This here is the First Story although more of a wholesome Moment Shot of 2024. Enjoy!
It was another hot day, Craig was with his mother, Nicole Williams going to the Town's Pool. Since his friends are away with their families spending time with them or their other friends. His father Daune was shopping for Jessica while Bernard was on another date with Alexis.
So today he was going to the pool upon arrival, they got out of the van. They went inside the entrance and placed their towels on the Pool Chairs.
"Okay, Craig ready to go swimming?" asked Nicole.
"Yes, I'm fully prepared for Swimming!" exclaimed Craig.
Then Craig stopped to notice a familiar deadpanned-faced girl with a bandana and Ponytail. An old enemy, an old adversary, a neutral person, or an ally and friend? This was Maya, former BFF of the King of the Otherside of the Creek, Xavier, and once the best friend of his friend Omar who was once the Green Poncho.
Before and after the Capture the Flag War, Craig would normally freak out when he saw her often popping out of nowhere. But things have changed since the Champions' Hike and now they are on Good Terms who knows when Maya and Omar's Long-lost Friendship will be restored?
"Craig? Who's that girl you see there?" Nicole asked interrupting Craig from his thoughts.
"Oh just a friend from the Creek, Mom?" Craig replied.
"Oh well, I'm gonna change and you better do it too Craig," Nicole responded as she left for the Changing Stall to dress into her swimwear.
"Yes, Mom!" Craig approached Maya. "Hi Maya, what a surprise to see you here?"
"Hey Craig, nice to see you too!" Maya responded. "What brings you to the pool?"
"My family and friends have to do other things so it's just Me and My Mom since it's a Hot Day today," Craig explained. "What about you and didn't you say you don't like to get your hair wet?"
"Yes, I do. Well, My mom wanted me to get out of the house, Omar is busy with other things with his family, and I don't have anything else to do. Lucky, I came prepared," Maya replied.
"Well, same here, Meet you at the Pool," Craig said as he went to the Men's Stall while Maya went into the Women's Stall.
Soon after a while, Nicole came out first her swim attire was a Yellow Bikini and she rested on the Pool Chair.
Next came Craig, in his favorite swim attire, his yellow swim trunks, white hat, and sandals smiling to get in the pool.
Last, Maya her swim attire was a black one-piece swimsuit and she was piling her hair together as she placed a black swim cap over her hair to keep the water out.
She was stepping out in a strut-like fashion with her long agile legs and her young athletic body stepping out into the open with her eyes closed.
Craig turned around and stared at her causing him to blush, something seeing her in this other than the other outfits she wears. It could be due to years of training, battling, and working out while she was the King's BFF she had a form of an athletic swimmer for a young 12-year-old.
"Craig? Craig?!" Maya said Snapping her fingers getting Craig out of his trance.
"Oh Sorry, Maya. I mean whoa," Craig replied trying to hide the blush.
Maya was left speechless seeing him not sure what to say next, is he okay?
"Are you okay Craig?" asked Maya. "Does it have to do with what I'm wearing to go swimming?"
"Um, Yes, No! I mean No! I mean, You see?" Craig thought he blew it after what he blurted out, now what Maya is gonna think of him?
"Well, if you wanna know spending two-three years fighting, sparring, battling, and working out while as the King's BFF can improve your body even in appearances, of course, there will be people gawking at you" Maya explained. "Also I did say I came prepared."
Maya gestured patting her swim cap on her head that is keeping her hair dry.
"Yeah, we're good. This stuff happens," Craig replied.
Then the young boy took off his sandals and sat on the pool's edge followed by Maya sitting next to him as they looked away.
"So what do you wanna do now?" asked Craig.
"I don't know, how about you decide?" Maya answered.
"Yeah, I'll think about it," Craig said looking down in the water. "Well, you know after the Champion's Hike, I'm starting to see a whole different side to you."
"Same here, you proved your worthiness in your own way. I'm starting to see you more differently as well, I mean things have been hard for me since the downfall of the King." Said Maya. "My Mom wanted me to get into a sports team, but I'm not sure?"
"Maybe think about it, you're skills might come in handy. I think you can do it," Craig said. "It's nice you're telling me this since we're friends now, and perhaps more than that, you're like a Big Sister."
"Hmm, They may come in handy, and It's good we're not enemies anymore, but something along the lines of relationships like we're siblings?" Maya replied in sarcasm. "We need to think about that!"
Then she looked down and noticed Craig scotched over to her more close to her. Craig placed his left hand around her waist and rested his head on her right shoulder. Maya slowly smiled placed her right hand around Craig's Waist and rested her head on his head. They looked at each other and closed their eyes.
After a while, Craig dove into the pool first while Maya watched as he surfaced.
"Come on in! The Water's Great!" Exclaimed Craig.
Maya smiled and dove right in next to him. They laughed as they splashed each other and swam about.
They had a Beach Ball to play catch and then Maya got a Pool Noodle to use to hit the Beach Ball as Craig caught it quickly. Then they switched to playing with Pool Noodles splashing and whacking each other. Next, there were swimming laps, either Maya or Craig tried to swim faster than the other before tying at the pool's edge.
Next was the Diving Board, Craig did a Cannonball as he ran and jumped off the Board and splashed into the water. Just as Craig surfaced for air, He saw Maya jumping off the board and dove into a straight position into the water.
Then Craig dived back underwater as he held his breath. He saw Maya smiling at him while holding her breath. They swam underwater side by side, above and below, to the bottom of the pool, and an underwater breathing contest.
Craig couldn't hold his breath as he swam back to the surface, and then Craig rose high as Maya surfaced out of the water with the girl holding Craig's legs with the boy on her shoulders they both laughed as Maya dropped him as the boy surfaced.
"I think it was a great day wasn't it Maya?' Craig asked Maya as she turned her head towards him.
"I think it is Craig, we should do this more often," Maya replied back.
"Maybe we should invite some of my friends over perhaps?" Craig asked worrying not to mention Omar.
"Yeah, your friends and the Champions of course," Maya said calmly as they fist-bumped.
"Yeah we should invite them," Craig said. "Wanna see how much I'm strong?"
"Yeah right, I would like to see you try!" Maya replied chuckling then she noticed Craig underwater. "Craig? Craig?"
Then Craig rose up grunting carrying Maya on his shoulders while holding her legs causing Maya to yelp as she spread her hands for balance before they were straight up.
They both laughed as they watched the sunset in the sky on another day at the pool between two new friends who were like Brother and Sister.