Sorry if this chapter is a bit off. I had to get my Kindle Fire's charging port fixed so I had to resort to an array of alternative devices for writing including my phone (not a good idea).

Golden Eagle

Chapter XIII:

Fun in the Sun

It was a boiling hot Saturday and Alicia was sat on her bedroom floor in a baggie white t-shirt and beige cargo-shorts with her hair in two plates to keep it off her neck. She absent-mindedly drank a cold drink through a straw as she randomly sketched in her sketchbook. It was just doodles of anime characters, animals and even the Eiffel Tower. Her mind was blank on how to tell her friends that her mother was Bridget Foley, a brilliant designer and highly influential businesswoman.

"Hey, Ali! C'mere, would you?!" Grant called.

"Coming, Papa!" Alicia called back.

She got up and grabbed her drink to slurp as she walked. Donno flew off the bed where he was reading a manga and fitted himself into her cargo-shorts' pocket. Alicia walked out of her bedroom and down the spiral staircase to the open-plan living area. She froze in place when she noticed the door was open and they had guests. Adrien, Nino, Marinette, Alya and... Nathan!

"Hey, Alicia, we were wondering if you wanted to hangout with us today? We hardly see you outside of school and the anime club," Marinette said.

"Yeah and it's suuuuuper hot today so Adrien said we could go swimming at his place," Nino added "You in?"

Alicia looked over at her father to get his opinion only to see Grant trying to hold in the joy that his anti-social daughter had a reasonably large group of friends. She finished her drink and put the glass on the kitchen counter.

"Sure, just let me get my swimsuit on," she said and she turned away to head back into her room.

As she was getting ready, the problem of her Miraculous came up. She couldn't wear it and go swimming. They'd see it in a heartbeat! After a confrontation with Donno, he agreed to her taking it off as long as it was in arm's reach. And so, Alicia put her Miraculous in its box then in a watertight baggie and then into the bottom of her swim kit. She also replaced the plaster covering her cut palm with a waterproof one (her hand was healing nicely).

A dip in the pool was exactly what they all needed. Alya and Nino didn't wear prescription swimming goggles since they were far-sighted and could see close up pretty well but Alicia was short-sighted so she did. She cautiously put them on but got no mean comments about them. Back at her old school, they did a swimming lesson once a week and each time she was made fun of for wearing prescription goggles.

"Break out the pool toys and let's have some fun in the sun!" Alya exclaimed.

"It's so hot today, are we sure it's still only February?" Adrien asked as he and Nino grabbed some beach balls from the side of the pool.

"It'll probably rain soon," Alicia mumbled.

They started to play pool volleyball except with two balls and three teams of two. The water splashed around as they dove this way and that to hit the ball back into the air. Alicia went under and experienced the slow, muffled sounds of the water. She waved her arms to stay upright before she floated back to the surface and gasped in fresh air.

"Hey, Alicia! Catch!"

Alicia only had seconds before Nino threw a pool noodle at her. She just managed to catch it and she wrapped it around herself to float back on. That didn't stop her from using the ends to attack her friends, though. Everyone quickly got into a pool noodle duel.

"YAH!" Nathanaël exclaimed as he smashed his 'weapon' onto the pool water to make a splash.

They continued to mess around in the water. From squirting each other with water-soakers to tipping off the person sitting in an inflatable ring, they did it all and then some. Growing tired, Alicia pulled herself onto the pool edge and sat down. Nathanaël came swimming over and leaned against the edge next to her. Adrien and Alya then returned with cold drinks for everyone and they all happily sipped.

"Can't remember the last time I had so much fun in this pool," Adrien said "Pretty sure my father only got it to make sure I knew how to swim in the event,"

"I've never been one for pools," Alicia admitted "I mean, I like swimming but public pools always freaked me out what with all the people and the germs and my prescription goggles,"

"Well, this pool is only filled with friends, my father has it cleaned literally everyday and what's the problem with prescription goggles? They help you see just how much fun you're having," Adrien said.

Alicia found herself smiling as she sipped her ice-cold drink. It had been three weeks(ish) since she moved to Paris and she already had good friends. The day couldn't get any better... but it could definitely get worse because as a moment of silence fell over them, they heard a very spoiled voice.

"Adrikins!"

Adrien inhaled his drink and spluttered at the sound of her voice. There was Chloé wearing a white swimsuit and a yellow lace shrug. She moved her leopard-print sunglasses onto her forehead and approached the poolside.

"Adrien! Why didn't you invite me to come swim?" she complained.

"Uhh..." Adrien croaked.

"Because this is an anime club activity and you're not a member, Chloé," Marinette said, covering for the boy she was in love with "Besides, isn't there a pool at your place?"

Chloé crossed her arms and pouted.

"We were just about to start the anime discussion for today..." Adrien lied "Do you... want to join us?"

"Why, Adrikins! Of course I'll join you! No need to beg me so," Chloé over-exaggerated.

