Elliot pushed opened the door to the training room.

"You're late." said Chris. Nick snickered.

"It's the middle of the week, cut me some slack." Eli groaned. He slumped down next to the others and waited for Chris to speak up.

"Since the criminal gang from Lidan, there hasn't been much other robberies going around. So, I've decided that we'll do some bonding today and we'll have tonight's rounds off. What do you guys think?" asked Chris.

Everyone looked at each other and nodded their approval.

"Sounds good. What will we do?" asked Robbie.

"We can decide together." replied Chris. Over the next few minutes, Sebastian had recommended meeting the ladies of court again while Robbie suggested they go riding outside. But both weren't possible in such short notice. In the end, they ended up going with Justin's suggestion.

"Why don't we ask Day to join us?" asked Eli, hoping Day could accompany him. Chris nodded.

"I was just about to say that. I'll go get him." he replied. He stood up and walked out of the fields after giving one last instruction to get everything ready. Eli trailing behind the others with a slight frown on his face.

---

Chris knocked on Day's door. Inside, Dawn was reading.

"Yeah..." she murmured, not looking up.

"Day?"

"Huh? Oh, give me a minute!" she exclaimed, putting down the book in a hurry and jumping of the bed when she realised it was Chris. She yelped in pain as she put weight on her left leg.

"You okay?" asked Chris from outside.

"I'm fine..." muttered Dawn as she slipped on her pants and put on her wig. She limped to the door, grabbing her walking stick on the way to steady herself.

"What do you want?" she asked as she swung the door open, Chris almost falling into her.

"Watch it, Chris!" she growled, annoyed.

"Sorry... what's up with you?"

"I was in the middle of a great action scene in my book! Now tell me what you want so I can get back to it." Chris looked at her incredulously and burst into laughter.

"What?" she barked, getting more frustrated by the second.

"Nothing... it's just that I've never seen anyone so worked up about a book." he snickered. "But anyways, I wanted to ask you something." She nodded for him to continue.

"Want to come swimming with us?"

"It's the middle of winter."

"It doesn't get cold in Cilane. We can swim all year long. And it's good bonding for the guys." he reasoned.

"I'm not in the best condition to swim." she pointed to her left leg. And I can't exactly be Day in a bathing suit, she thought to herself.

"Can you just come with us?"

"No."

"Why not!" he pleaded.

"I want to read my book. Go away."

"What if I say you have to come?" he asked with a grin.

"Then I'd say bullshit. And yes, Chris. This is the first time I've technically sweared in front of you. Now, leave me alone." Day turned and slammed the door in his face, leaving him staring at the closed door for a second.

When he got back his senses, Chris opened the door again to find Day sitting in bed, reading. He walked up to her. She didn't look up. He sat down next to her.

"Please. Please. Please. You owe it to me." he said. She sighed and looked at him,"How?".

"You ignored me yesterday when I wanted to talk to you! Where did Freya even take you?" he demanded. Not wanting to bother answering the question, Day said, "Fine. But I'm not swimming."

Chris nodded eagerly and jumped off the bed, grinning from ear to ear.

"You do know you act like an 8 year old at times, right?" Day said, picking up her book and walking to the door.

"What are you talking about?" he said, skipping to the door and closing it. Chris led the way, grinning the entire time. He led her outside to a garden. At the center, surrounded by lush green trees, was a glittering blue lake. Both joined the rest of the group who were sitting by a couple of chairs and a table under the shade of a large tree.

Day found a seat next to Eli.

"Hey," she said, sitting down.

"How's you leg?" Eli asked, worried for his friend. Day shrugged and Eli rolled his eyes.

"It's as if we care more about you than you do for yourself." he remarked. Day grinned, "I need love and this is a perfect way to get it."

Both laughed and continued began but were interrupted by Robbie.

"Eli, why aren't you swimming?" he asked. Eli brought his hand to his head, panicking. What do I tell him? he thought, frantically.

"He's being a good friend, that's what. He's keeping me company." Day answered for him. Eli looked at her gratefully, mouthing a "Thank you".

"Everyone ready?" asked Chris, slowly taking off his shirt. Day looked away as the rest of the guys did the same. Even though she saw them shirtless all the time, she still wasn't comfortable with it. Though she acted normal enough in front of them.

Robbie walked over and bent down to touch the water.

"It's freezing!" he exclaimed.

"Lets go!" screamed Sebastian. Without hesitation, he ran and then cannonballed into the cold water.

Chris and Nick followed, Justin dragging in Robbie after them. Robbie screamed as he hit the water with a splash.

"Stop being a baby, Robbie. You wouldn't want to disappoint Lady Thea, would you..." Day teased. Robbie mumbled, "Shut up". After working up the nerve, he dived into the water headfirst and came out shivering. "You know what..." he said, slowly walking out, "Maybe I'll sit this one out..."

"Wimp!" yelled Day.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you... asked Eli. Day grinned and nodded, getting comfortable in her chair.. Out of nowhere, a big splash of water landed on her.

"Who did that!" she demanded, Chris ducking under the water after she realised it was him.

"I swear I will kick your ass in training once I'm up and this time, I won't stop at the pressure points. I'll make sure you won't fight for another week." she yelled at Chris. Everyone laughed as his eyes widened. "Come on! It's just a splash!" he argued.

"And I'm injured." Day replied.

"You're fine. You really should come in you know." Sebastian butted in, getting out of the water and walking up to her slowly.

"Get. Away. From. Me. I'm warning you." Day said menacingly as he got closer. Sebastian just grinned and began dragging her chair towards the water. Shocked, Day sprang of the moving chair and hit the ground with a thud. Seb immediately stopped and backed away, eyes wide. "I'm so sorry Day! I didn't mean to-" he started. But Day glared at him, picked up the chair and swung it at him. Seb dodged the incoming chair and it splashed into the water. For a second, everyone was silent but suddenly, Chris burst into laughter.

"What a temper! I feel bad for your future girlfriends." he said. "Girlfriends?" Day's voice came out as a mixture of a cough, choke and laugh. "I mean, why 'girlfriends'? Why plural?" she asked after calming herself down down. Chris shrugged. "I guess you seem like the kind of guy who would attract a lot of girls." he said. Day shook her head, I guess I don't need to be worried about him realising I'm a girl...

"I can totally see that. Girls chase Day already. Imagine if he starts to date them..." Eli added, sitting in his chair.

"Shut up." replied Day, slowly blushing. Completely oblivious to the actual reason Day was blushing, Robbie added, "Now who's got girl problems?"

"God, help me..." muttered Day under her breath. Why in the world did I even do this? Why do I put up with these boys? she asked herself, even though she knew she didn't 'put up with them', but rather enjoyed their company.

"Well, anyways. I'm going. Bye. See you, Eli." Day said, walking out of the garden and leaving her friends hanging. She didn't want to be a part of that conversation anymore and didn't hesitate in leaving, glad that her leg was almost healed, making her able to walk.

Eli followed Day, dropping her off to her corridor and then walking up to his own room. The rest of the guys stayed in the water for a while and then went their separate ways.

--+--

Thank you so much for 1K reads! I'm so so so so happy! All of you readers are amazing!!! I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!