Etherbound

 Hailey wakes up from the sound of clapping and praise. She gets out of her bed to go downstairs, where she sees her younger brother getting showered with compliments. Hailey chimes in "What happened, why is he getting all this?"

Her father answers after having a slight change in expression upon the sight of his eldest child

" Well good ol micheal just got himself accepted into the sports team"

"Oh cool, what sport?"

"He's going to be in judo"

"Wait when I wanted to do judo you all told me I couldn't for some random reason! Why can he do it!?"

"Well, for starters, Micheal showed interest. It's not like you really wanted to do it and I'm sure you wouldn't have gotten that far anyways. Just look at you, you're too meek and quiet and don't have the same desire and attitude as your brother."

Hailey looks at herself slowly getting sadder and a little angrier and thinks "When you get your interest shut down the moment they appear, obviously you aren't going to be the loudest. And thanks dad for commenting on my appearance, just adding onto the insecurity" yet even with these thoughts the only sound that came out of her mouth was a quiet uhh.

Her mom takes that opportunity to tell her that she needs to go get ready if she wants to be able to go tubing with her friends. She gladly goes back to her room to get ready so that she can quickly get out of her house.

At the airport, Rein has just landed and was in the lobby waiting for Rayna to come pick him up. 20 minutes go by and Rayna finally arrives. 

The two of them meet up, run up to each other and hug. 

Rayna perks up saying " I almost thought you weren't coming over this summer"

Rein states "Ain't no way imma miss a summer without seeing my favorite cousin. You better not bore me!"

"When have I ever bored you?"

Rein says sarcastically "Neeeeveeeeerrr"

Logan, on the phone with Makaia , a childhood friend, is getting ready for the group activity. While in the shower still on call with Makaia he starts rambling on "Then the dude hit a down spike and it was probably the best thing in fighting game history" Her, while laying on her bed with her feet in the air listens while she smiles. Logan chimes up again " Hey I think we should smash sometimes maybe tomorrow......OH NO that not what I meant you know I meant like play duper smash cous ultimate" She laughs " I know what you meant, I'll be over at your house early tomorrow"

"It's a date" Filled with embarrassment for saying that out loud he immediately says bye and hangs up.

Logan, Rayna and Rein arrive at the tubing lobby. As they all see each other Logan and Rein meet up. 

"How my giant harmless bear doing"

Logan answers "I'm all good my small monkey"

And they laugh at the reunion of the two bros .

Sooner than later Hailey appears and everyone goes up to her. Rein goes up and gives Hailey a hug. She smiles. "Long time no see Hailey, you've gotten into much better shape. I'm proud of you 10/10 body transformation"

Hailey unsure of how to take that takes it as a compliment."Thanks"

Rayna taking charge shouts "LET'S GO TUBING" 

Logan answers" you better not pass out like last time" 

Rayna looks at Logan with piercing eyes "Last time wasn't even my fault LOGAN, your smooth brain picked a spot where we FELL DOWN A FLIPPING WATERFALL, INTO A LAKE, where we almost DROWNED! So this time I'M picking the spot.

"Whatever you say"

The group gets their tickets and everyone goes their separate ways to get changed into their swimsuits. The girls go into the locker room, get undressed and get into their respective bathing suits. Rayna in a two piece while Hailey in a one piece. 

"Rayna you look very good in that bikini"

"Thanks, I just bought it. Shit was very expensive though"

Hailey looks at Rayna wishing that she complimented her too yet stays quiet

Rayna, full of joy, starts to reminisce.

"This is going to be so much fun. I think the last time we were all together was last summer and that's way to much time"

"Agreed"

"Remember when all of us went hiking and Rein almost got chased down by a group of beavers"

"Yeah that was hilarious, or do you remember the time where Logan thought he could cosplay 5th GEAR. It looked so funny"

The boys while in the locker room have the most random conversation. Rein starts off 

"I have been learning how to crochet recently"

"You have, why?"

"You don't know how boring it gets at times in my house. Like throughout the day i swear i do nothing"

"Then call me. I'm probably also not doing anything"

"Yeah I should but i saw on this podcast that calling people can give you cancer"

"Dude on the internet everything gives you cancer. I'm pretty sure if you eat enough PB&J you'll get cancer according to the internet"

"True the internet is on some bull. Like I swear this ain't bull but the brain rot is rotting my soul. LIKE I STARTED SAYING BRAIN ROT TERMS! I hate it!"

"Preach brother, preach"

Everyone meets up and all go to the big floaties. The instructor starts to lay off the ground rules.

Completely ignoring the instructor, the 4 of them decide on what they're going to do. Rayna starts off "The swim ring has 4 areas. I say we each go on a corner and spin through the whole river, so no one is in front and we all get the same experience."

As Rayna says all of that, Hailey hears the instructor mention that they should not spin the lifesaver. She timidly speaks up and says "the instructor just said we couldn't do that cuz someone might fall off"

Rayna simply responds with "Don't listen to him that's a rule for the young small children"

Rein quickly goes to pick the biggest water donut to fit his size. They all rush over to the river and jump all at the same time onto the buoy. 

