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When her best friend, Marshall, comes over, they decide to head for Everest's secret lake and take a cool dip. What could possibly go wrong along the way? And what more could they possible learn about themselves?\n\nDISCLAIMER: I am NOT the author of this story. I commissioned this story; which was written by a very good friend and is being posted with their permission.\n\nI do NOT claim the rights to the PAW Patrol. Marshall, Everest, The PAW Patrol, and all related characters are copyrighted to Nickelodeon, Viacom, and Spinmaster.\n\nCover art is copyrighted to Caluriri.", "description_bbcode_parsed": "It's a hot day in Adventure Bay; so what's a poor cold-weather girl like Everest to do? When her best friend, Marshall, comes over, they decide to head for Everest's secret lake and take a cool dip. What could possibly go wrong along the way? And what more could they possible learn about themselves?

DISCLAIMER: I am NOT the author of this story. I commissioned this story; which was written by a very good friend and is being posted with their permission.

I do NOT claim the rights to the PAW Patrol. Marshall, Everest, The PAW Patrol, and all related characters are copyrighted to Nickelodeon, Viacom, and Spinmaster.

Cover art is copyrighted to Caluriri.", "writing": "[b][u][center]PAW Patrol: A Secret Swim[/center][/u][/b]\n\nEverest Berkley scooched over in her bed, shifting herself to the next cool spot upon her comforter. She didn't have to be in bed since it was the middle of the day and she'd long outgrown afternoon naps. Though, this didn't stop her from taking them on long car rides. But... lying in bed on such a sweltering day was about all that she had the energy for. The ten-year-old Husky stared up at the ceiling, panting gently to try and let her body cool itself off through natural means. Even with her ceiling fan on full power, and with her stripped down to her slim undershirt and favorite pair of purple panties, she was still too hot. She was a Husky, after all, and dogs of her breed generally weren't meant to live in places as hot as this. That being said, she wanted nothing more than to live here; thanks to all the friends she'd made in her friendship group known as the PAW Patrol; Chase, Skye, Rocky, Zuma, Rubble... and Marshall. Especially Marshall Munroe. Just thinking of the Dalmatian sent a shiver through her body; though, unfortunately of a nature that didn't help her cool down at all. She wanted nothing more than to be playing with her closest friends right now, but it was just too warm to do much of anything indoors or outdoors. So, she'd resigned herself to an afternoon of lying on her bed in nothing but her underwear, staring up at the ceiling, and cursing the sun for being so hot in the summer. \n\nAt least it allowed her mind time to wander... but her thoughts inevitably made their way back to her friends time and time again. She wondered what they were all doing today, anyway. Had they found some way to beat the heat, or were they spending their day the same way that she was? Chase and Skye were probably playing videogames together, since they were spending more and more time with each other, lately. It was obvious that there was something going on between them, just like it was for her and Marshall. She remembered that Zuma had gone on a trip to the beach with his grandparents, which Everest wasn't very jealous of. She hated it when sand got in her fur, and the smell of seawater drying in her fur wasn't the most flattering scent for a Husky like her. Plus, it was probably even hotter at the beach. So... that left Rocky, Rubble, and Marshall. She really had no clue what any of them could be doing today, but she hadn't received a call from any of them, so they all must've been busy. The Husky thumbed at the charm dangling from her collar; her personal emblem, and indication that she was a part of the PAW Patrol friendship club. She wasn't terribly frustrated that no one had contacted her today. She was sure that they all had good reasons to be missing in action. They were good enough friends with each other that they'd never think to leave one of their club members out of a group activity. Still, Everest felt mildly annoyed that she didn't have much to do today, mostly thanks to the rays of the sun beating down from above. \n\nShe jumped a little as there was a knock at her ajar bedroom door, and she quickly sat up in her bed as her parents stepped into her room. She pulled a blanket that was way too warm over her purple panties, reflexively trying to keep herself modest. It was a little silly, since her mother and father were the ones who changed her diapers until she was four; but she didn't want to just be half naked in front of them. \n\n``Hi, Snowdrop; Sorry to bother you,'' Berg, her father, apologized to their daughter. \n\n``It's okay, Daddy;'' Everest assured him; swishing her tail as he used the nickname that they often called her, ``What's up?'' \n\n``Your father and I need to run some errands today,'' her mother, Flo, informed her; at which point Everest realized that they were dressed nice enough to leave the house, and probably overheat along the