Pinkie-swear: a gesture in which two parties interlock little fingers in a symbolic gesture of agreement.
*
Everyone was slow to get up the next morning. I ended up consoling Bonnie for a few hours into the night. Mia didn't come back to the room in my time there. When I went to bed, Alexis had already fallen asleep.
It was a very restless night for me, and if I did sleep it felt like I had blinked, one moment staring into the darkness, and the next I was squinting at the light escaping the curtains from the early morning. I sat up, my back stiff from lying on the mattress on the floor and looked at the still sleeping Alexis. Her hair was in shambles, and her mouth hung agape, allowing me to see a drool line and hear the occasional snort. 'I suppose even the prettiest have their moments,' I mused getting to my feet.
My baggy pants dropped down my legs as I stretched my arms above my head and yawned. Halfway through, I was interrupted by the sound of a door in the hallway. Still, with heavy eyelids, I looked around the room for a clock or a means to tell the time. I walked to the side table where my phone was charging and blinded myself with the lock screen. It was just after 6:30 am.
I rubbed my eyes as adjusted my grey singlet and walked barefoot to my door. When I peered down the dimly lit hallway, I saw Ava disappearing down the stairs with a bag hanging from her shoulder and her hair in a high ponytail.
In my drowsy state, I pondered the idea of her leaving early, but quickly dismissed the thought since Robyn didn't appear to be following her. I trailed behind her, getting to the top of the stairs as she closed the front door. I continued, running down the stairs and opening the door wide enough to see which direction Ava was going. She was heading back towards reception.
I had placed some shoes by the door, in case I needed to leave quickly. I put them on and closed the door behind me a soft click. I stayed a good hundred meters behind Ava as she ventured down the path. I noticed she had dressed in more sporty clothes; purple and black shorts, a black singlet and matching sports bra I could see the straps of even from a distance. Her hands still bandaged in white cloth, but it didn't seem to heed her as she carried a large red shoulder bag, passing it from one hand to the other.
I almost lost her when she went into the main building, but after asking the reception man, he told me she asked if there was a gym. "The gym is down that way," he answered, pointing down the hallway, "If needed, we do offer… proper work out clothes." He had given me a look over, fighting a grimace from my choice of pyjamas.
I withheld from rolling my eyes, "Thanks, but I'm good."
The resort was a lot bigger then I thought, but thanks to signs I only got lost once.
The gym was a large room with white and glass half-walls, allowing for natural light and a view of the outside. The gym was padded with black mats, adding to the expensive, clean look, and every piece of workout equipment was shiny, polished or looked like it was new. There were only a few people having morning workouts, some jogging on the treadmills and another admiring themselves in front of a wall of mirrors after some presses.
In the back corner were some suspended orange punching bags, the most out of place coloured thing in the otherwise black, white and silver room.
Ava had plonked her bag on a bench along the wall and started unwrapping her hands. After placing the bandages by her bag, she flexed her fingers, biting down on her lip as she made fists. As I walked through the door, Ava started re-wrapping her knuckles, this time in a black hand wrap. She fastened the cloth around her hands and wrist, rolling them before standing and, without a second to pause, started punching the bag.
At first, she couldn't hide her wince, jumping back from the bag to hunch over clutching her hand. After a second, she punched her fists together and started again, resolving herself enough to jump away and scowl. Her teeth gnashed together as she got into a rhythm, her face relaxing somewhat she continued perforating the punching bag. Now and then she had to wait for it to stop swaying, but it was few and far between her quick attacks. Now and then she would add a kick, sending it swinging frantically from side to side.
I approached her, arms crossed from how cold it was in the gym and stood by her bag. She saw me but took no notice as she planted her feet and continued punching. Ava's impacts were quick and strong but made me cringe every time the bag swayed, and she was forced to hit it at an odd angle.
"I thought you had hurt your hands," I called to her.
She barely paused between her hits. "The paramedics just told me to keep bandaging and ice if it still hurts," she answered. She was no longer wincing.
"Shouldn't you listen to them then? They usually know what they're doing." Ava steadied her bag.
"Pain is relative, Samson," despite her reoccurring name joke, her heart just wasn't in it this time, "It only hurts-" Punch. "If-" Punch. "You choose to let it." She added her elbow to the mix, throwing her arms and upper body around in a fighting style I hadn't expected to see in her. I was blind, almost chaotic.
"What happened to your hands?" I asked. I knew she had a bandage on her chin from where she scraped it, but nothing explained her hands.