Immediately water splashes all over their faces, wind blasting onto them making them feel every single drop of water on them. The cold water contrasts perfectly with the warm sun rays. The view of the water and trees is almost reminiscent of a fantasy world. The blurry view of the fish makes the riders feel a part of the water. The noise of laughter fills the air. Logan admits "Not gonna lie this might be better than the time we went to my area"

Rayna takes the opportunity to roast Logan

"You see what happens when a LOW LIFE doesn't pick where we go. "

"SHUT UP, you oversized BRAIN DEAD chimpanzee "

They're all enjoying themselves but the spinning is starting to affect the passengers. Rein is the first one to start losing strength. Hailey's grip is starting to loosen. Rayna, being unaware of this and being the most physically gifted, moves the water donut in one quick motion which causes Hailey to fly overboard and almost toppling the lifesaver. Everyone in shock freezes as they get sweeped away. Logan is the first one to get off but is still holding onto the rubber ring. He starts swimming over to Hailey as Rayna just stands there trying to help but not really doing anything. 

Logan powers through the water until Rein gets off making everything a lot lighter. After that Rayna hesitantly gets off making everything easier for Logan. But her not being the best swimmer holds on to Rein as support as they all fight the current to reach Hailey. Hailey on the other hand is being moved by the river with no control of where she goes. The water was dragging her and leading to another path which was on the designated area. Her not knowing where it could lead her and not trying to find out tries her best to latch onto a thick branch, which she successfully accomplishes. The three friends are slowly making pace towards her. Rein frustrated yells "GOSH, this would be SO MUCH easier without these GODDAMN LIFE JACKETS"

The water that was once a source of joy now is a source of hardship. Everyone eventually makes it to the point where the paths diverge.

Rayna screams to Hailey "You have to let go, it's the only way."

Hailey, hesitant to let go, has no choice but to trust in her friends. She lets go and goes forward at breakneck speed and the moment she gets close all of them catch her letting go of the floaty. Now a new problem has risen so they all have no choice but to take the rest of the path by swimming and floating thanks to their life jackets. 5 minutes go by and they finally make it to the end. All of them are exhausted but each knows what they must do. They are in a hurry to check up on Hailey. Everyone simultaneously said "Are you okay?! Are you hurt?" Hailey, looking at Rayna getting more and more on the verge of exploding, says calmly "I'm fine guys, don't worry about me. We don't want to ruin the vibe right ?"

Rayna goes and apologizes and all she sees is Hailey's smile. 

"I'm sorry I didn't know that would happen but on the bright side that was the best adrenaline rush"

Rein chimes up "Facts like while swimming I swear I had a fish sucking on my toes"

Logan responds "Feet fetish even goes all the way to fish. Noted."

"You would note down feet fetish fact, for sure"

"What's that supposed to mean??"

"I'm saying you're into feet"

"Bro out of all of us you would probably the most into feet"

"You are smoking pot but speaking of feet, how's you and Makaia doing?"

"No idea how feet go over to her but I'll tell you all during dinner cuz I am starved"

The whole group goes to a food stall and everyone gets some hotdogs and fries.

"I managed to invite her on a date"

Rayna applauded him "Took your ass long enough. But knowing you, you were probably the MOST AWKWARD you've ever been"

"AT LEAST I ASKED SOMEBODY OUT!"

Hailey clarifies "Yeah but she doesn't need to, since people usually ask her out" She also thinks "Much to my dismay since people seem to ignore me"

Rein interrupts, "Let's get back on track. How did it happen?"

"I was on call with her this morning and getting ready and while I was in the shower I was talking about me playing smash. And you know a joke that everyone always says when they want someone to play smash. I asked her did she wanna smash"

A brief moment of silence… Then they all burst out laughing. Rein while laughing "You couldn't have said that any better, straight perfection"

Hailey is still curious about the story "Ok how do you recover from that?"

"So I played it off like nothing happened. I was so nonchalant and then I just told her that she should come over at my place and that it's a date?

Another moment of silence… They all look at each other and laughter starts again. Rayna clarifies "We all damn well know that's not at all how that happened, Mr LeTs SmAsH"

Logan gives in "Fine I was anxious and when she said yes to come over I blurted out it's a date then hung up immediately"

Rein responds " That's the Logan we know and love"

"Yeah but I think that it might be the day I try to kiss her. Have no idea how but we ball.

"I'll pay you 30$ if you succeed" 

They keep talking for hours until everyone needs to leave. In the car they all join a call where a conversation comes up. Rayna, out of nowhere, just asks, "Wouldn't being in a fantasy world be so cool like imagine the spells and creatures we would see, it would be so hype and exciting."

Rein agreeing "Oh 1000% like just imagine all powers you can get and with fantasy worlds there are no limits. I could probably go invisible or fly or make fire balls."

Logan says "It would definitely be amazing if I DON'T HAVE TO SPEND MY TIME WITH YOU LOW LIFE GROUND LICKING BUM. And if I can bring Makaia with me"

Hailey after pondering for a moment replies with "It would be cool but that would be leaving our family behind and starting from zero. Ignoring that though it would be very cool"

Rayna ends the convo by saying " Well guys I just arrived home so we'll talk tomorrow. Good luck on your date tomorrow idiot".

Logan and Hailey both say goodnight to Rayna and Rein. And the two of them go to sleep after a long day of adventuring.