way. They were both Huskies like her, so she couldn't imagine how hot they were in their full outfits. They were either better accustomed to the heat than their daughter, or they were simply better at hiding their discomfort. ``We'll be out for a few hours.'' Flo continued, ``Will you be alright here by yourself?'' Everest nodded. It wasn't the first time she'd been left home alone for a little while. It was actually kind of fun; she felt like she was the one in charge for a bit! She knew to keep all the doors locked and to call 911 right away in case of an emergency, so she was perfectly capable of being left on her lonesome for an afternoon. She didn't feel left out from her parents running errands without her; errands were usually boring, and Everest really didn't want to leave the relative coolness of the house.\n\n``I'll be okay, Mommy.'' Everest assured her mother, ``I'm not really doing a whole lot, anyway.'' The three Huskies shared a chuckle before Berg and Flo came forward to give their daughter a hug and kiss on the cheek; the former of which were both kept brief.\n\n``Your mother made some lemonade not too long ago,'' Berg told the youngest dog. ``We've had our glasses already, so you're free to finish it up. It's on the kitchen table.'' \n\n``That sounds great! Thanks, Mom.'' Everest smiled, licking her lips at the thought of fresh cold lemonade on such a hot day. ``Try not to get too hot out there!'' \n\n``No promises there,'' Flo groaned, betraying that she was just as annoyed with the heat as Everest was. ``See you in a little while, baby girl.'' \n\n``Bye, Mommy! Bye, Daddy!'' Everest waved at her parents as they left her room, and they waved back until they'd disappeared from sight. As soon as they were gone, Everest kicked off her blanket and fell back down on her bed, making sure she was lying spread-eagle on a cool spot. She'd get lemonade a little later. She didn't feel like getting up right now. She listened as the front door to their house opened and closed, followed moments later by an automobile starting up and driving off; its sound fading into the distance. Everest's bedroom was filled with an almost uncanny quiet, disturbed only by her light panting and the whirring of her ceiling fan. The Husky girl blew a raspberry with her tongue as she rubbed her forehead with a handpaw, cursing the sun's exhausting heat for at least the eleventh time that day. She supposed that the only bright side to this horribly hot day was that she didn't have to go to school. Then again, some of her classrooms were kept even colder than her own home, so it might've been a little more comfortable for her. If this place had the chilly temperatures that her old home in Fairbanks had had some time other than just in the middle of winter, it would've been the best place in the entire world to live.\n\n[center]*****[/center]\n\nOnly ten minutes passed from the time her parents had left the house. In that moment, Everest was mulling silently as she lay on her bed. She almost ignored the knock that came at the front door. Once she processed the fact that someone had knocked at the door, her eyes went wide. Rap-tap-tap-rap-tap... tap-tap... tap-tap-tap. She knew that knock anywhere. Marshall always knocked like that! Everest let out a girlish squeal of excitement since no one was around to hear it; leaping out of bed and momentarily forgetting all of her frustrations about being so uncomfortably warm. She dashed out of her bedroom and towards the stairs, her tail wagging a mile a minute. But she stopped herself as she held a bare footpaw out over the first step of the staircase. Looking down to see where she was putting her foot, she realized that she was staring past her undershirt and panties. She couldn't greet Marshall in her underwear! Embarrassed at the mistake she'd nearly made, Everest quickly doubled back to her room; hastily rummaging through her dresser for something to throw on over her delicates. She didn't want to keep Marshall waiting for too long; and she hoped that he wouldn't assume that no one was home, since there was no car in the driveway. She needed some sort of excitement today, and she didn't want her favorite Dalmatian to slip away! She tugged a pale pink blouse on over her undershirt, complementing them with a pair of rather hideous khaki shorts, only because they were the first pair of pants that she'd found that she wouldn't overheat in. She put them on as she left her bedroom again, hopping on one foot until both paws were through, shimmying her hips from side to side as she tugged them up over her underwear. She practically flew down the staircase, securing the button and zipper of her shorts once she'd reached the bottom floor. From there, it was a straight shot to her front door. She ran forward, running her paws through her headfur and flattening out her outfit, trying to make herself presentable as she peered through the peephole, just to make sure it was Marshall waiting outside. Sure enough, she'd recognize that pattern of black spots on white fur from a mile away. Everest unlocked the front door and pulled it open, trying not to recoil at the wave of heat that flooded into the house as a result.