I hated that.Ĭonrad had less trouble moving into the center of the pool. My voice sounded jealous even to my own ears. I watched them jealously, and I almost forgot to be aware of the fact that Conrad was holding on to my legs, and as far as I could remember, he had never so much as accidentally grazed my knee before. She kept slipping right off and laughing. "You okay up there?"Īcross from us Taylor was having trouble getting onto Jeremiah's shoulders. His shoulders were more muscular than Jeremiah's, more weighty. "I never said you were." Then he stooped in front of me, and I climbed on top. When he swam over to me, I said defensively, "I'm not that heavy." "All right," Conrad said, but his voice said he didn't want to at all. Steven still looked grumpy, and he said, "Con, take my spot." When both of our heads popped up, I went straight for his and took him by surprise with a good dunk. I couldn't stop laughing, and I swallowed about a jugful of water, but I didn't care. "Watch out." Then he lurched forward, and I was flying into the water, and so was he. I said, "Hmm?" I was starting to get pretty comfortable up there, so high. She splashed him right in the face and said, "I was!" Her eyeliner was smudged and her mascara was starting to run. When they resurfaced, Steven glared at Taylor and said, "I told you to hold on tight." Jeremiah and I burst out laughing and high-fived each other. She couldn't stop giggling, and when I gave her one strong push, she said, "Oh, shit!" and they both fell backward. Taylor and I stretched our arms out to each other, pushing and shoving. Steven nodded, and we waddled over to the middle of the pool.Ĭonrad, who was treading over by the side, said, "Ready, set, go." In a low voice he said to me, "The trick is to just keep steady." Steven looked like he was ready to pitch her off of him and across the pool. I wanted to kiss the top of his head right then.Īcross from us Taylor was perched on top of Steven's shoulders giggling and pulling his hair to hold herself steady. "You weigh, like, nothing," he lied, breathing hard and gripping on to my legs. He was so wiry and thin, I was afraid I'd break him. I shifted and balanced my hands on his head. He was slippery, so it was hard to stay on at first. Then Jeremiah crouched down in the water, and I scrambled to get onto his shoulders. Taylor walked down the steps and into the pool slowly, cringing at the temperature. I think you're probably a lot tougher than little Tay-lor." Jeremiah said, "Aw, I'll take you, Belly. "Why don't I just sit out, then? I'd hate to break your back, Steven." "It's just that you're taller than her is all." Then he looked over and saw the expression on my face. "That's all right." He swam over to the side of the pool. I won't play," Conrad said.Ĭonrad shrugged. "I'll watch," I offered, even though I wanted to play. Taylor took them off anyway, and I realized then that the teams were uneven, and someone would have to sit out.