She tries but fails

Heather thrashed under the water as she tried to gain her bearings. After a few seconds, a hand came down and helped pull her up. When she had finally recovered, she saw that her savior was also the reason she had been knocked over, and he was grinning from ear to ear.

“You okay, Roomie?” Zack asked.

“Fuck you, traitor! I’m going to get you for that,” Heather exclaimed as she wiped the hair from her face.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Zack smirked.

Chloe, Ashley and Brandon all looked at each other to try to figure out what was occurring before their eyes. Had Zack changed his mind about Victoria? Did Heather have feelings for Zack? Or was this just all aone big game to lighten the mood between the two roommates?

“Guess you’re not undefeated any more, Heather,” Brandon exclaimed.

“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, YOUR NEW LAKE CHAMPIONS, BRANDON AND THE FUTURE MRS. ASHLEY COLE,” Ashley shouted.

“BITE ME! That was sabotage, and it DOESN’T count,” Heather fumed.

“Uh oh! Someone’s a sore loser!” Zack teased.

“I’m going back to the cabin to find my grand-father’s bullwhip. And when I find it, I’m going to hit you with it, Zack. Several times,” the brunette friendly threatened.

“So, you like flogging the Bishop, huh?” the boy jabbed.

Zack's comment brought forth a round of laughter from his friends at the lake, well, except for Heather, who smirked but saw stars at being outclassed by her intended target. Brandon couldn't contain himself, he was laughing so hard, and he stumbled. This caused Ashley to slip off his shoulders and fall into the water.

“I’m gonna slap the shit out of you Zack,” Heather snapped and reached out to grab him as if he was now in a chicken fight.

“Promise?” Zack winked at her.

“Ugh! You are so annoying!” She said as she slapped the water and headed for the ladder.

“That was great, Zack. I've never seen her get riled up like that. I think she may finally have met her match,” Brandon said as he fist-bumped his buddy. He gave Zack a wink of approval as he wrapped his hands around Ashley and moved out into the water with her.

With the chicken fight decided, the group of teens fanned out. Ashley and Brandon moved around to the other side of the dock to enjoy some alone time. Chloe, Heather and Victoria worked on their tans. Kurt did laps in the swimming lanes, and Zack somehow managed to scrounge up an old hockey stick and a tennis ball.

“There he goes, girls, Zack ‘The Great One’ Bishop, winning The Cup again,” Heather joked.

“Heather, there will only ever be one hockey player called ‘The Great One’. To call another ‘The Great One’ would be like calling someone ‘The Second Jesus’. 'Tis blasphemy,” Zack corrected her, as he shot the tennis ball into an old canoe that was serving as his goal. Chloe and Heather rolled their eyes and chuckled at him. If Victoria was amused, she didn't show it.

Now Zack wasn't what most people considered to be a jock. He was more of a true athlete. He treated the kids who didn't play sports the same as those who did. He helped those who weren't as good as he was. He worked hard for the grades he got and he supported all of the other teams and clubs, especially the ones his friends were a part of. He was a two sport athlete, playing right field for the baseball team, and both wing and defense for the hockey team. Zack loved baseball, but he knew that it wasn't going to take him anywhere, so hockey became his passion early on. He had set the school record for points and assists in his sophomore year, surpassed the county record his junior year, and was able to take the state record with two games to spare as he led the team to the state title this past winter. Come the fall, he would be a walk-on at Notre Dame.