Down at the lake

Chloe was sitting in the shade, wearing loose clothes and a hat for maximum protection and comfort. She was paging through a guide to local wildlife compiled by the park district around Silver Lake, looking through what birds would be likely present this month.

Closer toward the lake, Victoria and Madison were stretched out on towels, the pale Victoria in partial shade, and Madison, a brunette with a good start on her tan already, lying in the sun.

Brandon and Ashley were in the water, laughing and splashing at each other.

Lisa was on the shore, dipping a toe in, looking nowhere in particular. Her bright aqua-blue suit contrasted well with her golden skin.

Chloe squinted at the fuzzy picture of a bird in the guide. Was that the thing she'd seen on top of the cabin when they arrived? "Huh," she said to herself, frowning. Maybe Gavin could look up a picture for her. "Hmm, the one I saw..."

A big splash sounded from the lake. A few pairs of wet hands applauded. Chloe looked up.

"Whoo-hoo!" Kurt's voice rang out across the water. "Top that!"

"Top that? I couldn't describe it," Brandon said.

"C'mon, live a little, show us what you've got," Kurt said.

"What would I need to show off for?" Brandon said.

"Aw, you're no fun. Hey Zack!" Kurt prompted.

But it was Gavin who climbed up on the floating platform. His waterproof pocket bulged out where his phone was safely sealed away. Gavin stared at his toes, breathing deeply, assessing the rock and sway of the deck. He turned round, heels to the water, bent his knees and launched.

Gavin's body arched up, back, twisted, and hit the water in a smooth dive.

Chloe giggled. So he could still pull it off.

Gavin broke the surface, blinking and blowing.

"What the hell, Westher!" Kurt said. "Where have you been hiding?"

"Oh. Yeah. I was a diver in junior high," Gavin said. "It was too much time, all those practices, I never took it in high school. I stayed in music though, it's good for math."

Zack chuckled, seeing his friend top Kurt's move.

"Dude, you're like a secret agent," Kurt said. "I'm beginning to think we've got an all-star cast. Is Chloe, like secretly Wonder Woman or something?"

"I don't know," Gavin said.

Chloe put a hand over her mouth. Her shoulders shook with laughter.

"I think she is," Kurt said. "I know who's Carmen Sandiego."

Lisa didn't rise to the bait.

Kurt looked around. "Speaking of all-star cast, where's Miss Bossy Pants and the college babes?"

Ashley looked up. "My sister's probably out on the deck sunning herself. But Taylor said she wanted to come down to the lake, so you'd think, well. And, I dunno, you'd think Heather'd be here already. Maybe they were having trouble setting up her bed or something?"

"I wonder if they need a hand or something?" Brandon said.

"Yeah, what d'ya think?" Ashley said, looking at him.

Madison looked up toward her brother, lifting her sunglasses and raising her eyebrows.