Valid Weaknesses ||Completed|| #Wattys2017

Chapter 6

Genesis

"Eeeek!" I scream as the cold spray of water hits my back.

"Sorry." Jerry smirks but he doesn't look sorry at all.

I'm about to complain when I spot Patty behind me with a bucket load of water. She motions to me in the universal sign to keep quiet so I move steadily towards Jerry, smiling innocently.

"It's okay." I say, keeping a few inches between us. "You didn't mean it."

Clueless still, he starts to shake his head when "Whoosh!" Patty upends the entire bucket of water over his head. Jerry is soaking wet and the expression on his face is priceless!

Exchanging high fives, Patty and I are laughing so hard that we barely notice when Tyler slyly picks up the hose and bathes us both.

Screaming, we scamper way but not before Josh Donovan, Javi's youth group director spots us.

"Are we here to wash cars or take baths?" he chuckles gesturing at us. "You lot need to work a little bit harder yeah?"

"Yes Josh." Patty and I say in unison. "Sorry Josh."

"Nah, don't think about it." He laughs, picking up a bucket. He acts like he's walking away but then stops when he gets close to Tyler, splashing most of the water on him purposely. Tyler, with Javi's help, begins chasing him with a hose and Josh takes off, darting between the cars.

"Go Josh!" Patty and I scream as a crowd of teenagers begins to form. A few of them still have their hands covered in soap suds or filled with cleaning equipment but they all share the same crazed look in their eyes so much so that before you know it, our little distraction morphs into a full blown war.

I like Josh, I decide as I hose a nearby teenager down. I like adults who can still interact with us teens and just have fun while still allowing us be ourselves.

"Truce!" Josh's voice booms through to all of us. We all stop, mid battle to turn our attention to him.

When had he picked up the megaphone?

"Let's try and get back to work shall we?"

Reluctantly, we relent from our weapons and begin using them on the cars instead. My clothes are soaked through and my hair is matted to my face with half my head covered in suds but I'm so happy I really don't mind!

By evening we're all so exhausted from washing so many cars that it's a welcome relief when Josh announces its closing time.

"Gather round folks." He says, megaphone in hand. As a group, we all head collectively inside the garage.

"Well done everyone!' Josh begins, ever present smile never leaving his face. "It's been quite a day and I must say, I am so grateful to all of you who turned up for this event and so so proud."

"We've worked and we've had fun." He pauses for effect and a few people chuckle. "And today." He continues, pausing once more to glance around. He has this glint in his eyes that makes them sparkle. "We have all been able to work together and together, we have managed to raise $2000 dollars for the Galveston Orphans home!"

We all erupt in a bout of cheers and whistles. A few people start pumping their fists in the air excitedly, screaming with enthusiasm

"You ought to be very pleased with yourself." He says. "Well done everyone!" He claps and encourages us to do the same. After that, Josh says the closing prayer and allows us to mingle, informing us that we can now head home.

Patty grabs me from behind. "I'm so happy we could help!" she cries excitedly bouncing on her heals.

"Me too!" I smile. We begin navigating through the crowd to find the boys, stopping to talk to a few people on the way.

"Thanks for inviting us Javi." I say, pulling him in for a hug before letting Patty do the same. "We really had a good time."

"Totally." Jerry says, fist bumping Javier.

"You're all welcome." He replies, trying to play it cool while glancing across at Tyler who has begun to talk.

"I've gotta admit," he says in his alluring accent, shaking his head. "I really really didn't want to come." He smiles flashing perfectly white teeth. "But this." He gestures wildly at everything around us. "This was totally awesome."

"Told you." Javi replies, smirking.

"I'm glad you came." Patty says and Tyler nods his head in agreement. That said, we all begin packing our stuff before heading outside to say our goodbyes.

"And Gen?" Javi says, stopping me in my tracks.

"Yeah?"

"Tell your dad I said thanks for bringing his car over earlier today."

"Sure thing."

"Alright." He replies. "Bye Gen." he waves, joining the others who are headed in a different direction.

"Bye Javi." I call, waving back.