Sandcastles and Testosterone

We all headed to the elevator after Jenessa made sure the room door was locked. Then suddenly we stood in awkward silence in the elevator. Tyler on one side of me and Colt on the other. Jenessa stood in front of us nervously bouncing back and forth on her heels. Occasionally she would glance back and look between us. As if it weren't awkward enough, Colt decided to speak. "Clare-bear and I are totally gonna crush y'all in this building competition, make no doubts about that." He just had to brag about being on my team. It clearly was getting to Tyler because he put his arm around my waist, pulling me closer to him. Just so he could say, "I wouldn't mind losing to someone as sweet and beautiful as Clarissa." Completely ignored the nickname Colt used and the fact he was on my team. Not that anyone really agreed with these teams but no one seemed to want to speak against what Colt said and cause a scene. It felt like an eternity before the elevator doors finally opened. Jenessa and I both seemed to rush out at the same time. She hooked arms with me so that we could walk ahead. This way I wasn't stuck between those two. Men are annoying creatures when it comes to heated competition. I don't even wanna think about the fact that they're both interested in me and have made it blatantly clear. Well, Colt only technically admitted it when he was drunk. Right now though, it seems he's having some odd sort of battle with Tyler. As if he's going to gain my attention that way. He is off limits anyway, he's my best friend's brother. Even if I did like him he isn't winning any brownie points right now. They keep bumping into each other deliberately behind our backs like they are low-key trying to fight without us knowing. Every time we look back they pretend to be acting nonchalant. After a bit, we found a good portion of the beach that was big enough so that we could build two sandcastles and not be too disturbed by people. We had forgotten that we needed some buckets for some water and to help mold the sand. So Jenessa dragged Colt off the beach with her to get the materials we would need. She didn't trust him going alone. She wanted to make sure he didn't try to sabotage. This left Tyler and me all alone. What were we gonna do now? I had no idea. My awkward self went on my phone and started scrolling through Instagram. Tyler must have noticed my nervousness because he suggested that we could chill on the sand and watch a movie on his phone while we waited. I agreed on the account that we wouldn't have to talk. So we sat down, pretty close, I might add.  He even let me pick the movie, how chivalrous. It was pretty calming to just lean against him and do something other than worry about him fighting with Colt. 

Meanwhile not too far down the boardwalk from where the growing couple sat. Jenessa and her brother were arguing over the color buckets they should get. Really they both knew the argument was about more than a simple bucket color. They had to work out some issues about him respecting her boundaries about how she spent her love life and her needing to see his perspective. It didn't seem like they were ever going to be coming to an agreement on it anytime soon. So Jenessa was the one who decided to change the topic. "How about you stay away from my best friend then since you clearly have bad decision-making. Can't even choose a simple color, Colt!" She punched the air, not caring how ridiculous she looked. "Jen, relax, I know you're still pissed about Jared but I mean come on sis, he was a jerk. Tell me has he said anything to you since yall hooked up? My guess is no, you deserve better than that, and I'm just looking out for you. As for Clarissa, I know you think I'm a jerk but I really do like her. Please just try to understand my point of view and yes I know she's dating that other guy. I at least deserve a chance to try though, don't you think?" She had stopped punching the air and just stood there, speechless. I mean what could she possibly say to that, especially with the way her brother was looking at her right now? She felt for him. He was still her brother after all. But her pride got in the way of being kind to her own brother. "That may be true and you might even be falling for her but she's happy, let her be happy for once. Don't you want her to be happy?" He did but that didn't mean he didn't want her to be happy with him and not that dude. He wanted her to be able to rely on him for emotional support. He wanted to be the one making her smile. "Whatever Jen." He said before leaving the store. He was pissed his sister wasn't even trying to see his side. Jenessa began to gather everything they would need in a shopping basket. 

Colt began walking back to the spot on the beach where they had left Clarissa and Tyler. He couldn't let her spend too much alone time with him, she would end up falling for him. Every fiber of his being was against that but he knew Jen made a good point. He wanted Clare-Bear happy. Though he just couldn't give up without a fight. He was a little distance away from where he saw Clarissa and Tyler leaning against one another cuddling on the sand. Their backs were turned to him. He could leave right now and let them be. He could go and just let her be happy. But every fiber of his being was refusing to just go, especially without a goodbye. So he walked over and worked his way right in between them. Sitting with them he said, "So Jenessa has insisted on doing it all herself. She thinks I can't make decisions for myself. Which I can for the record." He looked Clarissa in the eyes as he said the last part. She clearly couldn't take his stare cause she began to stand and move away when suddenly sirens were heard. It sounded like it was coming from the boardwalk.

