CHAPTER 18

KATHERINE. “Guess who made the swim team, bitches,” Josie stated, doing a little dance as she and Lenore made their way back to us and Priyanka walked past her to wrap Lenore in a bear hug. “You did it, baby,” Priyanka cooed. “I’m so proud of you.” “I'm wet,” Lenore replied, hugging her back. “That's what she said.” Lenore laughed at that while Josie walked back to them and waved in front of Priyanka's face to get her attention. “I did it too,” Josie cut in and when Priyanka didn't respond, she turned to face me and pouted. “Kath, Pri doesn’t love me.” I knew she was just kidding but the expression on her face was so adorable that I couldn't help but hug her. “It’s okay. I love you.” “Aww.” A bright smile was on her face when she pulled away. “I love you too.” That elicited a smile from me too because I loved the fact that I was getting closer to them. “Drunkards,” Priyanka stated and I groaned at the reminder. Some guys still called me ‘Silver Eyes’ whenever I walked past them but thankfully, it was gradually dying down. “It was just one time,” I replied and she smirked before pulling Josie in for a hug too. “I’m proud of you too. I never doubted you for two seconds.” Josie's smile faltered at that and she shot Priyanka a look she couldn't see. “...Really?” she asked and Priyanka's shoulders shook with laughter before Josie smacked her back. After they pulled away from each other, Josie scrunched her face up a bit. “I kinda suck though. Fourth place? Geez. I won’t be participating in the inter-school competition if I don’t get my game up.” I raised my brow. “Inter-school competition?” “With Staerdale and Dumein. It’s taking place this semester.” “With how well you did during the scavenger club tryouts, you’re definitely gonna be one of the people representing the club,” Priyanka added and I tilted my head to the side, wondering what the competition would be like. “You’ll definitely be participating too.” She had been the third person with the most flags after me and unlike me, she had actually ‘worked’ hard to get them. “Oh, no. Scavenger hunt competitions always get quite violent so I’m not interested.” “And you think I’d be interested?” I replied, shooting her an incredulous look, and she responded with a grin before throwing her arms around Josie's and Lenore's shoulders. “And my babies are definitely going to be representing the swim team.” Josie mock gasped and lifted a hand to her mouth while staring at Priyanka. “You believe in me?” she asked as Priyanka furrowed her brows like she was thinking of something. “My brother will be representing Dumein’s swim club,” she muttered absentmindedly before her eyes lit up like she'd just thought of something brilliant. “Can you guys kill him while you’re in the pool?” “Not interested,” Josie and Lenore said in unison, still drying off with their towel. “Damn it.” “What's the time?” Lenore asked and I pulled my phone out of my pocket to check. “Ten thirty-five.” “We have to be at the booth by eleven,” she said to Priyanka and Priyanka groaned. “Do we have to?” “We promised Hunter.” My ears perked up at that and Hunter's face flashed through my mind before a small smile crept onto my face. I was looking forward to seeing him again. “But Theo's not going,” Priyanka said, reminding me that Theo was still in this room. He had gotten into the pool minutes ago and now, as I glanced at the water which some people were currently doing laps in, I frowned because I hadn't seen him break the surface since then. ‘Is he still in there?’ “Did he tell you that?” Lenore said just before said boy finally broke the surface. ‘Oh… Wow, he has strong lungs.’ “He's in the pool,” I said and Lenore frowned before glancing over her shoulder. “Theo,” she called out just as he wanted to go back under and he paused while she walked over to him. He then swam over to the edge and as he grabbed it, his gaze locked onto mine, making me avert my eyes immediately. “Are you still joining CMES?” Priyanka asked Josie and the corner of Josie's mouth tugged up. “Aww, I will since you want me to.” A line appeared between Priyanka's brows. “I just asked. Besides, you said we were lame for helping the guys with the booth.” “You are! What are you guys going to say to freshmen? ‘Guess who's back to save the world again?’ or ‘Who ya gonna call?’” I cocked my head to the side. “Those are from Ghostbusters.” “Yeah, I know.” Priyanka rolled her eyes before focusing her attention on me. “What about you, Katherine? Do you know the second club you'll be joining or you'll decide when you get to the quad?” “Are you in the CMES club too?” I asked her and she shook her head sideways. “I'm not interested in going after ghosts. Especially in Blackwood. At least half of them are malevolent.” “Oh. I'll decide when we get to the quad then,” I muttered before turning to Josie as I remembered that she said she was going to join the CMES the day I met her. “You said you were going to join the CMES.” “I am,” she replied before adding with a wink, “In secret.” “You're so fickle.” “Josie,” Lenore called out and we glanced at her. She was crouched down next to the edge of the pool in front of Theo. “Let's go change.” “Be right back,” Josie stated before hurrying off. “Be right back too,” Priyanka added, going after them. “Where are you going?” “I need to talk to Lenore.” With that, she ran to catch up with them. I thought about going back to sit at the stands to wait for her, but then I realized I could follow them into the girls changing room and decided to do that instead. As I began to head after them, they turned into the hallway that led into the changing room and I picked up my pace. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Poppy and her friend step out of the stands and her face contorted when her gaze landed on me. The both of them then decided to take up as much space as they could on the path and since I didn't want to walk through the space between them, I decided to walk right by the edge of the pool. In hindsight, that wasn't a good idea. As I walked past Poppy, she suddenly shouldered me hard and a shriek escaped me as everything tilted. I fell. My arms flailed, trying to find something to grab onto, but all I caught was air before slamming into the water. The shock stole the air I had in my lungs and I tried to fight the water off but there was no use. My mouth opened as if to scream and water rushed in as I kept getting sucked in. ‘Oh my God… Was I going to drown?’ Just as that thought popped into my mind, an arm wrapped around my waist and I clung to the body the arm was attached to as they began to pull me up. When we finally broke the surface, I spluttered water out and breathed in and out so fast it stung my lungs before my gaze landed on the person I was tightly holding onto. Theo.