Ooo. Below the belt, mister.

The crowd had grown, a mix of students and townspeople, some pointing

and smiling. Okay, she thought, jaw set, but grinning. This was now officially serious business.

Two shots left. She hefted the next ball as she eyed Peter, who waved from

the booth. “Any day, sweetheart,” he called.

Sweetheart? She cocked back and threw. Her arm felt like it was flying out

of its socket. The ball shot straight for the red and white circles of the target, then curved and dinged the edge, careening across the gym floor. The tank's arm

whanged and wobbled but stayed, and Peter remained dry.

Another oh! from the crowd.

“Oh, so close!” Peter yelled, cupping his hands again. “C'mon, Kate. It's for

charity, remember?”

She flipped the remaining ball up and down in her hand. Last one.

“Nail him, Kate,” Lucius called from a booth across the floor. A few of the

guy students began chanting, “Mr. C! Mr. C!”

“Ready to get wet?” she called to Peter.

He answered with a grin, folding his arms. “Take your best shot!”

She nodded. Oh, I will, mister. She bent forward, eyeing the target. Someone in the crowd whistled. An unusual competitiveness gripped her as her eyes narrowed.

She reared back, aimed, and threw.

The ball thunked harmlessly against the canvas backdrop.

Oooh came the groan from the crowd. Kate stood with her hands on her hips.

Peter almost seemed more disappointed than her, and something tugged at her heart.

She walked up to the booth. “Gave it my best shot,” she said.

He nodded from his perch, chin jutting out. “That's all you can do.” He paused, then cocked his head. “Double or nothing?”

She stroked her chin, then glanced over her shoulder to the crowd, who began cheering her on. “Tell you what,” she said loudly. “Why don't we just cut

to the chase?”

The crowd cheered harder. She turned back to Peter, whose smile was slowly

evaporating.

“Wait. Kate?”

She grinned, pulled out a twenty from her pocket, dropped it on the ground,

and then shoved the target arm as hard as she could.

Peter plunged, and the look on his face was delicious.

The crowd went crazy.

“It's for charity, remember?” she said sweetly as he popped up, sputtering.

* * *

Twenty minutes later, he joined her at Carol's booth, hair wet, in a pair of sweats, a freshly-scrubbed look on his face.

“Enjoy your bath?” she said without looking up. She was busy painting a flower on a five-year-old's face.

“Surprisingly refreshing,” he said, swiping a hand through his hair.

“Thinking of getting one of those tanks for home.”

She nodded, finishing a striped daisy petal. “I'd be happy to assist you with

the dunking again.”

“No, I think tonight's humiliation is enough for now.”

Kate patted the girl's hand. “You're done, sweetie.”

The girl admired her cheek in the hand mirror on the table, then scooted off

to show her friends.

“Do you next?” Kate asked, standing. “I was thinking something aquatic.”

She faked surprise. “I know! How about I draw some gills on your neck?”

“Funny. How about you try the tank next? There's an opening at eight-

thirty.”

She shook her head. “No thanks. I prefer to do all my bathing in private.

Besides, you'd probably cheat.”