The school really did something this year. Throwing a pool party like the wild knights they are. I kind of like the idea. I read the invitation they sent to my email. 

Summer Pool Party

11th and 12th Grade

Come celebrate the beginning of a new school year with us! There will be plenty of barbeque and snacks for everyone.

Got skills to show off? Participate in the swimming competition or the weightlifting competition.

Cant wait to see you there!

When: August Friday 27th All School Day

My friends and I have already decided to go. It was a different way of starting the year. I walked into my closet and looked at my new swimsuit. I bought it yesterday and was quite satisfied with my purchase. It was a blue two piece but the top was more sports bra-ish. Hmmm. I opened up the group chat and texted.

Are yall buying snacks from the school or do we wanna bring our own.

Bellamy popped up as online and read my message.

We could probably just buy enough snacks for the all of us, they responded.

Okay and they probably won't make us pay for the barbeque so we'll be fine on that front. So who's gonna buy the snacks?

Idk

I set down my phone and thought about what snacks I wanted. Mmm. Dorito. Yeah. I looked outside and saw that the sun was starting to set. It was the cooler part of the day and perfect for skateboarding, so I went outside.

. . .

I got back home and checked the chat to see if anyone else had responded. Oh it's Prudence.

If you guys let me know what snacks to buy I can go out and buy them the morning before.

I'm sure Nicky will want those hot Doritos, Amelia responded. I giggled at her keen knowledge of me.

Ugh Amelia you know me so well, I typed, Other than that I think we should get some fruit. Stay skindy.

Elgort, as the vegetarian here are there any specific fruits you request, wrote Bellamy.

I don't really care, he said.

Saffron finally came online.

How about eggplant, he inquired.

Girl that's not a fruit-, I responded

And?

Anyways, Bellamy started, we should just get one of those fruit platters so we can pick and choose. And if we don't eat all of it, there will be plenty of other people that can finish up our scraps.

Great so Doritos and fruit. Anything else? Prudence confirmed.

No. Amelia responded.

~The Next Day~ 

We were sitting at our table during lunch and Amelia mentioned that she still needed to go shopping for a swimsuit.

"Just go naked," I rolled my eyes.

"No. No one needs to see my stupid boobs," she disagreed.

"Shame."

"You should send us pictures of the swimsuits that you're thinking of and we'll chose the best ones," suggested Saffron.

"Yes, like a runway show," Prudence said with excitement.

"I don't thing there's much runway in a Target fitting room," Elgort spoke up.

"Make it a photoshoot then," I countered. 

"Maybe I just won't swim," sighed Amelia.

"Your loss."

. . .

I was in a bathroom stall during passing period when I heard the white girls walk in.

"Oh my god I can't wait to see him weightlift."

"Right, he has such a nice body."

"But you guys are really sleeping on the other one."

"I don't really like him as much. He has a weird personality."

"Yes, but he's literally packing. He sent me a picture."

"No way. It's always the weird ones."

"I'm gonna see if I can talk to him when we go to the pool party. Here let me show you the picture."

That when I stopped listening. I thought about taking part in the weightlifting competition, but I thought against it. Who goes to a pool party to work out anyways? Certainly not me.

~Friday 27th~

The day finally arrived and I sat in my living room wearing my swimsuit with only sweatpants. My bag sat on my lap and was packed packed with a shirt, sunscreen, a towel and water. I was waiting for Amelia and who was officially running late. Typical. I considered texting her to hurry up, but she was obviously driving. 

"I'm outside."

Finally. I slipped my feet in my sandals and opened the door to find her pulled over in front of my house. She was wearing a black t-shirt and shorts.

"No swimsuit?"

"I've got it on underneath."

"Yes, queen shit," I hyped.

"Whatever."

I opened up the group chat and asked

How are those snacks Prudence? They better be getting first class treatment.

Yeah they're fine lol.

Chile they better be. I'm with Amelia rn. How's the rest of the crew?

We're on our way, said Bellamy.

