Hello my darlings, and Happy New Year! I usually don't have time to reply to reviews, so let me just say that I love all of you :) Extra huggles go to macymay201 and Smegs32, who I believe have reviewed every chapter—and of course, Princess Mariana, who has been such an amazing supporter of both "The Playground Chronicles" and "Demon in My View." Also, I'm sorry for the short chapters, but that's just the way that I write this fic. The next chapter is indeed a bit longer, though ;)

OoO

"Let's go swimming," Julian suggested when both children were done licking their fingers.

"Whatever happened to waiting 20 minutes after you eat?" Jenny glanced up skeptically, but Julian just responded with a dazzling smile. The blue-eyed boy stripped off his shirt, walked to the edge of a rock, and swan-dived into the lapping, blue-green waves below. Jenny watched as his head popped up above the water—an arctic ice cap floating inexplicably in the Pacific Ocean.

"The water's fine~" Julian called out in a musical cadence that made his invitation sound all the more tempting. While Jenny considered, Julian back-stroked lazily away from the jetty to show how absolutely perfect the ocean was today for swimming.

Well, What's another broken rule? Jenny thought, resigned. Luckily, she'd been planning on having swim class at the YMCA after school today, so Jenny was already wearing her trusty Speedo one-piece beneath her clothes. Once Jenny's top and capris were neatly folded on a dry rock, she pinched her nose, closed her eyes, and jumped as far from the jetty as she could manage. The water was an icy shock to Jenny's system. The blonde resurfaced, shivering and sputtering.

"It's cold!" She gasped accusingly.

"Feels fine to me," Julian shrugged, but there was a glimmer of mischief to his eyes. The Shadow-ling was obviously not sorry.

Jenny, who was by now used to her friend's behavior, didn't bother to respond. She layed out in her best Dead Man's Float, content now because the top layer of water was sun-warmed and pleasant. The golden afternoon rays felt lovely on Jenny's face, and her body had adjusted to the sea's slight chill.

"Beats math class, huh?" Julian's voice reached Jenny's ears on a cloud of Indian-summer warmth.

"Mm," Jenny hummed in agreement but left her eyes lightly closed.

"We should be careful though," Julian was going on, "I hear sharks like to hunt near shore this time of year."

"You're such a liar," Jenny muttered, though it was more of a statement-of-fact than an accusation. She knew Julian loved to freak her out.

"Da-dum, daa-dum, daaa-dum," Julian purred out the Jaws theme song, low and ominous, but Jenny refused to take the bait and tuned him out. She noticed immediately, however, when her friend's singing was abruptly cut off.

"Julian?" She mumbled drowsily. No answer. Jenny opened her eyes, looked around, and saw nothing but rolling azure waves. "Julian?" The girl repeated, louder this time as she turned herself right-side up in the water.

A minute ticked by, and Jenny felt a solid pit of dread begin to form in her stomach. What if Julian hadn't been kidding about the sharks? What if something had happened to him? What if she was next? What if, at this moment, a giant carnivorous fish was circling underneath her, ready to strike? What if—?

"Aiiiii!" Jenny shrieked when something cold and slimy clamped around her ankle, tugging the blonde sharply forward. Jenny thrashed madly in the water until her heel struck a firm-yet-yielding surface with enough force to make the grip on her leg loosen. With a whoop of victory, Jenny broke free and started swimming fiercely toward the jetty. The girl froze, however, when she heard a familiar liquid voice speaking from behind.

"Nice kick," Julian remarked, impressed. When Jenny turned, she saw that he was rubbing a red spot on his chest.

"You jerk!" Jenny exclaimed breathlessly, though her tone was saturated with relief. In lieu of replying, Julian mockingly waved a sea-weed wrapped hand at his startled friend. He was so busy being smug that he didn't have time to dodge the spray of salty water Jenny splashed at him. Julian blinked through his albescent bangs, which were now plastered wetly to his face, courtesy of Jenny offensive strike.

"Oh, you shouldn't have done that," Julian said in his most evil-sounding voice. Jenny was poised to kick away if Julian splashed back or lunged forward, but instead the boy slipped down, disappearing beneath the surface.

"No fair," Jenny complained to the open air, and she imagined how Julian would have chuckled in response. She wasn't nearly as concerned this time when a pair of lithe arms wound around her torso.

"Gotcha," Julian said in his friend's ear.

"Great. Now let me go," Jenny deadpanned.

There was a pause, then, "No, I don't think I will."

Jenny frowned. "Do I need to kick you again?"

Another pause. Just as Jenny was getting ready to squirm out of his grip, Julian said something completely unexpected; he said, "Rawr. I'm a shark."

Jenny couldn't help it—she burst out giggling. The arms around Jenny's stomach loosened as Julian joined her in the laugh. After a moment, their hysterics died down, and the pair swam back to the jetty without any verbal decision to do so; they both just knew it was time. Tired from swimming and unwilling to let the day end just yet, Jenny and Julian stretched out on the warm rocks and sunned themselves like lizards, lazy and content.