\n\n``Marshall! Hey! Good afternoon!'' she said. \n\n``H-hey, Everest...'' the ten-year-old Dalmatian said, tugging at the collar of his red tee shirt; either because he too was uncomfortable from the heat, or he felt just as shy about seeing the Husky as was true the other way around. Everest's heart was thumping hard, and only partially from how fast she'd made her way downstairs. ``I was hoping you were here;'' said Marshall, ``I didn't see a car in the driveway, but I figured I'd check to see if anyone was home before giving up.'' \n\n``I'm home! As you can, uh, clearly see.'' Everest exchanged a smile with her closest friend, trying to at least slow down the manic wagging of her tail. Just the sight of Marshall standing in her doorway was enough to make her feel positively giddy. But, remembering her manners, she stepped aside and motioned for Marshall to enter. ``Come inside, Marsh! It's hot as a volcano out there. Are your parents here, too?'' She looked past him to try and locate his father's bright red Oldsmobile, but she only saw an empty driveway. \n\n``No,'' said Marshall, as he stepped into the cool indoor air conditioning, after which Everest closed the front door right away, ``Mom and Dad are both on call today. Phew, that feels better. But yeah, since everywhere is really hot and the air and ground are so dry, it's all paws on deck at the fire station. If they get a call, they have to drop everything to rush out and help. So, they left Sarge at daycare and told me I could do whatever I pleased for the day, obviously within reason. What's your story, Ev?'' \n\n``My parents are just out and about running errands and stuff.'' Everest replied, twitching her perky ears. She couldn't help but feel a little excited about the situation she'd found herself in; she was all alone with the boy that she had a crush on, and their parents were nowhere to be seen. They practically had the entire day to themselves! They could do whatever they wanted to do! Well, within reason, like what Marshall's instructions were. ``So... here we are now!'' she added. \n\n``Yup, here we are.'' Marshall agreed, rubbing the back of his neck. After a moment of somewhat tense silence, Everest tilted her head and asked,\n\n``Sooo... what brings you here, Marshie~?'' The Dalmatian licked his lips, his tail twitching a little bit.\n\n``I-I uh... well, um... I, you know, I just...'' \n\n``Spit it out, Silly!'' Everest urged her awkward, bashful friend; always finding his mannerisms to be absolutely adorable. ``There's no one else here, I promise! What's on your mind?'' Marshall swallowed before clearing his throat, moving his hand down to start rubbing his forearm rather than his neck.\n\n``W-well, I uh... wanted to see you, Ev. S-so, I, um... came here. That's all there is to it, really.'' \n\n``And I'm absolutely flattered that you came all this way just to see little ol' me!'' teased the Husky; though she was entirely genuine in her choice of words. She stepped forward and gave her Dalmatian a tight hug, not even minding the fact that it was way too hot for hugs. Marshall hesitated for just a moment before returning the hug, holding the Husky close to him. \n\n``I-I missed you a lot, Everest;'' he said, shyly nuzzling her cheek, ``I-I know we all met up two days ago, but still... I missed you.'' \n\n``I missed you too, Marshie,'' Everest breathed, softly rubbing a hand up and down along his back. He was doing the same to her, and it felt like the right thing to do. ``And now, we've got my whole place to ourselves,'' she giggled, swishing her tail as she broke the hug, which was starting to get uncomfortably warm. ``We can watch movies, play games, have a rock-paper-scissor tournament - oh! My mom made some lemonade before she left. I think there's enough for you to have some!'' \n\n``Let's start with the lemonade first; that sounds awesome.'' Marshall decided, fanning his shirt by its hem. He, like Everest, was wearing his collar with his shiny PAW Patrol emblem clipped to it. He'd also donned a pair of navy-blue basketball shorts that looked much more comfortable than Everest's khakis. ``Lemonade, then videogames. How about it?'' \n\n``Perfect!'' Everest agreed, guiding him towards the dining room, moving at a slower pace now that the excitement of his arrival had begun to ebb. She was overjoyed that she finally had some company to focus on, but it couldn't entirely make her ignore the unbearable warmth that still permeated the house. She tried not to imagine a world where their air conditioner decided to break. This place would be more of an oven than it would be a house! Sure enough, there was just enough lemonade sitting in the pitcher on the table for both pups to have a tall glass to themselves. They stayed downstairs while they enjoyed the refreshing beverage, since her parents had a very strict policy of not taking any food or drink outside of plain water where there was carpet in the house. The two pups probably could've gotten away with breaking a rule or two while they were alone, but Everest knew that it wasn't worth the risk. That, and she'd be upset with herself for knowingly defying her parents behind their backs. \n\nEither way, with how warm they both