Chapter 7

Since I didn't have class the next day I slept in a little which was nice. Mia and I didn't get back in until midnight or so. It was no surprise that we won, our team destroyed the other team by 40 points. The game didn't even get over until 11 and we ended up staying as everyone left to see Cris and Andrew. By the time they came out and we all talked it was well after midnight. Thankfully Mia didn't have class until 11 so we both were able to sleep in some. 

When I couldn't sleep any longer I got out of bed and headed to the bathroom. From the corner of my eye I noticed it was a little after 8 am. Yeah so much for sleeping in. All night I dreamt of Andrew and waking up to see that none of it was real didn't make me feel any better.  

I had dreamt that we had finally gotten together and were going out on our first date. Andrew had decided to take me to the fair where we had a blast. Of course it was too good to be true, I should have realized that when he showed up to our place claiming his love for me, it wasn't real.  

With a sigh I headed to the kitchen wanting to forget about my stupid dream, because that is all that it is. I really needed to move on and forget about Andrew. I moved around the kitchen wishing we had our own coffee machine because that sounded really good right now. Settling for a glass of water I filled it to the brim.  

Yawning I went over to the couch and flopped down on it. While turning on the tv I gulped some water. My throat hurt from yelling last night. I sat there staring blindly at some kid show about dogs as I slowly woke up. I knew my brown hair was everywhere and I probably had pillow marks on my face.  

I sat there on the couch for a good 30 minutes before Mia came stumbling out of her room to sit beside me. Her dirty blonde hair was pressed to the side of her face and the other half was sticking straight up. She mumbled a quite 'good morning' before we lapped into silence. Yeah we were very talkative in the mornings.  

"We need to buy a coffee machine." Mia said breaking the silence a few minutes later. I nodded wanting to smile as I had thought the same thing. That was all that was said for at least 20 minutes. Finally we both were awake enough to actually make conversation.  

"So you have class at 11? Is that your only class?" I asked my eyes still on the tv.  

"I have two today. That one until noon, than one at 12:45 to 1:30. I'm free after that." I nodded already thinking of what I could do while she was in classes so I wouldn't be bored.  

"You'll find something to do don't worry. If all else fails go find Andrew". Mia said reading my mind. I didn't even bother to reply. I had no idea if Andy had class today and even if he didn't I don't know if I should hang out with him. I always end up acting stupid anyways.  

The next two hours consisted of both Mia and I sitting around watching some random kids show before she had to get up and get ready. Of course since she sat around for so long she was running back and forth from the bathroom to her bedroom, trying to finish so she wouldn't be late. I did make some sort of effort by washing my face and throwing on a clean shirt. Other than that I sat there laughing at Mia as she cursed every which way.  

"Kay bye Car I will see you later!" She yelled as she blew past me out the door. I stared after her already foreseeing that this will be a current thing to come. Sighing I heaved myself off the couch to make something to eat. I had about 4 hours to kill before she came back. I sent Amelia a text but for some reason I knew she wouldn't reply.  

While I made myself some cereal I let my mind wander. Of course I thought of the same person as I always do, Andy. I could clearly see him in his football uniform and how the pants hugged his nice butt. No girl can tell me that they don't secretly love a man in a football uniform. The way it hugs their butt is a great sight to behold.  

Andrew's blue/green eyes flashed through my mind almost making my knees weak. They were the perfect mixture and the moment he flashed them at me I wanted to melt. His eyes were almost like the sky mixed with a greenish sea color. It was those eyes that always haunted my dreams since sophomore year of high school.  

An old memory sprang into mind making me smile. It was when I was 16 and Cris and Andy were 17. Andy was spending the day at our house like always, and because Mia was busy with her new boyfriend, and Amelia had cheerleading camp, I was stuck at home not that I really minded. Both of my parents were gone for work leaving us three the entire house.  

*Flashback* 

"No." I whispered out turning the page quickly. Jace couldn't be Clary's brother, he just couldn't! I was sitting in the little alcove my room had reading The Mortal Instruments. I had recently gotten it and couldn't put it down. My eyes read each word slowly but quickly, drinking in all the information. Just as I reached the part I wanted my bedroom door slammed open.  

