Did we want one more? Thanks to brightyeolie for comments on last chapter.

Enjoy...

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I did my best to avert my eyes when we got to the creek and Flynn stripped his shirt off. I didn't need him catching me ogling him again, forcing that ridiculous shit-eating grin onto his face once more.

Nonetheless, trying to avoid looking at Flynn somehow resulted in me watching Jackson instead. And while he didn't sport a sly smirk at the fact I was inadvertently watching him, his eyebrows did shoot up when our gazes locked before he gave me a hesitant smile and wave.

Returning it, I then grabbed my towel from the boot of Flynn's car and found a free space of rock by the creek edge to set up my spot for the afternoon. All the while, the three boys (Flynn, Jackson, and Zac) ran up to the highest point atop the waterfall, discussing along the way about who can make the biggest splash. Flynn's cousins weren't far behind them, also ready to jump from the cliff into the creek.

It wasn't just Jackson and Zac with us—a few of their other friends had joined us on this outing. Two of which were girls. But none of them seemed to care about joining their bomb-dive competiton (and potentially risk splitting their head open), instead wading into the water the normal way.

But no one asked me to join them, which simultaneously brought me relief that I wouldn't have to show my insecurities, while also making me aware that no one cared I was here... except maybe Flynn.

Almost half an hour passed with no one talking to me. The sun peeked through the gaps in the leaves above my head, the water made a gentle whooshing noise thanks to the steady fall of the waterfall, and the birds were chirping away in the trees surrounding the creek. All the while, I sat on my towel, knees tucked to my chest as I watched boy after boy make a bigger splash in the water, with a loud "woohoo" on their fall down.

Yet eventually the older guys tired of the game (Charlie and Hunter still with some stamina left in them to keep running up the cliff face thanks to watching the older kids doing it), and instead they all swam around in the flowing water, splashing each other and making conversation that I couldn't hear.

But as I kept my eyes on them, watching all my peers mingling far away from me, I wondered how I was ever supposed to kiss one of the boys. A part of me had assumed that Flynn and I would discuss strategy on the way over considering we never did at school, but talking about that with his cousins in the back...

Considering we didn't, I wondered if Flynn was going to take the lead for me again by setting up a situation where I could get a kiss over with. Or if I really was supposed to find some ounce of courage in me and go socialise until I 'wooed' one of them in the same way as Ashton. But how could I possibly do that?

Jackson and Zac, while still not the closest of friends to Flynn, were somewhat his friends. And if I were to break one of their hearts in the same way as Ashton, I'd only make it difficult for Flynn.

But as I sat there stewing about how to kiss one of those boys in a way that was more effective than the Ashton debacle but less uncomfortable than Fraser, I realised Zac hadn't stopped staring at me for the past five minutes. And as our eyes locked, he began to swim towards the water's edge in my direction.

Climbing out of the creek, he walked across the rocks, water dripping from every limb until he slumped down on the dry rock beside me, a pool now forming around him.

"Hey, Callie," he said, not really looking at me.

"Hi," I said back, not sure what else to say. Not really sure what the right move was here... had Flynn already set everything up for me or did I have to start asking Zac about himself and play the long game to win his heart?

I really hope that's not what I'm supposed to do, my mind despairingly whispered.

But before I could think about it further, he interrupted my thoughts with, "So um... I have a really awkward question to ask you and it's totally cool if you want to say no."

My eyes grew wide as I glanced at him, watching his cheeks turn a little red as he stared at his lap. I wondered if this was the moment... and what exactly that moment was.

Then my eyes sought out Flynn's in the mass of swimmers, hoping I'd find the answer in his face. Tucked up against the back of the creek bed, seemingly resting on some rock under water, his eyes were locked on me, waiting, expecting.

Feeling my cheeks flush at his focus on me, I turned back to Zac to give him my full attention.

"What's the question?" I asked as he seemed to still fumble for the words to say.

"I, ah... lost a bet with the boys," he said, causing my heart to pound in my chest.

Flynn... you're so devious at setting these up for me. "What was the bet?"

"Who could make the biggest splash."

I rolled my eyes in response before throwing him a grin. "And you lost?"

"Big time."

"So... what do you have to do now?" I asked, waiting for the moment he evidently asked to kiss me.

But then he said, "Ahh!" And buried his head between his knees.

"What?" I pushed him, gently bumping my shoulder against him in the hopes a little physical affection would ease his nerves—it was a move I had tried out timelessly on Ashton.

Thanks Ashton for all the practice, but also, so glad you're gone, I thought into the world.

"I feel really weird asking this because we don't know each other," he finally said.

I bumped my shoulder against his again in response and he slowly lifted his sheepish gaze.

Taking a deep breath, he gushed, "It's just... if I don't ask you and do the dare then Flynn's going to do much worse."

"Worse?"

"He threatened to tell the girl I like that I like her," he grimaced, turning to glare at Flynn.

Following his line of sight, we both looked at the grinning boy while I shook my head.

You're so, so, so evil Flynn... I thought.

