--sophie foster--

Tam and Keefe seemed a little too confident for my liking, but Biana didn't seem worried.

She followed my gaze to the other team on their float- who were whispering and smirking at us when they thought we weren't looking- and rested her hand on my shoulder. A shower of goosebumps traveled across my skin at the warmth of her touch.

"They're no match for us," Biana reassured me.

I laughed. "I think you might've jinxed us, Bi."

"Jinxes pale in comparison to us as well," she declared. Her arrogant grin softened. "Whatever happens, we'll do it together, right?"

"Together." Our soft smiles lingered between us like an autumn breeze; for a second, I forgot the existence of all our friends. The whole world, even. The existence of space and time, of our bodies themselves. Just two souls who didn't know what they were up against, but were willing to see for themselves.

"Ready?" I asked Biana, grabbing ahold of reality and gripping tightly until the pool and the voices of the people around us reappeared in the background. She nodded.

"Ready, set...go!" Fitz announced. I shot a burst of water at Keefe- wait, no, the spot where he was supposed to be. Tam pushed him in. But why? A pale figure swam through the ripples, grabbing our float and toppling it over. I grabbed ahold of Biana just as it flipped upside down, tumbling into the water with her. I felt smooth skin and heard the distant cheers and hollers of people above. And my lung- they needed to breathe. I needed to breathe.

I erupted from the surface of the water with a gasp, silky dark hair tangled in my arms. Biana wheezed for air, gripping the poolside and taking in as much air as her lungs could. A bony, freckled arm heaved me and Biana to a bench on the side of the pool.

"And the winners are...Keefe and Tam!" Fitz congratulated the two boys while Dex handed me a glass of lemon water. Marella cheered so loud my ears started to hurt.

"You okay?" he asked me, draping a towel over my shoulders. I nodded.

"Yeah, just winded," I chuckled. "Thanks. Biana, do you want a drink?" Biana nodded gratefully and I stood up, only to be pushed back down.

"Your legs look like they're panicking at the disco," Dex told me. "You're not going anywhere. Biana, do you want the rest of my milkshake?"

She narrowed her eyes. "What flavor is it?"

Dex smiled sheepishly. "Pickle-"

"Nope. Get me a water or something." Dex mumbled something incoherent but most likely not the friendliest as he stalked off to the kitchen.

"You okay, Soph?" Fitz sat down next to me, resting his elbows on the table. "You don't look so good."

"Winded," I explained, taking a sip of my lemon water. "What are we doing now?"

"Well, we were gonna let the winning teams decide," Fitz said, making Biana groan.

"Wow, Fitzy. A subtle reminder that we lost. Thanks," she complained, but there was a glint of amusement that told me she wasn't that mad.

"Well I'm sorry if Sophie just asked me a question and I responded like a human being," Fitz fired back. "What would you like to do, your Royal Highness?"

"Hot tub!" Biana squealed. Wait, we have a HOT TUB?

"I think Keefe and Marella are already planning on that." Fitz pointed at the two blondes on the other side of the pool who were both grinning madly. At that moment, Dex came back with a glass of a mysterious lime green drink.

"What's this?" Biana asked him. Dex smiled.

"It's this delicious green juice that tastes like waffles," he explained as Biana took a sip. Her eyes widened and she spat her drink on the floor. Dex cackled evilly.

"Pickle...juice...Biana!" he managed to say between hollers of laughter. Fitz and I snickered while Biana looked like she was ready to commit a murder.

"Dizznee, you take that back right fucking now," Biana growled before pouncing on Dex. Dex sprinted away, cackling some more as Biana chased him across the pool. Dex jumped in to get away from her, Biana following him. Fitz and I just looked at each other with deadpan looks. Marella started recording while Linh looked around the pool nervously. Keefe cheered and Tam had his usual emotionless look on his face.

Dex climbed back out of the pool, still laughing, and sat down on a bench. Biana glared at him with a look that could've withered flowers.

"You're a disgusting human being," she snarled. Dex was still laughing.

"Should we go to the hot tub now?" Keefe and Marella said at the same time. Everyone except Biana and Dex mumured their approval of the plan.

Fitz sighed. "Alright, follow me if you're not mentally deranged." Dex perked up.

"No, wait! We'll come!" he called out. Biana still looked furious, but she reluctantly nodded. She took the lead of the group, leading everyone up a staircase and into a pristine room. In the middle of the wooden floor was a huge tub of bubbling water.

"Here's the hot tub," Biana said, an easygoing smile already replacing her fuming frown. "Make yourself comfortable."