"Carmen!" My brother Cris and Andy yelled barging into my room. My gaze snapped up to them, glowering at how they interrupted my reading time.  

"What do you want?" I practically growled out.  

"We are bored." Cris whined. Beside him his best friend did the same. They both scrunched up their faces and threw their hands down. I wanted to laugh at their expressions. You would think that because they were two of the most popular boys in school they would have something to always do, but nope here they are bugging me to entertain them.  

"And I am suppose to do what?" I asked placing my finger on my page and closing the book.  

"Do something with us!" Andy whined. I felt touched they wanted me to hang out with them. I mean it wasn't like I don't already but I was still shocked that they cared to include me in things.  

"Like what?" Knowing I now had to do something with them I grabbed my doggy book mark before setting my book to the side. I will finish you later. I promised it silently.  

"I don't know." With that Cris flopped onto my bed as Andy took my chair by my desk.  

"Video games?" I offered folding my legs underneath of me.  

"Already played some."  

"Watch tv?"  

"Did."  

"Okay how about going outside and having a water fight?" At the mention of that both boy sat up straighter a grin spreading across their faces.  

"That is a great idea Car!" Cris sat up smiling at me. It was perfect weather for a water fight. It was in the high 80's. So far our summer break has been pretty warm where don't really want to be outside for too long. (To me 80 isn't hot but I live in the desert so I am just going by the temperature in New York)  

"I know I am super smart." I pretended to flip my hair over my shoulder.  

"Hurry and change! Andy and I will go grab some of the water guns we have." Both boys stood up sending me motions to change before leaving me. I shook my head at them but felt excitement flood my veins. I loved water fights and maybe seeing Andy shirtless.  

Not wanting to make them wait too long because I know they will come up here to get me if I didn't hurry. Grabbing a bathing suit top, an old t-shirt and shorts I quickly changed. Even though we would be in the backyard I didn't need to have all of my skin showing.  

Once I had my outfit on that was okay to get wet I redid my ponytail before heading downstairs. By time I had made my way downstairs and out to the backyard both boys had filled up half of the water guns. I didn't think I took that long to change.  

"Wow you guys are fast." I commented coming to stand beside them, crossing my arms.  

"Well we filled the smaller ones first." I nodded while looking at the collection they had around their feet. There was every one in different sizes and shapes. I didn't even know we had this many water guns to be honest.  

"Okay so lets designate who has what part of the backyard." Andy said after he finished filling all the guns up. I noticed just then that he was shirtless. Even at 17 he was filling out pretty well. He had a hint of a 4 pack and a v-line leading to the waistband of his shorts was starting to form. I knew both him and my brother worked out regularly or if they didn't they had football practice that qualified as it. It wasn't the first time I have seen him shirtless but it seemed that every time I do he just keeps getting hotter and hotter.  

"Car, you get from here to here." His voice snapped me out from looking at his chest. He gestured to the patio to one of the big trees a little bit away. While he split off his and Cris's section I scanned the selection of guns.  

"What about rules?" I asked once he was done.  

"Rules?" He questioned.  

"Yeah like can we leave our section, can we only take 5 steps into someone else's before we can't go further, how many guns do we each get?" I rattled off. From their expressions it was clear they hadn't thought about rules just yet.  

"How about we do that with the 5 steps. When going into someone else territory you can only take 5 steps where you can stay and shoot or you can return back to your own territory." I nodded fine with that.  

"Since we had 9 guns we each can get 3." Cris butted in.  

"Any other rules we should make?" I asked. We all glanced at one another before shaking our heads. "Okay it is settled then. Everyone grab your guns!" I instantly leaped for a big one that could hold quite a bit of water. Because there were only 3 big guns and the rest were little we divided the little ones while each of us only got one big one.  

Once we all had our weapons we went over to our own 'territory's', glancing at one another. Because I had the patio I could set the guns I wasn't using yet on the outside table. I took in my territory and hid a smirk when I saw I had the hose. Stupid boys. I thought smugly. They wouldn't know what hit them. Not wanting to give away the hose I moved my gaze to Andy who was smiling widely. He looked like a little kid on christmas, in fact I bet we all did with our cheshire grins.  

