After the crash, Black, Soot, Flame, and Spider became good friends. That didn't mean Black's school situation changed much. Like a hydra, if you chop one of its heads off, two more grow back. Black didn't chop off anyone's head or anything. One bully gone and two more grow back. Holly was the cheer captain and her boyfriend Hawk was a football player like Flame. The difference between before and now was she had friends. They'd stick up for her when they see these things happen. However they didn't always. Black shook the thoughts out of her head. She grabbed her phone and texted Soot, Spider, and Flame, who had moved in with his aunt.

Black: Hey you guys doing anything tonight?

Soot: Not really
Flame: No y
Spider: I guess not

Black: Wanna come over?

Soot: Yes!! Be there in ten
Flame: Yea I'll be there soon
Spider: Sure! Be there in a minute

Black: Bring a bathing suit.

Flame: What y???
Spider: Uh have you lost it? It's the middle of winter!
Soot: Just do it. You'll see

Black laughed at her friends' reactions and closed her phone. Black dug around her closet and found what she was looking for, a black bikini top and denim shorts. She put on a black t-shirt over her bathing suit top. She heard the door bell ring and she ran downstairs. She opened the door and saw Soot, Spider, and Flame standing there. She stepped aside to let them in. "You wouldn't believe the strange looks I got," Flame said. The idiot was only wearing swim trunks. "You didn't have to wear it here!" Black said. Flame's shorts were black with, surprise surprise, flames at the bottom. Soot and Spider had normal clothes on over their swim suits. "Ugh follow me," Black laughed and lead them to the back of her house. She walked down the stone stairs to the pool room. It was fairly spacious with a bathroom, table, large in-ground pool, and hot tub. "Sweet!" Spider grinned. "I told you. The pool has a heater so I can swim and all when it's cold out," Black smiled. The two changed. Soot's bathing suit was a dark gray two piece that tied in the back. Spider's shorts were gray with wire spots at the knees and a spider stitched in the side. Black grabbed two tubes and threw them into the pool. Her and Soot dropped into them as the boys cannon-balled into the pool. "Hey!" Soot laughed as water splashed in her face. The boys swam up behind them and flipped the tubes. "Hey! You ass hole!" Black laughed as she swam up from below the water. She and Soot splashed the boys. "Ah! You put out the flame! I'm dying!" Flame laughed and fell below the surface of the water and Spider dove down with him. They popped back up with the girls on their shoulders. "I challenge thee to a game of Chicken!" Spider laughed. Black tensed, almost choking Flame, before she realized what was going on. "Challenge accepted pheasant!" She laughed back. She leaned forward and faced Flame upside down. "Let's whoop their asses," she grinned. They both staggered forward, slowed by the water. Black and Soot grasped each others arms and pushed each other back. They struggled back and fourth until Spider lost his footing and they both went tumbling down. "No fair! Spider fell!" Soot laughed, spitting water. "Totally fair!" Flame countered. After a few more games, Black and Soot climbed out of the pool and sat on the edge. Then they judged a diving contest between the boys. Black stood up and walked over to the table and Flame picked her up bridal style. "What the hell are you doing?!" She shouted and kicked her feet. "Chill!" Flame laughed and walked over to the pool. "Don't you dare! I'll rip you limb from limb Sparky! No! No no no no no no no! AH!" Flame threw the screaming girl into the pool. She popped back up spitting water. Black glared at him as she climbed out of the pool. "Run," she said simply and they both took of like a bat outta hell. Flame was by far a faster runner but Black was a better strategist. Flame ran past the pool and Black rammed into him hard enough to push him in. Black stumbled in after him and grabbed onto a tube for support as she panted. "No...more...running," she panted. "Deal," Flame laughed.
                    ***
After swimming they ate lunch and Soot and the boys left. Black ran up to her room and changed. She grabbed her book and went to sleep. Tomorrow was her birthday and, for the first time in a long time, she was excited.

Hey wazzup?!
So this is this. The dates of everything will jump around a bit but I will not go backwards so you can have that consultation.
ANY WHO! Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Peace out dudes!
-Bri