DeemathingIV

Emily wasn’t sure of what was more hilarious: the fact that Myles was forced into wearing swimming trucks, or the fact that Myles was forced into wearing swimming trunks in Disney land’s very own themed water park.

She glanced down at her own attire: a light navy blue cotton dressed freckled with little red flowers, and couldn’t help but pull the hemming of the dress an inch lower. It wasn’t that she felt insecure about her body, but the model-esque girls around her with their outrageously unattainable flat stomachs didn’t make her feel as confident as she would have hoped. She was aware of her own stomach slightly bulging out of her simple one piece, and resisted the urge to drape her arms around her middle lest Beckett, or even worse, Myles, notice her lack of self esteem. She muffled a sadistic sigh as a pair of girls with physiques so slim it was sinful flounced by her, their hips swaying confidently, knowing full well that they’ve captured the attention of about every male specimen at a 10-meter radius.

Beckett craned his head and gave a low appreciate whistle, smiling charismatically at the girls as they tossed their pretty hair over their shoulders with a lazy hand. Emily scowled, smacking Beckett’s shoulder with a little more force than necessary. He turned to her, eyes flashing in confused irritation. “What?” he asked, his smile faltering. Emily bristled, rolling her eyes as Beckett’s attention drifted to a group of Brazilian seeming college students.

“Stop staring at every sodding girl that passes by- It’s so bloody annoying,” she huffed, smoothing the knots in her ponytail. Myles snorted, and Emily’s unforgiving glare flicked over to him, her irritation intensifying. “And what are you laughing about, genius? What’s so funny?” she demanded, bunching the fabric of her dress and dragging the hem lower.

“Absolutely nothing,” he replied, his smirk widening.

“Doesn’t sound like nothing,” she muttered, furrowing her brow, “and honestly you shouldn’t be laughing Mr. I-Wear-Loafers-In-Theme-Water-Parks,” she continued loftily, looking around for a suitable place to rest. They, that is Emily, Beckett, and Myles, had been walking around the entire water park in search for the perfect place to ditch their belongings and hop on the nearest water slide available. It’s been two hours now, and the place was packed to the brim with hollering babies, whiny preteens, and parents with unflattering sunspots and sunburns.

Emily had absolutely no doubt that as soon as they scavenged a place to sit in, Myles would phone Butler immediately so he could drive him out of the park whilst speed walking to the nearest ice creamery, provided that the place had wi-fi, of course. And so he was left to saunter around the park sporting a steely grey dress shirt and bright red swimming trunks, with Armani loafers that gleamed like the waterslides themselves.

“What’s with the piss poor mood, Em, you’re spoiling the fun,” protested Beckett, prodding her shoulder with a teasing finger. Emily bit her lip and smoothed the creases on her cotton dress. She lifted a careless shoulder, feeling the beginnings of guilt burrow its way through her brain. “I’m sorry,” she mumbled, giving her friend a weak smile. “The place is just full of bloody super models from god knows where and I’ve been skipping tennis-“

“Don’t give me that rubbish,” Beckett interrupted firmly. “You look fantastic for someone whose bum is always planted on the couch. Don’t start, okay?”

Emily felt the corner of her lips stretch into an embarrassed smile, but she tried to school her features into a look of pure impatience. “I’ll ‘start’ whenever I please,” she said, smirking broadly at the blond. Myles rolled his eyes, sliding the silky fabric from his wrist to inspect the time.

“It’s four o’clock,” he announced crisply, turning to face the pair, “Can I leave now?”  

Beckett laughed delightedly, clear green eyes dancing with a sly jubilance, and said, “Bro, you are most definitely not leaving my sight until we’re getting out of here and into the Bentley, okay?” Myles pulled a face and pointedly jabbed his Rolex with an index finger. “No, Beckett,” he sighed, “we agreed that I would accompany you until four o clock, which, as you might have noticed, is precisely at this very moment. Wouldn’t want to break your word, now would you?” he continued condescendingly.

Beckett shook his head with feigned horror. “Mum would be very disappointed,” he exclaimed, thoughtfully twisting a stray fair curl. He then smiled wickedly, tapping Myles’ head as if Myles was a disobedient pup. “But mum isn’t here, unfortunately. Wasn’t she busy with that charity in the middle of France? Saint-something-charity bla bla bla? And weren’t you the one who hacked into her bank account to pay for that new shipment you ordered from Taiwan?”

Myles pressed his lips together and Emily noticed his shoulders drooping in defeat. “Bloody bank account...” he muttered, not bothering to conceal his aggravation. “Fine. I’ll stay. You infants need a supervisor anyway, or else this day would have ended in quite the catastrophe.” Beckett rolled his eyes and Emily’s mouth twitched. “What’s up with you, Myles?” she asked. Myles glanced at her, irritation and then something else she couldn’t really pinpoint flashing in his eyes. His scowl deepened. “Not only have you brought me to a water park,” he bit out, “but you’ve forced me into wearing these odious swimming trunks while you know very well that I would have much preferred to stay in the hotel. This place is a waste of good commercial buildings-“

“Don’t say that!” Beckett gasped, dropping his voice into an urgent whisper, “You didn’t mean that- you didn’t mean that, right?” he asked urgently. Emily sighed, deciding that the best thing she should be doing instead of eavesdropping on their conversation was finding a bloody spot she could rest in. Two hours of walking with the bickering company of Myles and Beckett Fowl could do that to a person. A woman with fuchsia sunglasses rushed past her, dragging her struggling son towards the exit gates. Emily scrutinized her vision to the place the woman came from, and. . . hah! She finally found a place! And a decent one at that. . . with shading and everything.

