There wasn’t a single cloud in the bright blue Floridian sky. Glasses on, full tint, book in her hand, she sat by the poolside tanning. She wasn’t fond of tanning, but it was an excuse to get out of the house. As she sat there, a familiar face appeared. She hoped she wasn’t dreaming.

“Cyrus?”

Cyrus smiled a charming smile at her and made his way to her. “Long time no see Luci.”

Lucita closed her book and turned to him, feet burning slightly on the hot concrete floor. “I’ve missed you,” she blurted, quickly regretting it.

“Well, duh, you would.”

“Don’t be so cocky.”

“Not being cocky. So how’ve you been?”

Lucita shrugged as she made her way back to her chair. “Okay, I guess. No nosebleeds lately.” Tell him about Lucas.

“That’s good to hear. What happened with Silvia and Becca?”

“Great plan, went brilliantly. They’re friends again.”

“Good to hear. So no more drama?”

“It’s high school; of course, there’s drama,” she said, rolling her eyes as she laced one leg over the other.

“Oh boy what now?”

“Blake’s old psycho girlfriend hates me.”

“Why?”

“I’ve got a boyfriend,” she blurted out quickly. “His name is Lucas, and it turns out that during the summer, they both dated the same girl, Blake’s psycho ex, who wants them to share her. How messed up is that.”

“You have a boyfriend?” Lucita stared at Cyrus, who was looking at her strangely. His golden brown hair hung over his hazel eyes making them tricky to gaze into and admire. What are you thinking, Cyrus? Are you jealous? Tell me something, anything.

“Yeah, it kind of just happened.”

“When?” His voice was harder. Lucita swallowed and sat up closer to him.

“At the party.”

“So why am I just hearing about it now?”

Lucita slanted her eyes furiously. “I wasn’t aware I had to tell you when I had a boyfriend.”

“Well, we’re friends. I thought you might bring it up.”

“I don’t bring up all aspects of my life with my friends. Were you my friend during middle school, you would know that.”

“You were freaking stalking me! Who the hell wants to be friends with a stalker!”

“Apparently, some people did. I did have friends, you know.”

“Please, they felt bad for you.”

“Probably. That still didn’t stop them from being my friend and defending me from your jackass friends.”

“Someone had to like you.”

Lucita sat back, farther away from him, and crossed her arms hurt. “Oh god, just admit it, you’re jealous.”

“Don’t flatter yourself.”

“You’re a jackass.”

“So I’m a jackass?”

Lucita stared at him incredulously, her chest rising and falling quicker and quicker. “You’ve always been a jackass.”

“And you’ve always been a bitch.”

“I hate you sometimes.”

“Ask me if I care, Lu.”

“I know you don’t.” Lucita sat closer and lightly moved his hair away from his eyes. “You’re a jerk.”

Cyrus snatched her hand and pulled her into his lap, touching his nose to hers. “I’m not jealous.”

He smelled so good, she thought as she leaned into him. “Sure, whatever you say.”

“I’m just a little confused. I’m no longer the apple of your eye.”

“You’ll always be the apple of my eye.”

“Hmm, you say that now.”

“You forget that I love you.”

“Yeah, I did.”

Lucita couldn’t resist anymore. She had never been this close to him before, and she knew it was wrong because of Lucas, but she couldn’t resist. Lucita kissed him, her first real kiss. She was nervous; she was almost shaking. Until Cyrus tightened his arms around her, kissing her back.

It was wrong, he knew he shouldn’t be leading her on, but he couldn’t help it. Lucita smelled good, like an exotic garden. Her lips tasted like fruit. He knew he should pull away but seeing her like this in her black bikini, she looked beautiful. So he continued kissing her, even lying down on the chair, just so he could hold her. He forgot the real reason he came to talk to her, knowing now that he would have to agree with his mother.

Lucita continued to kiss him, loving the way he kissed her. She felt his arms wrapped around her. She kissed him for what seemed like forever until he pulled away briefly.

“I should go.”