were, the delicious lemonade didn't last for very long in their cups. As they drank, Marshall revealed that he had just about as much knowledge as Everest did regarding the whereabouts of the rest of their friends; coming to the conclusion that it was just too darn hot to do much of anything. After drinking up their refreshments, the pups hurried upstairs to play on the game system in Everest's room. Being alone with her best friend in her room was something that had happened several times before, but now that there was truly no one else in the entire house... it almost made her feel like she was doing something naughty and super exciting all at once. As she booted up her game system, putting in a copy of the latest Astral Conflicts Arcade for them to play, Everest couldn't help but sit a little closer to Marshall than she usually did. She couldn't tell if the Dalmatian noticed this, as he was quickly swept up in working with his friend to shoot down various alien spacecrafts as they tried to make progress further into the somewhat more challenging than expected videogame. The Husky, however, was having a much more difficult time focusing on the flickering television screen than usual. Maybe it was the heat more than anything, but she kept taking glances at Marshall out of the corner of her eye. The way his face got all scrunched up from his determination, his tongue sticking out of his mouth as he leaned forward, trying his hardest to beat the level that they'd been stuck on for almost weeks now... He was really cute. And it was making Everest feel a lot funnier than she usually did. Hotter, too. It was way too hot in this house.\n\n[center]*****[/center]\n\n``Ah crud,'' Marshall grumbled as he lost his last spaceship, roughly a minute after Everest had lost hers. ``Three attempts already. I dunno why they made this level so hard! Maybe we're missing something. We should try going in close to the enemy flagship, see if there's a power-up hiding behind it or something. It'll be tough to dodge all the enemy fire while we do that, though, so one of us should cover the other while...'' \n\n``This is fascinating and all,'' Everest interrupted the Dalmatian, making a show of stretching in an overdramatic fashion in order to drape one of her arms around Marshall's shoulders. It was a bold and adventurous motion for the Husky to make, and she was delighted, for reasons that she didn't fully understand, when her best friend tensed up just a little from her touch. ``But it's ridiculously hot and I don't know if I want to keep putting up with this frustrating level right now.'' Marshall licked his lips, nodding slowly.\n\n``H-honestly, um, fair. I was kinda feeling the same way.'' he said, ``Maybe uh, it'll be easier if we come back to the game with a clear head.'' He sat for a few moments longer; his tail slowly wagging, before getting up and tearing himself away from Everest's touch to turn off the game. ``But, uh... what should we do in the meantime?'' \n\n``We've gotta find some way to beat the heat before I start ripping my fur out!'' Everest stated, bluntly; pressing the edge of her controller against her cheek. ``We could stand in front of the open fridge and freezer, but that'd probably make my parents' electricity bill skyrocket.'' \n\n``Yeah, maybe not the best idea.'' Marshall agreed. He blinked, ``I mean, it's a good idea; but like, not good because of, uh, what you said.'' \n\n``I know what you meant, Silly.'' Everest giggled, sticking her tongue out, playfully, at the Dalmatian. ``That being said, you've got a better idea? We could drop ice cubes down our shirts, but that'd just make us wet and probably even more miserable.'' The Dalmatian snickered, but made a face as though he was actually considering the silly suggestion.\n\n``Wet...Wet! I've got it!'' Marshall exclaimed, ``We could go to your pond, Everest! The one where we all went to celebrate you not having to move away from here! It's a bit of a hike in the sun, but the forest path has lots of shade to help keep us cool. And that fresh water will be nice and cool, too!'' Everest blinked, perking up her ears at her friend's suggestion. She didn't really want to go out into the heat, but the thought of going for a swim in her favorite nearby lake was rather enticing. As Marshall had said, the water there was always at a comfortably low temperature, no matter how warm it was outside. And the thought of taking a stroll through the forest alone with the Dalmatian... that was something that made her heart flutter in her chest. It was a positively romantic idea, and it filled the Husky with that same funny feeling from earlier. The sensation was embarrassing, but really nice at the same time. She nodded eagerly, setting her controller down as she jumped up to her paws.\n\n``That's a wonderful idea, Marshie!'' she said, enthusiastically, ``Should I get changed into my bathing suit before we head out, then?'' \n\n``If you wanna,'' Marshall said, shrugging. ``I don't have my bathing suit with me, so I'm probably just gonna swim in my underwear.'' The Husky's tail twitched, and she quickly looked off to the side as she realized that she was imagining what Marshall looked like in nothing but those briefs of his; her heart thumping at the realization that she wouldn't have to only imagine this picture for much longer. She didn't understand why she was having so many bizarre thoughts like this today. For now, though, all that she could do was roll with it.