Lillian McCarthy

She clenches her teeth but moves forward still, discarding her shoes and socks as she goes. She shrugs off her robes and hikes her skirt in her fists, making a face as she takes her first steps into the water. There’s a mushy floor, which she knows will give way to solid and rocky feel in a few feet. But she resolves in the feeling for now, allowing herself the luxury of tempering her body with the water’s chill. “And you’ll visit me in the hospital wing when I come down with a mighty cold for this, will you?”

Lily clapped her hands as the other girl resolved to enter the water. She pulled her own socks off and splashed into the water. Gasping as the cold water hit her thighs, Lily continued slowly. Nodding, she laughed at Jenna’s question. “Of course! I’ll even bring you soup.”

“The Great Lake? No. Why? Is that some sort of a crime or something?”

“Well--not a crime but...Yes, it is a crime. A crime against being a student here!”

“To me, sticking around? You know, until your naturally funny side shows, of course.”

“Okay...But you have to leave immediately when it does show. And never speak to me ever again.”

“You can swim though can’t you? I don’t want to have to save your life…”

“Oh, yeah. You don’t have to worry about me.”

“Okay. Remember– you promised! And just so you know, I’m not afraid of swimming or anything, I’ve just never swam in the lake here and it’s unfamiliar you know?”

“You’ve never been in it at all?”

“I’m not going in that lake. End of discussion.”

“Fine. Then stay out and make sure I don’t drown, yeah?”

“Are you alright? Oh--Well, obviously not, sorry. Shit. Can I help?”

“Alright then fine, and don’t call me pansy..”

“Yay! Race ya in!”

“It’s not a death wish...It’s a ‘I’m bored of being inside all day’ wish! Big difference.”

“Alright– I kind of believe you,” Holly said nervously, “But you’re sure there’s nothing too dangerous in there, right?”

“Totally!” She waved her friend’s worry off. “Plus, we’ll only be in the shallow part.”

“Well, it’s not like I wouldn’t understand and respect a no if one was given,”

“What am I saying ‘yes’ to, again?”

“You could always shower...”

“Why do you even want to go into the lake?” Tanner asked, trying to look at only her eyes and nowhere else, “I don’t know if you realized but it’s bloody freezing and there are all sorts of things in there.”

“Is that an invitation to stay close?”

“No arguments here. I’m a total dork and super proud of it.”