WHAT IS THIS? AN UPDATE? HOLY CRAP I DON'T EVEN…

Just kidding. Sort of. I haven't updated for an extremely long time because of dumb school work and stuff with family and all that jazz. So I have reached a decision… With votes from people. Also I have a new idea that somewhat works in this category so be expecting a new, sort of twisted story coming up! Please enjoy Chapter Six!

Magenta expertly skirted down the path, dodging roots, branches, and overgrowth on the beaten road. Columbia and I fumbled after, hitting everything that Magenta had enough skill to get around. The incline deepened and soon we were heading down a slight hill. I knew what was coming after this.

We walked on, once again silent, continuing down the hill as it got steeper and steeper. Our pace quickened, Columbia one step away from taking everything down in her path, and me not far behind. Magenta still led. She better slow down, I found myself thinking. Otherwise she might hit the-

SPLASH.

Uh-oh.

Columbia and I skidded to a stop, gazing horrified into the glassy water at our friend who had just plunged into the chilly, dark water. Magenta had splashed in and was now soaked from her hair to her fishnets. Slowly she rose from the water.

"Welcome to the pond?" I offered, watching the steamed Magenta practically boil the water around her feet.

"Thanks, kid." She grumbled after a period of contemplating what would be the best thing to say in this situation. Shaking the water off her dress and body, she walked back onto land.

"I was going to tell you to slow down because the shore cuts off right away but you're really hard to keep up with." I insisted. She didn't look convinced so I just left it at that.

"ANYWAY," squealed Columbia, breaking the short-lived silence that had fallen like an anvil. "I don't see Rocky here."

"That's because you haven't gotten on the dock yet. If Rocky's anywhere around the pond, we'll be able to see him off it."

"Oh! Then where's the dock?"

"That's the part I forgot to mention," I sighed. "The dock got detached in a rough storm we had back in Denton a few years ago. So it's not exactly the closest to the shore."

"Well where is it? I wouldn't mind getting a bit wet. Magenta's already there." Columbia giggled, soon stopping and jumping behind me in fear as Magenta turned an icy glare in her direction.

I looked out at the pond. The full moon reflected silver on the dark, glassy water. In the center of the large pool, a wooden block with a long ladder floated back and forth.

"I'm not getting back in that water."

"Well someone's coming with me."

"Kyara, not to burst your bubble or anything, but you're not exactly wearing the best swimwear," Magenta pointed out, looking disapprovingly at the nurse outfit that checked out well above my knee. I looked down at it too, realizing everything she said was completely true. "Also, for the last time, I'm not getting back in that water."

I turned and grinned at Columbia. She looked at me and then, after a considerable amount of time, finally got what I was trying to imply. To my sure surprise, she looked significantly excited. "We get to go swimming?"

I looked around, just to check that the real Columbia wasn't hiding in a bush or something, but then I turned my line of vision back to her and simply said, "Yes."

She squealed with delight and took off her sequin jacket, all the while babbling endlessly to Magenta and I. She threw it at Magenta who immediately dropped it on the sandy soil in a flurry of gold sparkles. Columbia sat down and took off her shoes and fishnets and top hat and was soon ready to go. I took off my heels and fishnets as well, and my nurse hat.

"Ready to go?" I asked, dipping my foot to test the water. The pond wasn't too cold; it could've been much worse. Columbia, without an answer, bounded into the water, diving into the shallow part headfirst.

I jumped in after her, smiling, then diving into the water. It felt strange with my revealing pleather dress, the water around it skidding right off it. I finally caught up to Columbia, who had boundless energy in every direction. She wasn't letting her head go beneath the water.

"Columbia, you'll swim faster if you go underwater." I told her, watching her doggy paddle toward the middle of the lake.

"If I do then my makeup and hair will get messed up! Like yours!"

Shit. I'm wearing makeup.

"Oh, well no one's going to see you…" I explained, mostly for self-comfort.

"Yeah! You will and Magenta will and Riff will and your friend will and Rocky will eventually when we find him and then-"

"Alright, fine I get it." I rolled my eyes and continued to swim toward the dock.

It's a good thing my dad knew how to swim and taught me. My mom wouldn't get anywhere near any body of water. I never knew why. It bothered me, though; all those years when I've asked for a pool in our yard mom's said no.

Dad has of course, agreed because if he ever opposed mom he'd be sleeping in Scamp's crate (that's our dog).

But I didn't mind. We had the pond, and that was good enough for me.

Faster than I expected, we had arrived at the dock. I cautiously climbed up the ladder that had at least 9 different types of sea life living on it, onto the broken down deck. The deck was in the shape of a V, extremely broken down and hard to stand on with more than one person.

Columbia joined me, standing on the near side of the wooden frame while I stood on the far side, to keep it balanced. She looked around.

"I don't see him."

"You need to look more carefully. The pond is big."

"Oh I see Magenta! Hi Magenta!"

Magenta didn't look up; she probably didn't hear her.

"I said," Columbia took a deep breath. "HI MAGENTA!"

Magenta finally looked up and gave a halfhearted wave to us.

Columbia turned back to me, satisfied. "Now where's Rocky?"

"If he's near the pond we'll see him." I turned around and squinted to see whatever I could in the darkness. I will be honest and say that I have terrible eyesight.

Thanks, Dad.

In any case, I left my glasses at home and could see Columbia, the dock, the ladder, and not much else. So I was relying on Columbia for her judgment.

Oh holy crap, why didn't I take Magenta?