To the surprise of all, Mercedes turned out to be quite a formidable volleyballer. Within minutes the girls' team had scored three points, bopping the colorful beach ball over the "net" – a nylon rope Puck had retrieved from his truck and stretched across the middle of the pool – and into the empty but in-bounds section of the boy's side.
Finn was of little help to his teammates. He was a mediocre swimmer at best and spent most of his time flirting and sneaking kisses from Rachel instead of watching the game, or paying attention to which side of the rope he was on.
After the third time Kurt was forced to call a fault on Finn, Puck bounced the ball off his best friend's head and said, "I can't take this anymore! Hummel, get your scrawny ass into the pool and show Lover-boy here how it's supposed to be done."
The very idea of Puck preferring Kurt's version of athleticism over Finn's was enough to set everyone giggling. Tilting his nose in the air in a mocking show of irritation over their lack of appreciation, Kurt changed places with Finn. On dry land, he would have been totally out of place in a game of volleyball but the rules of this game were loose and all he really needed to do was tread water, hit the ball in the right direction whenever it came his way, and stay on his side of the rope. He could totally do that.
Not being subject to Finn's distraction and aided by Kurt's determination to prove his ability, the boys quickly caught up with the girls and then surged ahead by a point. They had all decided to play to 15 and as the points racked up, so did the competitive spirit of both teams.
Finn happily sat on the sidelines and played cheerleader for both teams, but he looked a little confused over who to cheer for when Rachel suddenly spiked the ball right into Kurt's face, sending him under with a startled curse.
"You okay, Kurt? She didn't hurt you, did she?"
Kurt shot both Finn and the triumphantly grinning Rachel a death glare as he rubbed his nose, trying to dislodge the water he had accidentally inhaled. "She hit me with a beach ball, Finn. I'm fine."
"Okay," he said cheerfully. "Your serve, guys."
A couple of minutes later, play was again stalled as Tina called out, "I'm starting to get a serious leg cramp over here, you guys. Can I come out for a while?"
"Sure," Finn called, wading back into the pool as Kurt ducked under the rope and crossed beneath the water to the girls' team.
Just as Kurt was about to surface, he changed his mind and dove deeper. Rachel let go with a High F that would have had Mr. Schuester wiping away tears of joy when her leg was suddenly grabbed from below, yanking her under the water.
"KURT!" she screamed, coughing and spluttering as she bobbed back up, glaring at the unrepentant boy who just grinned and took shelter behind the wildly laughing Mercedes.
"Consider us even, Princess."
She tried to stay mad but with everybody laughing and having such a good time, she just could not do it. Finally, Rachel laughed as well. "Just for that, you'd better help us win!"
The game resumed. Tina had been screeching and batting away the ball like it was going to attack each time it came her way, so with Kurt playing in her place, the girls soon surged ahead again. Back and forth the ball went, neither side gaining a clear advantage until the weariness began to show.
Finally, Mike bowed out, bringing Kurt back over to the boys' side while Tina rejoined the game.
Not used to so much prolonged exercise, Kurt's energy was flagging fast and Quinn easily got a shot past his guard. The rest of the guys attempted to defend their position, but once weakness had been sensed by the ultra-competitive Rachel and Mercedes, there was no going back. Within minutes, the girls had scored their final point, trouncing the boys 15-9.
"Congratulations," Kurt said as Mercedes bobbed under the rope and excitedly hugged him. "You win. I think I'm going to go die now."
She laughed as he hauled his exhausted body out of the water and collapsed on a handy towel, covering his eyes with his forearm and shutting out the world.
Finn helped Artie out of the float-toy and back to his wheelchair, then dropped himself into a wide, umbrella shaded lounge-chair, welcoming Rachel who cuddled in next to him. Mercedes put on her wrap and disappeared into the house to help her mother with dinner preparations, while the other kids stayed in the pool and played keep-away with the beach ball.
Kurt decided to stay where he had fallen, flipping onto his stomach and happily soaking in heat from the sun warmed cement like a lizard on a rock. He was unaware that he was dozing off until a cold drizzle suddenly hit his back, bringing him back to full alertness with a shocked yelp.
"Sorry, but you're starting to look a little red. I figured it was time you put on some more sunscreen," Quinn told him, helping herself to a free bit of towel and rubbing the lotion into his back without so much as a do-you-mind.
"You could have warned me," Kurt grumbled, "but thank you. I almost fell asleep and I really don't want to turn into a human lobster today."
She smiled and handed him the bottle as he sat up, allowing him to re-screen the rest of his skin. Then she turned and lifted her hair, mutely requesting a return of the favor. Kurt complied without a word, feeling just a little strange, as he always did when he shared a moment of true friendship with the former bitch-goddess of the Cheerios.
"Thanks," she said.
As Kurt returned the bottle, he looked around, noticing that everyone was now out of the pool and just lounging around talking, tanning, or in Artie and Tina's case, making out. Mike, Mercedes and Puck were sitting together under a patio umbrella laughing at something on Mike's iPhone, and Rachel had fallen asleep on Finn's chest. Finn himself looked wholly contented just to lie there and act as her pillow.
"Does that ever bother you?" Kurt asked Quinn curiously, tilting his chin toward Finn and Rachel.
She smiled. "Not anymore. I hated it at first, but Finn and I weren't meant for each other. We were having arguments all the time, even before I got pregnant. I don't even think we would have lasted as long as we did if that hadn't happened." Kurt nodded, agreeing but surprised to hear her say it. He was even more surprised when she asked, "What about you? Does it hurt you to see them together?"
Kurt brushed a hand through his bangs, feeling strangely vulnerable under Quinn's knowing gaze without his usual armor of designer clothes and perfect hairstyles to hide behind. He had honestly never even realized that she knew about his crush. "No. I still like Finn, a lot, but it's different now. He really is becoming like a brother to me and maybe that's better." Meeting her eyes, he laughed. "Besides, I'm sure that as soon as school starts, I'll find some other new and entirely inappropriate boy to crush on. Meanwhile, I think I'm actually happy to have one last summer to be a kid."
Unconsciously rubbing her stomach, Quinn said, "Me, too." Scrambling to her feet, she held out her hand to him. "Come on, let's go swimming."
"I don't think I'm up to any more racing right now."
"Me either."
He smiled at her and allowed her to haul him to his feet. Hand in hand they jumped back into the pool. Taking up an easy side-by-side pace, they glided smoothly through the cool water, just enjoying the afternoon and the company.