The Improbable Clause of Missing You

Chapter Two

02: Sun-kissed skin in the winter

I was at a beach. Perfect, fine white sand. Pure. The sea was a beautiful clear blue. The sun glinted off the soft waves that were sloshing gently on the shore. As I was breathing in the sea breeze, a pair of strong arms wrapped around me. "Hey," he whispered, his breath tickling the side of my ear.

"Hey..."

"Hayley..."

"Hayley?" Why was the voice getting louder?

"HAYLEY!" The voice screamed in my ear, followed by a torrent of ice water.

Disoriented, I groped the sheets on my bed blindly. As I moved to get up, my foot caught on the side of the duvet as I fell off the bed.

A distinct snort of laughter breached through the icy awareness of my brain.

"Shut up, Francesca, or I might have to wound you as you did me." I threatened, my drenched shirt sticking to me like a second skin.

"Like how? You don't look like you're getting up off the floor any time soon, you fat seal." She gave me a toothy smile.

And then I lunged. When she was least expecting it, I hit the back of her knees, dragging her with me.

"Love ya, babe!" I yelled, wrapping my arms around her warm, dry figure.

"Get off me!" She began to struggle as I held on tight, laughing all the way. I was acutely aware of the mess we were making, but I focused on the task at hand.

"Do you yield!" I yelled between laughs, tickling her sides mercilessly. Tears were beginning to form at the corners of her eyes, her face turning red.

"You... B... Bit..." She struggled to say. "What was that? I couldn't hear you over the sound of your failure."

"I YIELD!" She screamed, as we both collapsed into giggles.

"Payback's a bitch." I announced, victorious. "Anyway, I have to go shower because some unfortunate soul decided that it would be a good idea to pour a bucket of ice water over my head." With that, I turned toward my shower, leaving her perching daintily on the dry side of my bed.

As I hummed to myself, I stepped out of the shower. The ringtone Frankie had set was ingrained into my mind, like a sweet repetitive torture. I loved the song, really, but I knew I'd get irritated with the buzzing melody in my head sooner or later.

I opened my door to Frankie stripping the bed of the sheets and replacing them with a new, fresh one, I sat down calmly on the edge of my bed.

"So, Frankie, what gives? You, sober, on a Friday evening?" I said, looking up at the figure that was standing over me.

"Hayley, I was with Matt last night, and," Yep, Matthew was the aforementioned guy. Did I mention that she was obsessed with him, and he was as crazy for her as she was for him? She could be oblivious sometimes, but it was pretty cute.

"And, Hayley, I know you may or may not freak out, but we saw Owen." I frowned.

"You were the one that left me with him!" I accused. Wait, there's a but.

"He was really angry that you danced with Andrew. He came up to me and asked where you were."

"Guess he didn't stick around long enough to see me leave after that, then. He gets jealous. You know how Owen is."

Frankie muttered something under her breath.

"What?"

"Nothing. Anyway, uh... He must've taken it the wrong way, because we saw him kissing the Larkin girl."