Chapter 4 Beneath the Surface

The car was filled with the unfamiliar sound of European music. Emily had taken control of the playlist, and while Kelvin wasn't familiar with the songs, Olivia knew them all too well, having heard them many times before during her time with Emily. The two-hour drive seemed to stretch forever, like an endless ribbon of asphalt winding through anticipation. Olivia closed her eyes for a moment, feeling the gentle hum of the car beneath her. She was met with Kelvin's bright blue eyes when she opened them again.

"We're here," Kelvin said, grinning at her.

Emily had already bounded out of the car, her voice echoing excitedly. "Oh my gosh, it's so beautiful!" she exclaimed. Olivia followed suit, stepping out onto the warm sand, her feet sinking into its softness. The house before them was a stunning contemporary structure with bi-fold doors that opened to the beach. Several cars were parked in front, their polished exteriors reflecting the golden afternoon light.

Kelvin moved to help Olivia out of the car, his hand warm against hers as she stepped onto the sand. She looked around wonderfully at the two large palm trees framing the entrance, their leaves rustling gently in the breeze. The beach stretched before them, waves lapping softly at the shore, filling the air with a salty tang.

Kelvin opened the front door, and a wave of cool air washed over them, carrying the faint scent of fresh flowers and the sea. Emily had already begun exploring, her footsteps echoing through the spacious living room. Olivia followed close behind, taking in the bright, comfortable furniture and the large windows that offered a breathtaking view of the beach. Shelves full of board games and books lined one wall, a TV was in the corner, and a fireplace with a mantel adorned with family photos added a cozy touch.

"Wow," Olivia breathed, admiring the room's decorations.

Kelvin nodded, a smile playing on his lips. "Let me show you the rest of the house," he said, gesturing for her to follow him. He opened a door to the left of the living room, leading them outside to a large wooden deck. Emily had already made herself home, lounging in one of the deck chairs and gazing at the ocean. The deck was surrounded by a vibrant flower garden filled with daisies and roses. A hot tub was in the corner, and near the edge of the deck, a small pond housed bright orange and yellow koi fish.

"Wow," Olivia repeated, this time in awe of the outdoor beauty. She couldn't believe how stunning the house and its grounds were. Kelvin smiled, pleased with her reaction. "Let me show you the bedroom," he said, walking back inside. Olivia followed him into a large bedroom with a four-poster bed and a window that looked out onto the beach. A dresser and wardrobe stood in the corner, and pictures of the family in happier times hung on the walls.

"It's so beautiful," Olivia said, feeling a wave of warmth wash over her. She knew that whatever happened in this house would be an adventure none of them would forget.

They walked into the open-floor kitchen, where a large sitting area was bustling with activity. Three women dressed in black were cooking, filling the air with mouthwatering aromas of spices, herbs, and freshly baked bread. It was like a hive of activity, and Olivia felt welcomed and intrigued. She waved to the women, andall three returned her gesture with a warm smile.

"Do you need me to help with anything?" Olivia asked, trying to be helpful. Kelvin's blue eyes twinkled under his dirty blonde hair. "No," he said with a wink. "I just want you to sit pretty."

Olivia blushed and glanced over her shoulder at Emily, who had suddenly appeared behind them. "Is he hitting on you?" she whispered in Olivia's ear. Before Olivia could answer, Kelvin chimed in. "Yes, I am," he said with a roguish grin. Olivia laughed nervously as the sound of vehicles pulling up outside reached their ears. Emily looked out the window. "Looks like the party is about to start," she said to Olivia, who nodded in agreement.

More cars started pulling in, and soon, the house was filled with guests. Kelvin's friend Trevor walked in, and the two greeted each other with a bear hug.

Kelvin, Olivia, and Emily entered the living room, their feet crunching on the wooden floors. The music was loud and pulsing, a mix of bass and rhythm that seemed to sync with the beating of their hearts. Everywhere Olivia looked, people were talking, drinking, and dancing. "Looks like the party's started without us," Emily said, a mischievous glint in her eyes. Olivia gave her a playful shove. "Want to mingle?" "Hell yeah!" Emily replied.

The two of them weaved through the crowd, Olivia's eyes taking in all the unfamiliar faces and strange conversations. She spotted a group around the kitchen table, drinking and laughing. In the corner, two girls were dancing, their bodies swaying to the beat of the music.

"Let's join this party," Emily said, pointing to the kitchen table. Olivia wanted to say no, but she found herself nodding in agreement. She followed Emily to the table, where the other guests eyed them with mild curiosity.

"Hello, everyone," Emily said with a smile. The group returned her greeting, and then an awkward silence descended upon them. "So," Emily began, "do you have any ideas for games?" One of the girls, a brunette with brown eyes, smiled. "I know, let's play Never Have I Ever!" Everyone cheered in agreement, and the game began.

Olivia excused herself from the game, feeling a little out of place. The last time she played the game, they made fun of her. Emily was already engrossed in the game, so Olivia went to the deck.

The night was beautiful, stars twinkling in the inky sky like diamonds scattered across velvet. Olivia could hear the party buzz, laughter, and conversations from inside. She watched the shadows of people dancing in the dark and savored the moment. She felt a sense of belonging, of being connected to everyone at the party.

Olivia watched as a couple embraced and kissed. She felt a pang of something, something she couldn't quite name. The music changed, and the party began to pick up. Olivia decided to go back inside and join the fun. She didn't want to be a wallflower any longer.

When she walked back in, Kelvin was the first to notice her. He smiled at her and said, "Olivia, there you are! I was looking for you." He took her hand and guided her to the dance floor. "Come on, let me show you how to dance." Olivia was taken aback, but before she could think much about it, Kelvin was already guiding her through the steps. The music was fast and upbeat, and Kelvin was a fantastic dancer.

