It was sticky hot and worst of all she couldn't sleep. The sheets were getting in the way, the pillow was flat and that bundle of hair was making her sweat. She glanced at the clock 1:24 A.M. She needed to cool down if she wanted to fall asleep. She'd like to take a shower but she didn't want to wake anyone up.
Well tonight is a perfect night to take a little dip.
Sheets were thrown to the ground and bare feet could be heard rummaging around the room.
Mia grabbed a towel and a pair of sandals and headed quietly downstairs. She was clad only in a pair of cotton shorts and short sleeve shirt. There really was no need to put a bathing suit on besides it felt odd enough going for a swim so early in the morning.
It was dark outside but the moon illuminated the tops of the trees giving a silver silhouette appear while revealing the path to the woods.
This was the second night Mia wasn't able to sleep. Sure she was stressed but everyone was stressed these days. I mean it might have to do with the fact there were five lively boys living in her house, one very hyper eight year old, and one giant tiger. She also balanced school with work. Her grandfather had left her some money, a great deal of money but paying for school and feeding all of the boys soaked up a lot, and fast. She needed a vacation to heal her mentally and physically. She felt like she was lacking in that area. She needed to feel more like a woman. Her hair was getting out of control and she didn't have time to play with it but she was too afraid to cut it. She also wasn't use to change…maybe she was even afraid of it. She wasn't fat but she wasn't really skinny either. She's probably about a size seven. I mean who wants to be a delicate fragile size four? Not this independent woman! I haven't worn make up in months nor have I really dressed up…Who would I for anyway?
She heard some rustling behind her and froze. She assumed the worst…evil warlords planning to attack her.
Ya know it's been a year. I need to take a chill pill
She summoned up some courage and peaked over to the rustling bush. White Blaze stepped out and nuzzled against her leg. She let out a sigh.
"White Blaze what are you doing over here? You scared me half to death."
He's probably wondering what I'm doing. So he probably followed me out here.
"Come on boy lets go for a little swim!" She ran down the path, the tiger following her.
It felt so good running against the slight breeze and the feeling of dew grass brush against her bare toes.
She approached the lake and jumped in. "Come on White Blaze. Don't be a scardy cat!" The tiger looked at her disapprovingly and went back inside the woods leaving the blissful girl to swim by herself. She started humming to herself while back floating across the lake.
Good thing no one is here to see me; I'm sure they'd say I'm acting out of character. But hell this is my character. She chuckled and continued to swim.
"Leave me alone Cye," Kento mumbled half asleep. The Torrent was trying to awake his best friend.
"Come on Kento I know you're hot I can see the beads of sweat. Let's go for a little dip…what do ya say?"
"I say..NO." He kicked the sheets off the bed in anger. I am awfully hot though…maybe just a little dip.
"Okay fine I'll go by myself if no one else will go with me." Cye grabbed his sandals and started towards the door.
"No, hold on I'll go with you." Kento mumbled and got up. "Well we mine as well get the others."
Kento and Cye trotted down the hall to wake the others. Rowen stepped out of the bathroom when they passed it.
"Rowen, surprised to see you," Kento said sarcastically.
"I don't know couldn't sleep." Rowen said groggily. "Hey wait where are you guys going?"
"We're going for a swim," imputed Cye with an animated smile on his face.
"Hmmm…sounds like a great idea. Let me try to wake Sage." They headed to Rowen and Sage's bedroom.
"I've been up ever since you guys got up. You know I'm a light sleeper. Besides you can't miss Kento's elephant feet," Sage said dryly.
"Well if you're body is as dry as you're sarcasm, you'd enjoy a little dip." Ryo emerged from his room. Sage gave a sincere grin.
"Should we wake Mia?" asked Cye.
"Nah lets let her sleep I think she has to get up early this morning," said Sage. And they all headed to the lake in the wee hours of the morning.
White Blaze left the position of guarding Mia and went to explore the faint noises he detected.
"White Blaze, what are you doing man?" Ryo asked when the tiger ran to the group of five boys.
Kento spotted someone in the water and stopped. "Is that…Mia?" asked Kento.
Sage squinted is eyes. "Yeah you're right it looks like it."
"What is she thinking…out here so early in the morning and by herself?" Cye asked curiously.
"I think we should teach her a lesson," Ryo snickered and they all quietly approached the peacefully swimming girl.
"I need you like water like breath like rain…" Mia sang to herself with her eyes closed floating on her back.
The five boys just watched her swim and sing. Man she's going to kill us later, thought Cye. But it will be worth it.
Oh man this is going to be so good, although she looks peaceful…and beautiful. It's like a side I haven't seen from her… in a while. Sage snapped out of his gaze when Rowen got his attention.
"On the count of five, we're all going to jump in the water," giggled Ryo. He just could not contain himself. All four nodded their heads with grins on their faces. Ryo counted to five on his fingers and…
"AGHHHHHHHHHHH!" Mia screamed when she heard something(s) jump into the lake with her. On instinct she dived under water and started swimming to shore when something caught her feet. She tried to see what it was but it was too dark underneath the water. She couldn't hold her breath any longer and surfaced to grasp for air. When she opened her eyes she was met with five laughing faces. It was Ryo who grabbed her leg.
"You guys are unbelievable. You scared me half to death!" How long had they been there? Oh man this is so embarrassing. She turned around and trotted to dry land.
"Aw come on Mia we were just having some fun," Ryo laughed. Cye could read the fear on her face and sent a message to the guys. Guys we probably scared her really bad. Maybe this was a bad idea.
"We're sorry Mia." Rowen smiled. He just watched her squeeze the water out of her hair. He noticed her wet clothes sticking to her and turned a slight shade of pink.
"Boys…" She mumbled and headed back to the house, White Blaze behind her.
"Wait Mia, come on and join us," Cye asked.
"I've had my fair share of swimming time. I think I'm ready to go back to bed. I'll see you all in the morning," she turned around and started off again.
"Wait Mia, let me walk you back it's not safe." Sage caught himself before he could shove his foot in his mouth. She looked at him incredulously.
"Sage I snuck out without anyone knowing, survived five boys jumping in on me. I think I can make it back." She smiled appreciating his sincerity and genuine worry.
The guys just looked at him. "Oh Sage you're my hero please protect me!" Kento batted his eyelashes and Sage clonked him upside the head. This started a war and soon everyone was joining in on the late night fun.