At this, they all stood. They looked at each other confused. Clarissa seemed worried. She hadn't told Tyler or Colt about the possible murder she stumbled upon. Colt wanted to go check it out and see what was going on. Tyler seemed a little eager to do so too. Clarissa was hesitant. She was a little curious herself but she knew it also could be something bad and she really didn't want to know if there truly was a murderer afoot. "If we go, who's gonna inform Jenessa, she's still at the shop or on her way back. It could just be nothing or unsafe, do we really want that?" Clarissa said, seeming a bit anxious. She was rocking back and forth on her heels. "It'll be fine, you with us Clare-bear,  we will protect you and you can call her on the way," Colt said walking off. "As much as I'd hate to agree with him on your behalf, he's got a point," Tyler said, scratching his head and holding a hand out for her to hold. She reluctantly took it. "Okay, but I have a bad feeling about this." She said as she began to call Jenessa. 

The line rang for a while. Jenessa didn't pick up. She called her at least 10 times before they reached a bunch of cop cars and yellow tape. They completely sealed off at least half of the boardwalk. What sucked even more, she and Ness's hotel room was on that side. As well as Jenessa's mom. They hadn't checked if she had left her room. What if she was still in there? What if the killer had gotten to her? What if Jenessa stopped back at the hotel for a bit to see her mom or something and they both got murdered? Colt was clearly determined to get answers. He ducked under the yellow tape and approached the closest cop. They had a brief discussion it would seem and then he was escorted back to the other side of the tape. Where the conversation seemed to continue. "So you won't tell me what happened but will you at least tell me where I and my friends are gonna stay since we can't get to our hotel over there?" He said a little aggressively, pointing in the direction of the hotel where I and Jenessa were staying. I didn't know he was staying there too. The cop motioned him closer and seemed to share information only meant for him. Then Colt turned around, spotted us, and Jogged over. There were other onlookers but it seemed most of the crowd had already left or people really didn't care that much to find out. Probably too busy trying to enjoy their vacations or whatever to figure out if there was bad news. "Hey, Clare-bear! So it turns out there's a murder investigation. First, there was an attempted murder and now someone was actually killed. The first person was barely alive when they found him. He was lucky they were able to save him. Apparently, someone had found him in a cave along the beach and alerted the authorities. Whoever that was is a true hero. Anyways, you won't be staying at that hotel anymore, everyone on that side of the beach is being relocated to this part and if they run out of room some people might be put in different establishments a little further away. So we'll be staying over there." He pointed to a hotel that we had passed on our way here, behind us. I simply nodded and Tyler asked a question. "How come the cop told you all this? I mean you're just a simple civilian. They don't just give information like that out to the public!" Colt laughed and looked quite smug before he spoke. "They do when your father is a well-known detective." Tyler seemed shocked at first and then seemed to recover quickly enough to just shrug it off. He seemed ready to leave. But Colt stopped him by saying, "I have more things to tell you guys. It's pretty serious. I know who it is that got murdered." He said this leaning in closely and saying it softly. So that no one else could overhear. "Who?" Tyler practically whispered back. "You're both not going to like this. It's Jared." Clarissa gasped. "You mean THE Jared, Jenessa's Jared." He nodded. "Mmhm, the one and only. I mean the guy was a douche but he didn't exactly deserve that." Tyler balled his fists up and seemed ready to throw a hit at Colt. Clarissa stepped in front of him though. She put her hands on his chest. "Don't kill the messenger." He grunted in response. "You don't need to call him names you know. Speaking ill of the dead isn't a good thing. I'll kick ya ass if you talk shit about him again." He said giving Colt the death stare, almost completely ignoring Clarissa. "You can try but you won't succeed." Colt stood with his arms crossed with an air of dominance and sophistication, with just the slightest hint of a smirk. "Oh yeah, let's go then." Tyler, still clearly enraged, said. "Oh for fucks sake, you guys are idiots," Clarissa said and brushed swiftly past Tyler. Headed in the direction of what would be their new boarding for the night. She dialed Jenessa's number again. She hadn't picked up before and still wasn't now. She was beginning to get really worried about her. Colt and Tyler stood there looking a little dumbfounded staring after her. Then Tyler quickly chased after her. "Idiot," Colt mumbled and then headed in the opposite direction towards the hotel that was off-limits to everyone. He talked to the cop again and got everyone's belongings delivered to the new hotel. And the new rooms that they all would be staying in. He wasn't going to chase after an angry Clarissa. He knew better. He was going to give her some time to cool off and let Tyler, douche face take the heat. He would win her heart eventually even if he had to jump in front of the killer's gun.