Into the hot tubs.

"We should get going," Jean said. "The others are waiting inside."

"Oh, yeah," Michael said. "Yeah, let's go."

Once again, Jean led Michael deeper into the spa. She pulled open one of the sliding doors, revealing a hallway filled with different bathing chambers. "Each one has its own big hot tub," Jean explained to her little brother. "It's really elegant. Like one of those Korean bathhouses, you know?"

Michael had no idea what she was talking about, but, never wanting to seem uncultured, nodded and continued plodding along silently behind her.

"So we're meeting three people," Jean explained over her shoulder. "My friend Jon, and then Lily and Cassandra. Full disclosure, they say they already started drinking, and they can get a little wild when they're drunk sometimes, so... I guess just prepare yourself." Apparently Jean thought that Michael had never been to a real party before, Michael realized. Of course, she was right, but that didn't mean that the younger Murphy child didn't find it a bit irksome.

"Yeah, sure," Michael said, still a little bit in awe of the spa. While the waiting area had all been cold white tile and harsh white lights, everything inside seemed a lot warmer. The sliding doors were that semi-see-through beige papery material, and the lights were all a soft reddish orange. It was intoxicating. Not far away, Michael could hear the soft sounds of splashing and laughter.

"That's probably them," Jean said. She pointed toward the room at the end of the hall, where it seemed like the sounds were coming from. "They're probably pretty drunk already." She looked like she was a little bit worried, as if her friends were going to jump out and maul Michael the moment he walked through the front doors.

When they arrived at the end of the hall, Jean knocked on the wood next to the sliding door. "It's Jean," she announced. "Can we come in?" She smiled and gave Michael a thumbs up.

"Yeah, come on in!" It was a woman's voice, from the other side of the screen. Jean did as the woman said and opened the door.

The room inside was pretty small, and there was only about a foot of space before the edge of the tub. There were nearly a dozen empty beer bottles discarded around the rim of the hot tub, but the three swimmers were all gathered on the one side, opposite the door. There was one guy, clearly much bigger than Michael with shaggy blonde hair and tan skin, and two girls. The first was a pale brunette, with short hair in a sort of pixie cut style. She was sitting between the guy and the other girl, who, as far as Michael could tell, was an absolutely stacked blonde with her hair up in a high ponytail. Both girls looked like they were wearing the same generic swimsuit as Jean, though it seemed like the blonde was practically bursting out of it. All three of them had a sort of reddish flush to their cheeks, and Jon had a big bottle of vodka in his hand.

"Hey guys," Jean said. "This is my brother, Mike. Mike, this is Jon. That's Lily," she pointed to the short-haired brunette. "And that's Cassandra!"

"Hey Mike," Jon said. "Good to meet you."

"Hey," Lily said with a smile and a wave.