"You sure this will work?" said Julia shifting from one foot to the other in a kind of uneasy way. 

"It's foolproof," said Asher. "Because of the vow, they won't be able to help but to fool you gals down to the swimming hole."

"The vow?" asked Stella, distracted from straightening her bikini top. "What vow?"

"Oh.." said Ash, realizing his mistake. "The ah... " he wasn't sure if he should tell them. It seemed blasphemous... positively sacrilegious. And yet.. he never signed the vow. He wasn't required to keep the secret. "Oh, you didn't know about their Chastity vow?"

"No way!" said Maddie, who unlike the others, who were in bathing suits, was dressed in her normal tank top and yoga pants.

"Holy pretzels!" said Mary.

"Rumor has it they did it to win your favor," said Ash. "Just imagine it.. no wanking, and no self-indulgence. Gone nearly two weeks now!"

"Matt did that?" said Julia.

"You heard it here first!" said Asher, rather liking so much attention from the ladies.

"They won't be able to resist following you dressed like that. Matt and Wes at least. They're the only ones left in the vow," said Ash. The others nodded their understanding.

"I'll go in, and tell them Maddie went with them. If we time it right, they'll just see the last of you heading into the trees. Nathan will stay behind though. He just opened a new bag of potato chips, so he's situated for at least another 2 hours."

"Ok," said Julia, who was feeling anxious, but rather excited also.

"And then Maddie will come out as if wanting to say morning to me, and she'll kiss me on the cheek... ridding me of the bet I'm stuck in. And then, since Matt's gone, we can try to get into the cabinet to retrieve the diary."

"You think it's in there?" asked Maddie.

"I'm 99% certain. I found the culprit who... um wishes to remain anonymous.. but who feels tremendous guilt for his action, and who um.. couldn't read it, and in a pinch put it in the safest place he could think of."

"mh.." said Stella.

"Mmhm.." said Julia.

"Well at least Wes didn't read it, Maddie," said Mary.

"Count our blessings for sure," said Ash. "With that said... I think it's time."

"Are you ready?" Stella said to Maddie.

"I... I think so," said Maddie. She'd never kissed anyone before. It was natural to feel nervous. "It's only on the cheek.."

"Alright then," said Asher. "Places then!"

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