Chapter 212: pool party II

Chapter 212: Chapter 212: pool party II

The music suddenly faded.

A few conversations continued for another moment before a sharp whistle sounded through the conservatory.

Everyone gradually turned toward the small platform beside the pool.

A young man stepped onto it, microphone in hand.

He wore dark swim trunks and an open linen shirt, looking completely at ease in front of the crowd.

"Good afternoon, everyone!"

A cheer went up.

He grinned.

"That’s better."

A few people laughed.

"On behalf of the Sterling Society, welcome."

Another cheer followed.

Vivienne glanced at Amelia.

"So this is the fraternity?"

Amelia nodded.

"Yep."

The host waited for the noise to settle.

"Every year, the Sterling Society holds this gathering as a chance for members, friends, and invited guests to come together outside the university."

He gestured toward the crowd.

"It’s about friendship, fraternity, and a little bit of healthy competition."

Someone shouted from the crowd.

"Mostly competition!"

The host pointed toward the voice.

"Exactly."

Everyone laughed.

"And since we’re all going to be spending the afternoon together, we thought we’d make it interesting."

He raised his microphone.

"Food, drinks, music, games—and a few challenges for those of you brave enough to participate."

The crowd cheered.

Vivienne smiled.

She was beginning to understand the atmosphere.

It wasn’t really a formal fraternity event.

It was a private social gathering for members and their friends, with a carefully selected group of guests from Saint Albion.

The host continued.

"Before we begin, we’d like to thank the club for hosting us today, as well as our sponsors for helping make this afternoon possible."

Several students raised their glasses.

"And now..."

He paused dramatically.

"Let’s get to the fun part."

The music changed.

A group of assistants began bringing several large floating platforms toward the pool.

Vivienne raised an eyebrow.

"Oh."

Amelia laughed.

"Here we go."

The host pointed toward the pool.

"Our first game is a race!"

The crowd immediately became louder.

"We need eight pairs!"

Almost immediately, people began calling out to their friends.

Some couples stepped forward together.

Others grabbed friends by the hand and dragged them toward the pool.

The host laughed.

"Come on! Eight pairs! You have thirty seconds!"

George immediately turned toward Amelia.

"You’re with me."

Amelia laughed.

"Obviously."

He caught her hand and pulled her toward the pool.

"Come on."

"I’m coming!"

They hurried toward the starting area together.

Vivienne laughed as she watched them.

"That was fast."

"They were obviously going to join," Claire said.

Vivienne nodded.

Meanwhile, the host began explaining the rules.

"Each team will have two people. Your goal is to get from one end of the pool to the other and back before everyone else."

He raised a finger.

"But there’s a catch."

The crowd quieted slightly.

"Your partner can’t touch the ground."

A few people groaned.

"You can carry them."

Cheers.

"You can drag them."

More laughter.

"And if you’re feeling particularly ambitious..."

He grinned.

"You can put them on your shoulders."

The crowd erupted.

Vivienne laughed.

"Oh, no."

Claire shook her head.

"That sounds like a terrible idea."

"Which means everyone is going to do it," Vivienne said.

Sure enough, the first eight pairs were already taking their positions.

Some were laughing.

Others were already discussing strategy.

One girl was crouching behind her partner, preparing to climb onto his shoulders.

Another pair appeared to be arguing over who would carry whom.

Vivienne watched, amused.

Then George’s other fraternity friends began making their way toward the starting area.

One of them, Tom Wells, stopped beside Claire.

"Claire?"

She looked at him.

"Would you like to be my partner for the next round?"

Claire glanced at Vivienne.

Then back at Tom.

"Sure."

Tom smiled.

"Great."

He gestured toward the pool.

"Come on."

Claire followed him, laughing.

Another of George’s friends approached Vivienne a moment later.

"Lady Beaumont?"

She turned.

It was Fred Arnault.

He was tall and lean, with an athletic build that suited the poolside setting. His dark blond hair was slightly tousled, and his hazel eyes held an easy warmth. He had a strong jaw, straight nose, and the kind of relaxed smile that suggested he was perfectly comfortable approaching anyone he found interesting.

He smiled.

"Would you be my partner?"

Vivienne raised an eyebrow.

"For the race?"

"Unless you have another competition in mind."

She laughed.

"That was smooth."

"I try."

Vivienne glanced toward the pool.

The first round was already being organized.

"All right."

She smiled.

"I’ll join you."

Fred offered his hand.

Vivienne took it.

"Excellent."

They moved toward the side of the pool with Claire and Tom, where they could watch the first round while waiting for their turn.

The host blew his whistle.

"First round! Positions!"

The crowd gathered around the pool.

Amelia stood beside George.

They were laughing about something.

Vivienne smiled.

Amelia looked like she was having the time of her life.

The host raised his microphone.

"Ready?"

The crowd began counting along.

"Three!"

"Two!"

"Look at that girl!" someone shouted.

Vivienne looked.

A girl had already climbed onto her partner’s shoulders.

"Oh my God."

"One!"

The whistle blew.

Chaos erupted.

The eight pairs surged forward at once.

One girl immediately lost her balance.

Another partner slipped and landed in the water.

The crowd screamed with laughter.

Amelia clung to George as he tried to navigate around another pair.

"Go!"

"I’m trying!"

"You’re going too slowly!"

"Then you carry me!"

"Absolutely not!"

Vivienne laughed.

She couldn’t help it.

The whole thing was ridiculous.

And somehow, wonderfully fun.

By the time the first pair reached the other end of the pool, half the participants were already soaked.

The crowd cheered louder.

Vivienne watched Amelia and George race toward the finish.

They were laughing so hard that they nearly lost their balance.

Then they crossed the line.

The host blew the whistle.

"That’s it!"

The crowd erupted.

Amelia climbed out of the pool, laughing breathlessly.

George followed.

"Never again," Amelia declared.

George laughed.

"You said you wanted competition."

"I didn’t say I wanted to drown."

Vivienne and Claire burst out laughing from the sidelines.

The host raised his microphone.

"All right!"

He looked toward the crowd.

"That was round one."

The cheers immediately started again.

"Round two is coming up!"

Tom glanced at Claire.

"Ready?"

Claire sighed.

"Not remotely."

Fred laughed beside Vivienne.

"Don’t worry. I’ll keep you alive."

Vivienne gave him a skeptical look.

"That’s a rather low standard."

He grinned.

"Then I’ll try to win."

Vivienne laughed.

"We’ll see."

The host turned toward the crowd.

"All right! Next eight pairs, get ready!"

Vivienne looked toward the pool.

Then at Fred.

She had a feeling she was about to regret agreeing to this.

She smiled anyway.