Ava's skin started to shimmer from her sweat. "I bashed their skulls in," she stated simply, adding another kick.
I recalled the drunken men getting wheeled into ambulances. "All of them?"
She nodded, "Hardly a challenge. It was almost unfair." She yelled out as she round-house kicked the suspended bag, sending it away from her only to swing back, in response, she dodged it and sent it flying in a different direction. "Robyn's parents have money. I don't have to worry about them suing me."
I hadn't seen Ava this worked up, or ever considered how strong she was from a fighting perspective. It was admirable but equally frightening by how frenzied she was with it. I got up and caught the bag, steadying it for her. "It's not safe for your hands to punch a moving bag," I informed when she gave me a quizzical look.
Ava scoffed, planting her hands on her hips as she smirked. "You a boxer, Dorm Guard?" she asked, readying her hands.
"No. However, I can tell when a friend needs to let off some steam." I braced myself. "May as well make sure you're not going to hurt yourself anymore then you already have."
Ava dipped her head, her grin facing the ground as she rolled her shoulders and took on her punching stance. "I hit hard," she warned.
"Then hit smart," I countered.
*
Ava sat in the dining room, Robyn next to her massaging one of her hands while the other rested on the table with an ice pack resting on it. I sat across from her eating a bowl of oatmeal, trying to hide my amusement behind my spoon.
Ava caught sight, "Shut up."
I put my hands up, "I didn't say anything."
"Still, shut up," she slouched in her chair pouting.
When whatever anger wave she was riding passed, her hands started to ache; we removed the hand-wraps her knuckles and fingers were red and bruised. Robyn snapped her fingers, signing something with one hand that I was proud to say I understood; "Serves you right."
Ava took back her hand from Robyn and playfully pushed her face away, prompting a chuckle between the two as Robyn returned to rubbing and pulling at Ava's fingers.
There was a loud crash. "Oww!" someone yelped.
"Alexis is up," Ava stated.
A second later, Alexis emerged, rubbing her hand on her thigh. "Why are there so many tables in this place?" she hissed.
"Décor," Ava informed. Robyn pulled out a whistle from under her shirt and gave a quiet blow, a little trill.
"Hi, Robyn," Alexis greeted grabbing a chair at the table and sitting down. "Oats?"
I nodded, a spoonful in my mouth. "Yep. Vanilla flavoured," I spluttered. I swallowed as looked at Robyn, staring at the silver whistle now hanging from her neck. "I have a question," I announced, placing my spoon down, "Who blew their whistle?"
Ava blinked, getting Robyn's attention and signing to her. "Who blew the whistle yesterday?" she asked.
Robyn considered this for a moment before signing quickly, looking from me to Ava to Alexis. I lost some of the gesture's meanings halfway through, Ava watching her in silence until she finished before relaying. "Umm… Mia started blowing the whistle," Ava informed, "But the men took it off her, so Bonnie started blowing her whistle."
I blinked, somewhat surprised that Bonnie had used the whistle. Ava rested her head on the table and sighed, "I'm such an idiot." She punched her hand against the table, startling Robyn who was holding her hand.
Alexis smirked, "I wouldn't be too hard on yourself," Alexis stated, "We'll all go to the water park and have a fun time. What happened will be nothing but a bad memory."
"The last thing I need is to keep reoccurring in Bon's bad memories," Ava stated taking her hand out from under the icepack. Robyn sat on her other side and started massaging her other hand as she had before.
She signed something with one hand, prompting Ava to sigh, "I never said she was dumb, Robyn. It's just…" she grunted, "I don't know how to go about her!"
There was a sudden rickety sound. "Speak of the devil," Alexis said.
Bonnie appeared in the doorway, dressed in the same clothes as last night, looking half asleep as she rolled into the dining room. "How're your hands?" she asked in a small voice.
Ava blinked, looking at the bruising beginning to form, "A little sore…"
Bonnie rubbed her eyes and sighed, "Mia came back to my room this morning. She told me what you did."
Ava's eye dropped, turning to face the table again. Bonnie rolled a touch closer, reaching a hand out to Ava's arm. "I know I don't say this enough, and I probably won't repeat it any time soon, but… thanks," Bonnie said, "And I'm sorry for worrying you. I know it's because you care." Bonnie sounded very uncomfortable apologising; her hands remained on the helm of her wheels during the whole interaction. When Ava didn't respond right away, she nodded and tried to reverse, but her chair wasn't functional enough to do this correctly, and she wobbled when it got caught on the rug.
