Now you made it awkward, good job Brennan thought after they had made eye contact. He needed to stop looking at her, had to take his mind off of her but there was just something that made him want to look. Even though Brennan was engaging in the conversation him and his friends were having, he kept trailing off to look at the girl.
Paris so desperately wanted to talk to him but she wasn’t one to approach a stranger.
“I see you doing that” Madylin said, snapping her out of her thoughts.
“Doing why exactly?” Paris responded, looking back at her.
“Staring. At him. Stop it and focus on me” Madylin said obviously irritated.
“You’d do the same if you were in my shoes Mads. Don’t even try and lie your way out of this one” Paris said, glancing at the boy and back to Madylin.
“Good greif woman, your like a pathetic little puppy.”
“I’m okay with pathetic puppy” Paris said standing in the pool and doing yet another handstand to effectively end the argument.
“Hey, Brennan,” One of his friends said, “Stop staring at that girl.”
Brennan rolled his eyes, “Why can’t I?” He asked, raising an eyebrow.
“You’re just going to make it more awkward then it already is, alright mate?”
He glanced at the girl again who was now doing a handstand then back to his friends.
“I can do what I like.” He replied crossing his arms.
“Then for pity’s sake talk to her!” Another friend said, flailing his arms in the air.
“Not yet, I’ll do it when you girls aren’t around.” he said, a grin on his face and the comment earned him splashes from his friends and thus, created a water fight.
Paris broke through the surface and got splashed and immediately turned ready to slap someone if nessisary. She saw it was the group of boys including the boy and spun back around to Madylin and swam back to her.
“They’re so lucky I didn’t turn around swinging. I’d have smacked someone for splashing me” she said thought her teeth.
“Paris honey, relax. Your in a damn pool for Christ sakes. Your gonna he splashed, get over it” Madylin said putting a hand on Paris shoulder calming her.
“Sure whatever. But I’m not one to get splashed right after I just got water off my face. I didn’t wipe it for nothing ya know” she said, calmly.
“I signed us up for salsa dancing by the stage. They randomly pair you with a stranger. Meeting new people and bonding is they’re thing. I thought it sounded fun” Madylin said, smiling.
“Great. Exactly what I want to do, make a fool of myself with a complete stranger” Paris groaned, facepalming.
“Oh well. It starts in 3 hours. Better hope you get a good partner.”
Paris splashed at Madylin but smiled anyway.
“Brennan, you going to salsa tonight?” His friend, Corey asked as the fight died down.
“Uh, I don’t know.” He said, rubbing the back of his neck with a hand.
“Come on, it might be fun!” Corey said, grinning, “I’m going, so you better come with me so I don’t look like a loner.” Brennan rolled his eyes.
“Fine, but if I embarrass myself I’m blaming you.” He said, pushing himself up onto the concert pavement and running a hand through his hair. Corey just shrugged.
“Fair call.”
Paris swam over to the stairs and climbed out. She decided to tan and play on her phone until she had to go upstairs and get ready.
“We have to wear something dressy, but we have to be comfortable. And they said no dresses since it’s learning the steps.” Madylin said following Paris to the lounge chairs. They both laid out their towels and sat down, Madylin the texting a boy and Paris playing Candy Crush.
“I can’t believe you two are going to the salsa tonight.” Another friend of Brennan’s said, putting his arms out of the water and looking at Brennan.
“I can’t believe it either but,” He shrugged, “Who knows what will happen.” He said, look at the water and kicking his legs idly.
Paris played Candy Crush like there was no tomorrow and eventually ran out of lives.
“Maddy I ran out of lives” she moaned.
“Oh well, if you want to shower before salsa better get up there now.” Madylin said sliding off the chair and grabbing the towel, her phone and the hotel room key card. “Great, I forgot about that” Paris said standing phone already in hand and snatching up her towel. She adjusted her bikini top and walked towards the building to go upstairs and get ready.
“Come on Brennan, let’s go get changed.” Corey said, pushing himself out of the water and walking to where the towels were and chucking Brennan his.
“Thanks, let’s go.” He said, walking with Corey out of the pool area and up to the hotel.
Paris and Madylin managed to duck in the building just before the boy and his friend but got stuck waiting for an elevator. Paris saw the pair walk in and tried to pretend like she wasn’t gawking at ‘surfer dude’… even though she was.
Corey was making quiet conversation with Brennan as they waited for a elevator. Brennan trying not to look at the girl even though he wanted to. Soon the elevator arrived and they walked in, selecting their floor number.
Paris and Madylin were forced to share an elevator with the two boys sincerely there was nobody else in the lobby and the other 3 were up higher.
“8 please” Paris said, trying to keep her emotions in tow. She wrapped the towel tightly around her and leaned on the wall of the elevator.
“No problem.” Brennan said, clicking the 8 button that lit up and soon the elevator started to move. There was an awkward silence until the elevator stopped at level 5 and Brennan and Corey stepped out.
