A Pool Day

Ashley and Hannah’s father, Damon Woodsen, was a little less accepting than his wife about having a boy over. He found himself nodding off and figured he needed to go check on the teens. When he got downstairs, he flipped on the light and saw the two teens representing more of a human pretzel than two separate people. He did have great admiration for the boy and would give his blessing to him for his youngest daughter. Hell, he’d give him his blessing for his oldest but would never want to put that on him. He also believes strongly in morals and honor and doesn’t believe it’s right for him to stay the night. Sometimes he jokingly wishes he was given Peter and Zack as kids instead with how good and easy they would be to raise. He knew this was only a joke as he cares for his daughters deeply and only wants the best for them. That doesn’t mean that they don’t both terrify him at times. He gently shook the boy until he somewhat woke up and squinted at Damon. “I’ll take her now son. You better get home before your parents get worried.” Zack rubbed his eyes before finally taking in the words, still groggy and half slurring. At first the loving boy was **** to let go of the girl he cared so much for before releasing when he recognized her father.

“O Ok Mr. Woodsen. She was a bit upset and I didn’t want to leave her.” Damon nodded with a soft smile and patted him on the head. He was always so impressed by how good of a young man Zack was but mostly for how much he protected his baby girl. Zack released her as Damon scooped her from his arms to carry her upstairs. It’s a good thing she’s as petite as she is, or this wouldn’t be an easy task. With the weight of Ashley lifted off of him, he strangely felt empty without having her in his arms. He shook his head trying to wake up and panicked a bit as he saw it was nearly 1 A.M. That makes twice in the past week that he broke curfew without checking in. His parents are going to kill him. He got up from the couch and headed out the front door to his car. He took a moment before starting it and let out a breath as he thought about everything. Just having her in his arms again was everything. Ashley woke in the middle of the night in a panic as she felt so exposed from no longer being wrapped up by Zack. She had to try and figure out if it was all a dream or not, before nodding back off.

Zack walked in the house nervously and tried to be silent as he did. He noticed Hannah on one couch and Peter on the other. Neither stirred and he thought he was doing well until he heard a voice behind him. “Damn Zacky, you must have quite the stamina. I may have to do some performance tests.” Zach jumped at first when hearing Hannah’s voice. More worn out mentally and physically than feeling daring he quipped back without his normal nervousness tripping him up.

“This isn’t real Hannah you’re just dreaming of me like usual. Thanks for keeping it PG for once.” He didn’t even stop to see her reaction as he all but **** himself towards the basement stairs. The older girl sat up a little with a grin on her face as the daring guy spoke to her that way. ‘Ashley better act quick or he’s free game. I’ll change that boy’s life.’

Before making it to his destination, he ran into Daniel near the kitchen. He groaned as he didn’t feel like getting into it and just wanted to go back to sleep. Daniel spoke up as he saw Zack’s confused, worried expression. “Relax Zack your sister covered for you, and we know you were just helping Ashley. Your mom verified the story with Sarah that you had fallen asleep. We still want to be updated. Now go get some sleep.” He smiled and hugged his son before now finally going to bed himself.

Zack woke up the next morning feeling more tired now than when he went to sleep. He barely knows where he’s at as he didn’t hardly remember driving home. He opened his phone to a simple text from Ashley ‘Thank you.’ He smiled and sent a simple answer ‘Anytime. No questions asked.’ He did a little stretch and sat up in his bed. He grabbed his stuff and headed to the bathroom for a shower. As he groggily went to walk in, a towel clad Hannah was walking out. Zack nearly fell over at the site of the gorgeous woman in nothing but a towel with her still damp skin. Hannah noticed that he didn’t seem nearly as in the zone as the night before and decided to even the score. “What’s wrong Zacky, did you forget your towel. Silly boy, tsk tsk. Do you want this one?” The taunting blonde said giving the towel she was wearing a slight tug as she teasingly acted like she was taking it off. Zack was awake now as his eyes bulged and that wasn’t the only thing that bulged. He was at a loss of words before he could only shake his head and turn back to his room for his towel. “Poor Zacky, now you forgot the lotion.” She continued to tease as he slammed his door. Satisfied, Hannah walked to Taylor’s room to change.

The Bishop family was finally around the breakfast table with their two extra guests, Peter and Hannah. Daniel actually took the cooking duties this morning as he made them all made to order omelets, bacon, and biscuits and gravy. If the Bishop couple wasn’t careful, they’d never get rid of the college kids cooking this well. Everyone scarfed it up and the out of focus Zack eventually cleaned his plate, although taking a little longer than usual. Monica was hoping that it was the exhaustion and that he wasn’t slipping back to like before. “So, what are you all going to do on this hot, sunny day?”