She took off her shrug, threw it at Alicia as if she was a coat rack and slipped into the water right next to Adrien. They knew they had to get Chloé bored enough to leave so they started by talking about anime.

"Episode 12 of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, what did you guys think?" Alya began.

[SPOILER ALERT]

"Awesome! Meeting Ed and Al's old teacher? How cool is that?!" Nino exclaimed.

"Izumi is pretty kick-ass too!" Nathanaël said, triumphantly tipping his head back to finish his drink.

Chloé slouched.

"Aaaaaaanyway..." she whined "Adrien? Can you-"

Marinette suddenly cannon-balled into the water and splashed Adrien, Chloé and Nino where they sat in the corner. Adrien and Nino pushed off further into the water to splash her back. Alicia threw Chloé's shrug back at her and jumped back into the water herself only for Nathanaël to come up from beneath her to sit her on his shoulders.

"AAH! Nathan!" she exclaimed.

"Who's up for Chicken?" Nathanaël asked.

"Me!" Adrien responded "Marinette, Alya? One of you wanna be my partner?"

Marinette froze and stammered while Alya rolled her eyes.

"I'll be your partner, Adrikins!" Chloé said.

"NO!" Marinette suddenly yelled "I'll... be your... partner... Adrien,"

Adrien dived under the water and stood back up with Marinette on his shoulders. Nino offered his hand to Alya and they joined the round-up. Chloé sat on the poolside and crossed her arms as the others began trying to knock each other off their partner's shoulders. Alya and Alicia teamed up to tickle Marinette into falling off of Adrien's shoulders. They both crashed into the water before coming back up and laughing together. Alya and Alicia then locked arms in an attempt to force the other into the water. With a splash, they both fell back in and left Nino and Nathanaël just standing there. They shrugged and dunked under the water too. Chloé glared at them when she noticed the designer label on Alicia's swimsuit.

"AGAIN?!" she screamed "How the heck do you have a Bridget Foley swimsuit?!"

"Oh... I don't know," Alicia sighed, lazily floating around the pool "Maybe because Bridget Foley's my mother?"

"WHAT?!" Chloé screamed.

"Whoa, what-now?" Marinette asked "Bridget Foley's your mother? But you have different last names!"

"My parents are divorced so my brother and I have our father's surname while our mother went back to her maiden name when her career took off," Alicia explained "After she heard I was in hospital, she insisted on coming at the end of the month once her fashion show is over. I just wanted to tell you before then,"

"As if! Adrikins is the only child of a fashion designer here!" Chloé screamed again.

"Quit screamin', Chloé," Adrien sighed.

Alicia swam back over to the poolside and pulled herself out. She dried her hands and took her phone out to find a family picture. She showed it to Chloé and you could see the disgusted look of anger on the spoiled girl's face. It was Bridget hugging both Alicia and Kier. You could see she and her mother shared the same bright green eyes and Kier shared their mother's red hair. Looking at them together, you couldn't deny their family resemblance.

"On the upside, Chloé, since I live with my dad now and she's coming here, the Bridget Foley brand will be available in France soon," Alicia said.

Chloé looked ready to burst. She pushed Alicia's phone out of her face and yanked herself out of the pool only to fall back into it. She resurfaced with mascara running down her face and her shrug soaking wet. They couldn't help but chuckle and Chloé stormed off the premises. Adrien couldn't help but burst out laughing and the others soon followed.

"Yikes, Alicia, you should've told us you had such an influential mother," he laughed.

"Well, I knew people like Chloé would try to be fake friends with me if they knew my mum was rich and powerful," Alicia said "But she's not as terrifying as she seems. Yes, she's a pretty kick-ass businesswoman and fashion designer but she's also a really loving mother and she can be childish too. Actually, she introduced me to anime during the divorce,"

"Cool, I can't wait to meet her," Marinette said.

"Me either," Nathanaël added.

Alicia smiled and put her phone away.

"It's getting pretty late," Adrien said "You guys wanna go in? We can have some homemade pizza and then the Gorilla can take ya home,"

They all chimed in their thanks and began climbing out of the pool. Alicia looked into her swim kit to see the Miraculous box still safe and sound inside. Nathanaël offered her her towel before they all went into the house.

...Alicia's Bedroom, later that night...

Alicia opened up the Miraculous box and lifted her pendant out. She did the clasp behind her neck and Donno reappeared in a ball of light. The Kwami then floated around her head as she undid her plaits to let her hair down and took off her glasses.

"So? How was swimming?" he asked.

"Awesome. I told everyone my mum's Bridget Foley so that's off my chest," Alicia answered "Next up is... Mum's actual visit, school work and protecting Paris,"

"But for now?" Donno asked.

"For now... sleep,"

She dived under her covers and snuggled up tight. Donno turned off the light and hovered into the nest he'd made himself on the shelves. Alicia smiled as her eyes grew heavier and she let them close. Life was... pretty good at the moment.