"Everyone ready!" Cris yelled. He looked at each of us, me giving him a nod of approval that I was. Hesitating for a moment Cris yelled "GO!" Instantly we all sprang into action heading to the middle of our territory where we could shot someone easily. My plan was to empty all my guns first before grabbing the hose. Preferably before the boys so I could sneak the hose up on them.  

I barely made it to the 'top' section of my spot before I was pelted with water from both sides. Water hit my face and stomach making me gasp. I wiped my eyes once the water was gone and glared in the direction it came from, Andy.  

"You!" Raising my gun I pressed the plastic trigger and fired a stream of water in his direction. I was aiming for his face but missed and got his shoulder. Cris ganged up on Andy with me as we both moved closer to him. For a moment I was done with Andy so I turned to Cris. He was busy pumping his gun for water so I easily sprayed his face. I couldn't help but laugh at his expression when I hit him.  

"Hey!" He yelled back at me.  

"What it was a fair shot." I shrugged.  

The next few minutes were spent with all of us spraying water what whoever. We were running around our territory's trying to find the right place to shot. Our laughs filled the air as we emptied gun after gun.  

As I went back for a water gun I noticed I was out. Peaking over my shoulder I noticed Cris and Andy still going at it leaving me plenty of time to quickly grab the hose and turn the water on. Acting like a spy I crept over to where the hose was, turning the knob. I kept my eyes on the two boys so I wouldn't be caught. Once I had the knob turned pretty high I grabbed the hose and started towards them. In that moment I was glad my father decided to buy a huge hose that stretch practically half of the backyard.  

Getting closer I bent the hose so it would build up pressure. Putting it behind my back I kept my face neutral as I walked towards them. Just as they looked up and saw me, and their expressions changed to curiosity, I whipped out the hose and aimed it Cris first. Placing my thumb at the tip the water sprayed out fast towards him. Cris didn't have time to move away as he got hit with the water. Before Andy could come at me I turned the water to him now as I ran towards him.  

The hose dragged along behind me as I ran. I hit my mark on Andy's surprised face. I was way past my territory but I didn't care. The moment I pulled out the hose the rules vanished.  

"Hey cheater!" Cris yelled over at him, squirting me with his gun.  

"We didn't say we couldn't use the hose." I sent them both a cheshire grin. Laughing like a manic I switched between spraying them. I quickly glanced down to bend the hose again and missed the look both boys shared with one another. By time I was done, which wasn't long at all, both of them were barreling towards me at high speed. I stared wide eyed, my hand losing its grasp on bending the hose.  

"Get her!" Cris's war cry hit me. Knowing what would happen to me if they caught me I turned and started to run. I ran around the backyard as they chased me. I somehow still had the hose in my hand as I ran. I looked over my shoulder to see Andy gaining on me. Damn I should have known I couldn't out run the schools best running back.  

Taking a hard right turn I headed back the way I had came, towards the house. Andy's footsteps could be heard behind me as he was now on my butt.  

"No leave me alone!" I yelled over my shoulder. I could hear his chuckle and the next thing I knew an arm was wrapped around my waist. With the hose at our feet the water splashed up on us. I lost my footing as did Andy so suddenly we were falling backwards.  

Andy's back hit the wet ground a second before my back hit hard against his chest. I heard his grunt as I groaned. It felt like the air had been knocked right out of me. We both groaned but stayed where we were. I finally realized that I was squishing Andy I rolled over onto the ground beside him.  

Turning my head I looked at him. His brown hair that was starting to get streaks of blonde from the sun was dark and dripping with water. It stuck to his forehead and his cheeks were red. Seeing him laying sprawled out on the grass almost made him look like he was posing for a picture. The waistband of his underwear showed above his athletic shorts. Feeling that I was staring he looked back at me, his blue/green eyes staring at my plain blue ones. We continued to stare at one another for a minute completely silent.  

"Hey you guys okay?" Cris's voice asked as he came to a stop above us. Shielding my eyes I looked at him. I felt angry that he interrupted my moment with Andy, not like anything would have happened but I felt the tension between us.  

