The orange sea...

Senna's POV

We watch as the girls pull out of the car park and disappear into the horizon. What a night! I think replaying the last twelve hours over in my head. I relive everything from surprising Harri at the bar, meeting her brother, to the way she smells, and even going so far as to recall the thickness of the grey rings of her pupils.

"Senna."

"Senna."

"Yo, Sen!"

"Yes, Jax!" I reply finally acknowledging Jax's efforts to get my attention.

He pulls off his green wig and runs his hand through his hair, fluffing it up. "Senna, I think I'm in love," he declares falling back against his car.

I roll my eyes at him. "Well back off because Harri is MY girlfriend," I say in jest. I struggle to contain the smile that develops when I remember that Harri is officially my girlfriend.

"Not Harri, you mung bean. Jazz Apples!" he states emphatically as if I didn't already know who he was talking about.

"No shiitake, J. I couldn't half tell the way you two were acting with each other."

He looks sheepishly at the ground. "Now what?"

"I guess we go home and sleep," I reply unlocking my car.

"No, I mean, with the girls. Do we tell them? Do we not? I had such a great night that I'd hate to ruin it," he says genuinely.

I open my car door and start the engine. The rumble causes more than a few people to stare, then again it could have something to do with the way we're dressed. It's safe to say our costumes haven't held up too well in the light of day. "I don't know Jax. I really don't. I worry that if I tell Harri she'll never speak to me again. I mean she doesn't want our kind of life. She's told me just as much."

He looks at me as if trying to read my thoughts. "I know what you mean Sen. Last night was the freest I've felt in years. I wasn't worried about Zander, the media or any of our FBI accredited fans. I could just be myself, and I missed that feeling. And you know what? I think Jazz Apples might just like me, for me. Well for Jackson."

"Well she's kinda obsessed with you," I confirm with a smirk.

"No, she's obsessed with Jax. Or the idea of him. Not the real Jaxon."

"True." I nod exhaling deeply. "Honestly Jax, I don't know what to do. Let's just enjoy the moment and brainstorm after we've slept."

"Sounds like a plan. Jet lag has ruined me," he squeezes out mid-yawn.

"Wanna come to mine?" I ask conscious of the fact that he might not want to go home just yet. "Mum would love to see you."

"Lead the way, Sen."

We pull up at mine about an hour later. I make no effort to make up a bed on the floor for him since I know he'll just end up next to me anyway. I get some strange feeling of satisfaction knowing that I was right as he takes his spot on the side closest to the door without so much as a mention of the taking the floor. It doesn't take long before we're both asleep, no doubt grinning like kids on Christmas morning.

"Jaxxxxxxx!" comes a shrill noise from the doorway waking both of us up immediately.

"Peeweeeeee! Give us a hug, Sis," Jax mumbles wearily at the sight of my sister who is eagerly jumping around at the sight of him.

I feel the bed bounce as she makes a running jump across the room landing like a starfish on top of Jax who is still laying next to me under the covers. "Seriously Peyton, you couldn't just let us sleep?" I ask without so much as an opening of an eyelid.

"It's three in the afternoon Sen, you've been asleep all day. Anyway, Mum asked me to wake you. She's made Jax his favourite," she explains patting me on the head like a dog, earning herself a growl from me in reply.

Jax happily wraps his arms around my sister, pulling her down on to the bed so that she is laying between us. "My favourite? You mean she's made..."

"Yep. Chocolate brownies!" Peyton says excitedly hugging Jax back just as hard as he is hugging her.

Jax is great with kids and my sister, like his sisters, is no exception. She really looks up to him and thinks of him as another brother. I mean he has known her pretty much her entire life. I feel comfortable knowing that she has him to talk to if I'm not around or if she doesn't feel comfortable with me, although I don't think that that has ever been the case and to be fair I am not sure that I would entirely trust Jax to give advice.

"Okay since brownies are involved, you're forgiven," I reply, with a one-sided smile. Happy that two of the most important people in my world get along so well.

"You're in a good mood. I take it things went well last night with the girl?"

"Yes, they did. Thanks, Peewee," I say sincerely finally giving in and opening my eyes ever so slowly to allow them time to adjust to the light coming through my race car curtains.

She smiles sweetly. "You're still wearing your makeup. You've gotta take it off, Sen. You'll break out."

Instinctively I put my hand to my face and feel a bit of it crumble off. I look at the pillow and see that it is also smudged all over the case. "Great," I mutter sitting up.

"Eww put a shirt on!" Peyton cries seeing my bare chest as the doona drops. "Jax, you can only if you want too," she teases as she jumps up to leave.

"Peyton. No!" I hiss reminding her of her of brotherly boundaries.

"Calm your farm, Senna. I was joking. No offence Jax but Ewww, you're like my brother," she laughs scrunching up her face in disgust and throwing Jax a white v-neck from my drawer. Hitting him square in the face.

"No offence taken, Sis," Jax replies as he pulls the t-shirt over his head.