Bellamy and Elgort were getting a ride with Saffron since they lived so close. So everyone was safely on their way. We were getting there early so that we can secure the best spot and set up camp. 

Amelia and I arrived last and walked through the gate with our things. Prudence had gotten there first and had already pulled up 6 pool chairs for each of us. We had a spot on the grass a comfortable distance away from the pool. In the middle was a table with the fruit platter and a glass bowl where the bag of Doritos were dumped.

"Hey guys!" I yelled at them.

I looked at everyone's swim wear. Prudence was wearing a flower patterned one piece, Bellamy had on a t-shirt and shorts, Elgort was wearing a water proof shirt and cargo shorts, Saffron already had his shirt off and had on a tight forest green speedo. Amelia still had yet to reveal her swimsuit. I lay my towel over one of the chairs and ripped off my sweats.

 Slowly people were trickling in and the energy level rose exponentially. People were messing around on the diving board and splashing among themselves. Others were tanning themselves under the rays of the sun and helping teachers set up the grilling and snack stations. 

We ourselves were splashing each other and talking. Eventually, one of the teachers pulled out their megaphone and announced the start of the competitions.

"The swim competition will begin promptly so we need the pool to be cleared. The weightlifting competition will start at the same time in five minutes. Lunch will be served afterwards."

Sighing I hoisted myself out of the pool and went to go sit. As I started to relax with a handful of chips I heard someone call my name.

"Hey, Nicky!" I turned and saw that it was one of the boys the white girls were talking about, "Didn't you do weightlifting way back in 9th grade?"

"Um. Yeah."

"You should come join the competition."

"But I-"

"I heard the winner gets $25 for Chipotle."

Huh. I stood up and sighed. 

"Sounds like a deal," I turned towards the others, "Be right back I guess."

"Have fun," Saffron waved.

I walked over to where the benches were and was blasted with the stench of pure testosterone. 100% stinky man. The things I do for food.

. . . 

I joined back with my friends slightly sweaty. 

"So," I started, "any strong swimmers?"

"Yeah, but it was exactly the people we expected," Amelia replied.

"Huh. Well I'm gonna go rinse up real quick in the shower and then I'll come back for lunch," I grinned.

I marched to the bathroom because it was essential that I didn't miss out on the freshest burgers. I was so focused that I bumped into someone in the doorway to the bathroom.

"Pardon me!" I exclaimed and turned towards her.

I was whipped in the face by blonde hair. Caught off guard I turned to see ran into me. Woah. How are women real? She was blonde and very much taller than me. Her bikini complimented her lightly toned body. 

She blinked at me with her sky blue eyes and waved her hand dismissively, "Oh no that was definitely my fault. I wasn't paying attention to where I was going."

I watched her walk away, but brought myself back remembering that I was in a hurry. I rinsed off under the shower water and speed walked to the barbeque table. Fortunately for me they had just finished up with the newest batch of burgers. I topped my burger and came back to the table in satisfaction. 

I sat down and saw that everyone who wanted food had their own food. 

"That wasn't very quick," said Elgort.

"I had an oopsie with someone in the bathroom," I huffed.

"Got caught staring?" Saffron asked.

"NO!" I exclaimed in dismay. Everyone laughed. It was funny I'll give him that.

As I was enjoying my food I could feel the presence of someone behind me. Is it my imagination? I looked at Amelia and she was looking at me. Maybe not at me. I looked at the ground and, thanks to the sun, saw the shadow of the person who was next to me. I reached for the bowl of Doritos and handed it to the person behind me.

"Want chip?"

OH MY GOD!! The blonde chick from before was sitting next to me and was staring at my body.

"Not a fan of those Doritos," she said. 

I put the chips back and instead picked up the fruit platter.

"Fruit."

She raised an eyebrow as she looked at me and grabbed a few grapes. 

"So," I started, "What brings you to this table?"

She looked away as she slowly consumed her grapes.

"Well...I went to go check out the weightlifting competition. Just out of curiosity. Then I saw you  doing your reps and I thought," she turned and looked me in the eye, "that it was impressive."