The Grinch Gets Wet! (Kerr)

[Flyte Vance]

Flyte dragged Professor Kerr onwards, she could sense his reluctance but also his acceptance of his fate. She pulled him down the lake path and before he had a chance to think about it used her wand to summon a pair of boardshorts and her own suit.

'Here we are! Now I bet you haven't done this in a while.. ' Flyte grinned. 'Now tradition states that a midnight swim is usually naked but I figured that would be one broken rule too many for the first time!'

She threw his suit at him, the night was perfect for swimming. The full moon, the heat - it practically summoned them into the water. Letting go of his hand she quickly slipped into her suit and turned back to him.

'Once and if you don't enjoy it I will leave you alone...' she wheddled.

[skerr]

"Go for it, I just wonder how much trouble one student can get into in one night," Stephan stated as she sat down at the lake's side, watching the moon ripple over the glassy surface of the water.

[Flyte Vance]

'Well in for a penny in for a pound, might as well do it right! Besides the teacher on duty just told me to go for it - and as no one else is around..' Flyte slipped into the water, swimming out with long sure strokes.

'Come on in Professor, the water is delicious!' Flyte called, waving to Kerr on the shore. 'Oh my god..' Flyte slipped beneath the surface, bursting back through moments later.

'The grindylows...' She fell under the water again with a scream.

[skerr]

Stephan watched her closely. If anything happened to her, he was to blame, for he was the one letting her do this. He closed his for a moment when she screamed. In an instant, he sprung to his feet and sprinted down the small dock to dive into the water.

As he swam towards her, many thoughts went through his mind. How could he be so careless, and why was he letting himself get relaxed around a student? Getting closer to her, he went underwater and grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to the surface.

[Flyte Vance]

Flyte felt the Professor lift her out of the water, his arm strong around her waist, as they broke the surface she took a long ragged breath.

'Oh my god, what the...' Flyte's voice was shaken. 'They are tricksy creatures! They were tickling me - I swear it!'

She wrapped her arms around his neck and closed her eyes. Her breathing still coming in gasps as she held on, trying not to be a dead weight.

'Sorry, I just need a moment.. please.'

[skerr]

Stephan took her to the water's edge and laid her down on the ground. He coughed up the small bit of water he had inhaled when he went under to get her. Kneeling down beside her, he spoke.

"You okay?" he asked, his voice showing a bit of concern.

[Flyte Vance]

Flyte lay back half in the water, her head on the shoreline, she closed her eyes. Her dark hair fanned out around her and she put her hands on her stomach breathing deeply.

You okay?

She reached out and took his hand in hers, squeezing it lightly to let him know she was still with him. After a moment she opened her eyes and looked up at him.

'See what happens when you don't go swimming with me?' She laughed softly, shakily. Slowly she sat up and smiled at him. 'Thanks Stephen.'

[skerr]

Stephan closed his eyes and he pinched the bridge of his nose. Opening them a minute later, he ran his fingers through his hair to get the wet tendrils out of his face. He watched the water's surface while he did this and then he focused his attention back on Flyte.

"I will not let harm come to a student while I am around," he stated as he stood up and turned his gaze at the lake again. "By the way, never call me by my first name ever again."

[Flyte Vance]

'You know that I can't promise you that.' Flyte stated it like the fact it was. She watched him studying the water, his eyes searching the surface.

She walked over and stood beside him, her head reaching the height of his shoulder and turned lifting her face to watch his.

'Don't.' Her voice was almost a whisper. 'Don't go back there. Let's just swim.'

[skerr]

Stephan looked down at Flyte, perplexed. "You want to go back in there, after I just saved you from drowning?" he asked. This girl, he didn't understand. Shaking his head, he pinched the bridge of his nose. "You go back in, I'm not much of a swimmer myself."

[Flyte Vance]

'What do you like to do then? When all is said and done. Pretend we already had the argument where I don't relent until I get my own way and just tell me.' Flyte wrinkled her nose at him.

'And yes.. I would get back in, I don't die here. Not here and not yet.'

[skerr]

"I prefere to spend my time alone, thinking mostly of what needs to be done in my life," Stephan said as he unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt. The wet collar was somewhat choking him and it made him feel uncomfortable. He sighed as he looked around at the vast grounds bathed in the moonlight.

[Flyte Vance]

'Stop thinking about it and start doing it! I can't believe you are a Professor, you are the stupidest man I have ever met!' Flyte teased him mercilessly, shaking her head in mock disgust. Bending over she picked up the boardshorts.

'Here put these on, I promise I won't look - you are absolutely saturated.. Then we can go for a swim. Its the best way I know to get away from thoughts - yours or other peoples... trust me on that and You definitly need some time out from your head.'

[skerr]

"Miss Morticroft, you will find as you get older that you have a lot more responsibility to take on," Stephan said as he took the shorts from Flyte. He untucked his shirt and pulled off his shoes and socks. He stood on the dock as he unbuttoned the rest of his shirt and he sat down at the edge. "And do hope that you never get divorced."

[Flyte Vance]

'Well I will keep that in mind,' Flyte laughed, turning her back so he could dress. 'As for responsibilities - you don't know me Professor Kerr but I can assure you that I have them. I am just not fool enough to let them drag me down.'

Flyte hazarded a glance over her shoulder to see if he was ready.