“Guys,” she began excitedly, “hate to break the cat fight, but come on! I’ve found a place!”

Myles and Beckett halted their heated argument mid sentence, and hurried behind Emily as she practically ran to the safe haven. She was almost there when the two girls she had seen earlier dumped their designer bags on top of her spot, already fishing their bags for tanning lotion. That doesn’t even make sense, Emily thought, anger taking over her. If they wanted to bloody tan then don’t go tanning in the shade. Emily heard a low growl sound from one of the boys behind her -Myles most probably- and forced herself to count to ten before pouncing on the thieves that stole her spot.

She elicited a courteous smile before saying really nicely, “Er- hullo. I’m sorry, but this is our spot-“

“No it isn’t, we came here first,” drawled one of the girls in a thick American accent, giving Emily a lazy roll of the eye. She squeezed the tanning lotion into her petite hands and commenced slathering her thighs with it. Emily resisted the urge to slap her head and plowed on. “Err- no, actually. We spotted this place first, and I think me and my friends,” she gestured the twins wildly, “would really appreciate it if you would consider giving it back to us.” Beckett gave a little wave, curving the corner of his mouth with a careful mixture of maturity and appeal, and Myles-

Emily almost dropped her jaw, because she was certain that in the many months she had acquainted herself with her sociopathic friend that she had never, ever seen Myles give any woman a look like that: his eyebrow was quirked almost . . . thoughtfully? and gone was the permanent glower on his face; replacing the sempiternal scowl with a smile so simple it was . . . attractive? Emily felt something bubble in the pit of her stomach, and for reasons unknown to her, her blood burned with grating irritation. Her mouth curled in disgust as the girls slowly lifted their sunglasses from the bridges of their noses, giving both the twins a dazzling smile that graced their bonny features.

“Well . . .” the blonde of the two said, dragging the ‘l’ in a manner so slow that it bewitched any poor soul conversing with her, “I guess we could move . . . if you guys ride the slides with us . . . some of them are pretty scary,” she slurred, her eyes widening in delicious fright. Emily wanted to throw up. She didn’t even bother resisting the tremendous eye roll that itched at her skull. “On second thought-“ Emily clipped, only to be interrupted by Myles.

“We would love to,” he said quickly, eyebrows hitched in earnest. He extended his arm to the blond and she accepted it with a feminine giggle that boiled Emily’s blood. “But only in one condition,” started Beckett, giving the girls a stern look. Finally, thought Emily delightedly, at least Beckett has the sense to-

“You let us buy you girls ice cream first, goddit?”

She almost screamed.

The girls nodded as a beatific blush bloomed on their cheeks, and the red head accepted Beckett’s hand, a giggle escaping her cherubic lips.

Myles turned around, motioning Emily to join them, but she instantly shook her head. “No thank you,” she nearly spat, barely concealing the hurt in her voice, “I’ll just stay here and tan . . . in the bloody shade,” she continued, missing the serious look Myles bored into her. He was about to say something when the blond tugged at his arm, and he left Emily without giving her another word.

Fine, she thought, not exactly knowing why she was so furious in the first place. Whatever.

She dropped the airheads’ bags on the wet floor and dumped her own stuff on the chair, feeling her optimism for the day draining out of her system.

Whatever.

***

Emily was jolted awake.

Funny, she didn’t know she slept... 

Emily lifted her hands to her face and rubbed the sleep from her eyes, her senses flooding back to her. 

“Whas goinon...?” she mumbled, lifting a lazy head at the figures swimming in her blurry vision.

“You fell asleep,” answered the black one in a bored voice. The blond one extended his hand timidly, and Emily could see he was offering her something.

“Emily... are you mad at us?” he asked, biting his lower lip.

Her memories washed over her. She was in a water park. She was with Myles and Beckett. They ditched her.

She was alone.

Emily narrowed her eyes. “Yes,” she mumbled without missing a beat. Beckett dropped his gaze and Myles only smiled at her, looking very amused.

“What?” she snapped, “why are you smiling you bleeding traitor? Had fun with the Americans? Laughed at all your jokes, I’m assuming? Bat their eyelashes at you? I’m sure it was bloody brilliant.” Beckett and Myles exchanged bewildered looks before looking at her, utterly confused. “You didn’t think we were serious, did you?” asked Beckett, pale eyebrows furrowed.

What?

Myles studied Emily for a moment before stretching his lips into a wide smile. He took a seat by the edge of the lounge chair, and Emily lightly kicked his thigh, befuddlement muddling her coherent thinking. Myles chuckled, shaking his head. “She believed us, Beckett,” he said over his shoulder.