"I'm good." Andy said jumping up instantly. The moment gone. Sighing I nodded extending my hand out for Cris to take.  

"Well that was fun." I commented.  

"Yeah it was...cheater!" Cris said narrowing his eyes at me.  

"I am not!" I defended.  

"Yes you are. You aren't suppose to use to the hose it was a water GUN fight, not hose fight."  "We didn't say we couldn't use it."  

"It is an unwritten rule!" I rolled my eyes at both boys as they kept talking about how I cheated. While they talked I pulled my wet white shirt that was sticking to my body. The shirt was now down to my thighs as it grew from the water. From head to toe I was soaked. My long brown hair was slipping out of my ponytail and sticking to my face.  

Glancing at the other two they didn't look as bad as I did. But that was because they didn't have a shirt on, only shorts. Water dripped off their hair and onto their faces.  

"What is going on?" My mothers voice suddenly rang out through the backyard. We all snapped up to look where my mom stood by the door leading inside. She raised her eyebrows at us. The three of us glanced at one another before looking back at her.  

"Ah nothing." Cris said.  

"You three are going to be the death of me." She shook her head at me but she was smiling. "Just make sure to clean up the hose and the water guns okay?" With that she turned and headed back inside. After she went inside we all turned to each other before we broke apart laughing.  

*End of Flashback*  

That was such a great day. When I told Mia about it afterwards she was jealous we had a water fight without her but let it go a minute later when she brought up shirtless Andy. Like a weirdo that I was to this day I still get butterflies in my stomach at the memory.  

Needing to get out and clear my head of Andy related thoughts I headed to my room to change. Plus the nice weather isn't going to stick around for much longer. Once I had changed into a pair of worn out black jeans and a old mountain dew shirt. I pulled my hair back in a ponytail before grabbing my bag filled with my art supplies, my purse and my camera. Locking the door behind me I headed out of the dorm building.  

I walked around for a little while breathing in the air. Students walked to and from classes. As I walked around I lifted my camera taking photos of trees, the clouds, even the front of 95 Degrees. I smiled as I watched a couple walk hand and hand towards a building grinning widely at one another.  

Going over to an empty table I set my stuff down before focusing on my camera. Even the simplest of things can hold beauty. Not one thing is simple or ugly, everything and everyone is unique in their own way. That is the best thing about having a camera. You can always see the light of anything you can see. I continued on snapping random photos. I know I shouldn't have but I took one of another cute couple that were walking my way. The girls bright red hair swung back as she threw her head back laughing at something her boyfriend said. Freckles dotted her face and her grin was like the sun. The look her boyfriend sent her as she laughed made my heart ache at the sight.  

The photo I snapped of them was perfect and as I stared down at it I wanted to grab the couple and show them. The lighting was perfect creating an almost halo around the girls head. Glancing up from the picture I saw the couple had stopped to talk to someone. In a split second I was up and walking towards them. Why I felt the need to show them I don't know. For all I know they could get really pissed at me.  

"Excuse me." I said as I stood behind them. The person they were talking to walked off so they were not facing me.  

"Yes?" The guy asked.  

"I know this is really random and there is a slight chance you will be mad but I wanted to show you this." I explained quickly. When they continued to stare at me blankly I tilted my camera to face them their picture on the screen.  

"You took this?" The girl asked looking back at me.  

"Yeah I'm sorry for taking it but I couldn't help it and I just had to show you." I said softly. Silently I prayed that they wouldn't start yelling.  

"It is beautiful." The girl breathed out. "You are a great photographer." I blushed at the compliment.  

"Thank you. Sorry for interrupting you."  

"It's no problem. Could we actually, I mean could you maybe sent that to me?" She asked looking at me hopeful. I have never had someone ask me that, well I have never really showed anyone the photos I take.  

"I-I sure. I can email it or send it through text." I offered still surprised.  

"That would be great! Here." The girl fumbled in her bag for a piece of paper and a pen.  

"You should take pictures for people as a side job." The girls boyfriend said suddenly.  