“Don’t.” Lucita kissed him again, and Cyrus tried to fight whatever he was feeling because he didn’t know what he was feeling. But he didn’t want to keep hurting her, keep stringing her along. But Cyrus failed and kissed her back, arms wrapped tightly around her. After a moment, he found the strength to pull away and looked into her eyes. That look, that unfiltered devotion she had for him, he couldn’t handle it.

“No. I need to go anyway.”

“Why?” Lucita looked at him sadly. The pain he had seen through middle school years when she would peek around corners returned. It took every ounce of willpower to keep himself from kissing her again.

“I just do. Don’t worry about it.” He moved some of her hair that had fallen over her face. He forgot how big and beautiful her eyes were.

“What?”

“You should get contacts.”

“Too pricey, besides I like my glasses.”

“You should still get contacts.” Lucita snuggled closer and closer to him, tucking her head into his chest. She loved listening to the rhythmic patterns of his heartbeat.

“Maybe.”

“Do you really hate me?”

Lucita laughed. “No, you just upset me easily.”

“Yeah. Hmm, maybe I am a jerk.”

“You can be. Now shut up. You’re ruining a good moment.” Cyrus laughed and hugged her, resting his head on hers, paying attention to her curves. Let her move on, he told himself.

“Don’t break up with Lucas.”

“Okay.”

“He might be good for you.”

“Are you saying you’re not?”

“Look at the past, Lu. I’m obviously not.”

“Maybe that’s for me to decide.”

“Don’t be complicated.”

“And if I want to be?” Lucita looked up at him, and Cyrus reluctantly kissed her again. The kiss sent shivers down her spine.

“I hate you.”

“I know.” Cyrus continued to kiss her, his hands wrapping tightly around her tiny waist.

“You should go,” she said as his lips reached her neck. Cyrus looked at her and nodded, kissing her on the forehead. Reluctantly Cyrus sat up, away from her.

“I’m not jealous, Lucita.”

“Whatever you say.” Cyrus walked away, feeling bad. As he looked up, he saw Silvia and Rebecca watching. He nodded and waved at them, looking back at Lucita, who was picking at her nails, caught up in her own little world.

Silvia watched as Cyrus and Lucita kissed. And while Becca stood beside her watching, she knew she hadn’t seen what else she had seen. There were enough problems. Silvia dragged Rebecca along with her down the stairs. What they needed to do was have a serious talk with Cyrus. They collided on the stairs.

“Hey, glad you two are friends again.”

“She’s got a boyfriend.”

“Yeah, she kind of just told me.”

“So what the hell!”

Silvia watched Cyrus move his fingers through his hair. “I’m jealous.”

“Did you tell her that?” asked Rebecca.

“No, and neither will you.” He leaned against the wall. “I’m going to boarding school next year. Make sure she doesn’t break up with Lucas or do anything stupid.” He made his way down the stairs, but Silvia ran to stop him.

“Did you tell her that? And what exactly do you mean by stupid?”

“You’ll find out, and no, I haven’t told her yet, so don’t. I should be the one to tell her. See you later.” Cyrus walked off, and Silvia shared a worried look with Rebecca.

“Poor Luci.”

“Yeah, poor Luci.” Silvia thought once more of school and about who else she saw near the pool. Poor Lucita indeed, she thought.

Blake watched Lucita alongside Jason, his anger building.

“Blake, leave it alone.”

“She’ll make out with him, but not with me? That’s freaking bullshit.”

“Those two have a history. Besides, I don’t think it’ll happen again.”

Blake looked at Jason like he was stupid. “You just want her to fit into your perfect ideals.”

Jason shook his head, trying to figure out why the hell he put up with Blake’s bull. “It’s no use trying to talk sense into you. Freaking grow up, Blake.”

“Lucas freakin’—”

“Serious? Enough of that shit, or I swear I’ll break your face in. Tiffany was a skank. Luci isn’t. They aren’t the same, so leave it alone.”

“Screw you.”

“Fine, whatever. Just leave Lucita alone. None of this is her fault.”

“Whatever.” Blake listened to Jason leave. As he watched Lucita sit there and read her book, he thought about how she should rightfully be his girlfriend. He did whatever she asked.

He stared at her perfectly sculpted legs, tantalizing to the very end. He would do whatever he needed to make her his.