"Well that should happen at your own pace," I said, totally relating to his predicament thanks to the kiss list... though the boy who was my bet was long gone from my heart. But when Zac didn't say anything, I pressed again, "So, what's the bet?"

He groaned, once again ducking his head between his knees.

Well this is dragging out too long. "Come on," I said, giving him yet another shoulder bump, hoping he'd just spit it out already so that I could tick him off and be closer to having this whole list over with.

Keeping his head hidden, Zac finally grumbled, "Flynn dared me to ask you to kiss me."

"Oh..." I said, glancing over at Flynn who shot me the thumbs up. Turning back to Zac, I then whispered, "I won't read into it, Zac, if that's what you're worried about. I know you're not into me."

He slowly raised his head, eyes searching my face as I warmly smiled at him. "I have to do it too, though, for him to not tell her," he then said, gaze fixating on my mouth for a moment before he turned to look back at the creek.

"Well... We can't let Flynn out your confession until you're ready," I said, starting to feel the embarrassment flushing my own cheeks now. This boy really knows how to make a situation awkward, that's for sure. "So how about we get this embarrassing part over with so that we can forget it happened and you can go back to enjoying the water?"

Zac's brows shot up and his head whipped around to look at me. "Y-you'll actually do it?"

"If you want to. Just has to be a peck?"

He nodded, eyes still wide.

"Then I will." I threw him a small smile for reassurance. But if I was being honest, my own heart was starting to race.

Damn it... why does this happen every time? my mind hissed as my palms began to get a little damp at the thought of kissing another stranger.

Zac cleared his throat and said, "Okay then..."

But he didn't make any move.

Becoming ever more conscious of the silence growing between us and the loudness of the birds chirping above our heads and the joyful laughter of Charlie and Hunter running past upwards to the cliff again for another jump, I finally asked, "So... when are we going to—"

"I'm, I... I don't know how to... Normally there's this build up for something like this and I've never really kissed a stranger so—"

Unable to handle his indecision and squirming anymore that was permeating my body with second-hand embarrassment, I finally thought, Ah, to hell with this. Hand reaching around behind him, fingers quickly weaving into his hair, I yanked his head closer to me. Then, with barely even a second to reconsider my forwardness, I closed the remaining distance, pressing my mouth onto his.

In going over the kiss list bet, Lexi and I had a few clear ground rules. Someone had to be around to witness the kiss had taken place—a rule she added not long after the first with Fraser, as though she had somehow used twin telepathy that night and knew the very plan that was stewing in my head until Flynn showed up and joined me in the cubby, changing my whole attitude to the list. Of course, no one watched Ashton and I kiss... but she had enough evidence that it had taken place. No way could I have given myself a hickey and she saw me get picked up and dropped off by Aunt Jojo, followed by Ashton's clinginess following.

But rule two was that both parties had to kiss each other. I couldn't just go and press my lips onto someone's face without them reciprocating it.

So instead of moving away as Zac froze in my grip, I waited him out, hoping, praying, he'd at least move his lips once against mine before this became too awkward.

And just as I thought he might never kiss me back and I was going to have to go hide in Flynn's Aunt's car the rest of the afternoon, finally Zac's lips began to move against mine. His hands remained on the rock in front of him, keeping himself steady and distanced from me. But his mouth brushed over mine a couple of times, seeming to momentarily get lost in the moment. It was supposed to be a peck. But slowly it was becoming much more.

Though as his weight shifted onto one hand and I sensed him starting to reach for me, I quickly pulled back before this got, in any way, romantic.

Head immediately turning back to the water, I said in a slightly squeaky voice, "Now don't let Flynn bully you and confess when you're ready."

"Th-thanks, Callie," he said in response, tone a little hoarse.

"Yeah... no problem." 

If I thought it was awkward before the kiss, it had nothing on the atmosphere brewing between us now as we both awkward sat apart, avoiding looking at each other, and avoiding meeting the watchful eyes of any of the people in the water, very aware of our exchange.

"You don't have to stay," I then said, hoping it would encourage him to leave me alone and ease the tension.

"I know... I just..." Out of the corner of my eye, I watched him take a deep breath before he said, a little more confidently, "Why don't you join us? You seem so lonely up here."

I shook my head in response. "I'm happy here." As if I'm getting in that water... Even if the kiss is over. I still have to let Jackson think I am somewhat of a normal girl.

"Then why did you come along?"

"Flynn asked," I said, not meeting his studying gaze.

"Flynn said you had never been but were eager to go, which is why he asked if he could bring you. So I thought perhaps you'd join us for a swim?"

Thanks for the heads up on that lie, Flynn, I thought his way, shooting him a glare.

Flynn, who still seemed to be watching me, shot me a grin... even though he couldn't possibly know.

"I just really wanted to... see this place," I quickly thought up on the spot.

"But you're wearing swimmers."

Do all boys just check out for bikini straps? "Just looking the part," I mumbled, wishing he'd drop it already.

But he was seemingly not having it. Confidence definitely on the return, he pulled my hands from their hold around my knees and began trying to tug me from my spot. "Come in the water," Zac urged, laughter to his tone.

"No thank you," I tried to say as politely as possible.