Zack was the first to answer in his haze, “Go back to bed.” Monica gave a glare at the resident smart-ass but could tell he was exhausted.

“Keep dreaming Zacky. (Of me)” Hannah said the last part under her breath that only Taylor and Zack picked up on. “We’re going to the pool. All four of us!” Hannah exclaimed. At the time you could hear the audible thump of Zack’s head hitting the table getting a couple snickers and a head shake from his mother. Daniel being one of the ones that couldn’t help but snicker and simply shrugged his shoulders at his wife as she shot him the classic ‘really?’ look.

Zack moved at a slug’s pace as he made his way back down to the living room where the three older kids were waiting. He hoped to rest up before his date with Scarlett. Not be **** to be in close proximity with a bikini clad Hannah all day. What he didn’t know is that the older sisters happen to invite Ashley, possibly forgetting to tell her that Zack would be there as well. What could go wrong? That quickly turned into an invite to Heather and begrudgingly Victoria. Ashley figured she couldn’t be mad at her forever. Zach grabbed a book off the counter to the groans of Hannah or Taylor. “Your ass is getting in the water even if I have to throw you myself!” Hannah threatened. With that they made their way out the door.

Zach wasn’t the only one running on pure exhaustion. Ashley was sleeping soundly until Zach was taken from her. At that point, she twisted and turned all night trying to get even a fraction of that comfort. Unfortunately for her, she was also given little choice on going. She dressed up in her new baby blue and white striped bikini that showed a good amount of skin but also looking fashionable. She waited laid out on the couch until she heard the honk of Heather’s car. She **** herself out there and prepared to go get Victoria, scared that those two would have killed each other if she wasn’t with them to intervene. “Wow you look like shit.” Heather bluntly announced while tipping her designer sunglasses to look her over. Ashley slowly turned to her with a face of stone and a prominent middle finger before reclining her seat. “So, I’m guessing it wasn’t the good kind of not sleeping?” Heather teased but saw her flinch while her cheeks turned pink. “No fucking way! Look at you slutting it up. With whom?”

“Look nothing happened. Hannah **** me out into some bullshit and I had Zack come get me and take me home. We fell asleep on the couch and that is all you are getting.” Ashley snapped back in a serious tone meaning business. Heather couldn’t help but smile on the inside. She has never been invested in anyone else’s relationship before. Hell, most of the time she isn’t interested in her own. For some strange reason she was pulling for these two. She wanted to ask more but could tell that Ashley had shut down. She focused on the rest of the drive as they pulled up to Victoria’s house. Victoria was wearing a stunning emerald, green one piece that had deep slits in the side showing some skin with a plummeting neckline that showed a good amount of cleavage. It was a little daring for her, but she figured it was just the girls so what’s it hurt. She had a white cover on over it. She hopped in the back of Heather’s G-Wagon which was one of multiple cars the young 18-year-old owned. Victoria gave them both a nervous smile, excited that they invited her. The three are typically so close and it’s been hard being away from them. That by no means that she thinks she’s done anything wrong but figured it was better to have her friends back then push the issue right now. The girls are mostly cordial and quiet as they drive with Ashley mostly just staring out the window. They pull up and hop out just in time to see Taylor and Hannah setting their towels up and head that way to join them. After all of the girls hug and greet each other, the joining three start setting up as well. Just at that moment a grumpy Zack and an entertained Peter who was laughing at his tired misery walk out of the locker room to join them. Zack stops in his tracks and the older girls catch eyes with him wondering if this is going to blow up in their faces or not. Ashley sees the worried expressions and turns to see what they are staring at. Ashley nearly went into shock as she dropped her towel. She instantly shot daggers at her sister who just gave her a whoops look and then to Taylor who guiltily looked away. She turned back to Zack with her squinted eyes glaring, wondering if he was in on it to. His panicked and shocked expression quickly told her that he must have been tricked as well. “Locker room NOW!” Ashley shouted at Hannah and Taylor. Zack turned wanting to flee but now realizing the reason why they wouldn’t let him drive. Shit he’s trapped he thought. Heather seemed a little confused by the reaction if she was just sleeping with the guy the night before. She could only roll her eyes trying to keep up with all this drama. ‘Damn teenagers.’ She thought. Victoria was as clueless as can be but instantly dropped into her reporter mode as if some breaking news story is happening in front of her. The first thing that she conducted was that Peter Zander was still super attractive and she blushed a bit at the bathing suit she chose. Ashley now had the guilty older sisters cornered as she paced with her fists clinched. Thinking about what to say.

