"If you dare ask me I'll turn around and walk straight back out of this room," I huffed as I collapsed face first onto Ben's bed on Friday afternoon.

"Ask what?" Ben spun around on his desk chair to regard me curiously.

"If I'm going to the swimming gala," I sighed yanking my hair back with my hands, "I mean I live here, why wouldn't I be going?"

"Who's asked you?" Ben enquired closing his maths book, leaving his homework still half incomplete.

"Who hasn't?" I complained rubbing my temples, "I can't walk ten paces without someone asking me if I'm going to the gala."

"Why is that a problem?" Ben grinned cheekily, "I'd love to have a boy ask me if I'm going to the gala!"

"You can take them," I rolled over to lie on my back despondently.

"Nah sounds too much like a practical joke to me," Ben chuckled at my despairing look. As I processed his words I shot up on his bed so quickly my vision swam for a moment.

"Of course," I smacked a hand to my forehead. "I'm sorry I have to go and yell at someone."

"Please do it quietly, I need to finish this," Ben instructed with a smug smile.

"I'll try," I fumed storming out of his room straight to Grey and Sawyers bedroom door which I rapped on in several severe knocks before turning and doing the same on Nico and Mitchell's.

"Is there a problem?" Grey stuck his head out of his bedroom door, his hair twisted in great waves around his head, in a similar fashion to a birds nest. He wore no top only simple sports shorts. I forced my eyes not to linger.

"Whatever's happened it was Nico's fault," Mitch announced simply as he strolled out of his room in the Kings Bridge sports uniform (apparently that's a thing), dark navy tracksuit bottoms and jacket with a thick red stripe running down the sides.

"I would object but it's probably true," Nico shrugged leaning out the door a smirk causing his cheeks to dimple.

"I reckon it was all of you," I regarded each of them in turn with a furious scowl, "telling everyone to ask me if I'm going to the gala, really funny."

"It is isn't it," Nico sniggered.

"It is not," I whipped around to him in irritation, "I can't go anywhere without being asked if I'm going, it takes me twenty minutes just to make it to my dads apartment."

"Well don't look at me," he held his hands up innocently, "I wish I could take all the credit but it was someone else's idea," he gave the slightest of nods towards Grey.

"Of course," I rounded on him, "you've probably been having a great time watching me get bugged by the entire school."

"Yep," Grey folded his arms across his broad chest, "I really have."

"Ugh," I knew I sounded like a bratty child as I clamped my arms over my chest in indignation. I knew I looked even more ridiculous when I marched straight to my room and slammed the door behind me leaving them to roar in laughter by themselves. But at least I'd made my point.

Kind of.

***

Sawyer knocked on my door promptly at 5:30, he complimented me and then we walked together to the swimming pool talking about music the whole way. As it turned out Sawyer had been taught by one of the most famous pianists in the country, something he'd kept quiet.

We arrived at the swimming pool when the place was nearly empty, the gala actually started at six but apparently we had to get there early to offer moral support.

When my mom played important games of cards, competitions and gambling against big dealers, she wouldn't speak to anyone for at least two hours beforehand. She said it was because she had to get her mind completely in the zone and reach a zen level of focus or something. However, the boys seemed to have an entirely new way of preparing for an important competition. They chanted and chided each other and jumped up and down to the beat of whatever song was blasting through the changing room at that particular moment.

I'd been allowed in, obviously after all the boys were changed into their shorts and dressing gown like robes to keep warm, but wasn't sure if I wanted to bear witness to the wildness of a pre competition boys locker room. The mood was chaotic as they all bounced about hyping each other up. None of the ten boys on the team looked nervous, least of all Grey, Nico and Mitch. Nico was acting the class clown as always, Mitch was giving motivating speeches to whoever would listen and Grey was sat on a bench his head resting back against the wall and eyes squeezed shut as he listened to whatever song he was playing into his headphones.

"You must be the envy of so many getting to be in here," a resonating, tenor voice broke my evaluation of the scene as I loitered on the fringes of the locker room. I expected to find Mitch beside me, he was the only guy I knew with a voice that deep but instead I was met with someone I'd barely spoken more than a few sentences to.

Humphrey Goldstein was the captain of the swimming team and towered over me at a size that would put even Mitch to shame. He made me feel like nothing more than a toy doll next to his great bulk. He looked older too, more of a man than boy with stubble across his chin and a weathered expression on his face that seeming years of hardship had chipped away at.

"Sorry," I stumbled realising that he'd said actual words that I needed to reply to, if I could only remember what they were.

"I mean you must be the envy of almost every school girl being here in the boys locker room," he was smiling and although I'm sure it was intended to look friendly it came out more ferocious. Like the rest of him his teeth were huge and wide, they could probably bite straight through my arm.

