--linh song--

The whole group watched as Dex and Fitz swam back to the yacht.

The original plan was for them to levitate back, since the boat wasn't too far away from the docks and according to Sophie, Dex's levitation skills were strong enough to carry them both if he was determined enough. But the sun was scalding hot by now and Keefe yelled from the boat that he dared them to swim back.

When they reached the point where they were behind the boat, they climbed the iron ladder up to the deck of the yacht, Fitz first, then Dex, who was careful not to drop the elixirs he was levitating. They smiled at each other when Dex's feet touched the polished wooden deck and connected their lips together. Every one of us cheered for them, and out of the corner of my eye I saw one of the gnomes give another a pouch of lusters. I even saw Tam crack a smile.

"We're dating!" Dex announced, grinning wider than perhaps I've ever seen him. The boat erupted into cheers once again.

I smiled at Fitz once I caught his eye, and he smiled back at me, then returned his attention to Dex. The message was clear, though. I was truly happy for him.

"Attaboy, Fitzy!" Keefe cheered, slapping Fitz on the back violently, but with an easygoing grin. Tam was somewhere in the back, smiling softly at Keefe's teasing. The smile disappeared quickly, but not fast enough for me to tap on Marella's shoulder- even the simplest touch of our skin gave me goosebumps, honestly- and point to Tam's smile. Marella snickered.

Sophie engulfed Dex in a hug. "Happy for you," I heard her say fiercely, and I thought I could see tears of joy welling up in Dex's eyes. He gently set down the hair potions at Marella's feet and went back to hugging Sophie.

Once everyone calmed down, everyone looked at me and Marella expectantly. "Are you gonna drink the potions?" Dex asked with amusement. "I've worked hard on those. By the way, you still have the pay up."

"Alright, alright, calm down," Marella said with a grin. "I'll give you the money later. But now, which one should I try?" She turned her head to me and my heartbeat picked up ever so slightly at the way her eye contact grazed my skin, like my fingertips were hovering over a warm tub of water.

"How about the blue?" I offered, handing her a light blue- almost white- elixir, cold to the touch. She took it, brushing her fingers against mine and I shivered- and probably not just from the potion bottle. She downed the bottle within a few gulps and turned to Dex.

"When's it gonna kick in?"

"Few minutes," Dex answered, holding Fitz's hand in his. "Five at most?"

"Should we keep playing?" Marella asked. Everyone nodded and climbed back into the hot tub. "My turn, right?" she said with a grin.

"Uh, alright, let's go with..." Marella's eyes landed on Keefe.

Keefe sighed in defeat, though paired with a playful smile on his lips. "Sure, sure, I deserve it. Dare."

"Pick the person you would most likely pick to help you kick your dad in the balls."

Fitz snickered.

"Oh god, that's a difficult one. I wouldn't mind Sophie, Biana, Dex, or Fitz. But I'm gonna go with Tam, since he might loathe Assius even more than me." Keefe shot Dex a wicked grin. "Remember when you came over and actually did that?"

"I'm sorry, you did what now?" Fitz shrieked. Dex laughed sheepishly.

"I got a bit pissed. He started talking trash about my family and y'know...it just went downhill from there."

"Yeah, downhill. No kidding," Marella snorted as Fitz gave Dex a kiss on the cheek as a reward. Dex's cheeks turned pink.

"A little bit pissed?" Biana added. "Kind of an understatement, don't ya think?" Dex shrugged.

"I'd kill to do that myself," Tam said to Dex. "Lucky much?"

"Too bad Keefe didn't record it," Dex said. "That would've gone done in Sencen history. Dizznee history too."

Keefe snorted. "As if my dad would let that video get anywhere but the bottom of a river. Which, coincidentally, is where he should go himself."

"His balls, too," Tam added. Keefe cracked up. Just then, Marella let out a squeak as her hair turned a frosty white.

Keefe whistled. "Not bad, Mels."

Marella glared. "Don't call me that." Her gaze softened as she examined her hair. "You're not wrong, though," she said with a cocky grin. "I do look pretty darn hot."

She wasn't wrong.

I looked at her again. No, she definitely wasn't wrong...

Shoot. I'm staring now.

I tore my gaze away as fast as possible, blushing bright red. I don't think she noticed, did she?

"It's my turn, right?" Keefe said, interrupting my train of thought. "Let's do...oh, Marella hasn't been asked, right?"

Marella groaned. "Dare."

Keefe thought for a moment. "Oh, I know! Dunk someone in the hot tub!"

Marella smiled evilly. "This'll be fun. Everyone, close your eyes."

I closed my eyes. A loud splash made me open them to see Dex in the middle of the hot tub, coughing up water. Fitz gently dragged him back to the edge where they were sitting, eyes furrowed with concern.

"Rude much?" Dex said between coughing fits, but he was grinning from ear to ear.

"Alright, alright, stop complaining," Marella teased. Her eyes landed on Sophie and she grinned. "Oh, Sophie. Sweet, sweet, innocent little Sophie."

"Sophie isn't that innocent," Keefe retorted with a smirk. "Dex and Linh are the real innocent ones." He paused. "Okay, maybe just Linh. Dex scares me sometimes."

Oh, come on. I wasn't that innocent either!

"Marella, why are you looking at me like that?" Sophie asked, twiddling her thumbs.

"Truth or dare?"

"I'll take...dare, I guess." Sophie cowered before Marella's intimidating gaze, looking anywhere but Biana on her right.

"Take Biana to your room. You have twenty minutes. Have fun!" Marella cackled the last part as Sophie blushed bright pink and scurried to her bedroom, Biana close behind.