Who Wore it Better?*

I went inside the hotel and made my way to the girl's room. There was a numbered door with key card entry. I slid the smooth plastic card into the slot and then yanked it out to disengage the lock. Before I turned the knob, Monique opened it for me.

I saw Lauren looking up from her Ipad propped against her upraised legs as she lounged at the hotel couch. She was a vision of curly blond hair, big blue eyes more often than not filled with hatred for me nowadays and curves that went on for miles.

I wasn't jealous. Really.

She narrowed her eyes at me. "Lysander and my boyfriend arrived with you, didn't they?"

"Yes." Duh. "It's okay. Your boyfriend arrived safe and sound with Lysander." I replied as I stepped on the patterned carpet." No accidents."

She glared at me as if everything was my fault why Gabriel stayed with Lysander and me on the way here. Maybe, Gabriel just needed a well-deserved break from such a clingy leech-like Lauren.

There were two huge beds with matching beddings and pillows, a nightstand with an alarm clock, a bedside lamp, a flat-screen TV, and a chest of drawers.

Everyone was super busy. Eunice was brewing beans with the coffee maker and Katrina was almost connected to the wall hook-up while she was charging her phone and laptop.

Cigarette smells, perfume, and junk food with strong odors such as tortilla chips, cheese puffs, and popcorn clung to my clothes.

God, my eyes almost rolled back to my head.

I don't wanna stay in this room for too long.

"Now that you're here I guess it's time to change into swimsuits." Lauren rolled her eyes at me and muttered. "Good thing we're kind enough to wait for your slow ass."

I gaped at her when she took off her crop top and mini-skirt revealing a fire engine red bikini underneath.

Lauren may have been the most annoying person I had ever meet but the girl got nice abs from cheerleading. I still hate her, though. She was pretty but her personality suck.

There were half-heard conversations from the girls inside the luxurious bathroom as luggage zippers were pulled open and close while they changed their outfits.

Water gurgled in the faucet, the doors repeatedly opened and closed as air conditioning and the high-speed whir of a blow dryer hummed in the background.

I feel lightheaded by all this noise and too much girl rush activity. If they didn't shut up soon my head would explode.

I went to the bathroom and check what the commotion was all about. Robes were hanging from a hook on the door, a rack holding fluffy white towels and a tray with complimentary toiletry items.

There was a transparent shower stall, mirror, toilet, and sink area as usual. The girls were busy taking mirror selfies for them to upload on social media bragging about how they were invited by the popular boys on a weekend.

I didn't realize I was staring for three minutes straight while the other girls started to fix their hair and make-up.

I was mesmerized and confused, like, 'What kind of sorcery is this?' Their faces and auras changed before and after they applied make-up which I considered too heavy, by the way.

"What's the purpose of wearing makeup at the beach?" I casually pointed it out. "Wouldn't it be useless once it touched the water?"

"Hi-la-rious! Are you, like, kidding me, nerd?" Lauren laughed and everyone else followed like she's the ringleader in this goddamn circus. "Haven't you heard about waterproof make-up?"

Color flooded my cheeks but I didn't bite back to her insults. I bit my lip, kept my mouth shut, proceeded to stand in the corner, faced the wall of the bathroom, and changed into my rash guard I pulled out from my backpack.

"Ew, girl. For Christ's sake, you're wearing that?" Lauren exclaimed as her nose crinkled in what could be disgust.

Does this bitch need to humiliate me every chance she gets?

"What is wrong with a rash guard?" My hand fluttered over the pulse hammering in my throat, controlling my irritation at Lauren. "I don't want nasty sunburns on my skin."

"You're a hopeless case—", Lauren said with a dismissive wave of her hand as if she can't stand the sight of me, —"I don't want to be seen near you."

Me too, bitch, Me, too.

"I have an extra bikini if you want." Danielle offered kindly. "I already chose what I like better and I think it will fit you, too."

In truth, I was insecure and I wasn't comfortable with showing my body in front of ogling strangers where I could feel their eyes crawling on my skin.

"Thanks, but no thanks. Sunburns would make my skin look dry and flaky like a reptile's." I reasoned, hoping they'd buy my perfectly logical excuses. "It will kill my healthy skin cells."

"But we have sunscreen products for that," Eunice said.

She hit the nail right on its head.

"Yes." Katrina agreed. "Don't you wanna look tan?"

Monique looked me over from head to toe then continued applying mascara on her eyelashes. "With your beach-blonde waves and gray eyes, I think a golden skin tone would suit you perfectly."

"You think so?" I tried to contain the hot flush on my cheeks from the compliment. I was not used to getting them so I told her instead, "I'm sorry but I think my skin wouldn't become gold from the sun's heat. My skin will probably turn burnt brown like a piece of meat roasted on the grill for too long. And skin cancer! Ick. I don't want that."

"Ha! Maybe, you don't feel confident enough to wear a sexy swimsuit because you're ugly and flat-chested. You are a walking piece of stick that doesn't have an inkling of fashion sense. You're just making excuses for your shortcomings, nerd." Lauren taunted, crossing her arms over her chest as she walked towards me looking like a threat. "I noticed you're always sticking with Lysander like glue. You're shameless. Just tell him the truth that you just want to fuck him."

Low blow, sis. Low blow.

Anger coursed in my veins. But, I toned it down.

If I could have a superpower, I could have leaped at Lauren with fangs and claws bared---or simply materialize in front of her with a knife in hand.

Maybe, tonight.

In my dreams.

"Lemme borrow that extra bikini, Danielle." I put my best game-face on, raised my eyebrows at Lauren and said confidently, accepting her challenge. "Let's see who's going to wear it better."