I have to give thanks to my best friend, Madeline, for giving me the lake scenario. Oh, the things you did with your friends down in Florida, Maddy! Glad I didn't know or I might have worried about you more than I already do, LOL. :) That's all I'm going to say. And just for clarification, Mark is a freshman, Roger, Melanie, Maureen, and Benny are sophomores, and Collins is a sophomore in college.

Chapter 2

"Melanie," Brian called into the kitchen, where Melanie was eating breakfast late that morning, after she'd just woken up, "Roger's here."

"What?" Melanie nearly yelled. "He is?" Brian nodded and Melanie squealed anxiously. "Don't let him in! I'm not even cute yet!"

With an anxious groan, she threw her toast onto her plate and bolted upstairs, past her mother, who was on her way to work. "Melanie, what are you doing? Slow down," Mrs. Schwartz said, before she saw Brian letting Roger in. "Oh, I see how it is." She smiled.

Brian and Roger laughed. "Hi, Mrs. Schwartz," Roger said, looking at Melanie's mother. "I guess Melanie forgot when I said I was going to pick her up today?"

Mrs. Schwartz turned around and looked up the stairs. "I guess she did," she said. "You don't mind waiting, do you?"

"Not at all," Roger said, smiling at her. "But I did tell her eleven."

"I heard you two come in last night," Brian said. "You must have had fun. She didn't even come up to her room."

"She was enduring a pizza overdose," Roger said.

Brian laughed. "Oh, I see," he said. He turned around and yelled up the stairs, "Melanie, come on!"

"I'm coming!" Melanie yelled, and a few moments later, she rushed down the stairs. "So where are we going today?"

"Well, I already talked to your mom about us going to the lake this weekend with everybody," Roger said. "She said she was fine with it."

"But you know the rules, Roger," Mrs. Schwartz said.

"Yes, ma'am," Roger said, smiling at her. Mrs. Schwartz nodded, satisfied. Roger looked at Melanie. "So get a sleeping bag, pillow, and whatever else together. I'll wait."

Melanie rolled her eyes. "I'm sorry about forgetting what time you said."

"It's OK," Roger said. "Go on and get ready. I'll wait."

Melanie smiled appreciatively and rushed around for about ten minutes, gathering her things together for the weekend. "Bye, Mom," she said, and she ran out the door with her duffle bag, sleeping bag, and pillow.

"I'll have her home by seven P.M. on Sunday night, Mrs. Schwartz," Roger said, smiling at her.

"OK, Roger," Mrs. Schwartz said. "Have fun, you two."

"We will," Roger said, smiling at her and Brian, and then he walked out the door. "In the trunk, Mel!" he yelled after her, because she was trying to stuff everything into the backseat.

"Oh… right," she said, blushing, and she transferred everything to the trunk. Then she got into the car next to Roger. She leaned over as he started to drive off. "I'm excited."

"So am I," Roger said, smiling down at her. "You'll get to meet Alison and Collins."

Melanie smiled. "I'm excited for that," she said.

"Good, I'm glad," Roger said. "I told your mom the girls would be in one tent and the guys in the other. I don't think she's too worried. Besides, we're almost 18."

"Why should she be worried?" Melanie asked. "You're an amazing guy. You'd never do anything to hurt me."

Roger smiled. "I agree, Mel," he said. "Oh, hey, before I forget, is it OK if you meet my parents before we go?"

"Oh... sure, Roger," Melanie said nervously.

Roger squeezed her hand. "It'll be OK. They're both really nice. My mom can be a bit weird sometimes, but you get used to it," he said.

Melanie smiled. "OK, I can't wait," she said.

"Anybody home?" Roger called, as he knocked and entered the house with Melanie.

"Hi, Roger," Mrs. Davis said, coming out to the entryway with Mr. Davis.

"Hi, Mom, Dad," Roger said, hugging her. "I want you to meet someone." Roger looked at Melanie, and then looked at his parents. "Mom, Dad, this is my girlfriend, Melanie."

"Hi," Melanie said, shaking their hands.

"I'm Andrew and this is my wife, Kristin," Mr. Davis said. He indicated to his wife. "She's been dying to meet you since the beginning of the year, Melanie."