We quickly wash our faces and make our way downstairs. Mum is standing by the sink looking out into the backyard as she washes the dishes. "Hello Mrs Jager, it's nice to see you again," Jax coos a little too politely as we walk towards the plate of brownies sitting on the bench.

She takes off the yellow rubber gloves and lays them down on the edge of the sink. "I'll have none of that, Jax. You know the rules, it's Rosie or Mum," she scolds, slapping my hand away from the brownies.

"Hi Mum," he manages to squeak out as she pulls him in for one of those really awkward parental hugs.

"Let me look at you," she says standing arms distance away from him looking him up and down. "Your hair is getting long. How is your Mum? Are you eating enough?"

"Yes, Mum. I'm eating enough," he mutters embarrassed, sweeping his fringe back across his forehead. Secretly I know that he, like me, is happy at her inquisition. It's familiar. It's home. It's love. And sadly while his Mum is great, it is the one thing I think he doesn't get a lot of at home.

She slides the brownies across the bench in his direction. "Okay, well let's get some meat on those bones."

I grab a brownie from the plate and leave the kitchen to shower, just as Mum and Jax start talking about his Mum and the impending return of his Step Dad. Mum is really good with things like this so she will know just what to say. If I am being completely honest I am angry that his Mum would put him and his sisters back in this situation but I guess from an outside perspective it's hard to know what is really going on. I send Harri a quick text.

"Hello my Queen, hope you slept well? I did despite Jackson's snoring. I even dreamt that the ocean was orange and full of bubbles."

I press send and jump in the shower. It feels great to wash off the makeup that has somehow made its way into my hair and behind my ears. Throwing on a pair of sweatpants I notice a small graze on my shin that I can only assume is from mine and Harri's tumble. I rub the spot absentmindedly as I check my phone for replies.

"Hey,  just woke up actually. Have retired the crown so just boring old Harii now."

"You're hardy boring, Harri. I had the best night with you last night. Didn't want it to end."

"Me either :) We will just have to do it again soon."

Shiitake! I don't know how to handle this. Zander would, he always knows what to do in these situations. Then again I don't really want him to know since he is overprotectiveness is one the reasons I started the whole secret account, to begin with.

"Yes, we will." I write trying to play it cool. I add a heart emoji for good measure.

"Sooo... an orange ocean? Wonder what that is about..."

I laugh as I write my reply. "Don't know, maybe it was real life. Or maybe it was just a Fanta Sea..."

"OMFG, SJ! I'm in actual tears right now. Way to string out a Dad joke."

"Glad you liked it. I tried it on Jackson and he just smacked me with a pillow. lol"

"I can't blame him. That was terrible."

"No that was awesome!"

"I think I might have to reconsider this whole girlfriend, boyfriend thing we have going on. You're clearly delusional. LOL!"

I'll admit I panicked a bit reading the message at first.

"If you're gonna be my girlfriend you're going to have to accept me, for all of my flaws. Dad jokes included."

"Shittake! Why couldn't you just of had bad breath;)"

"Lol. So what are your plans today?"

I ask as I hear my Mum calling me from downstairs. That must mean she has finished her deep and meaningful with Jax. "Coming," I yell out as I put on a fresh pair of socks.

"Well, it's almost dinner time. So I'll probably head home and check in with Theo and my parents. You?"

I type the reply as I walk down the stairs, careful not to trip over the worn out patch of carpet on the stairs.

"Probably, the same. Dinner and sleep. Chat tomorrow?"

"One condition..."

"hmmm?"

"No Dad jokes!"

"No promises :)"

"Bye, Boyfriend xx."

"Bye, Girlfriend xx."

I re-enter the kitchen and see Jax and my Mum sitting at the bench with a cup of tea. "What are you doing?" I ask trying to hide my cheesy smile.

"Nothing. Jax and I were just sitting her spilling the tea as they say," my Mum says proud of her use of teen slang.

Jax laughs. "Don't encourage her," I offer dryly but still smirk.

"We're thinking of going to that steak place for dinner," Peyton splutters as bits of brownie fly out of her mouth.

I look over to Jax who nods at me silently signalling that he is keen for dinner. "Sounds good, as long as this joker has a shower first," I croak, evidence of my limited sleep.

Jax looks down and can see that he is still wearing the bottom half of his costume. "Give me twenty minutes," he mutters taking another brownie for the trip.

My Mum pats him on the arm as he stands. "Do you know where the towel are, Son?"

He smiles warmly, "yes, Mum."

I let out an audible scoff as it takes all my power not to vomit in my mouth. "Just grab some clothes from my room."

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Author's note:

Hello beautiful people,

How are you all? It's been really really hot here in Australia. Temps of 42c plus, which has not been so much fun when spending time at the tennis. One more week and then I'll be back to be a more regular schedule.

Now let's talk about the chapter... thoughts? What were your favourite bits, your not so favourite bits? What do you think happens next?

Hint: next chapter is in Harri's POV :)

- Trudz

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