Zaara cleared her throat. "You know what? How about we all introduce ourselves properly? Share why we chose to enter the Recall Trials. I think it's time we actually got to know each other. Not just names and numbers."
Everyone looked around, nodding slowly.
But just as someone opened their mouth to speak, the cold annoying voice spoke from the speakers:
"Good afternoon, contestants," the voice announced. "As promised, today is a stress-free day. You've earned it. In one hour, your pool party begins. Please check your lockers for your personalized swimsuits. Dress accordingly. And most importantly….have fun. The elites will be watching."
The speaker clicked off.
I scoffed out loud. "A pool party? What, are they gonna shoot us underwater this time?"
Carter groaned from his bed, flopping onto his back. "Honestly? Wouldn't even shock me at this point."
Let's meet again after the party," Zaara said. "Maybe even tomorrow morning. We'll keep talking. Keep figuring out where we stand. Together."
Everyone nodded, some more enthusiastic than others.
"Alright," Zaara said with a soft smile. "Let's just get through today."
And with that, everyone began shuffling out of the room, one by one. The energy had shifted.
"I'm not going," I said opening my locker to check out the swimsuit I was assigned.
"What?" Luca asked as he stood by his open locker, holding up a bright red swim trunk. "Bro, it's the only free day we'll ever get in this hellhole."
"I'm still not going," I muttered. "I don't care if they drop gold from the sky. Not after today."
People started moving some slowly, some excitedly.
I turned around and found Zaara sitting on one of the chairs in the locker room, she leaned against the wall, crossed her legs in front of her. She looked… thoughtful. Like she was somewhere else.
I walked over to her quietly.
"Hey," I said, trying to soften my voice.
She looked up at me with those tired eyes, like she hadn't slept all night. Which, yeah, she hadn't. Not properly. Not after the fever. Not after everything.
"I don't trust this," I told her. "I'm not going, pleaseee let's stay behind."
Zaara tilted her head, studying me for a moment, then said softly, "I'm going."
I blinked. "Wait, really?"
She shrugged. "Why not?"
I frowned. "Because… it's them. You think they're just gonna let us swim and eat cake?"
She smiled a little.
"Swimming is fun," she said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Who holds grudges against pool parties?"
I raised a brow at her. "People who just got punched, threatened, and manipulated into playing for their lives?"
Zaara let out a soft breath and leaned her head back against the wall. "I've never been to a real pool party before," she said. "We had a river near my house. That's where I learned to swim. I used to sneak out to it at night when things got loud at home. The water was cold, but it was peaceful."
"This might be the last time I ever get to do something fancy like this, Vincent. Even if it's fake. Even if it's surrounded by cameras and guards with guns. For just one night, I want to feel like a person."
That hit me. Hard.
I didn't say anything for a moment. I just looked at her, at the way she held herself…..strong but worn down. Tired but still stubborn. I wanted to tell her she didn't need to force it, but I got it.
And part of me hated how right she was.
"Okay," I said finally. "But… I'm not letting you out of my sight."
She chuckled. "I figured."
"I mean it," I told her. "If anything feels off, just the slightest, then we're out. I don't care if they shoot me on the way out. I'm not playing their games tonight."
Zaara nodded. "Alright."
She stood up then, a little slowly. She gave me one last look, like she wanted to say something else, then turned and walked off toward her locker to grab her swimsuit.
And me?
I sat down, stared at the wall, and tried to quiet that part of me that kept whispering this night wouldn't end well.
Few minutes later, Zaara stepped out from the changing corner with a first aid box in her hand.
My breath caught.
She stood in this soft blue swimsuit with open back that hugged every curve like it had been made just for her. Her hair was tied up, a few loose strands falling around her cheekbones. Her skin looked like sunlight had kissed it. It wasn't like I hadn't seen her bare before, I had. I'd bathed her. Washed her hair. But this was different.
"Does it look nice?" she asked, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Huh?" I blinked.
She smirked a little. "My swimsuit. Do I look weird in it?"
I shook my head. "No. I mean..yes. I mean….no, not weird. You're beautiful. I mean, it's beautiful. The suit. The color. Everything. It's... nice."
She smiled and walked up to me, with a small first-aid kit in hand, and knelt down in front of me. "Let me take care of that cut," she said softly, carefully cleaning the cut above my eyebrow from my fight with Theo. Her fingers were gentle, but every time she dabbed the cotton on my skin, I winced, though, it wasn't from the pain.
It was her.
She looked unreal in that swimsuit. The swimsuit, the thin straps, her eyes, her opened cleavage and the open back. It was clinging to every curve like it was tailored just for her.
"Stop staring at my boobs," she muttered, not even looking up.
"I'm not—"
"You are," she said, biting down a smile.
I smirked. "Fine. I am. Can you blame me though?"
She finally looked up then, her eyes meeting mine, and for a second… neither of us said anything.
The room felt too quiet.
"Hold still," she said, going back to cleaning the scrape near my jaw. Her fingers brushed my neck and my stomach tightened instantly.
I was trying really trying to be respectful. But my body wasn't cooperating. Not with the way she smelled, the way her thighs looked when she knelt like that, the little dimple in her cheek when she focused.
"You really didn't have to stay behind to do this," I said.
"I wanted to," she said.
Everyone already left, we were alone. Just then, the door creaked open and Nomi walked in, already in her swimsuit also a blue two-piece similar to Zaara's. She paused in the doorway, took one look at us and froze.
Zaara was still close to me, her hand was on my chest.
Nomi rolled her eyes and didn't say a word, she just scoffed and walked right back out.
Zaara froze.
I sighed. "Ignore her."
Zaara stood slowly, tossing the bloody cotton in the trash. "She hates me."
"I don't think she does."
I looked up at her and stood too, my heart starting to hammer now. She was standing so close. Inches. Just inches.
Her eyes met mine, and the air between us went heavy. Hot.
I didn't even think.
I just did it.
I pulled her toward me, my hands slipping to her waist, and kissed her.
She gasped into my mouth, but she didn't pull away. She kissed me back like she'd been waiting for it.
My fingers slipped down her thigh. "Can I… touch you?" I whispered.