immediate response of no.
She seemed to think about it for a moment, "What do you mean exactly?"
"I mean we both seemed to misunderstand each other in our first fight, by the way. I think I deeply offended you and didn't try to understand where you were coming from, and I think the reverse can be said about you. Do you agree?"
Joe nodded her head.
"So, let's retract our break up for one week, but with no belief that we will remain together or in any way have to act as a couple. I guess I am saying is, Jolene Bradford, will you be my friend on this trip while being open to the idea that you could be my girlfriend again?" He put his hands together and pouted his lips.
She chuckled, "Alright, but only because this shit will get awkward fast. I don't want to be running around Hawaii by myself or acting as a third wheel."
"Whew, good, because neither do I." He looked inside to see most of the group had come in from the front yard. "So, that guy Neil..."
"I am allowed to have male friends. You have female ones. Don't go there." Joe frowned.
Dalen immediately threw up his hands, "My bad, let's not start our new friendship this way then. Um, any reason that you dislike Emma?"
Joe sucked on his bottom lip and glared at him. "Drop it."
"Ok." He stood for a moment thinking about what else he could talk about that would be safe. "Oh, I got one. How fucking weird if it that Julian actually fell for Riane, but not her for him? I mean, did anyone see that coming?"
She began to smirk, "I know, right? After that big stink he made about this whole ordeal for him to suddenly want a relationship with her, so strange."
"No kidding. And what kind of fucking dork is he? I can't believe that person was secretly living in my friend all along, and Riane was the one to pull him out. Who is that person? What is happening?" He turned his back to the banister and leaned his back against it before crossing his arms. "He is constantly running around trying to do things for her."
"I am more worried that Riane is just accepting the behavior now. It's like she doesn't even notice it." Joe didn't know why they were having this conversation, as she wasn't usually one to gossip, but it was a safe topic to discuss at this time.
"Do you think Adonia will be able to win him over?" He had already said that he didn't believe she could, but it was the only question that came to mind.
She shrugged and pressed her lips together, "By every measurable account, Adonia is better than Riane. From a man's perspective, I mean."
"I guess so. She is prettier. She doesn't have anxiety. Her family has an established career waiting for her. However, there is one thing that Riane has that Adonia doesn't."
"And what's that?" Joe asked as they watched Emma, Seth, and Julian talking to each other in the kitchen.
"Everything Julian wants." He looked over to her. "Her."
Joe smiled gently, "You really think that he is that into her?"
"I know he is." Dalen knew he was speaking about himself more than Julian, but he doubted that was getting through to her.
"Is that Adonia?" Joe stepped forward as she watched Adonia look around the house. "That bitch convinced Riane to let her follow us around, I just know it."
---***---
The little place they found for lunch was just a small building that was entirely made up of a kitchen with outdoor seating of picnic benches. Their food came in Styrofoam containers and mostly everyone ordered some sort of meat over rice.
Dalen and Joe had excused themselves from the group for the day before even arriving at the restaurant. It was odd to see them head off together, but they explained that they were going to hang out just the two of them. Everyone understood, even though Riane didn't like the fact that her guest was being taken away. She didn't say anything, because it was just one day.
On one side of the bench sat Seth and Emma and on the other was Julian in the center between Riane and Adonia.
Adonia had ordered kabobs and was pulling all the items off the stick to place over her rice. She mumbled under her breath that this should have been done for her. The other four members of the group who ate with plastic forks shook their head at her, and gave annoyed knowing glares to each other.
"Here try some of this." Julian took a piece of his meat out of the container and gently laid it on top of Riane's rice.
She picked it up with her fork and chewed it, "That's really sweet. Mine is more spicy." She grabbed a piece and set it on his rice.
Julian hurried to eat it and coughed, "Too spicy." He swallowed it down and drank some of his water, while the group laughed.
"Can I try some of yours, Julian?" Adonia asked with a sickly sweet tone in her voice and hit his arm gently with her shoulder.
He frowned and spoke harshly. "No, I can't be sharing with everybody otherwise I won't have any for myself."
"Julian." Riane called his name as if it were a reprimand.
"What? Is it not true?" Julian asked her and then looked at Seth and Emma to gain their approval, but they both immediately looked down at their own food.
"Don't be rude." She scolded, before turning her attention to the woman beside him. "Do you want to try some of mine, Adonia?"
She shook her head, "No, I have an aversion to spicy foods."