Ava got up from her chair and stood in front of Bonnie, stopping her attempts to roll away. "It's okay, sweetie," she said, "And I feel I need to apologise for yesterday too."
Bonnie shook her head, "You don't have to."
"No. No, I do. What I said may have come off a bit harsh and some stuff may have gotten lost in what I was trying to say." Ava dropped to one knee, so she was shorter then Bonnie, as she informed, "Bonnie, I don't blame you for what happened yesterday. I know it wasn't your fault and… I'm glad you're okay. All of you." She looked back at me.
Bonnie smiled, "Thanks. It's nice to hear you say that." Her smile was genuine, almost sweet. "I know I can be difficult, and sometimes I do it deliberately," Ava chuckled, "I'm going to try."
Ava nodded, a strange mixture of sadness and relief crossing her face, as she added, "Me too." She reached her hands out and hugged Bonnie, who accepted the embrace with a stunned expression.
Bonnie's expression softened as she, awkwardly, petted Ava on the back. However, slowly, her signature annoyed look returned, "That's enough. I'm not that sorry." She attempted to shove Ava off.
Ava tightened her hold even when Bonnie managed to roll backwards. "Oh, but Bonnie we were having a moment," Ava joked squishing her cheek against Bonnie's.
"Moment's over. Get off me!" Bonnie yelped as her wheels gave way and she was sent flying backwards. Ava ended up lying on the floor while Bonnie was by the door a few meters away.
As the morning went on, everyone came down to the dining room except for Estelle. "She's still a little shaken up," Amia told me, "She was in her bathroom when we came down."
I stood before her bedroom door, leaning an ear close to try and hear anyone on the other side. "Estelle?" I called knocking on the door; I got no answer. I grabbed the door handle and slowly turned it, venturing into the room to look for her. "Estelle, you here?" In true Estelle fashion, her clothes were sprawled around the room, hanging on the back of chairs, others in piles on the ground, and some placed on the coffee table. Amongst the mess, I couldn't see Estelle. "Princess of Pastries?" I beckoned stepping over one of her opened suitcases.
I saw the bathroom door, the glow of the light from the otherwise escaping its straight edge. I approached it and knocked again, "Estelle? You okay?" I asked.
I couldn't hear anything.
"Estelle, hope you're decent, I'm coming in." I slowly turned the doorknob to give her enough time to do anything and peered inside.
Estelle's bathroom was a touch smaller than mine and Alexis'. It was an oblong room with teal green floor tiles and white wall tiles, across one wall was white counter tops with a silver sink and large white-rimmed mirror. On the opposite wall to the door was a large shower bath with more knobs and handles that I could ever understand.
Estelle was leaning on the edge of the sink, glaring at herself in the mirror, distracted when she saw my reflection. She was dressed in her lilac silk shorts and white singlet but had an oversized purple robe hanging from her shoulders and arms. She blinked from her glower and stepped away from the sink upon seeing me, closing her robe tightly and facing me. "What're you doing in here?" she asked, her tone was flat.
"No one had heard from you all morning," I informed, "Just came to check to see if you're okay."
"Doesn't seem appropriate for the only guy to barge into a girl's bathroom to check on her." I could imagine Estelle saying that to mock me or perhaps tease, but she said it with such a serious expression I felt sorry for coming to check on her.
"I'm sorry," I plainly said, "I'll leave you alone. The twins mentioned something about going to the waterpark later. You up for it?"
Estelle pulled on her fingers, looking at the contents sitting on the countertop, as she considered what I said. "Yeah, sure…" She sounded far away when she said that and, in a forced bout of energy, exclaimed in her Princess Power voice, "Now depart peasant! I must ready myself!"
I managed a small smile and bowed my head, "Princess." When I closed the door, I caught a glimpse of Estelle as her expression returned to its stiffened state and she allowed her robe to fall open again as she turned to her image to continue looking at herself.
*
The waterpark was down the road from the resort and overall took us ten minutes to walk. Even with what happened only yesterday, everyone was surprisingly chatty on the walk over. Per the parent's insistence, trailing behind and leading in front of us were temporary bodyguards, each dressed in incredibly out of place black suits. Each of us walked in shorts, singlets or our swimsuits, and complained about how hot the sun was, and I could only imagine how stuffy it was for them.
From down the road, I could see the waterpark slides, some stretching to terrifying heights and, when we got closer, saw the tips of waterspouts over the fencing.
