After games, food and drink, the party dispersed and most of the party goers went inside. Emi stayed on the roof and laid down on a beach chair and looked at the stars. Behind her in the apartment complex, Tracy was turning off lights as her guests gradually fell asleep and others made their way downstairs to get a taxi to their hotels. Stretching out, she thought back on the day and having finally met her pen pals and Walt had a crush on Princess Zukin, who came later that day.
Rage was swimming by himself. The pool lights were on, so he occupied himself with diving for the colored weights. When he became short of breath and the ringing in his ears became unbearable, he pulled himself out of the water and sat on the edge of the pool, looking at the lights reflected in the water.
Emi was surprised by a sudden splash of water and sat up and looked at the pool. She saw Rage, soaking wet, sitting on the edge of the pool. Realizing for the first time how cold it was getting, she found a few towels and grabbed one for herself and one for Rage and draped it over his shoulders and wrapped her around her body. Rage looked up surprised, then back into the water. Emi sat down next to him and stared, then became lost in the dancing lights in the water. Gradually, she began to fall asleep, then something clicked in her mind and woke her up again. Rage had his arm wrapped around her and was about to get up.
"Sorry Emi. You just fell asleep and I was going to put you on the chair" he said, a bit embarrassed. He looked away, but didn't remove his arm.
"How's the water?" she asked, changing the subject. rage looked up confused. Unwrapping herself, Emi slipped into the water and stood on her toes, forgetting the depth here went up higher than her shoulders. The lukewarm water warmed her body, making her regret having to leave later. A splash beside her told that Rage got back in.
"You know, your serves aren't that good" he said, getting the volleyball that was stuck in a corner. He tossed it to Emi, who dropped it and splashed herself. Irritated, she splashed Rage, who in turn, splashed her. Picking up the volleyball again, she threw it at Rage's head and it hit. Emi laughed while Rage watched the ball float away. Getting an idea, he came after Emi. Confused, she stayed where she was. Grabbing Emi by the shoulders, he dunked her. Surprised, Emi yelled out, but her brain didn't immediately register the fact that she was under water. Rage laughed as Emi struggled, but thought something was wrong as she gave up too fast. He pulled her up and shook her. Emi's head rolled back and her mouth was closed.
"Emi!" he yelled, shaking her harder. Emi's head lifted up and Rage looked ready to kill when she spit a mouthful of water in his face. He released her as she laughed. Letting the water drip over his face, he glared at Emi as she laughed. After a moment, she stopped laughing, then she forced a smile.
"Rage? It was just a joke..." she looked at him, then felt guilty. He dipped underwater and closed his eyes. Emi watched him as his hair floated up and out, then flatten down as he rose to the surface. Emi came close and moved a few strands of hair from his eyes. Looking at Emi seriously, he caught her eyes and held them. Uncertain of what to do, but afraid to do anything, Emi stood motionless. Rage quickly closed the space between them and held her close, placing a palm in the middle of her back and the other on her cheek. Surprised, Emi pulled away for a second, out of reflex, but was pulled back by Rage. After a few seconds, he released her. Emi, trying to grasp a handle on the moment, pushed away from Rage and returned to the wall and stayed there. Taking the wrong idea, Rage went to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry" was all he said, then he lifted himself out of the pool and dried himself off and got dressed. Emi watched Rage as he put a dry shirt on. She lifted her arms to him. Looking down at Emi, he grabbed her arms and pulled her up. Emi, soaking wet, looked up at Rage, then hugged him close. He didn't resist, but pulled her closer, then once again, they kissed.
Tracy placed a blanket on Walt. It was nearly 12:30 am and Emi wasn't back yet. Rage's door was closed, so he could have been there for hours. She turned around as the door open and saw Rage lead Emi into the apartment. Emi looked tired and was leaning against Rage, and Rage was looking more at ease than he did in weeks.
"Emi is going to take my room" he assured Tracy. "I'll take the couch" Tracy nodded and went into her own room and closed the door. Rage thanked his parents for getting him a 3 bedroom apartment. He led Emi into his room, then became embarrassed as he remembered that he never cleaned it up. He let Emi sit on a corner of the bed as he picked up some clothes and threw them in the closet to make room on the bed. As Rage tried to find an extra blanket, Emi curled under the sheets and hugged the pillow. Rage came back in and placed a blanket over her, then kissed her on the temple.
"Good night Emi-chan" he whispered to her. He looked around at his room and sighed, then made a pile and sat on it next to his bed and took Emi's hand and stroked it. He sat there until he fell asleep, and Emi would wake up to find him there the next morning.