"Eh..."
Abbi stood silently with her new inner tube and bathing suit, staring down at the surprisingly clear water. It was the 3rd day of summer, and that meant that it was the summer festival.
"What are you waiting for? Why not just hop in?" Gwen asked while stretching for the upcoming water race. Abbi's grimace grew larger, and her feet stayed glued to the burning sand.
"I'm not a very good swimmer...and my cast will get wet." She stated with a couple of tears, staring back down at the water. Gwen shook her head in shame, fixing her bikini top. Abbi couldn't help but felt a hint of jealously at Gwen's fully developed body, while Abbi herself lacked much of what she had.
"Well why don't you put a plastic bag over it."
"But if it gets over my head I'll suffocate!"
"Oh my god..."
"Abbi-san!"
Joe in his brightly star spangled swimming trunks ran happily over to the girls, smiling largely and hugging Abbi tightly once he got close enough. "I can't believe you're out of the Sanatorium!" Joe stated, obviously not trying to hurt Abbi's feelings, but had done so anyway. She smiled weekly and pushed her self out of the tight grip Joe had her on.
"Thanks, Joe." Abbi laughed, sitting down on the hot sand with her inner tube. She sighed again and reached for the plastic bag that held her sunscreen tube and sunglasses. She then began to spread some of the white goop on her body before she realized that every one was on the beach but Kurt. "Joe, where is your bro?" Abbi asked, happily humming the riming words. Joe sighed and sat down next to her, also spreading some sunscreen on his skin. Gwen glanced over, but continued to sun bathe.
"Oh, he decided not to come. He says it was too trouble some." Joe took off his bandana and jumped to his feet. "He'll probably get bored and come later. You want to swim?"
"'Kay!"
"Abbi! Bag!"
"Crappers!"
"Darn, I'm so bored... but I don't want to swim!" Kurt mumbled allot to himself while he worked in the Workshop. Since Joe and Woody had left he was all by himself to do what ever he pleased, but so far he didn't feel like doing anything. It was the summer festival and usually he went and enjoyed himself, but this year he didn't really feel like going because of one particular person. Abbi.
"Kurt? What are you still doing here?" Woody asked while stepping in from the front door. Kurt jumped and almost cut himself with his saw.
"Gah! Um, I don't feel like swimming his year..."He trailed off, picking up the fallen tool. Woody sighed and patted Kurt's shoulder with sincerity.
"Really? Well, the summer festival isn't just for swimming."
"Ah, the water is soooo warm!" Abbi mused, lying down on the soft sand while the waves rolled over her lightly, and they weren't strong enough to nock her over so it was a very calming feeling. It had been an hour since the festival started and Abbi noticed that there was a stand built for three people. It made her curious.
"Gwen, what's that for?"
"Oh, that's for the swimming race winners. Who ever takes first, second, and third gets to stand up there. The winner gets a special fruit that build their stamina." She said, picking up her water bottle and taking a sip. Abbi's eyes grew wide with excitement.
"Really?! I want to enter!" She stated, jumping to her sandy feet and waving her broken thumb around. Joe chuckled and splashed her with some water, making Abbi jump from the coldness. "Hey!"
"I doubt you'll win Abbi, my bro wins almost every year. Alex beat him last year though." Joe laughed, splashing her some more.
"Yeah so? I don't see your brother here!" Abbi yelled, tackling Joe and holding him under water. He leaped up and pushed her under this time, her arm waving out the surface.
"So childish..." Gwen sighed, watching the innocent fight go on between the two. She took another sip of her water and noticed a couple of people walking in from the entrance.
"Hm?"
"Bro!" Joe jumped out of the water, leaving Abbi behind, hacking and wiping here stinging eyes, and raced to where his brother was standing with all his stuff. "I didn't think you would come!"
"I wasn't going to..."
"Aw! Now I won't have a chance to win the race!"
"Contestants! Are you Ready?! Get Set! Go!"
Abbi dived in the cold water to the first red ball she saw floating in the blocked off area. Layers of plastic bags securely covered her arm and even Alex said she could compete as long as she didn't take the bags off. She laid her hand on the red ball and made her way to the green one where Alex was at, but he still had to get to the red, blue, and yellow ball. Kurt had already touched both the blue and green and was on his way to the yellow, followed by Joe.
"Almost there!" Abbi mumbled, touching the green ball. "Now on to yellow!" She noticed a couple of mini whirlpools that where slowing down Joe and Alex, also a Dolphin had decided to tag along.
'One more to go,' Kurt thought heading his way to the red ball. Abbi kicked harder to try and get to the yellow before him but began to feel tired.
"Oh no!" She gasped, being pulled under by a pretty big whirlpool. It spun her around, and Abbi couldn't seem to get her self out of the spiral. Her sore hand wasn't helping either.
'I'm going to die!' Abbi thought, holding her breath as she felt a hand wrap around her arm and pull her out from the spinning water. She opened her dizzy eyes under the water to see a very blurry Kurt who was struggling to get her out of the current. She kicked her hardest and managed to break free and reach the top of the water.
"Gasp!" She choked on some water, but managed to find her breathing pattern again. Kurt had his arm wrapped around Abbi's waist and began to pull her to shore where everyone else was waiting with worried looks on their faces. Abbi was too weak and stunned to disagree.
"Abbi! My god, are you okay!" Ellen asked with her hands covering her mouth. Abbi spit out a bit of water and smiled happily.
"Yup! Uh, K-Kurt? You can let go of me now..." She asked, blushing a bit from the tight grip around her waist. He blushed too and let go almost immediately and began to run down the road to the workshop. "...Thanks?"
"What was that?" Kurt mumbled, hugging his chest to keep warm from the cold air that was blowing over. He was very confused with himself no, and didn't want to be around all those people who would praise him for saving Abbi.
"Kurt!" Abbi cried as she looked in every direction for Kurt, who just ran off with out warning. Abbi finally spotted him by the edge of the trail, and took off after him. She were wearing her bathrobe over her damp bathing suit and carrying a towel. He stopped and looked back at her with a confused face. "Why did you run away when I was trying to thank you?" She asked, holding out the towel to him. She had to admit, he wasn't ticking her off as much as she thought he would be.
"I don't know..." He mumbled, taking the towel and looking Abbi straight in the eyes. She couldn't break the stare no matter how hard she tried."I don't know what I'm doing any more."
To be continued...