Zack seemed more panicked than mad or upset. He looked up at Peter to figure out how he was setup. “Honestly buddy I’m as surprised as you are. They didn’t tell me anything about it I promise. Probably because I wouldn’t have gone with it. I can run out and snag your sister’s keys to get you out of here if that’s what you think you need.” Zack put his hands on his head and paced back and forth. They can’t dodge each other for ever and reminded himself that it’s been her dodging him not the other way around. If he takes off now, then he’ll look like a coward. It’s strange how they could be so close last night but today feels like restarting all over again.

“I appreciate it, but I can handle this. It’s time to get it over with it whatever that is. Just promise me when the time is right, you’ll help me get Tay and Hannah back.” Zack said with a slightly mischievous smile. Peter smiled back and gulped knowing that years of reading mystery books has made Zack a bit of a master strategist. This may be a war that he doesn’t want to be a part of.

“How the hell can you to do this to me? You feed me all that bullshit last night and now take it into your own hands to **** us together. How do you know this isn’t going to just make it worse?” Ashley continued to unload on the older two.

Taylor sheepishly spoke up, “We are here for you, but you can’t **** yourself forever. I know my brother. He’ll hear you out and you have the support of us plus your best friends to do it in your own time.”

“And it doesn’t hurt that you’re wearing a smoking hot bikini.” Hannah quipped before the expected elbow from Taylor. “Ha blocked it this time! Ow!” just as Taylor’s foot caught her shin. Ashley was still fuming but trusted Taylor did have her back. She wasn’t always as sure about Hannah. She took a deep breath and saw that the guys had already set up with Zack laying on the far opposite side of her. It caused her to panic a bit when in reality Zach was trying to be helpful and give her space. The tension was too much, and Heather decided shed be the first one to jump in the pool. She took off her black cover up revealed a sexy black and gold bikini that showed off every curve. She did a perfect dive into the water.

“I give it a 10!” Hannah said with a wolf whistle. “And the dive gets a 9.5 too!” She shouted helping break more of the tension getting a few giggles and a wink back from Heather. Victoria was next up but went with the safer nose hold pencil dive. Not that it could make her look any less sexy. Peter was burning up and ready to cool down much to a pleased Victoria. He decided to be a bit of a showoff and did a front flip into the water getting some soft golf claps and full-on claps from Vicky. He hoped it might spark a trick competition in Zack like they’ve done for years. For now, Zack looks content with his book that he truthfully could barely read at the moment. As they entered the pool one by one Ashley and Zack were getting nervous of being left by themselves. Hannah sprung up next with her bright red two piece barely containing her amazing figure. She decided to use some of her previous cheerleading skills and give the boys a show as she does a flawless toe touch and lands right in front of Peter splashing him. Taylor sighed and popped up to go in with her classic dive. Before she can, Ashley comes darting by her doing a cannon ball with probably the smallest splash in cannon ball history. Taylor readjusts and does the dive flawlessly. This left one last lone wolf up on the deck, pretending to read a book. Hannah was having no such party poopers and threatened to drown him and his book if Zack didn’t get in. Now a few others joined in trying to get him in the water. He finally groaned and dropped his book while flopping his head back momentarily. He then mustered what little energy he had and stood up walking to the pool’s edge. The slow walk could have fooled you as he suddenly pulled a masterful back flip getting cheers from the crowd. Even Peter smiled at being bested knowing that he would. Zack can be sneaky athletic when he wants to be. Now the group was loosening up and splashing around. Hannah dunking mostly Peter and Taylor and chasing Ashley around in torment trying to spit water on her. Taylor even got Zack to participate in a splash war for a moment. Victoria seemed to swim around following Peter like a puppy. Hannah finally spoke up cheerfully “Now you all know we couldn’t come out here without having a chicken tournament.”

“We don’t have even numbers and we only have two guys.” Heather complained though she’s not scared of kicking some ass.

“I got Peter!” Victoria nearly yelled out causing a few to exchange some odd looks and Peter himself a bit puzzled. He remembered Victoria from the newspaper and always found her pretty sweet. She’s also gotten pretty damn hot, so you didn’t hear any complaints from him.

“Tay let’s kick ass like we always do.” Taylor nodded at Hannah, figuring they’ve been partners since kids, so she doubted it would change now.

“Ash? How about it, time to reclaim our title like the old days?” Zack asked hopeful, to Ashley who shyly nodded. It’s true it was usually Zack and Ashley vs. Taylor and Hannah all growing up. The older girls dominated for the longest but the younger siblings eventually got pretty good and picked up some tricks of their own.