Emily’s eyes were slits. “What in the name of Christ are you tossers yammering about?”

Beckett took a seat next to her, helping himself to the ice cream he had offered Emily only mere seconds ago. “You were so intent on getting this spot, correct?” asked Myles slowly, making eye contact with her. Emily nodded, following his train of thought. But then that would mean...

“And you wanted those girls out of your place, yes?” he continued, broadening his smirk. Emily nodded again, the bog in her mind clearing. “You little shits,” she breathed, arching an eyebrow. Beckett laughed, shaking his head. “Don’t be dim, Em. Please don’t tell me you actually thought we were serious.”

Emily pressed her lips together and cast her look away, her neck reddening.

“She did!” Beckett chuckled, slapping his thigh, “am I that good of an actor?” he asked excitedly, turning to Myles, who quietly shook his head. Emily couldn’t help but crack a smile... how the hell did she miss that?

Myles sighed, but his smile didn’t waver. “Emily, your personal insecurities are muddling your clear thinking. Would you honestly think that Beckett and myself would desert you for those two girls?”

Emily only shrugged.

Beckett gasped, grabbing her shoulders and enveloping her into a spine-crushing hug. “Don’t think like that, you stupid, stupid girl. We’d never do that to you, ever, did you hear me?” he demanded, pulling away only to smile at his best friend. Emily’s cheeks hurt from all the smiling and she shrugged Beckett’s arms from hers. “Don’t get all emotional, Beckett... this is a new dress,” she muttered, offering him a weak smile. Myles laughed, an honest to God real laugh, and Emily’s chest swelled.

“You’re such an idiot,” mused Beckett fondly, squeezing her shoulder before standing up. “And. . .” he seized Myles’ left arm and checked the time, ignoring Myles’ scowl. “It’s about lunch time, and I’m starving. Fancy an ice cream before we eat? I sort of ate yours . . . by mistake,” he continued, smiling impishly.

“By all means, brother, lead the way,” nodded Myles, glancing at Emily with a twinkle in his eye. Emily rolled her eyes, but her grin never deserted her, and she stood up, shrugging her bag into place. “Anything but those awful turkey sandwiches, alright?” she called out to Beckett, who was already thirty meters away from her.

“Next time we decide to come here I’m getting Beckett a leash. He’s got the attention span of a Labrador poodle,” Myles voiced, slipping his hands in his pockets. Emily nodded. “And then we’ll tie him to a pole or something, because the strength of both of us combined is no match for that brother of yours,” she agreed, twiddling a stray hem between her fingers. Myles nodded thoughtfully. “Acute observation, Miss Emily Faucet.”

Emily bit back a smile and marveled at the sky’s display; it was a cloudless day, and the burning sun was beginning to lower itself as afternoon slowly seeped into twilight. Both of them refused to acknowledge the elephant in the room.

“Why did you react the way you did?” she heard Myles mumble, pulling her out of her reverie. She blinked once. “What?”

Myles gave her a crooked smile. “You know what I said,” he muttered quietly, quirking a single eyebrow. Emily wasn’t going to relent just yet. “React how, exactly?” she persisted, lacing her fingers together.

Myles hesitated. “You know . . . you were practically steaming by the time we left you.”

Emily closed her eyes, and rubbed her forehead. “I- I’m not sure, actually,” she replied. Yes you do, she thought sadly. They were prettier than you. Slimmer than you . . . more sophisticated . . . you don’t stand a bloody chance.

What chance, though? Why had she felt so angry? What was that spiteful feeling she felt surge through her veins when Myles smiled at that blonde ditz? Was she... was she actually... jealous?

Emily felt her ears warm up, and quickly shook her head, hoping to dispel the confusing thoughts that itched at the base of her skull.

Myles considered his words carefully. “You weren’t . . . envious, were you?”

Emily felt her heart drop, and she shook her head quickly. Too quickly.

Myles was aware of this, and Emily didn’t notice the subtle broadening of his beam. “There’s nothing to envy, anyway,” he continued loftily, and Emily looked up at him, a slow smile stretching her face. “Really?” she said, amused, and maybe just a little slaphappy.

“Obviously,” he scoffed, rolling his eyes. “Their hair extensions were simply repulsive, if you want my opinion.”

Obviously.

Obviously.

Emily laughed, and she felt like flying. “Err- thanks, Myles,” she mumbled, lifting her gaze to meet his eyes. Myles nodded once, his smile shifting back to his permanent frown. “Why are you being so nice to me, anyway?” she asked, smiling at him.

Myles snorted. “Because you’re a hormonal mess with appearance issues.”

Emily groaned. “No- don’t give me that! I want nice Myles! Give him back!” she cried, bumping her shoulder with his.

“Nonsense. I’m always nice, you’re just too unaware to notice it,” he replied, returning the gesture with slightly more force. Emily shook her head.

“And we were having such a nice moment too.”

“Pity,” he said indifferently, but his smile was back, and that made all the difference.