Melanie smiled. Already, she liked Roger's parents. Roger had told her she would. They were very welcoming and kind. "I'm very glad to meet you both," she said. "I suppose we would have done introductions sooner, but we've both been really busy."

"Did you move here recently, Melanie?" Mrs. Davis asked.

"Yes, not long before this quarter began," Melanie said. "My mother, brother, and I moved from Westport."

"Really?" Mr. Davis asked. "That's nice."

Melanie glanced at Roger. "I'm a sophomore as well," she said.

"You seem like a great girl," Mr. Davis said, smiling at her.

Melanie smiled. "I try, Mr. Davis," she said.

"Well, Mom, Dad, we have to get going. The others are waiting for us at the lake," Roger said.

"OK. Have fun, you two," Mrs. Davis said, smiling at them. Roger and Melanie nodded and then they left.

When they arrived at the lake, Roger quickly introduced her to Collins and Alison. "Mel, this is Tom Collins, though he prefers to be called by his last name only," Roger said.

"You would, too, if your mother named you after a drink," Collins said, glaring at him.

Roger laughed. "Gee, I wonder why," he teased. Collins hit him on the arm, though he wasn't really offended. "He's currently attending NYU."

"Really?" Melanie asked, shaking Collins' hand. "My older brother goes there."

"What's his name?" Collins asked.

"Brian Schwartz," Melanie said.

"Oh, yeah, I know him," Collins said. "We hang out."

Melanie smiled. "That's cool," she said.

"Do you want a beer, Melanie?" Benny asked.

"No, thank you, Benny," Melanie said, as Roger glared at him. "My mom said no drinking or smoking."

"And no sex or drugs," Benny said. "Yeah, I get the same warning from my parents."

"Hey, back off, Benny," Roger said warningly. "We told you not even to bring that stuff this time. You knew Melanie would be coming along."

"Sorry, man," Benny said, raising his hands defensively. "I'm done. I'm cool."

Roger rolled his eyes and looked at the others. "We, uh, should probably set up," he said.

They all nodded and they began to assemble the tents.

When it got dark that night, the group built a fire and roasted marshmallows and made s'mores until the fire went out. Then they crawled into their tents and fell asleep.

Melanie didn't know what time it was when a voice whispering awoke her.

"Melanie… hey, Mel, wake up. You awake, Mel?"

Melanie sat up, careful not to disturb Maureen and Alison next to her. "I am now. Roger?" she asked. "What is it?"

"Come with me," Roger said.

"Where?" Melanie asked.

"Wanna go swimming?" Roger asked, seeming to change the subject.

"What? Are you kidding?"

"Would I be here if I was?"

Melanie rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. "What time is it?"

"Who cares? Come on, you really wanna go swimming," Roger insisted, smiling at her.

"Roger…" Melanie groaned.

"Come on, Mel, please?" Roger begged. "While the day is still ours to begin… and before Maureen and Alison wake up and kill me?"

"Well… all right," Melanie said, and she slowly and quietly crawled out of the tent after grabbing her swim suit. "Do you know the way in the dark?"

"Sure I do," Roger said, taking her hand. "Do you trust me?"

Melanie nodded. "Yes," she said, and she followed him. They found a path that led down to the lake and they followed it, lit by the moonlight.

"Wow," Melanie said, when they got to the dock, "this is beautiful."

"Isn't it, though?" Roger agreed.

The moon floated in the sky, shimmering down on the lake and seeming to watch them.

Suddenly, in a flash, Roger stripped down to his trunks and dove off the dock. Melanie walked over behind a tree and quickly changed into her suit, just as he came above water. Then she sat down on the dock and put her feet in the cool water.

Roger looked at her mischievously. "Aren't you coming in?" he asked, cocking an eyebrow at her.

"Eventually," Melanie said, "but I would like to get used to the water first."

"Oh, come on, you're no fun," Roger said, and he splashed her playfully.

"Roger, stop it!" Melanie exclaimed, scowling at him. "I'll come in eventually."

"Well, all right," Roger said, and he climbed out, purposely dripping water on her.

