"Alright everyone"
Cathalina clapped, alerting everyone as they scrambled about, toward the pool.
"In teams of two quickly, for the competition"
The girls finally had the chance to show off their summer bodies in their DIY beach wear and so did the guys, in their washed-off shorts.
It was clear that most had no grasp on the possibility of a pool and who was to blame? Even Cathalina herself, Nick as well had not considered in the slightest, a moment that would call for swimsuits and pretty bikinis, especially, in their line of work.
Nevertheless, the show must go on.
"What are the rules of the game exactly?" Ron asked.
Estephania stood aside, arm locked in his while she awaited an answer as well.
"Well" Cathalina began "It's a simple game of swimming relay" pause "Each team will personally discuss on who begins the competition, that's the first rule", "The first swimmer must swim over to the side of the pool where I and Nick are AND, must touch the end rim of this side of the pool before turning over to swim back", "As soon as the first swimmer gets back, the partner continues as follows"
A smile crept unto the corners of Cathalina's lips as she watched their consenting shrugs and nods.
"This is about speed and accuracy" she reminded "Yes, there are not dividers in the water but anyone who swims out of lane will be fined off some marks"
Mild groans wafted the air from across the pool where the competitors gathered.
"Anyone who doesn't touch the rims of the pool properly and turns to continued will be fined off some marks as well"
The groans grew louder, leaving Cathalina with a cocky smile before she turned her gaze over to Nick,
"This is gonna be so much fun"
…
Athena sat still, gazing out into the streets as the car drove along.
Somehow all the enthusiasm from before had managed to die down and now they were only left with silence.
She was sure that Yehezkel didn't mind at all the quiet she had become but it bothered her, especially as she knew herself to be somewhat chatty but then again, they weren't heading to any Vip club like she had hoped but rather a more subtle diner, fitting in some way.
The pair strode through a translucent thin glass, metal-rimmed oscillating door and met with an enclosed yet, warmly lit corridor that led to a small reception.
"Evening sir, how can I help?"
"A reservation for Yehezkel and Athena Fionn"
Pause, as the young yet mature looking woman checked about her desk.
A small smile formed on her lips "Right this way" she strode ahead and the pair followed behind before walking passed a door she had opened up for them soon after "Have a lovely evening" she said last, shut the door and all that was left were trailing footsteps, declining in volume with every step receding the door.
Yehezkel drew back a chair and watched as Athena sat before heading over to sit across her.
Two booklets sat flat on the table top just in front of them, a small and silver table bell at the definite center of the table.
Athena watched as Yehezkel casually took up the booklet and began to scour. He noticed.
"Let's eat first, then, we talk"
Exhaling softly, she opened up the booklet and searched before pausing on something that caught her eye.
"Done?"
She nodded and without hesitation, Yehezkel tapped lightly on the bell.
Immediately, two young, tall men stepped into the room and headed separately to the both of them,
"Wonderful evening, what would you like to have?" they spoke in hushed tones as the men leaned downwards in a low bow.
The pair chose their pick and the men left the room, leaving a cold silence.
Yehezkel leaned back in his chair, gazing at his sister,
"You look worried"
She let out a small breath with a faded smile but said nothing.
"…", "I don't think I can have sex properly"
He watched her turn to him, brows wrinkled in peeking worry.
"Anytime I get, um" shyly, he reached for his nape "Let's say sexually active", "I tend to get a nose bleed"
Her worry grew by the end of that statement.
Yehezkel smiled, happy that her gaze had now softened towards him. He knew what he did back in the room and he knew how it made her feel, irrespective he just wanted to give her a little push to trust him more, over any picture Theodore had painted in her mind.
"Have you told mom, or maybe dad about this?"
His brows rose in question, "About my sex life, what for?"
"No, well -I mean" she sighed, gathering her words "I just mean, the nose bleeds"
"Yeah well" pause, "Dad found out I had a nose bleed once but that was way back when I fainted at the family game- "
"At ten?" Athena cut through, now leaning further into the table.
He nodded.
"Oh my God, mom cried so much and dad made me really scared" she paused, like something started to make sense "Did you attempt sex at ten?"
Yehezkel sighed, he couldn't possibly believe his ears and in that moment, the two men from earlier strode in with trolleys and serve them before taking a quick leave.
"A toast" Athena rose her glass of champaign.
He followed along.
"To our time together" pause, "Right here, right now" her happy gaze fell on him and he shot her a content smile before leaning forward to clank their glasses together.
A small sip was enough to warm their dull throats before basking into the wide, round plate of a finely curated diner.
"You better start talking" Athena bit off her fork.
Yehezkel chuckled, amused at how the tables had turned on him, "There's not much to say because you're profoundly wrong"
"How so?" she sipped off her glass.
"It was a mere kiss" he sliced away at his plate.
"HA", "A mere kiss would result to a nose bleed, I'd be a fool to believe such nonsense"
"Then you better be a fool because it's the truth" he ate.
She paused, her face twisting in thought mid chew, "You can't be serious?"
"Bloody serious"
She swallowed "Then when was the second time?"
"You're really curious tonight, aren't you?"
Her gaze grew dim, "We have a lot to tell, don't we?"
Yehezkel threw on a reassuring smile, "We have the whole weekend"
She nodded and leaned forward, "Yes but tonight" she aimed her fork at him "Tonight is your night"
"Scary".
…
The game drew to a close.
Something about the competition that night made it clear to Cathalina that her team was more qualified than she had assumed.
This realization made her feel more confident.
Yehezkel can be reckless for all she knew but her and the team were the best and could withstand whatever test his family had in store and whatever obstacle was to suddenly rise, whenever.
Nick wrote down the results based on timing of speed, accuracy along each lane and any penalty that may have occurred.
To the surprise of both teams, Penny and Paul won by a split second ahead.
Why was it a surprise?
They seemed the least bit interested in winning and weren't at all chatty, unlike Estephania and Ron. Even as the results were made known, Penny and Paul took a mild glance before trailing off into the house leaving no room for further conversations much less celebration.
"I hate them both sometimes" Estephania took up a can of beer stacked to the side on a table.
"Don't get me started" Ron grabbed a can as well.
"I know they're probably just embarrassed and can't handle the attention but come on" she took a sip "Be for real"
"In some way, they fit" Ron shrugged, taking a sip "They should date"
She turned to him "Cheers to that" raising her can, he tapped his lightly against hers "Cheers to that".
A chuckle escaped him as they took large gulps and a few chatty sips. It was really good beer.
Nick watched the bubbly group before finishing his can and tapping Cathalina lightly against the arm,
"I'm off"
She seemed hesitant before nodding "Well its kinda late so", "Sure, night"
"I'll clean up the rest tomorrow" he assured before striding into the house and over to his room.
He couldn't tell when, couldn't tell how but a certain routine -maybe, even a habit of some kind had straddled into his nightlife.
Athena Fionn.
She drew his attention, for no reason whatsoever and no matter he looked at it, Nick couldn't understand it, couldn't understand himself.
The way it all made him feel.