Page 88 of Saving the Halfback

Pig? I looked around and laughed when I saw the small pen with two live piglets inside. I turned around to see the table set up behind us with limes, salt, and already poured glasses of tequila. Ethan took the glass that was lined up for me and downed it in one gulp. Then he poured a new glass and set it back for me.

“What was that for?” Lachlan asked.

Ethan shrugged. “If it’s spiked, I’ll let you know.”

Lachlan shook his head, like he couldn’t believe Ethan had done that.

I looked over to Nolan. “How do I take a tequila shot?” I asked, eyes wide.

“Follow me.”

There was a bang, and the other players moved before I could register that we had started. I ran back to the table, and Nolan turned to me, so I could watch as he shook salt onto the side of his hand, licked it, took the shot, then sucked on the lime.

I quickly followed, cringing and stomping my foot as the tequila burned its way down my throat. I grabbed the lime wedge and spun around. Nolan and I jumped onto the first floatie at the same time. I was dizzy from the shot, but somehow, Nolan and I jumped from floatie to floatie in unison. I started laughing at the disorientating feeling.

One of the other players fell in, causing waves in the water and shaking things up even more. Then we were under fire. Teammates that lined the pool produced buckets at their feet and began throwing small foam footballs filled with water at us. Nolan squealed just as loud as I did when we went down, falling into the water.

“You good?” Nolan asked as we came up at the same time.

I laughed. “Yeah, I’m good. I thought, for sure, we would make it, but that’s hard!” We were still under fire as we swam up to the pool edge. Nolan grabbed a few footballs and threw them back at other players. He pulled himself up, grabbed Wes, and tossed him into the pool. Soon, an all-out war broke out. It was mostly players from the team pushing one another in.

Ethan stepped up to the pool edge and held his hand out for me. I took it, ready to get out of the chaos. In one swoop, he pulled me out of the water. Lachlan was there, waiting with a towel to wrap around me.

Two of the other newbies made it through the course. I watched as they chased the pigs around, the pigs squealing as they attempted to catch and kiss them. But Nolan, another guy, and I had to take the punishment. We were led over to the balcony and placed underneath it.

Lachlan took the towel away. “Contestants, your punishment,” Chase announced just as a bucket of green slime was poured over our heads. It was so cold, I gasped, but when I looked over at Nolan, I went into a fit of laughter. Most of the slime had gone down my back, but they got him really good—all over his head and down his face. I reached up and wiped the slime from his eyes.

“You having fun?” he asked.

“Oodles.” I laughed again. I was. It was stupid, wasn’t it? Falling into a pool, being pelted by squishy footballs, having slime poured down my back.

My first party, and I was soaked, my hair had slime in it, my makeup was ruined, and I was having an absolute blast. Because it was stupid. Because it was silly. Because it was so unexpected, and it was about time that the unexpected made me laugh instead of striking fear.

30

Bailey

Ipulled my hair out of its braid. The pool was full of players and students throwing foam footballs at one another. I dove into a clear spot, under the hundreds of floating plastic balls, and as I swam through to the shallow end, I ran my fingers through my hair. I was relieved when the green goop dissolved easily in the water. I came up for a breath and was sandwiched between three large bodies. Sam, Wes, and Charlie were chanting and jumping around me, not exactly touching me. I laughed at their antics. Maybe some girls would’ve gotten annoyed at all this, but I was still having fun. It was a show of camaraderie; they had accepted me as their own. Even now, as they jumped around me, hooting and hollering, I couldn’t help but feel the gesture of acceptance. Eventually, they moved on, and I was able to swim under and make a quick getaway.

I moved to the stairs and looked up at Lachlan’s smile while he watched me. “Having fun?” I asked.

“Yes.” He held the towel out again, and I got out, stepping into it. “Your clothes are back in the pool house.”

He walked with me as we weaved through everyone. “I want another drink,” I announced. “Another shot?”

Lachlan laughed. “Sure, get dressed, and we will show you a good time.”

“We?” I asked.

“We.” Nolan stepped up beside me, already dressed again and completely void of slime.

No one was in the pool house as I stepped in. There was the same TV and the same couch that had been there years ago. A bar that was empty. I saw my clothes folded on the bar and grabbed them, stepping into the bathroom to get dressed.

Once I was out, I used the towel to squeeze the excess water out of my hair. “Need help?” Lachlan asked. He took over drying my hair, then began braiding it.

“Where’s Ethan?” I asked.

“He said he would be right back.”

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