Ethan and Violet returned to the water where everyone floated around in a calm silence.
"This is nice," said Margot.
Cosmo scooped up water and let small streams of it slide down his wrist. "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork."
"Here we go again," said Thayer.
Cosmo got out of the water and started making his way up the side of the waterfall. It was big and beautiful, with rocks jutting out on all sides. The water just poured out so vigorously, and the mist it created was all around them; their own perfect little dream world just beyond the high grass of Big Tree. It was a well kept secret, and they hid it well.
"If God exists, Cosmo, what would happen to us?" asked Margot. She watched intently as Cosmo found a proper footing on the regular diving spot.
Leo swam up behind her and wrapped her in his big, bulky arms. He kissed her neck and breathed heavy against her skin. "Don't get him started." But Margot shoved him off. Leo slapped the water after her, but it did little to steal Margot's attention away from Cosmo on top of the waterfall.
Ethan tossed a few rocks into the curtain of water. "He's crazy. Who needs a god like that anyway? So angry all the time."
"I heard Cosmo's book the other day. We sin. This is sin isn't it?" Margot made a gesture towards the world around her.
"We all need a God brother," said Cosmo. He looked different, up there so high. His body was red from the rocks, and his chest heaved in an out as he stood above the mouth of the fall. "What if some did not have faith?" Cosmo smoothed his hair back.
"The idiot's gonna jump," said Leo.
Margot shrieked in realization. "Cosmo!"
"He won't do it," said Thayer.
"You'll die," shouted Violet
"Will their lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness?" He smiled down at Margot, and gave her a quick wink. "Not at all!" he shouted. Then, he jumped.
The splash shattered the peace.
When Cosmo found his way back up to the surface, he choked up some water and laughed. Margot swam over to him, and patted him on the back. "Really, Cosmo, tell me what you think. What would happen to us out here?"
He looked around at everyone's faces and laughed. "Well, we'd probably all go to hell."
Leo and Ethan started laughing. Cosmo smirked back at them, but when he looked back at Margot, she had a harsh eye set on him. She shoved him back in the water and told him he could go to hell for all she cared.
Cosmo still laughed, but he could see that he hurt Margot's feelings. He waded over to her and knocked her with his elbow. "I was only kidding. You won't go to hell, Marg, not a girl like you. Why you so worried about God now anyway?"
Margot didn't say anything. She cast her eyes down at the reflection on the water. There were small ripples coursing over the naked bodies of the boy and girl. It was hard to make out the image, but it was her standing there. Finally she said, "If God were real, he would bring change to this horrible place."
A little ways away, Ethan tossed water at Leo. "Better watch out for your girl there Leo. Cosmo isn't as pure as the quotations from the Book."
Leo's eyes became wary, and he quickly attacked Cosmo from behind. He pretends to drown him, while Margot screams for him to stop. Violet and Ethan watched from their rock; Ethan's smile big and proud, as he goaded on the beating. They splashed around until Thayer became sick of them.
"Calm down." His voice was growlish, like a bear, bringing the pair's fighting to a stand still. Thayer didn't like commotions lately, and everyone could feel the unnecessary hostility in his voice. But after a few moments of the silence, Thayer climbed out of the water and found his clothes on a nearby bush.
"What's the matter?" Ethan asked. But Thayer just kept putting on his clothes and stayed quiet.
Ethan was about to speak again, but Nemo caught everyone's attention. Sometimes that boy could be so far gone he just seemed to disappear. Everyone nearly forgot he was there.
Still in the water, Nemo stopped counting numbers and began jumping up and down while clapping his hands excessively. "She's coming. She's coming. She's coming"
Everyone looked at each other confused.
"Who's coming?" Leo asked.
Everything remained still for a moment, as everyone tried to listen for this sound indicating the "she" Nemo spoke of. But nothing. Nothing but the flow of tons of water rushing down the smooth green rocks.
In a silent agreement, everyone decided that nothing was there. Violet rushed into the water and led Nemo out onto dry land. "It's getting late, we should get him back."
"No, he's fine. We don't get to sneak away from everyone often enough," said Ethan.
Violet shook her head in disagreement. "We shouldn't be away for so long."
But Thayer stepped toward the trees and paused. "Wait. I hear it."
A general hush overcame the group. It was as if the rushing of water grew silent, and the swaying of trees froze in time. The sound was barely audible, but they all felt it. Slowly, you could hear the faint, yet swift patter of feet breaking twigs in its way. The snaps, and a manic panting, grew louder and louder until a girl with big, black hair sprang forth from the trees. She landed on her knees while her big, brown eyes scanned each of us, until she landed on her reason for running so far. "Ethan!" she cried.
It was Frizz. Her breath was completely gone, and in between the gasps, it was hard to make out what she tried to say. But she only needed to say one thing. One thing that would make everyone understand. "Outsider."
And just like that, everything changed.
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