Haven Tales

Chapter 31: The Pool Party

  "It's not fair," said Mikki to herself. She was lying in her bedroom on a Saturday morning in late June, wearing nothing but an oversized T-shirt as pajamas. She had woken up a bit late as she stayed up a little late last night; she had been at Zoe's pool party.
When she woke up, she couldn't stop thinking about the party - specifically the luxurious pool in Zoe's backyard. After all, she had been longing for a pool of her own for years.
"So many people in Grand Haven get to have swimming pools in their backyards, while I don't."
Mikki slowly sat up from her position on the bed where she was lying and sighed. "And yet my parents spend so much money on things for themselves that they don't need whereas I've been begging them for a pool for years."
She groggily made her way out of the bedroom and into the bathroom, where she washed her face. The cold water felt refreshing and woke her slightly from her still half-asleep state.
"Good morning, Mom, Dad," called Mikki as she walked down the stairs slowly into the kitchen, where her parents were waiting for her.
"Good morning to you, Mikki," answered Wanda. "Is anything bothering you?"
Mikki almost blurted out what she had been thinking this morning. "You see, e-"
She stopped herself, though, as it would be useless at this point to keep asking considering how her parents had always replied to her in the past every single time she asked for a backyard pool. It was always "no", "we don't have the money", "no is no", "you need to take no for an answer", and the like.
Having heard what Mikki was about to blurt out, Fred said "What?"
"Nothing," replied Mikki. She looked at the table and noticed pancakes and bacon at her seat. "Mmm, bacon."

Mikki ate a bit more slowly than usual and didn't make much contact with her parents. She couldn't get her thoughts from Zoe's party and that morning out of her mind.
"Mikki, you're abnormally quiet," said Fred. "Why don't you tell us what's on your mind?"
"Absolutely nothing at all," replied Mikki.
"You sure?", asked Fred. "We did have a big surprise we were going to tell you about when you came down, but we weren't sure if we should say it right away because you weren't acting like your usual cheerful self this morning."
"A...surprise?" Part of Mikki felt like it would be something good that might get her mind off her jealousy, while part of her also doubted it would be anything that would cheer her up.
Wanda smiled brightly as she told her daughter "Mikki, we can't begin to express how proud of you we are for how well you did on your finals this year. You promised your grades were going to go up, and they did."
"So we thought we'd reward you," added Fred.
"How?", asked Mikki.
"Look in the backyard," replied Wanda.
Mikki got up out of her seat at the kitchen table, put on a pair of slippers, and made her way to the backyard. Gone was the playground set she had outgrown many years ago, yet remained in her backyard. In its place was an in-ground pool.
Mikki was completely speechless. She quickly ran out of the backyard, doing a happy dance as she went along, and ran up to her bedroom.
She changed into a swimsuit and called BJ on her phone.
"Hey honey!", Mikki said excitedly. "You'll never believe what I just got in my backyard!"
"Oh? What is it?", asked BJ.
"My parents finally installed a pool!", replied Mikki. "You don't know how long I've been wanting one for. I'm, like, more excited than I've ever been before. You should totally come over for a pool party!"
"I'm in" BJ replied.
With that, he changed into his swimsuit and rushed right over.
"Hey honey" he said as he kissed her on the cheek.
"Hey yourself" Mikki replied.
"So who all is coming to this pool party" BJ asked.
"I think you know" Mikki answered.
"Okay" BJ said as he waited with his girlfriend.
The first guests to arrive were Trina, Staci and Lena.
"Hey gurrrrrrrrl" Staci said as they arrived.
"Hey Staci. Glad you could make it" Mikki replied.
"Thanks for inviting us" Trina said.
"You're welcome, dear" Wanda said as she walked by.
Just then, Mika and Alex pulled up
"Hey guys. We're here" Mika said.
"Great" BJ replied.
"What's up? Aren't you glad to see me" she asked.
"I am" BJ answered.
"Good" Mika replied.
After the others arrived, the party started with Bailey and Ayanna playing their guitars before they eventually jumped into the pool.
"Cannonball" Summer exclaimed as she jumped off the diving board.
"Whoa. Nice diving, Sum" Ashley replied.
"Thanks. Now let's just enjoy the sun and fun" Summer said.
"Good idea" Ashley said as she tossed her a beach ball.
Meanwhile, Ella decided prank BJ by going underwater.
"Heheheheheh. It feels like something's tickling me" he said as he laughed.
"Hmmmmm..... Someone is probably pranking you" Mikki replied.
"That could be the case" BJ said just as Ella resurfaced.
"Okay. Ya got me" he continued as he noticed Ella was behind him.
"What can I say? Pool parties are meant to be fun" she said.
"That's true" BJ replied.
A while later, Fred set up a volleyball net.
"Just thought you kids would like to play some volleyball" he said.
"Okay" Mikki replied as her dad tossed her a volleyball
After a few games, the sun was starting to set.
"I wish this day would last forever" Mikki said as everyone got out of the pool and dried off.
"Yeah. I had a great time" BJ said as he gave her another kiss on the cheek.
"Come here, you" Mikki said as she dragged her boyfriend into Smooch City.
"Awwwwwwwwwww. That's cute" Ella said as she saw them kissing.
"Oh. Heheheh. I didn't think anybody was watching" BJ said as he and Mikki started to blush  "You guys make a cute couple" Jenna said.

"Thanks" Mikki replied.

"You're welcome" Jenna said