“Looks like I get the bye. I’ll choose a scrub from the losing team and still win it all.” Heather boasted with confidence. First up was Zack and Ashley vs. Peter and Victoria. Ashley climbed up on his shoulders with ease and squeezed tight trying to focus on the match and not the boy beneath her. Victoria was a bit more dainty but got up none the less. The match started but was pretty much over before it began. Zack has the slight height, weight, and athletic edge over Peter while Ashley has way more ferocity than poor Victoria. She had her off balance in no time and slung her backwards completely off of Peter’s shoulders. Zack and Ashley celebrated momentarily before the awkwardness returned. Next it was Heather and Peter vs Taylor and Hannah. This was a much closer match and Heather and Hannah were nearly a dead match on power and aggressiveness. Eventually experience and determination paid off and Hannah dodged and pulled Heather forward catching her off balance. A little foot play from Taylor may have helped trip Peter up as well securing the win. Taylor’s a sweet girl but rivaled by only Chloe when it comes to competing. Finally, it was the championship and battle of the siblings. The sisters instantly went at it and man did they. Hannah being the big sister couldn’t lose to little Ashley. On Ashley’s side, she is channeling all of her current struggles sprinkled with the times she’s seen Hannah hang all over Zack. If Taylor was cheating before, she’s now deliberately trying to stomp his feet. Zack just laughed staying a step ahead of her. Ashley tried her hardest but eventually was overpowered by Hannah. She took a tumble and let a yell out under water at the defeat. She felt a hand grab hers and pull her back to the surface and found herself eye to eye with Zack. He gave her a smile that seemed much more genuine than the awkward ones of late. It caught her breath for a moment as she tried to smile back.

“Good try Ash. We almost had it.” Not knowing if it was the adrenaline from competing or the good memories of the years of their competitions past, but Zack mustered everything he could to at least genuinely praise her efforts. Ashley could only stare as if she’s seeing her real best friend for the first time since that night. Try as she might, but she feels a lot less like panicking and tucking tail while looking at him more like someone that she just misses. The moment isn’t overly long, but it caused several smiles from the others. They all huddled out of the pool and shared some sandwiches and chips. Everyone was chit chatting and seeming to have a good time. With everyone distracted Ashley slowly walks over to Zack with a deep breath.

“I think I owe you a bit of an explanation. Can we talk?” Zack nearly choked on his sandwich but nodded at the thought that she’s finally ready to talk and hopefully put this week behind them. They walk off around the locker room to a picnic table and sit down. They are a few feet away from each other but didn’t sit on opposite sides, so that’s progress. “First I’m sorry for how I’ve acted this week and everything I’ve put you through.” Zack looks like he wants to reply but she kept going, fearful that she’d lose the courage. “I don’t know what’s going on with me but it’s not fair to you and I know how much it hurt you. I did mean the part about us not even knowing where we are going to be at college and the timing right now isn’t very good.” Zack seemed to sink a bit as Ashley continued. “And that’s what I think we should do but that’s not how I feel. Zack that night was best night of my life, and this past week has been probably the worst. I’ve felt like I’ve been losing my mind, but I think really I just felt like I was losing you and it terrifies me. I think a part of me is being selfish of keeping you at an arm’s length away because I do think I want to be with you, but I can’t afford to lose you as a friend. Even at that I’m scared that if we protect the friendship and you date someone else, I still might lose you. I told you I’m messed up.” She said with an awkward laugh.

Zack without realizing it noticed that he’s now hip to hip with the girl, not even knowing which of the two of them was moving closer. He grabbed her hand and looked at her with an intensity. “Like I told you I’ll do whatever you need to do but regardless of that I will never leave you. You’re stuck with me.” Ashley’s heart skipped as she looked at the kindest person that she knows that she’s lucky to call her best friend. She once again got nervous, “So, I think right now I want to be with you… as friends first. But that doesn’t mean we can’t be more; I just can’t lose you again. I just need time to fix myself and focus a bit on my future and then who knows where we will be. We may get into the same college or at least live in nearby towns. I know it would be selfish to make you wait on me.” Zack couldn’t help but feel like he was shot in the heart but understood where she was coming from and felt like he understood her better this time than last. He gave her the best smile he could and leaned into her putting his arm around her. She cozied up to him as they leaned back against a wall.

Taylor and Hannah waited for the two for over an hour. The rest of the group was packed up and ready to go. They never heard any screaming so there’s at least that. They finally had enough and went to peak on them. Zack was fast asleep on his back on the top of the shaded picnic table. Ashley was asleep, laid tightly next to him with her head on his chest, both looking content. Both girls shared a smile and a wrapped their arm around each other’s shoulder.