"I'm not really sure why I'm in here," I shrugged unable to come up with any better excuse, I was slightly worried he would kick me out, his imposing height gave him the feel of a strict teacher and I felt like the disobedient child.

"As long as you don't take any pictures or attack anyone I guess there's no problem with you being here," he attempted to make his voice sound more lighthearted but it still rumbled like a Giants roar, "plus it's nice to have you here."

Wait, was he trying to flirt with me?

"Thanks and um ... good luck out there," I gave a weak attempt at a smile anyone else would've seen straight through but he didn't react except to grimace-smile back, "I guess I should wish the rest of the boys good luck as you'll be competing soon."

I backed away slowly then spun my back sharply.

"Nice chat with Goldstein?" Grey's taunting voice hovered in my ear.

"Great," I nodded, "I managed not to burst into tears in front of the most intimidating 17 year old I've ever met so I think it went well."

"If I didn't know better I'd say he was flirting," Nico chimed in, why did they all just appear at once? This had to be pre-rehearsed.

"If I didn't know better I'd say it was none of your business," I snapped, "you know what I came to wish you good luck but I hope you both hit your heads and suddenly become really kind and thoughtful people."

"Nice try," Grey mocked clapping me on the back.

"Cara we should find our seats," Sawyer appeared by my side magically.

"Of course," I linked arms with him enjoying the feel of him by my side. As he started to guide me towards the door I yelled back to Mitch, Grey and Nico, "break both legs and both arms."

***

The atmosphere in the stands of the swimming pool was entirely different to the one at the football game, here there was a buzz of excitement rather than the rowdy aggressive calls of the crowd. The opposing schools were mingling and debating but mainly in pleasantries, this was a far more elite and sophisticated version of the match. The comparison between Kings Bridge and Ainsley High competitions was jarring.

My reaction was similarly different too, I became completely engrossed in watching the swimmers. Throughout each race, I sat right on the edge of my seat clutching it desperately as I watched my erratic heart pumping in my throat and adrenaline throbbing through every inch of my body. Each race was so minutely close it seemed almost unfair to announce one person the winner over another who'd arrived less than a second after them.

I tried to keep an eye out for Mitch, Nico and Grey to cheer them on but it became impossible to tell who was who among all the thrashing arms and splashing legs and logic told me that none of the boys would hear my shouts of encouragement anyway. However, I did see them when the results were a announced.

Nico won the butterfly, a boy from the opposing school won breast stroke, Mitch won backstroke, Grey won freestyle and another category I forgot. Kings Bridge won the relay and were the champions of the day.

When they all burst out the locker room wet and stinking of chlorine from the pool they were nearly inconsolable with triumph. Mitch picked me up as easily as a plastic doll and spun me around as he chanted the team song along with the rest of his teammates. Nico gave me a chest-breakingly tight hug then shook his dripping wet hair all over me. Grey found his way to my side and gave me a look that burned before nodding over the other side of the corridor where it was empty. I followed him over without hesitation.

"Congratulations," I reached up to hug him and allow his damp head to press against mine.

"Thanks," he released me, "so I wanted to ask you something ..."

"Don't you dare," I warned, "if this is another one of your practical jokes I'm not listening."

"No, nothing to do with that I promise," Grey amended quickly but he was smirking, "you see, my parents are having a charity fundraiser tomorrow. I was hoping to get out of it but my stepdad is being as asshole as usual and forcing me to go. The rest of the boys and their families will be there, to be honest most of Kings Bridge will be. I was just wondering if you wanted to come, it will be incredibly boring and filled with people so snobby they can barely see past the end of their own noses but it would be more fun if you were there."

"I'd love to," I nodded, then faltered slightly, "but are you sure it's okay that I go? Shouldn't you be going with one of the girls your stepdad picks out for you?"

"I should," Grey played with his hair causing water to drip out of the ends and run in long dark streaks down his t-shirt, "but I don't want to."

"Are you asking me to piss off your stepdad?" I folded my arms and regarding him seriously.

"No," Grey objected too quickly, "I mean yes and no, I do want you to come of course, pissing off Jordan is just a bonus."

"Is it bad that I'm completely okay with that?" I laughed.

"Not at all," Grey's entire face broke out into a grin that sent his eyes spitting and frothing with fire.

"So you're coming?" Mitch asked wondering over, after talking to Humphrey Mitch seemed so much less - huge

"Yep," I nodded shooting Grey a conspiratorial look.

Looks like I was now neck deep in the world of garden parties and fundraisers. I was now cordially invited into the world of the elite and atrociously wealthy.

Oh fuck! I had nothing to wear.