Jen slung an arm around the small of Dawson's back and laughed into his shoulder. They wobbled uncertainly in their roller blades and watched the creek head-on. Joey finished her shift and called in. She sat with Andie crossed-legged on the grass, sneering at their friends in good-nature. Jack was latched onto Charlie's elbow but there was no fear in his eyes. He was excited.
"On the count of five," Jack chewed on his bottom lip, arching forwards. Charlie copied.
"Hang on a minute. "On five or after five?" Dawson anticipated.
"On five," Jen decided.
"And are we counting backwards or-"
"Five – four– " Charlie interrupted impatiently.
"Okay, backwards."
"One!"
"Yeah, but technically – ahh!" Jen shoved Dawson forwards and the four friends skated full pelt at the end of the little dock. Dawson found her hand and as they reached the end of their runway they leapt into nothingness together with Jack and Charlie.
Andie and Joey sprung up when they heard several splashes in the short distance. They couldn't move for laughing as their four friends grinned up at them, shivering, and coercing in childish horse-play like 'who can dunk who.' Dawson seemed the victim of most attacks.
Joey kept a close eye on how Charlie seemed to interact with the rest of them. He was unwilling to participate in their movie rituals despite breaking down the barriers of any preconceptions that they were 'cake-eaters,' she was yet to ask him what this meant, and yet now, when he was able to share his one hobby with them, something he genuinely seemed to love, he didn't seem so shy.