[[[all of my flaws]]][[[part ii]]]

41.

I launched the water at Kyle, who stepped to the side at the very same moment, revealing Lily in the doorway. The water hit her full in the face. Silence fell. She stood there, drenched, her mouth wide open in shock.

'Oh shit.' Will muttered. No one dared speak. Then Kyle began to chuckle, soon followed by Woody. I stood still, not knowing what to do. She glared at me for a full ten seconds before wiping her face with her hand.

'You're a dead man.' She said, running past us and to the pool. She picked up a glass and threw the water at me, soaking me through.

'Game on!' I laughed. I ran at her, making her scream and run away. But her little legs were no match for my long strides. I caught her in moments and picked her up by the waist, carrying her under my arm towards the pool.

'Nooooooo!' She squealed. 'Put me down!' She was hammering my back with her fists. I got closer and closer and she got more frantic. When I reached the pool I dangled her upside down, her head just inches from the water. And then I placed her gently back down onto the floor.

She couldn't stop grinning at me, but still gave me a swift punch in the arm. And then suddenly I was falling backwards into the water. She had pushed me with all her weight, my heels hitting the edge of the pool and toppling me over. I grabbed her hands and down she came with me. I splashed into the pool and she landed on top of me. We both screamed with laughter.

'I win.' She grinned, splashing me, but not possibly getting me any wetter than I already was. She stayed astride me, not really noticing the position we were in. I stared up at her brown eyes and her blond hair sopping round her face. Water dripped from her nose and onto my lips.

'I don't think anyone's winning in this situation.' I told her, looking at how wet we each were. And then more water was thrown at us by the three boys. Lily ruffled up my hair with a grin and jumped up, chasing her brother, Will and Kyle with a bowl. I lay back in the water and watched. Her white shirt clung to her skin, turning it pink. Her shoes were leaving puddles as she ran. I could feel where she'd been sat moments ago. The closest we'd been in four years. And it was not helping me forget how much I wanted to be with her.