"Really?"  

"Yeah you definitely should. You could even have people hire you for dates to take pictures." He laughed. That actually didn't sound like a bad idea. It would be slightly awkward following around a couple like a third-wheel taking pictures of them, but if they paid you.  

"Here you go. My name is Selena." The girl, Selena, said handing me a paper with her email and number. 

"I'm Carmen." I smiled at her.  

"We really have to go to class but thank you for stopping us to show us that picture. It's beautiful." I stood there like an idiot smiling as they said their goodbyes quickly before walking off. Wow that was a first. Seeing their reaction made me glad I decided to show them. Placing the piece of paper in my pocket I headed back to the table I was at.  

After a little while of taking pictures I set my camera down before taking out my sketch pad. Flipping it open it landed on the half sketch that I started yesterday of a guy. Not even caring about the time anymore I got everything out that I needed before settling in to draw. I was so in the zone that all the noise around me faded into the background. My hand seemed to move on it's own as I finished the outline and started filling it in with colors.  

Focusing so hard on my drawing I didn't realize someone had sat down beside me until a hand landed on my shoulder. Letting out a small shriek I gripped my pencil whirling around to face whoever it was. My pencil tip was facing the person almost like a weapon.  

"Woah sorry Carmen I didn't mean to scare you." A familiar voice said. Sitting next to me was a wide eyed Daniel with his hands out in front of him. I let out a breath and placed my hand over my heart.  

"You scared the shit out of me Daniel." I muttered setting my pencil down.  

"Sorry I thought you heard me, I wasn't exactly quite." He put his hands down on the table and flashed me grin.  

"Sorry I was just focused on drawing." I looked at my paper and saw it was almost finished the last thing that needed to be done was the face but I knew who I had drawn. The jacket gave it away. It was Gabriel. Why had I drawn Gabriel?  

"That is okay what are you..." Daniel trailed as he looked at my drawing. "Woah that is incredible. It looks almost real." I caught awe in his tone.  

"Thanks I mean it isn't finished yet." I rubbed my arm sending me a small smile.  

"Well it is great. You'll have to draw me sometime." He looked at me, his hazel eyes flashing in excitement. He almost looked like a little puppy.  

"That would be cool to do." Daniel opened his mouth to answer when his phone rang.  

"Sorry one second." He held his finger up to me. "Hey man."  

"I'm over by 95 Degrees. I have someone I want you to meet."  

"No it is not. She is my friend." I hide my grin at that. I barely met him yesterday.  

"Just come over here dumbass." He said into the phone. Whoever he was talking to must have said something to him but all he did was roll his eyes. Without saying anything else he hung up.  

"Sorry that is my friend. He will be here in a minute. Warning though he can be an ass at first but he is a good guy." He must be because I couldn't see Daniel hanging out with someone that wasn't. "I think you guys will like each other." He rambled on.  

As he talked I turned back to my drawing and stared at it. Even without the face I had captured Gabriel's outfit from when we first met. My hand was itching to finished the face to see if it looked as good as his in person.  

"Anyways." I tuned back into Daniel. "What are you doing here alone?"  

"Just getting some air. Don't have class today." I shrugged.  

"Me either! We are definitely going to be hanging out together. We can like paint each others nails, do our hair and talk about boys!" He said in a high pitch girly voice as well as flipping his nonexistent long hair. I laughed at him.  

"Totally and we can like wear slutty clothes too!"  

"As long as it is pink. I don't do anything else but that, oh and high heels." I tried to keep a straight face at his girly voice but I lost it. Something about Daniel made everything he said funny. I was glad he was maybe going to be someone I can hang out with besides Mia. He seemed like he would be a good friend.  

"We are going to have fun." Daniel smiled at me.  

"Well than I can't wait." I smiled back.  

"Already flirting with her Daniel? Could you at least wait a few minutes." A new voice said. I had my back turned to that person but I instantly froze knowing that voice. It couldn't be. Daniel couldn't be friends with him. They were complete opposites. Daniel was nice and funny while he was a jerk and conceited. Taking a deep breath I turned on the bench to face him.  

"You!" We both said at the same time.