Once the door closed Paris let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.
“Girl you should have said something” Madylin said poking her in the side.
“Oh hell no. I’m not one to say something first and you know that” she said and stepped off the elevator that arrived at the 8th floor and started off towards their hotel room.
“That was the girl you keep staring at. You could have at least said ‘hi’ or something.” Corey said, flailing his arms in the air.
“Corey, no. I’m not going to. There’s no point getting to know her because we wouldn’t see each other again after this vacation.” He said, opening the door to their room.
Madylin followed Paris down the hall, unlocked the door and the girls walked in. “At least say hi. Maybe he’ll be here for a while like we will. We have 2 and a half weeks left. You never know what could happen if you don’t try” Madylin said.
“Maybe. We'll see. My luck nothing will happen. Or he’ll laugh in my face and walk away” Paris responded grabbing her clothes and headed to the bathroom Madylin did the same and pulled the door closed behind her. Her parents were out for the day but who knows when they’ll get back.
“Brennan, you have to talk to her at least once. Maybe she’ll be at the salsa later.” Corey said shrugging one shoulder, “And maybe you’ll get paired up with her.”
“Stop trying to play matchmaker, it’s not going to happen.” Brennan said exasperated.
Paris quickly showered, not bothering to wash her hair as the salt water pool pulled all the oil out of it. She put conditioner in her hair, washed t out, washed her body and got out. Trading Madylin places, only she was getting dressed rather than undressed. She pulled on a plain white crop top with short sleeves and some maroon denim shorts that covered everything but were kind of short.
“I’m going out now” She said to madylin and she slipped out the bathroom door before Madylin could answer.
Brennan changed and showered quickly, pulling in a pair of black shorts and light blue shirt. He brushed his hair and after saying a quick, ‘see you later!’ To Corey, headed out of their room, hands in his pockets casually and went looking for something to eat.
She brushed and dried her hair leaving it to hang curly down her back. Madylin stepped out of the bathroom as Paris shut off the dryer, wearing black shorts and a loose black and white chevron tank top.
“We have an hour before it starts Paris. Hurry up!” Madylin said, checking her phone.
“Okay mom” Paris said rolling her eyes. She threw on a little mascara concealer and a little highlight to make her face shine then slipped into a pair of white converse.
“Ready” Paris called from the chair she was sitting in.
“Give me a mother minute or two” Madylin called for the bathroom, probably doing her makeup or hair.
Corey eventually caught up with Brennan as they headed down to the main lobby area where there was a small cafe. They both grabbed coffee and a sandwich each and ate and drank. Corey kept talking about the mysterious girl Brennan was obsessing over and Brennan just rolled his eyes and listened.
Paris and Madylin walked out of the room a short while later and walked to the elevator. They rode it down and arrived in the lobby.
“Look who’s here Paris” Madylin said nodding towards the two boys in the lobby. “Fan freaking tastic Mads. I don’t need you doing this right now. I’m already trying to prepare myself for the embarrassment during salsa” Paris said face palming.
“There they are, her friends cute. Maybe I’ll talk to her.” Corey said, grinning. Brennan rolled his eyes.
“Sure, go ahead.” He replied, looking over at them again for a moment before turning his gaze to his cup.
Both boys were looking now and Paris felt herself getting nervous. Why was she nervous? There was nothing to be nervous about.
Madylin slipped her arm in Paris’ fully aware of her being nervous.
Paris was handful for her best friend and relaxed a little but was still very nervous for most likely no reason.
“Come on, let’s go find the salsa place or wherever.” Corey said standing up and walking out, Brennan reluctantly followed.
Paris and Madylin go outside and decide to walk the beach before they head to the salsa class.
“I hope I get paired with someone cute!” Madylin said excitedly.
“I hope I never have to do this again” Paris responded.
“Awe girl don’t be like that”
“Too late”
“Come on lets just go before we’re late” Madylin said and dragged Paris up to where the salsa class was being held and they stood in the large circle with everyone else.
Corey and Brennan stood opposite the girls, Brennan trying not to make eye contact with one of them. After the instructor explained how. Everything was going to work, it was time to make pairs.
“Alright, walk into the centre and whoever is opposite you is your partner.” She said. Brennan and Corey walked in with the others and as it turned out, were partnered with the girls.
“Madylin look who we’re partnered with” Paris said, nervously.
“ Girl your going to be fine. Just focus on the steps, don’t step on his feet and keep that pretty smile on your face.” Madylin said walking up to Corey, a smile on her face. “Hi I’m Madylin, I guess we’re partners.”
Paris took a shaky breath, and relaxed a little. youll be fine. Just focus. And smile she thought and looked up at Brennan with a smile.
“Hi there, sorry if I step on your feet during this, I’m not the best dancer.” Brennan said, giving the girl a smile, “I’m Brennan, and you are?”
“Join the club Brennan” she said with a laugh, “I’m Paris”