When we got out tickets and walked in, we got greeted by the chaos that was the waterpark. Glancing down at a map I had picked up; there were over ten pools, twenty water slides, little under-the-sea sections for toddlers and little kids, and a food court and locker rooms in the centre of the park.
As we took out first steps, we got railroaded by a group of boys, armed with water guns and pistols, spraying each other, getting a lot of us in the cross-fire. "Oops! Sorry!" one of them called, despite this they continued running away from us, paying us no mind otherwise.
"Well, that's great," Bonnie grumbled squeezing at her shirt to strangle out some water.
"It's a waterpark, what did you expect?" Ava asked leaning on my arm to look at the map in my hand. "I reckon we should go to the Wave Pool and set up our stuff there. It's right near the food court and stuff to waterparks." As she spoke, she signed for Robyn, who wasn't paying attention as she looked up to the highest slide in the park.
We were lucky to find a spot by the main Wave Pool, dropping our stuff down moments after another family had packed up. The park provided dozens of lawn chairs for customers and a large wooden cover that stretched for fifty meters around the Wave Pool for likely tired parents to rest while their kids bopped up and down in the water.
The bodyguards helped set up our things before finding picnic tables and vacant lawn chairs to sit in, watching from a distance so the girls could enjoy the park. Amia was the most excited, immediately stripping herself of her clothes to show her swimmers underneath and started a race to the wave pool with Robyn and Ava. Like at the beach, Mia sat at Bonnie's feet, who had opted to stay in the shade. Estelle immediately sat down on her towel, hugging her knees as she watched Ava fall over in the water.
"You okay?" I asked, nudging the Princess with my foot.
She shrugged, "Yeah, I guess." She nestled her chin between her knees. From what I could see, she was wearing a red one-piece swimmer set under a loose shirt and short jeans.
"You gonna go in the water?" I pried, sitting next to her, "We're at a waterpark after all."
"I don't see you taking off your shirt," she snapped, hugging her knees closer.
I bit the inside of my cheek, unsure how to approach Estelle's mood. I didn't know what had happened on the Platform, but from what Bonnie said Estelle got groped by one of those men. I couldn't call upon my experience with my sisters to deal with this if I wanted to deal with it at all. Is this something I shouldn't touch? I mused.
"Estelle, I don't know what happened to you on the Platform, but you shouldn't let whatever happened upset you," I tried.
Estelle sighed through her nose, uncurling herself and standing. "You're such a moron," she muttered as she took off her dry clothes to show off her swimmers. She placed them in a pile and approached the waterline, standing ankle deep in the water with folded arms.
"I'd leave her alone," Alexis said, using one of the bodyguards to find her bearings as to where to sit. "You'll just upset her more if you pry."
I sighed, running my hands through my hair. I wanted to fix this but wondered if Alexis was right.
I glanced over at Amada, who was in the middle of applying sunscreen, his skin painted white from his failed attempts to rub it in. "Having trouble there, buddy?" I called.
He blinked and shook his head, "No. I'm good."
"Then don't hog it," Bonnie chimed in, rolling up to him and holding a hand out for the sunscreen. Amada obliged, handing it to her.
"Need help rubbing it in?" he offered.
I fought the sudden urge to cringe, but couldn't stop myself by muttering, "Oh Amada…"
Bonnie scoffed, amused by the suggestion, "I think I'll manage." She placed it on her lap and backed away from him. His face started to glow pink as he furiously tried to rub in the remaining sunscreen on his arms.
I shuffled over to him and sat down, "Smooth."
Amada didn't reply, just kept his head down as the last of the sunscreen faded into his skin. "Have you given much more thought to join the track team?" I asked, watching Amia start a splash fight with the other girls.
"None whatsoever," Amada replied plainly.
I sighed, "Come on, why not?"
"I've told you! It would be unfair to the other girls, and I'm not telling everyone I'm a boy now. It would be embarrassing."
I tilted my head. "It could be good for you though," I commented, "And I checked. There are mixed tracks too. Relay races and team exercises like 400-meter stretch and whatever that pass the stick thing is."
Amada frowned, "You mean the baton?"
I slapped him on the back, "See? Look at that, you already know more than me."
"I thought you had a sports scholarship," he grumbled.
"Would you feel more comfortable if I joined the track team with you?" I asked.
"Wouldn't we be in different groups though?" Amada countered.
I shrugged, "Perhaps. But you might be more comfortable knowing I'm nearby."
