Noah stared down the edge of the roof with an expressionless face. Everyone at the party had come outside to cheer for them.
He could see Fara and her friends on some pool chairs. Fara had a disapproving look on her face, Mary was cheering emphatically, Jasmine clapped slowly with an anxious look on her face, and Cherry was just staring.
Tough crowd.
McCain walked carelessly to the edge of the roof, prompting Noah to grab him on instinct. He looked a bit silly supporting the seven-foot senior.
"Relax lil bro, I've fallen off this roof a couple times," McCain reassured with words that did not help Noah relax.
Then he turned to the crowd.
"HEY! Clax, turn it down!" All the music came to a stop at McCain's order and they were only left with the sound of drunk kids cheering.
"For our first diver, we have a sophomore! But not just any sophomore!" McCain yelled dramatically. "We have the uncrowned MVP of our tryout games, Noah! The most fearless mother fucker I've ever seen."
He turned and pointed at Derick. "He saw Derick's big ass coming down for a dunk and jumped with him. Then blocked that shit into the stands."
The crowd laughed at McCain's exuberant retelling.
Noah turned back to Derick, who was grinning wildly. "I didn't even send the ball out of the court."
"Let him have it, rookie," Derick said, waving it off.
"So now!" McCain yelled even louder. "We have five new players. Fresh meat for the dive. Of course if they can't make it then…"
McCain made a croaking gesture then turned to them and said in a lower voice. "You are completely safe, I would never endanger my teammates."
He slapped Noah's chest. "Now take off your clothes, give the girls something to really scream about."
"Take off your briefs too if you want to get the men going," Derick joked from the side.
Noah looked around suspiciously, drawing another round of laughter, but he took off his clothes regardless.
"Any swimming trunks at least?" Noah asked. Someone threw him a pair from behind. These were good, tight and they went down to the legs. "Whew, I can keep my boxers on. Shouldn't get Derick too excited."
They all laughed as he took off his clothes. Derick punched his gut softly, then McCain handed him a Ziploc bag.
"Put your clothes in here for the dive," McCain advised. "So you can dress back up if you don't feel like swimming."
"Thanks," Noah took the bag and sealed his clothes inside. Then he turned to the edge with some apprehension.
"Don't chicken out now," Neil chirped from behind. "Go up the roof and run down for a head start."
He nodded and silently took the advice. Once at the peak of the roof he closed his eyes and took a few breaths.
All the freshmen tryouts watched him with trepidation. The team members had quieted down.
He opened his eyes to the night's sky and the crisp wind against his bare skin. He was pretty well-built for a person that had never worked out a day in this life.
Without a second thought he took off, racing down the sloped roof with intensity that made all of them hold their breath.
The moment the pool came into view, he took off, sailing through the air almost weightlessly.
As the water drew close, he tucked in his arms and legs, holding his breath for the cannonball.
Whoosh!
A great plume of water rose into the air and drenched the people on the edges. But that didn't dull their excitement. Noah could hear their cheers even though he was underwater.
Holding on to his Ziploc bag, Noah swam to the edge of the pool, where he had seen Fara and the others, waving them over as people patted him on the back.
Ignoring the randoms touching him, Noah threw the bag to Fara when she got close enough. "Please hold on to that for me."
She glared at him and the water on her dress for a moment, but kept the bag. "Good job not faceplanting into the concrete."
Mary was closer to the edge, squatting to speak, "That was freaking amazing!"
"You must have like an unlimited charisma stat," Jasmine added, laughing despite her prior fear.
He saluted them all and back-stroked closer to the center of the pool, watching the other people jump.
It took a lot of encouragement but they all came down with heavy splashes. McCain and the others jumped too, because why not.
While swimming Noah felt the sudden prick of that insatiable hunger. It had been a while since he killed anyone, and the fight with Hadrian had taken a lot out of him.
A splash in the pool surprised him, making him turn and follow the body of someone swimming around him.
A girl surfaced from the water; her bright blue hair clung to her face as rivulets of water ran down her body.
Noah found himself staring for far too long so he forced his eyes up to her face. She had honey eyes and a smile that would impress any guy.
Even Noah, who didn't find himself thinking about women much.
He knew the girl a little if he tried jogging his memories. The original Noah had seen her in a random class then never saw her again.
That one pretty girl you always regret never talking to.
"Nice dive," she said, breaking the ice.
"Well, I'll never do it again but yes, I agree," Noah said sarcastically.
"Were you afraid when your legs left the roof," She teased, swimming around him playfully. "Did you regret it?"
Noah relaxed, floating casually. "I'm not scared very often… man, that would have been cooler if I said I'm never afraid. Sorry, it's hard to talk to such a pretty girl."
The girl rolled her eyes, stopping in front of him. "You're not going to ask my name, or tell me yours?"
Noah stared blankly at her, green eyes glowing with mirth. "You already know my name. What's yours?"
She smiled shyly, swimming away, a backstroke that prompted him to follow her. He grabbed her hand to make her stop.
"My name's Mikeala, but you can call me Kae," she said finally.