Dear Diary,

Man, this eavesdropping thing pays off...apart from a sore backside, I suppose.

So Tyler is crushing on some poor innocent girl, and my brother is more of a mushy git than I thought...and between me and... well myself, that's saying something.

Now the only question left to be answered is how best to utilize said information.

I guess blackmail would be effective, but I better get some evidence first-

Hold the phone; the kittens are on the prowl!!!

We'll finish this later ;)

~Maddie

ps. Backup arrives tomorrow!!!

I once again found myself creeping along in the wake of Matt and Tyler. I don't think I'll get tired of the view anytime soon though.

At least this time I had the sense to cover my sabotaged hair. The bright blue was hard to hide last time, even with the sugar topping.

I stayed a good fifteen paces behind them as they trenched through the trees, headed toward the swimming hole.

When they arrived a short time later I had to avert my eyes as they stripped most of their clothes. I wanted to keep my innocence, thank you very much...On second thought I think I lost that last month, or maybe that was my conscience. Hum, hard to keep track these days.

Was revenge really this easy? I thought as I picked up the abandoned clothing. I mean come on, how about a challenge? They were just asking for it laying their clothing at my feet like that. What's a girl to do? Twiddle her thumbs and avert her eyes?

With my arms full, I quietly returned to the house. I deposited the clothing in the laundry. (For good reason, I might add.) Well, all their clothing except the undies, which I artistically hung on some branches at the edge of the woods. I didn't want to leave them completely exposed to the elements. I wasn't that cruel... yet.

The boys had been swimming for a while now. Wes wasn't sure what it was, but there was something about skinny-dipping that was somehow invigorating. Granted in Matt's case he retained his socks.

They might as well utilize their last day of privacy before friends start arriving.

He supposed there was still Maddie (how could he forget). But in the unlikely event she happened across them, the water was dark and wouldn't show anything anyway...

"Youhoooo!"

"Speak of the devil," Wes mumbled as he scrambled to hide before she got within view of the lake. He quickly darted to a nearby alcove that was obscured by greenery.

"Hey, Maddie!" Matted called, "Fancy a swim?" Unhelpfully winking toward Wes.

"Not this time. Dad says it's time for dinner. He wants you to come pronto!"

"Alright, tell him I'll be there in a minute."

"He told me not to come back without you," Maddie improvised.

"Alright, just give me a minute, okay?"

"Come on Matt, you're my brother. I've seen you loads of times," Maddie urged.

"You haven't seen me," Wes said unexpectedly from his shelter. He was pleased to see her face turn a bright crimson color.

"Not yet," she called before dashing back the way she'd come.

Wes turned to look at Matt. "She wouldn't would she?"

"Well, I don't know. You're the one that's been perving on her for the last three days, dyed her hair bright blue, and then had the nerve to tease her about it. You tell me."

"And you call those socks lucky?" Wes muttered, but not loud enough for Matt to hear.

"Not sure what you're so upset about. What have you got to hide?" Matt asked.

"I wore briefs. I may as well be starkers."

Matt was more concerned with whether Maddie would feel forgiving enough to leave any clothing at all. But he decided to be optimistic. He reasoned that even if she didn't leave them any clothing he could always loan Wes one of his lucky socks. Granted it wouldn't cover much but at least it'd cover.. something. He'd have to remind Wes again that it's a lucky sock though. Worthy of appreciation and respect.

"Hm," said Matt, coming out of his reverie. Deciding it best not to loan Wes a lucky sock after all. Largely because Wes was already swimming toward the bank in hot pursuit of Maddie. 'What's new', thought Matt. 

'Maybe with two socks, I can double up a bit. I wouldn't want to be cold.', thought Matt.

"I always told you boxers are better," Matt shouted towards Wes. "I'll be comfortably covered."

"Not if I get there first!" said Wes charging out of the shallow water like a stallion from a fantasy story. Droplets of water glistened magically in the late afternoon sunlight.

He stumbled over the embankment though, elegant as ever. Matt winced a bit. 

It took some searching, but Wes still got to the undergarments before Matt, whom he believed had stopped to pick flowers. He was in the clear.

Or so he had thought before he left the shade of the trees...

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