"Hey!" she squealed.

Roger laughed and ran behind her. Then he ran up past her and jumped off, landing with a huge splash in the water.

When he didn't resurface after a few seconds, Melanie began to get nervous, worried he'd hurt himself in the dark somehow. "Roger?" she asked. When she didn't see him or get a response, she yelled louder, "Roger!"

She saw the bubbles from his breath underwater a second too late. Roger rose out of the water, seized her, and pulled her into the lake with him.

"Argh!" Melanie screeched, before he pulled her under with him. She was scared for a second, but then she felt his strong arms pulling her to the surface.

It had only been a few inches above her head, after all.

"Roger!" she yelled nervously.

"It's OK, Mel, relax," Roger said through the darkness. He was holding her up, treading water at the same time, but she was still nervous. "See, the water's holding us up."

"Y-yeah," Melanie said nervously, "I feel like I'm floating. I'm weightless."

"You're floating with me, Melanie," Roger said quietly, looking at her.

He shifted slightly and Melanie clutched him nervously. "Roger, don't let go!" she squealed.

"It's OK, Mel, I won't let go," Roger said. He looked up at her. "I'll never let you go, Melanie Schwartz."

Melanie smiled and leaned back and held out her arms, letting the water flow over them as Roger slowly turned her in a circle. She felt herself starting to relax. When she straightened up again, Roger leaned up and kissed her. Then they got out of the water and lay down on the dock together.

Roger propped himself up onto one elbow and looked down at Melanie. She looked up at him and he felt his heart start to race. "Melanie?" he said.

"Yes, Roger?" Melanie asked.

"I love you."

Melanie leaned closer to his warm body and smiled. "Mm, I love you, too, Roger," she said, and he lay down with her and kissed her on the dock.

On Sunday, the group was sitting on the dock together. After a while of talking, Collins looked at them.

"We should so go swimming," he said.

"Collins, we didn't bring out suits or anything," Alison pointed out.

"So?" Maureen perked up. "We don't need them."

They all looked at her, surprised. "What?" Alison asked.

"We don't… need them," Melanie agreed, grinning devilishly.

"So what are you planning on doing, Mel, skinny-dip?" Mark asked.

"Not exactly," Melanie said, smiling at them. She looked at Maureen and they both stripped down to their bra and underwear.

Roger and Mark's mouths fell open in awe. "What the hell?" they said, looking at each other.

Melanie and Maureen looked at each other again and then looked at them. Then, before any of the boys or Alison could react, they took each other's hands and ran off the dock and jumped into the lake together.

Roger, Mark, Benny, Collins, and Alison looked at each other, baffled, and then a second later, after they got over their shock, they joined Melanie and Maureen in the water. The boys spent the rest of the time trying to get the girls' towels off when they walked around with them wrapped around their bodies.

But afternoon came and they had to pack up and go home.

"Hey, you two, did you have fun?" Brian asked, when they arrived back home.

"Yeah, it was great," Melanie said. "We made s'mores and swam a lot." She looked at Brian. "I'm tired, though. I think I'm going to go lie down for a while, OK?"

"OK. Are you OK?" Brian asked, concerned.

"Yeah, I'll be fine," Melanie said. "I'm just tired."

"OK," Brian said.

"Is Mom home?" Melanie asked.

"No, she's working," Brian said, glancing at Roger. Roger looked confused and Brian quickly explained. "She works a night job and sometimes does a day shift, too."

"Wow," Roger said. "That's a lot of work. Good for her." Brian smiled.

"OK," Melanie said, and she started to climb the stairs, "sorry I'm not being too much fun, Roger. I had a great time."

"I'm glad you had fun," Roger said. "We'll do it again some other time, OK? You just go rest."

"OK. Thanks," Melanie said, smiling at him, and she went upstairs.

At first, I wasn't sure when I wanted Melanie to meet Roger's parents. But they're teenagers, so it probably would happen rather quickly. Roger's dad's name is after Andrew Lloyd Weber, actually, and his mother is after Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks, one of my favorite women in the world.

As always, don't forget to review. I love feedback so don't forget to give me some. :)

Until next time, lots of love,

Renthead07