Emma could see the snark in the woman's reply and decided it was best to change the subject all together. "We are going scuba diving after this, right?"
Seth nodded his head excitedly with a mouthful of food, but he tried to say yes anyway only to cover his mouth to prevent any food loss.
"I love scuba diving. I bet you are a natural, Julian." Adonia said with a smile before cutting up a piece of the meat. She then stabbed it onto her fork before stabbing a piece of pineapple.
"Julian doesn't like the ocean." Riane told her and tried her best not to frown.
Adonia was obviously trying to flirt with Julian, but she had no idea that her relationship with Julian was fake. This was quite rude behavior and Riane didn't care for it, but she didn't know what to say other than to outright accuse her of it. Julian didn't seem bothered by it and Riane thought maybe it was welcomed otherwise he would say something to that effect.
"Oh." Adonia frowned, "Why not?"
Julian's pressed his lips together and his face started to turn red. "It's unnatural for humans to go into the ocean. That's where sharks live not us!"
Everyone but Adonia laughed at his reaction.
"What's so funny? You shouldn't make fun of someone's fears. That's rude." Adonia snapped at them. "You are right, though, Julian. It really isn't our place. Why don't you and I do something else while the others go scuba diving? I bet there is all sorts of fun we can find around here."
"No, I promised Riane that I would go with her." He continued to eat his food and seemed oblivious to what Adonia was actually asking of him.
Riane swallowed down some strange feeling in her chest. "You don't have to come, Julian. I am sure you would have more fun with Adonia then dealing with the ocean."
He brought his brows together and glared at her for a moment. "We said we were facing our fears together. Do you think I make promises like that and then run away when it is my turn to pay up? I am going scuba diving and none of you can stop me."
"What fear do you have, Riane?" Emma asked with concern.
She cleared her throat as she thought about wearing a swimsuit in front of everyone, but before she could answer Julian slammed his hand onto the table.
"Don't ask people that. They'll tell you when they want you to know." Julian barked but it somehow came off as more playful than anything else.
Emma grinned, "Of course. You're right." She knew he was protecting Riane and she would ask her later. No doubt the person he was protecting her from was Adonia. No need to give her any weakness since it was obvious that Adonia was coming after Julian, and Emma could see that this made Riane anxious even if she didn't see it herself.
Adonia smacked her lips together briefly and continued to eat. Emma could see the annoyance growing within her and wondered what the hell the woman was really up to. She hadn't interacted with her much especially not at school, but this just didn't seem to be the way she normally acted. She usually smiled and waved at Riane and the others and seemed polite enough.
This sudden interest in Julian seemed suspicious, but Emma was new to the group and didn't know exactly what Adonia's place among them was. It was another item to add to the list of things to ask Riane later.
"So, Joe and Dalen running off together is a little weird, right?" Emma once again wanted to change the subject. "I thought they broke up."
"Yeah, they didn't even talk much to each other last night, and suddenly they want to spend the day together. Do you think they made up?" Riane poked at her food, even she needed small breaks between spicy bites.
"I think Dalen would have told me that." Seth interrupted before Emma could speak. "He has been talking non-stop about trying to convince her to get back together though. Maybe this is all part of his plan."
Julian snorted as he shoved more food in his mouth then began to talk. "She's kind of a bitch. I don't know why he'd want any of that."
Riane frowned, "First of all, don't talk with food in your mouth. Second of all, that is my best friend you are talking about."
He swallowed his food down, "Sorry."
"Wow, you just boss your fiancee around like that, Riane? That is rather harsh right in front of all of us, isn't it?" Adonia scoffed and looked towards the people sitting across from her for validation. They both looked down at their food.
Riane was about to defend herself and even apologize a little, but Julian spoke up before her.
"She can talk to me however she fucking wants. I'll decide if its rude or not. I don't need someone running to my side to protect me." Julian didn't sound angry, it seemed like he was genuinely explaining the situation. "Do you see how tiny she is? I think I can take her."
Riane smirked at his comment, which made Seth and Emma chuckle, though Adonia seemed unamused.
"I see." She hissed and returned her attention to her food.
Emma looked between the three and wondered if anyone was aware of what was happening here. Adonia was obviously frustrated that her attempts were failing. Julian seemed blissfully unaware that anything was happening, while Riane looked distressed and then relieved whenever Julian chose her instead. It wasn't her place to say anything so she decided to just watch the drama unfold, at least for now.