“You know, there are much better training grounds than this,” Leslie stated, glancing uneasily back at Celeste’s house from where we stood on the shore of the pond.
“I like this one,” I replied with a shrug. “It’s out of the way and no one can see us.”
“Yes, that’s the problem.”
I rolled my eyes. “Celeste isn’t even here. I know you don’t like her, but –”
“I don’t dislike her,” Leslie responded quickly. “I just don’t trust her.”
I let out an exasperated groan.
“She’s too nosy!” Leslie blurted out. “Almost like a, oh, I don’t know, a spy.”
I rubbed my eyes. Leslie could be ridiculous sometimes. “Are we going to do what we came here to do or not?” I asked finally, desperate to change the subject.
Leslie cast one more suspicious glance at Celeste’s house which only annoyed me more. “Alright,” they said. “How are we gonna get Tazina into an underground room?” Leslie moved their hands through the air, the vibrant hues of the strings weaving through their fingers as they constructed a room on the shore. Once they were done, the room had three windowless concrete walls with the opening facing the pond.
“The only way I can see is unraveling the ceiling,” I stated, walking into the room. The air instantly grew cooler once I was inside. I examined the walls and ceiling of the make-shift room as I heard Leslie say something, though I couldn’t understand a word.
I found the golden thread attached to the artificial ceiling and tugged. “Whoa!” I heard Leslie exclaim. Splash!
When I turned, I saw Leslie propped up on their elbows in the pond, completely soaked. “I am so sorry!” I shouted through laughter as I ran over.
Leslie raised an eyebrow at me. “You laughing doesn’t make you seem that sorry.”
I covered my mouth as I continued giggling. “I’m really sorry,” I said through tears. “I had no idea you were up there.”
“Uh-huh. Ha ha ha. Are you at least gonna help me up?” Leslie reached an arm toward me.
“What? No,” I replied.
“What?! Help me up, damn it!”
“Oh, no, I don’t think so,” I said. “I have read enough of those books you like and seen enough shows to know how this goes. You are exactly the kind of person that would pull me in with you.”
Leslie stared at me for a moment, their arm still outstretched. “I can’t even argue with that. I am most definitely that kind of person.” They let out a dramatic sigh as they stood up. “Ruining all my trouble-making plans. Such a pity.”
“Yes, the absolute worst,” I said sarcastically as they trudged out of the pond. “Such a shame I won’t be as soaked as you.”
Leslie rolled their eyes. They glanced down at their clothes, scowling intensely at the wet mud patches they were covered in. “I’m… going home to change.”
I snorted out another laugh which earned me a glare from Leslie.
“I’m really sorry,” I said again, still laughing.
They playfully flicked some water at me, then marched off.
To be continued…