Amada pressed his lips together, tucking his legs to his chest. "Usually Dad only let Amia go for track," he stated, "Because it's not a guy's sport."
I jeered, "Tell that to Usain Bolt or anyone at the Olympics."
Amada smirked. "I think maybe Amia would enjoy it more then I would," he commented, watching his sister swim. He caught her eye, and she waved out to him, gesturing for him to come in.
"You guys are allowed to do some things separately," I informed looking from him to his sister. "And it could be something all your own. You're quick, and you're fun to be around, and I can see you having a ball trying out for the track team."
Amada paused, looking to me and asking, "What if I don't get in though?" His eyes dampened as if hurt by the mere prospect of failing.
"You will," I assured, "When we get back, I'll train you. We can go on runs together, you know, just the guys, and I'll start teaching you the ninja moves, remember?" I mimed some punching techniques for him, which seemed to catch his attention.
Amada nodded, "Okay."
I froze mid-punch. "Okay?"
Amada nodded again. "Yeah, okay. I'll- I'll try out for the track team," upon making this decision he sighed, "But only if you try out with me."
I assured him that I would, but he was only satisfied when I made a pinkie-promise with him. I fought a sigh of exasperation, recalling the last time I had made a pinkie-promise was with my youngest sister when she was five. Four years ago.
I took his pinkie in mine and made a proper swear. "Shake it I break it," I assured, taking it back when Amada was satisfied.
Amada seemed to brighten up, a new light in his eyes that made me unexplainably happy to see, but the moment was interrupted by Amia's voice; "Amada! Come on!"
In his distraction, the light disappeared, as he focused on his sister and waved to her. "Coming." He stood up, considering taking off his rashie, but chose against it, and ran for the water, complaining about how cold the water was when he made it knee deep. Amia laughed as she tackled him, taking extra care to dunk his head under water.
*
Everyone was complaining about smelling like chlorine when we got back. It was a strange schedule for the next two hours over who got to shower and when, if two showers were going at once one would spit out nothing but cold water.
I felt the hot water splash down on the top of my head, at times blinding me but overall a hypnotic pressure against my head, making me stand there for long stretches of time without cleaning myself.
Without warning, Alexis opened the door. "My God! You take longer then Estelle in the shower," she exclaimed.
The only thing separating us was a glass wall that surrounded our shower as she stomped in like a cross mother. I yelped at her presence, covering myself with my hands as I stood there stunned. "Alexis!" I snapped.
"Oh relax, what am I gonna see?" she asked tilting her head, "What? You shy, Landy?"
I grunted, uncomfortable. "You would throttle me if I did this to you."
Alexis sighed, closing the lid to the toilet and sitting down, "Perhaps. But you aren't blind." Her hair was in thick wet locks of knots as the chlorine started to dry in place, and her swimsuit still had wet patches.
I shifted uncomfortably in the shower, stuck between turning my back to her and not being able to see her, and facing her but having to hold myself. Either way, I felt very self-conscious suddenly.
Alexis smirked, turning her head to face me, her eyes not registering but still stared at me, could she see she'd be staring at my chest. "You feel like you have nothing to worry about, Landon, so why are you so quiet?" Her words only intensified my reddening cheeks. "I'm just teasing, Landon," She assured standing and stretching her arms above her head, and, to mock me or make me feel better, she covered her eyes with her arm. "But seriously, hurry up. Everyone wants to go out for the evening for dinner and such, and I want to clean my hair."
I sighed, "Yeah, sorry. I'll be another five minutes," I assured.
She nodded, "Good." She went to leave, but quickly added, "One more thing."
I wiped some water from my eyes. "What?"
"Does sudden cold water affect your heart?" she quizzed.
I shook my head, "Not really, no."
She reached out and pushed down on the toilet handle, flushing it and sending a gargling noise bouncing around the bathroom. At first, nothing happened, but the warm water turned icy in a second, as I screamed in surprise and leapt away from the water, hitting the colder wall tiles with my back and sending me into a fit of shivers. "Alexis!" I snapped.
She chuckled, giving me a wink as she stuck her tongue out. "Be good," she teased, "I find a cold shower can be stimulating." Her joke was late hitting, by the time I understood what she meant she had already left.
I rolled my eyes at her, holding a hand out to the water to wait for it to warm back up. I couldn't fight a smile, but by expression dropped as my frustration boiled over, "Damnit! No Landon!" I hissed.