"Come on, Callie," he said, a little more teasingly this time. He got to his feet, hands reaching down again as he tried to tug me upwards.

But I made myself heavy and as rooted to the ground as possible. "I don't want to," I said a little harshly, tugging my hands from his grip wrapping them once more around my knees. All the while, I was doing my best to look anywhere but at him as he towered above me, watching me.

"Why not?" he then asked after a few moments had passed.

Hesitating slightly, I breathed out a breath I didn't realise I was holding before I confessed, "I can't."

Then suddenly he was down in front of me, crossing his legs as his face leaned way too close for my liking.

"What?" I asked, jumping back a little, hoping he wasn't trying to steal another kiss or something ridiculous.

But his eyes just searched my face as he seemed to think over his words.

"Why 'can't'?" he asked. "Flynn seems to think you can."

Eyes narrowing, I shot Flynn another glare. But he was no longer watching me anymore. Instead, he was busy chatting with one of the girls who had come along. 

At once, a jealous pang resounded through my heart and I immediately looked back at Zac... a safer place to watch. 

"I can't swim in this thing," I whispered, nodding to my leg. 

If I could... maybe Flynn wouldn't be talking to her and instead—

Callie! We can't think that way... Flynn has a right to talk to whoever he wants to. He doesn't like you and you're doing a kiss list. Don't be that girl.

But Zac wasn't having my excuse. "So take it off?" he asked, like it was the most obvious choice.

Taking another deep breath, I whispered just loud enough for him to hear, "I haven't swam since... since I had both legs. So I don't know how to..."

"I'll keep a hold of you. Help you figure it out."

Finally, I looked back up at him, meeting his gentle gaze as he gave me a small, genuine smile.

I opened my mouth, almost willing to agree as a result of the tenderness in his face, but a familiar squirm made its way through my stomach. I shook my head and looked back to my knees. "I'd rather keep it on."

"Why?" he pressed, confusion lacing his tone.

"Because I want to," I grumbled, looking anywhere but him.

He sat there quietly, not saying anything back for a while. But all the while, I could feel his gaze burning into me.

Eventually I couldn't stand the silence any longer.

So I looked back up at him.

And when our eyes met, he said, "Why don't you want to, Callie?" I could see he knew the answer. It was in his gaze as the pity swirled in his irises.

For some strange reason—maybe Zac was just that easy to talk to, or perhaps Flynn had really worked some confidence into me on the topic—I blurted out the truth, "I don't want everyone to look at me... at my stump."

His brows turned down in sadness but a smile crept onto his face. "Who cares if they look, Cal... Let them. We've all seen you like this before anyway when you were in your chair."

"That's the old Callie," I mumbled, looking back down at my knees. "I'm trying to leave the one who was so clearly disabled in the past."

"Just because you've got an awesome metal leg now doesn't mean you're not still disabled... Sorry, that sounds insensitive." He shook his head, seemingly mad at himself for his phrasing. But before I could tell him not to worry about it, he went on, "But whether you have one leg or two, you're still Callie, Callie. You're still the brainiac, snappy girl who has been in our classes for the past five years. Who has tackled all ridiculous maths and science problems none of us can solve. Who has corrected teachers on their grammar before... Who is best friends with Sara Hashimoto. And I don't think any of those parts of you would be different whether you had lost your leg or not. So you shouldn't let it define you even if people do stare."

I could feel his words powering me up, but the fear of being watched still weighed on me.

Though before I could worm myself back into the self-doubt, Zac leaned closer and whispered, "You're safe here with us, Callie. No one here thinks you look weird or disgusting. We're all used to you and your... stump. I think if anyone stares it's going to be because you finally joined us in an activity you never would normally do."

Glancing up, I said, "How do you know I'd never normally—"

"Every swimming carnival, you've always sat it out."

Biting my lip, I looked down again. "How have you noticed this much about me?" I whispered, wary of him.

"Because we've been going to school together for five years?" Zac shrugged.

I didn't know what to say back to that. 

Yet as I sat in silence, mulling the words over in his head, Zac seemed to think I was outright rejecting the idea. So he tried a new strategy. "Okay... look... maybe you've got some insecurities you're still fighting and it is struggling to motivate you to do this. But what if you going into the water... helped me?"

Brows coming together, I warily glanced back up at him again. "Helped you how?" I pressed when he didn't go on.

"Well..." This time he was averting his gaze. "Maybe there were two parts to the bet for me losing..."

"Two parts?"

"I'm not supposed to tell you," he whispered, shoulders shrinking in like he could feel Flynn watching him.

But I heaved a sigh, realising just where this was going... Flynn did say he'd get me in there one way or another. "Flynn also dared you to get me in the water?"

Zac nodded, then gave me a sheepish grin as our gazes met again. "He said I should just throw you in if it came to it, but I really don't want to..."

"And if I really do refuse to?" Would Zac really throw me in? My heart began to race again at the very thought... I couldn't get my prosthetic wet. I couldn't swim. I couldn't—

"Then I guess I'll face the consequences of that girl finding out I like her."

Callie ticked off another! Yay! 

Will she get in the water though?

Meme:

Indeed...