whine and dine

i know it took me ten years.

---

Wednesday, 8:20 AM.

It was the first morning of their stay.

Eilythia grew restless and decided to have a swim. She's been awake for forty minutes! She opened her Lacoste bag and pulled out a green, one-piece swimsuit. The front looked like the regular bathing suit, but the back part looked somewhat sophisticated.

This is the important thing, the design, the thin, pale girl said to herself.

She likes it so she shall wear it. She changed in the bathroom and wore her bathrobe.

Before leaving, she looked around the room she and her friends are sharing. Phyre was lying on her stomach, still asleep with Bradley- famous for being a not-so-peaceful sleeper. His arm was on Phyre's back and Nemo was squeezed between them.

Eilythia giggled and shifted her gaze. Simon, Drake, and Illuska are not in their beds.

They must have gone for breakfast, she thought to herself.

She turned the knob and jogged to the building's exit. Off she went to the swimming pool.

...

Phyre opened her eyes and frowned.

"Good goddess!" she groaned and moved Bradley's arm away. She squeezed her eyes shut and pulled Nemo closer to her. She inhaled deeply and opened her eyes again.

There she watched how Bradley woke up. He almost dramatically opened his eyes and stretched his arms.

He turned to Phyre and gave her a lopsided grin.

Phyre looked the other way, feeling ashamed of staring.

She got up, grabbed her bath things and went to the bathroom. I'm going out for a swim to distract myself, she decided. She quickly changed into her blue swimsuit, put on a white robe, and headed to the pool.

...

It felt like a thousand years underwater.

"With the sun high up?" Eilythia said underwater, bubbles coming out. She rose to the surface and gasped for air.

She turned around and there she saw a familiar figure.

"Bored?" Stefan smiled. He walked to the bench and sat down, his eyes never leaving her face.

Before she could answer, an intense pain attacked her right foot. She gasped and ran her hands to her foot.

She was sinking. She tried to float but the pain was much stronger than her will. She gasped as she choked on water. Pain crept to her nose and her chest. She wailed, exhaled and wildly kicked up but pain kept her sinking.

Now it really felt like a thousand years underwater until two strong arms lifted her to the surface.

Eilythia opened her mouth like a baby about to receive food from her mother. She shut her eyes close and kept her tears there. Her chest was heaving and hurting. She kept coughing.

"Come on! Let's go!" she heard Phyre command.

Go where? Eilythia thought. Pain decided not to leave her.

And then Eilythia was in a swirl of darkness.

...

"You drowned."

Phyre said it simply. As if it were as simple as reciting the alphabet.

Stefan's cool hand stroke Eilythia's forehead. I should really keep an eye on her, he thought.

"You'll be fine," Phyre sighed.

Eilythia shook her head, willing herself to shake away the thought. She was lying in a white, hospital-like bed. After a few seconds, she realized that she was brought to the infirmary. She pulled the covers up to her chin and.. blinked.

"You drowned," Phyre, again, said.

Eilythia opened her eyes almost dramatically and looked at Phyre and Stefan. She could see worry in his eyes while there's no trace of it in Phyre's. Typical Phyre.

"You drowned," Phyre said again.

"Alright already!" Eilythia snapped weakly, frowning. She sat up slowly with Stefan helping her up.

The clinic door opened loudly announcing Simon's arrival. His cheeks were flushed and beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

Simon walked to Eilythia's bed, panting. He lazily collapsed on the foot of the bed.

"I think you're supposed to be the one confined." Stefan smirked. Phyre smiled at this while Eilythia laughed.

"So... I don't need to ask if Eilythia's alright then. Can I have your bed?" Simon asked with a goofy grin on his face.

Phyre stood up, tightening her robe.

"I'm going out for a swim," she announced and turned to leave.

"What? You will? Take me with you, Pieeee!" Simon called after her. He jumped from the foot of the bed and ran to Phyre.

Eilythia and Stefan watched the two leave.

...

Eilythia looked down at her white blanket and started clutching on the white cloth. She didn't know what to do next.

Stefan cleared his throat. He looked down for a moment then turned his gaze to her.

"Would you like to swim again?" Stefan asked. Dumb, he thought.

"Would you swim too if I did?" she asked shyly.

I didn't see that coming, Stefan thought as he frowned to himself.

Eilythia saw his change of expression and shook her head. "I'm kidding," she said, obviously embarrassed. She started standing up to leave.

"I'll.. I-.. I'll swim with you." Stefan said dumbly. Guilt was written on his face.

"Really?" Eilthyia asked, beaming.

Stefan stared at her for a second to admire her smile.

Then he smiled back and nodded.

...

Bradley Stiles was still in bed. On the floor. He watched Nemo grow restless. Nemo was starting to scratch on the door, wanting to get out.

"Alright," Bradley said lazily as Nemo looked and barked at him.

Bradley stood up and opened the door for the fat labrador.

And then, he laid down on the comforter again. He turned to his left and ended up pressing his face on a blue pillow. It smelled good and he knows this scent well.

Phyre, he sighed. How he missed her.

He started reminiscing..

Phyre giggled as Bradley made faces on her. He stuck his tongue out and crossed his eyes. He watched her laugh. He watched her apple-like cheekbones show. He watched her eyes smile at him with so much love. Her hands were on his cheeks while he was making faces. "You're so silly," she told him. Bradley returned to his normal face and smiled. He slightly turned to kiss her palms. He pulled her to his chest and wrapped his arms around her waist. She looked up at him and smiled. Bradley loves her smile. Phyre told him that she loves his smile.

.. and then, he fell asleep.

...