Chapter 3 That's the Alpha

• The next day Riviera listens to her mother and explores the community. She wants to get away from the noise and confusion in her yard, but mostly in hopes to see that man that caught her eye.
• Everyone seems friendly. Either smiling, waving at her. Or coming up to her and having conversations with her.
• She soon grows tired of saying her name and introducing herself over and over, and even tired of trying to find her mystery man.
• "Hey,'' Riviera turns to the voice. Her eyes widen at the sight before her and she had to hold back a laugh.
• The girl before her has a botched face, looking like a b-list celebrity with mismatching lips (her top lip is fat and hangs over her lower lip, which is daunted in pink lipstick.) Her fake fashes seem more like fly legs, and her breasts are ready to pop out of her top.
• "I'm Garcia, you must be Riviera. I guess what they said is true, you are pretty but not as pretty as me.'' The girl laughs.
• Riviera looks the girl up and down already, telling that they won't be friends, with her bad tan that is almost orange, bleach blonde hair that is wild, puffy and all over the place.
• "We are going down to the front. Why don't you join? You'll fit right in." she turns with the flip of the hair as if she expects Riviera to follow her.
• Riviera was about to decline, but thought against it, thinking that she might run into her 'friend'.
• "I don't have a swimsuit,'' Riviera stops.
• "No need for that.'' Garcia smiles, applies more lipstick, smacks her lips together, and continues walking.
• Another girl joins them, along with a boy who has a stupid grin on his face.
• "River, River meet Christa and Erich, Erich is my boyfriend.'' Garcia gives Riviera a look as if saying I dear you to try and steal him.
• The two start making out, making weird whimpering sounds, when they pull apart a long trail of saliva trails between them.
• Fighting off a gag, Riviera turns her head away. Gracia has nothing to worry about, Erich seems like a douche bag and not her type.
• After walking for a while longer, the foursome finally reaches a small cliff that has a trail leading down to the beach.
• "Nice.'' Riviera takes a deep breath in and makes her way down.
• The shoreline is teeming with people her age, some dance to upbeat music, while others are either swimming, drinking or making jokes with others.
• "Hey everyone! Meet Riviera!'' Gracia declares, getting her name right this time around.
• Riviera looks around for the guy from yesterday, not interested in anyone there.
• "Looking for someone, maybe. Mr. Right, aka the man of your dreams." A boy with a clean shave head dances before her.
• 'Not you.' Riviera thought, then sidestep him.
• After a while, she gives up her search and was about to leave when someone almost hit her with a surfboard.
• "Watch it, nerd!" Erich tries to chase him away.
• "Or what?'' The boy asks.
• Comparing to Erich he doesn't add up to much. Erich might have been a couple of inches taller, built like a linebacker with lean muscles.
• "Showing out for the new girl.'' Erich scuffs, but turns away from the scrawny boy who has zero muscles, an acne-covered face and braces to fix his crooked teeth.
• "You surf?'' Riviera asks, trying to make conversation.
• "No, I just like to carry around this board that is twice my size." He remarks.
• Riviera cracks a smile. "If I knew that this place had its own private beach, I would have brought mine.''
• "Oh, for real, the pretty girl surfs. I'm Jeremiah.'' He awkwardly extends a hand.
• "Oh no honey, we don't talk to him.'' Garcia tries to get in between the two. "Here.'' She hands Riviera a beer.
• "I'll pass.'' She then shakes Jeremiah's hand. "Riviera. Even though you should have known that, I am the new popular thing.''
• Jeremiah laughs, ''let's see what you got.'' He leans over the board towards Riviera. She gladly takes it with a smile.
• "Riviera, I know you are new here and all. But, hanging with people like him is not good for your image, I mean-"
• "I think I can decide for myself.'' Riviera dismisses her.
• Gracia makes a face, then walks away with a huff.
• Jeremiah gives her a look as if he is unsure about her.
• 'What?''
• "Nothing, just that. You're talking to me and you are friends with them."
• Riviera rolls her eyes. ''not really my crowd.''
