A Motley Fool – Ch3: [A Push in the Right Direction] – [prompt#4_Being Watched] [Flip/Camille]

- "An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered." -

Camille, reclining on one of those foldable beach chairs, still couldn't quite figure out how she had been roped into this excursion. Usually when Nemo and Flip decided to go off on one of their little adventures they had the sense to leave her out of it, but, somehow, they had convinced her to come along: she wasn't sure who really won her over, Nemo with his begging, or Flip with his nonchalant attitude. Even the Professor had come along – to chaperone, he said (it wasn't proper for a lady like herself to go and gavotting with men, however unlikely the situation). The plan was fairly simple – just take a leisurely boat ride on the lake and find a suitable, preferably lonely, inlet to go swimming in. It was meant to be a day of relaxation.

She originally was determined to hate the whole thing, just because she thought she'd be bored to tears and that she felt like she had been corned into going. It turned out it was more enjoyable than she originally thought. It reminded her of the old days, back when Nemo was still getting used to the idea of being her father's heir. It had been fun to listen to the friendly bickering and chiding of the Professor and Flip towards Nemo and each other; both Flip and the Professor had a tendency to drop the friendliness tone when talking to each other. She thought their dynamics were the funniest things she had seen in a good long while, but being the lady that she was she kept it bottled inside. She was practically brimming with mirth at this point and it only showed in the way the corners of her mouth curled.

Currently, the Professor was dozing away down below in the small cabin and both Flip and Nemo were sunning on the other side of the deck after spending good gracious how long in the cold water. Camille had not actually gone swimming, not even dipping her feet in the water like the good Professor did to cool off. She had been staying on the edge of the social circle for once; Flip and Nemo might have invited her along but she still felt like she had didn't quite belong. She had stayed out of the water and the sun, complaining she didn't want to freckle, or saying she wanted to keep Icarus company. Of course this raised complaints on all sides; at least Icarus was more than happy with her company and had no such arguments. He seemed to really enjoy napping in her lap while she read a book in the shade, the laughter and splashing of Nemo and Flip echoing off the water in the background. She had rather enjoyed it, too; she had even started to get nostalgic.

"What you doing?" a voice crooned in her ear.

Camille had to restrain herself from sighing aloud. Flip had the attention span of a gnat and the energy to tire out a hyper active child, so it was only logical that with Nemo exhausted and the Professor unapproachable, she would be the target of Flip's attention.

Previous encounters had taught her to ignore the trickster as much as possible and not to rise to the bait. He was making particularly difficult this round because she could feel the soft puffs of his breath against the shell of her ear. To say her personal space was being violated was an understatement. Pretending indifference, the princess responded, "I'm reading, of course. What do you think I'm doing?"

She heard Flip snort softly, "Why is it every time I turn around you have a book in your hands? You honestly need to live a little."

"I live just fine, thank you very much," she replied indignant.

"Of course, Princess, I'm sure you do. As much as I would hate to detract you from what I'm sure is a riveting book, there's something you really have to see."

"Fine," she huffed, closing her book with a hand. She settled the book next to her chair where Icarus was dozing. Normally, she wouldn't have indulged the trickster so soon (if at all) but she felt desperate to distance herself from Flip. Having him breathing and whispering in her ear was far too intimate for her liking, and it tickled. It had taken tremendous effort not to wriggle around or flinch with every word he spoke. The smell of river water, dampness and old cigar smoke was also disconcerting.

Flip was clearly surprised at her easy acquiescence. "Uh, it's this way."

She followed him around to the back of the boat, her short skirt swishing. Though she hadn't gone swimming she was still wearing the proper attire for it – a one piece navy-blue outfit. It had legs that reminded her of old bloomers that hung straight down like a pair of trousers to the middle of her calf. A skirt encircled her middle that fell above her knees and the top part had cap sleeves. She honestly couldn't understand how women could swim in so much material. The few memories of swimming that she possessed were from when she was much younger and had the option of going swimming without the hindrance of clothes.

Despite the amount of material involved with her swim attire, at least she looked classy. Flip's outfit was like most men's swimming suits –a one piece thing that was baggy and had short sleeves and pantlegs – except it was a blinding combination of bold lime green and bright sunburst orange stripes. The colour choices ought to be considered to be indecent but the blinding mess was made all the more perplexing with Flips usually hidden bald spot showing, dark chest hair peeking at the neckline, and his normal flesh-coloured limbs contrasting with his green face. It wasn't the usual visual nightmare that she felt accosted with.

"Still there, Princessy, or are you still thinking about that book? Or perhaps about a handsome prince?" Flip teased. He had hopped over the railing at the back of the boat. Standing cautiously on the back lip of the boat he looked at her expectantly.

"What was it that you wanted to show me, Flip?" she said as drifted close enough to lean against the railing. She made sure there was enough distance between the two of them so there would be no more ear breathing.

"It's just right there," said Flip, pointing vaguely to the water.

She leaned out, but couldn't see anything, and said as much.

Smiling, Flip remarked, "Well of course you can't. You're not at the right angle. You have to be over here."

The princess weighed the decision in her mind, before she hopped over the railing to join Flip. It was harder to do than it looked but at least she didn't fall in the water. With a firm grip on the railing behind her, she continued to look.

"Flip," she almost wanted to whine, "I'm honestly not seeing anything. What am I supposed to be looking for?"

Gentling, almost consoling Flip commented, "Don't worry, you'll know it when you see it. You just have to be right where I'm standing."

She gave a dry look before shuffling closer, their hips almost brushing. "Still not seeing anything."

She heard a sigh from Flip, and she felt a hand gentling grip her hip, jostling her closer to him. "Like I said, you have to be where I am. Any better?"

Feeling uncomfortably close to her short companion she was more aware of the hand lightly fisted in the back of her swimsuit than anything she was supposed to be seeing. Feigning indifference, she said simply, "No, it's not any better. I'm starting to think you're pulling a joke on me, Flip."

"Who, me? I would never," she heard him laugh. "Just try leaning forward a little. You honestly just have to be at the perfect angle."

Sighing, she did as she was suggested, even wobbling on her tiptoes. Flip's hand kept her from leaning too far and losing her balance.

Sighing, she began, "Flip-" when she felt the warm hand at the small of back give a small shove. There was a moment where she hung in the air like a top before it topples, before she fell into the shockingly cold lake with a screech. She resurfaced moments later feeling the cold water clinging to her like a second cold-blooded skin. She was feeling furious. She opened her mouth to scream her indignation when someone cannonballed into the water right next to her. She got a mouth full of river water which she sputtered out.

The incorrigible blackheart popped up a few metres away with a wicked grin on his face. She opened her mouth to start her tirade but a splash to the face cut her short. Apparently, Camille was pretty funny when she was soaked and seething, if Flip's laughter was any measure. Eyes narrowed dangerously she decided to fight fire with fire; in this case, water with water. The jokester's laughs were cut short when he had to spit out the lake water he swallowed. Camille had done her best to shove a wave of water at him, and it had worked remarkably well. His eyes gleamed mischief for a moment before he retaliated with a large splashing wave of his own.

It quickly turned into a water fight, and Camille's screams of fury were turning to screams of laughter and giggles. Flip's heavier laughter was ringing in her ears amid her own.

She'd never admit it but it was the most fun she had had on the trip, or at all for a long time.

- "I believe in getting into hot water - it helps keep you clean." -