Olivia picked up the steps quickly, and soon, she was dancing with everyone else. She forgot about her worries and anxieties and just enjoyed the moment. When the song ended, Olivia thanked Kelvin and returned to Emily. Emily was still playing the game but also watching Olivia with a smile. "What?" Olivia asked with a grin. "You," Emily said. "You looked like you were having so much fun." Olivia smiled. She was relieved that she hadn't embarrassed herself and that she'd been able to join in the fun.

Suddenly, Olivia heard her name being called. "Please don't!" Olivia pleaded, chills running down her spine. Trevor gave her a mischievous grin, then slowly began to walk towards the pool, ignoring her pleas. Olivia's arms were stuck in a tense hug around his neck as she tried to stay on his shoulder. The other kids in the backyard were all chanting, "Threw! Threw! Threw!"

By the time they reached the pool's edge, Olivia felt like she would be sick. She pressed her eyes shut and braced herself for the inevitable splash. But when Trevor finally threw her into the pool, the crowd cheered and screamed with glee.

Kelvin came out; he asked, "What's going on?" "Trevor just threw the ginger in the pool," someone replied. "What the fuck, man!" Kelvin shouted and dove into the pool to get Olivia out. Emily ran out and screamed, "Oh my god, who did this?" she shrieked, her voice echoing in the evening air. No one responded. Everyone was too stunned to speak. "She can't fucking swim, you bastard," Emily said, her voice filled with anger glaring at everyone.

Kelvin scooped Olivia up in his arms and carried her out of the pool, trying to warm her with his body heat as he cradled her close. Olivia coughed, expelling water from her lungs. "I am so sorry," Kelvin said, crooning soft words of comfort. Kelvin brushed the wet strands of hair away from Olivia's face, and she looked up at him with eyes that were both scared and grateful.

Emily quickly rushed to her friend to comfort her. "Oh, Liv, are you okay? Are you hurt?" she asked, her face full of worry. Olivia nodded to assure her, but her face was still pale and drawn. "I will go get you a towel," Kelvin said, quickly turning to Trevor, who had been watching from a distance. "I didn't know," Trevor said, his shoulders shrugging. Kelvin didn't want to argue, so he nodded and went inside.

When Kelvin came back, Olivia was shaking like a leaf. "

I want to go home," she said, her voice barely a whisper. Kelvin winked reassuringly and then scooped her up in his arms once more. "It's a Good thing I packed some extra clothes you can change into," Emily said, feeling relieved that she had been organized.

Kelvin carried Olivia back to the beach house, and Emily followed close behind. Once inside, Kelvin gently laid Olivia on the bed and grabbed a blanket to cover her up. Emily hovered nearby, ready to help if needed. Emily knelt down in front of Olivia and reached out to hug her.

Olivia lay on the bed and fell asleep; she woke up two hours later. Emily and Kelvin were nowhere to be found; she got up, got in the bathroom, and showered. She saw her weekender bag on the floor beside the bed, took out jean shorts and tank tops, and put them on. Kelvin stood by the bathroom door when Olivia came out of the bathroom. Kelvin broke the silence. "I'm sorry, Olivia," he said. "You weren't supposed to be the one thrown in there. Trevor was just being a dick."

"I bet he is," Emily retorted, her voice tight with anger. Olivia tried to muster a smile. "It's fine," she said. "I feel better now." "Does that mean we're going home?" Emily asked. Olivia glared at her, and Emily murmured, "Guess not." Kelvin nodded. "I'll get the truck ready," he said, leaving to do just that.

Emily watched him go and sighed. "So he's just going to leave his guest?" she asked. Olivia rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on, Em's. I didn't want to come in the first place, and I didn't want him to drive us here," Olivia said. "Now you're trying to make me feel bad for making him leave his party," Emily muttered something under her breath, and Olivia walked back into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.

Emily felt terrible. She had been enjoying herself before the incident happened; she walked out of the room and toward the truck. Olivia walked to the truck, feeling better. She took a seat in the vehicle and offered a quiet apology to Kelvin. "I'm sorry for making you leave your party early," Olivia said. Kelvin gave her a faint smile and waved it away. He got into the driver's seat and started the engine. "I'm sorry, Em's," Olivia said, pouting at Emily. "It's alright," Emily replied.

The drive home was a somber affair; the earlier joy of their day trip and evening at the beach house had been replaced by an oppressive air of tension. Emily stared out of the window, her expression unreadable. Olivia couldn't tell if Emily was angry with her or just in shock.

Olivia had felt so embarrassed when she snapped at Emily earlier, yet she also felt powerless when thrown in the pool. Perhaps that was why she had been so angry. The car rolled through the darkness, guided by the yellow glow of street lamps and headlights of other vehicles. Eventually, they arrived at Olivia's house; Olivia opened the car door and looked at Kelvin. "I'm really sorry for making you leave your party early." Kelvin smiled and said, "It's alright," "I understand. I'm just glad you're okay." Olivia smiled back.

Olivia got down and walked towards the house, only to find Emily still sitting in the car. "Em's come on," Olivia says. "I'm going home. Have to go pack for the trip, remember?" Emily replied. "Oh," Olivia said and nodded. "Thanks, Kelvin," Olivia said, looking at Emily. "Call me when you get home, Em's." "I will," Emily replied. She got in her car, and Kelvin and Emily drove off. Olivia walked into the house, straight to her room; she changed into something more comfortable and flopped down on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Olivia didn't feel like doing anything; instead, she closed her eyes and cried herself to sleep.