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not beta'd

storyline - malicious

prompts - shifty, nifty, thrift(y)

I knew it.

It's Monday morning, first day of two-a-days, and you're here way early, before anyone else. Back in the day you were always here first, but it was to get in a little extra training time, not because you were trying to avoid an audience.

I used to come early to train extra, too. But today I came because… I don't know. Maybe I thought you needed a little moral support. You look all right, though, better than all right. You're cutting through the water like a hot knife in butter, like you never left, like you were never afraid.

Easing the door shut, I walk swiftly past, not wanting to interfere with you.

"Hey."

I turn slowly, hoping you don't think I'm spying or something.

"You were in the zone," I say, smiling a little.

You nod, snapping your goggles off and wiping your face.

"How do you feel?"

"Good." You smile. "Really good."

"Coach'll be relieved," I say, stepping backward toward the girl's locker room. "I'll be right back."

Talking to you without bickering or bantering still feels strange, but not unwelcome. I actually feel comfortable. There was a point where seeing you made me anxious, for no reason other than I didn't trust you. But you're straightforward these days, not shifty or sly; I no longer feel like you're out to get me.

We're not enemies anymore.

I change quickly, craving the water. Craving…

…a swim.

Watching somebody execute the butterfly as well as you do is always something to marvel at. I guess I didn't let myself appreciate it before; you had your own fan club of which you were president.

I don't mind watching now. You've changed, but so have I.

Diving in at the deep end, I start off slow, clearing my head, getting myself in to focus. You catch up and we swim silently, in tandem, until the rest of the team shows up.

You may not have needed me in order to get back in to the water, but I know you appreciate my company.

I know because I appreciate yours.

"So what's going on with you and Edward?" Rose asks. Her back is to me, because she's hanging this nifty little wind chime she found at the thrift shop earlier, but I know she's got a smug little smile going on.

"Let me guess. You and Emmett have been discussing us."

"Aha, so you acknowledge that there is an 'us'. I mean, that you two are an 'us'," she says. "Is this good here, or should I hang it in the window over my desk?"

"I like it there."

"Good, me too." She jumps down off her chair and stands back, admiring her latest trinket. "This was a good find."

"Yeah, it was," I agree, loving how the tiny crystals refract sunlight, sending prisms across Rose's bedroom wall. "Although it's a wind chime and you have it indoors."

"I'll just keep my fan on so it blows the chimes," she adds, making me snort. "So, like I was s-"

"Are you at the beach this weekend?" I interrupt.

"Yeah, Saturday and Sunday actually. Jake asked me to cover for him."

I plop down on to her bed. "Oh, yeah… he asked me too but I'm already guarding on Sunday."

"Right. Now stop changing the subject." She sits beside me, kicking my thigh on purpose.

"Ow."

"Edward. You've been all nurturing and present in his life lately."

I shrug uncomfortably, gazing at the sparkles in the window. "He's behaving himself. Who am I to hold a grudge?"

At that, Rose guffaws loudly, kicking me again. "Yeah right!"

I sit up, kicking her back. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Dude, you held a grudge for like two years…"

"That's because he kept on doing stupidness that was very deserving of a grudge. He's finally chilled out, thank God." I roll my eyes. "I was beginning to wonder."

"Well…" Rose gets that look, the one where she has something secret and juicy. "You know he likes you."

"Mm."

"Maybe his brush with death forced him to stop playing games and focus on what's truly important."

"'Brush with death'? Have you been watching those crazy caught on video shows again?"

"Shut up, stop…avoiding."

"Okay, fine. I totally agree with you. It's just not something I'm comfortable thinking about."

"But why?"

"Because it's weird! He goes from being antagonizing to really nice… excuse me if it takes a while to adjust to."

"He's always liked you, though."

"Doesn't excuse his shiteous former behavior."

"True. But he's matured."

I stare at her in disbelief. "When did you become Edward's advocate, Rose? You used to hate him almost as much as I did."

"The day you pulled him from the water… that really freaked me out. It really put things in perspective, like, all the stuff we cared about is nothing compared to almost dying." She sighs loudly. "And now, he follows you around like a puppy. It's so pathetic and sweet."

I grimace.

"Aren't you curious?" she presses.

"About what? Edward?" I shake my head. "I know Edward."

"You think you know Edward."

"What, you know him?"

"No, but Emmett does." The irritating little know-it-all smile is back. "And I happen to know that Edward does, in fact, worship you like the goddess you are."

"You should be a writer. Or a life coach."

"Look at me and tell me you have absolutely no feelings for him," she demands.

Thunder rumbles in the distance. The fan hums. My stomach growls and somewhere down the street, a dog barks.

"Yeah." She nods. "That's what I thought."

aw, looks like we're warming up now, aren't we? sigh. may-haps now edward will see that girls prefer wooing to warring.

so, how many of you dangle wind chimes? ha, just kidding. or how about: what do you dangle? wind chimes or wind socks?

feel free not to answer. this is what happens when i get giddy/silly/sleepy.