• "Well, just so you know, going against Queen G's words is a no-no.''
• Riviera snorts, "I really don't care.''
• She kicks off her shoes and races towards the ocean before Jeremiah could say anymore; she jumps on the board and pedals her arms as far as she can go. Saltwater splash in her face, but she welcomes it, feeling free again.
• When Riviera gets done and paddles back to the shore, both she and Jeremiah are grinding at each other.
• "I can honestly say that I never took you for the surfer chick, thought that this would have been another prank." Jeremiah kicks at some sand.
• "I would never do that, well only if you are a celebrity. Mostly Perez Hilton.''
• The two laugh.
• Just then, as if Riviera could sense it, she turns toward 'him'. She doesn't hear a word Jeremiah is saying.
• "Who is that?'' She asks.
• Jeremiah makes a face before opening his mouth
• "That's the Alpha.'' Garcia beats him to it, seeming to appear out of nowhere.
• "That's the Alpha? Like the leader of the pack?'' Riviera couldn't believe it.
• Garcia does a little giggle. "Don't worry, none of us are good enough for him. I mean, if I couldn't work my charms on him I don't see how can.''
• Riviera can see the Alpha gazing their way. She bites on the nail of her thumb. She never thought that the Alpha would be so young and sexy.
• She even contemplated going over there and see something to him, but then again he must have ignored Garcia for a reason. She is too young after all and there is not tell what his age is.
• Compared to herself, Riviera doubts she can even get his attention. Besides, he could have only been staring at her because of what had happened, and the connection she felt could have been him sending pity her way.
• Riviera suddenly feels guilty for having a crush on someone older than her. Feeling frustrated, she kicks her right foot. The moment she does, a chill creeps into the air. The sky gets dark and it starts to hail, then six waterspouts form on the sea, with one threatening to come on land.
• "That's weird, the border should protect Havendale from these kinds of things.'' Jeremiah puts forward, he watches as the wind dances on the water top getting closer to shore.
• "What are you talking about?''
• "You have a lot to learn, surfer girl. A magical border protects Havendale so we don't experience normal weather. This is the first time I'm seeing hail or a waterspout, have only learnt about them.
• A beach umbrella sails past the two, a rope that is at the end of its pole somehow wraps around Riviera's leg and drags her along the sand.
• At first, she screamed, but her instinct tells her to untie herself. Unfortunately, she is moving too fast and couldn't find the momentum to sit up.
• The umbrella only continues to carry her out further and into the surf.
• Her peers chase after her, trying their best at a rescue attempt, but the winds pick up speed and lift Riviera in the air. She screams as the wind spins her around. Feeling as if she is going to be sick, she squeezes her eyes shut, expecting the worst but praying for the best.
• Then the spinning stops, and she plummets. Afraid that her body is going to crash and maybe break from the impact, she starts crying.
• She didn't know how it happens, neither can she explain it. But the Alpha, who is at a distance away, somehow breaks her fall by catching her and the both of them sink below the surface.
• The Alpha, still with Riviera in his arms, walks out of the water. She couldn't help but blush about how close her body is to his.
• "Are you ok?'' His rich, smooth voice comes.
• Riviera nods, afraid that her voice may fail her.
• The Alpha places her on her feet, but her legs got wobbly and if it wasn't for him catching her, she would have fallen face first.
• "Let me take you home.'' He suggests, still holding her up.
• Riviera walks up the sand dunes slowly. She didn't even bother to say goodbye to anyone. All she does is walk gingerly on the ground because she didn't bother to get her shoes. She walks silently behind the Alpha, watching his every step.
• The drive to the house is long and silent. Neither of them tried to make conversation, but what could she even say to him, with him being older than her.
• When they pull up to the house, Mary-Kate runs out with tears streaming down her face.
• "Riviera," she pulls her daughter into a hug, Riviera tries to shuffle out of the embrace, but her mother holds her firm. She now felt too tired and didn't want her mother gushing over her.
• "Thank you, Alpha Sebastián.'' Mary-Kate nods.
• Riviera glances at him. The two hold each other gaze before he turns to leave.