\n\n``A-alright, then...'' said Everest, ``I'll do the same! You know, t-to keep things... fair!'' She cleared her throat, quickly brushing past Marshall so that he wouldn't see the redness under her white cheek fur. ``Let's get going! The sooner we get there, the sooner we'll be cool!'' Marshall giggled, excitedly, as he followed his friend downstairs. Along the way, Everest realized that she didn't know exactly when her parents would be home. She didn't think that she and Marshall would be out any longer than them, but she also didn't want them to panic at coming home to an empty house. So, she decided to leave a note for them on the table that read,\n\n`[i]Hi mommy and daddy! Marshall came over, and we're out for a swim in that pond nearby that I like. Love you![/i]'\n\nAfter punctuating her message with a heart, Everest slipped on her sandals and Marshall put on his flip-flops, and they left the house. The Husky couldn't help but groan as they stepped out of the cool indoor air and into the stifling warmth of the outdoor world. Cicadas buzzed in the background, and the paved street seemed to ripple and shimmer from the radiating heat. This was going to be the longest fifteen-minute walk that Everest had ever been on, but it would be worth it. She'd spend time with her crush, and they'd take a refreshing, relaxing swim together. They'd gotten so little time alone together like this, and while it had happened before, this time felt... different. After Everest had locked the door with the spare key that they kept underneath a rock close to the walkway, and as she walked along the sidewalk with Marshall, she realized that she couldn't stop herself from drifting closer to him as they plodded along. Despite it being much too hot for almost any sort of physical contact, the Husky just... couldn't help herself. She was filled with the overpowering urge to simply be close to the Dalmatian, and she couldn't seem to get close enough. If it wasn't what felt like a-hundred-and-five degrees Fahrenheit, she might've considered clinging to Marshall for the duration of their entire walk...\n\n``Are you okay, Ev?'' Marshall asked, breaking the silence after they'd walked a couple of blocks. He was fanning himself with his shirt again. ``You're a lot quieter than you usually are.'' \n\n``Y-yeah, I'm good! It's just... you know, the heat!'' Everest stammered in reply, clearing her throat as she smiled at her friend, ``If the sun would just look somewhere else for a while, I'd be a lot more energetic. And hey... what do you mean I'm quieter than usual?'' The Dalmatian gulped, rubbing the back of his neck.\n\n``I-I, uh... I didn't mean...'' Everest sighed, giving Marshall a playful elbow to his side.\n\n``Oh, I'm just pulling your leg, you big worrywart.'' she said, ``It's so cute how easy it is to make you all flustered.'' Marshall blinked, licking his lips.\n\n``You... think it's cute?'' he asked, an odd tone in his voice. \n\n``Well, um... sorta, I guess...'' Everest said; shrugging as they turned a corner at the end of the street, ``It's more like, well... it's very... you. And that's what makes it cute. So... Yeah...'' The young Dalmatian tilted his head as his friend trailed off; a deviously sly smile crossing his face, unlike any of the sort that she'd ever seen him wear. He stepped in front of the Husky, making them both stop in their tracks.\n\n``Ev...'' he said, ``If there's anything between the two of us that's cute, it has to be you.'' Everest's purple eyes went wider than they'd ever been before, her cheeks flushing to the point where it was impossible to miss. She opened and closed her mouth several times, feeling as though she was about to be swept off her feet. Her heart pounded in her ears, and she was unable to speak past the bashful lump that had formed in her throat. Marshall... he'd called her cute! He saw her as cute! She was cute! The Dalmatian giggled, taking ahold of Everest's hand (something that made her squirm even harder on the inside) as he coaxed her into continuing down the sidewalk again. ``Hah, you were right! Puppies are kinda cute when they get shy. I guess we can say that it's something we have in common. If... you want.'' \n\n``Y-yeah, um... I suppose that... w-works.'' Everest stammered, barely able to form a complete sentence; her mind was racing as fast as her heart was. She squeezed her friend's hand tightly, her tail a blur as it wagged behind her. All of the strange feelings she'd been feeling up to now had multiplied at least threefold in the blink of an eye. She wanted to wrap her arms around Marshall in the biggest hug that she could possibly give him. She wanted to be close to him; closer than they'd ever been before, even though it was too hot for such things. For now, at least, she was more than content with holding his paw. Maybe later, she'd have some time to sort out all these strange things that she was feeling. \n\n[center]*****[/center]\n\nThe Dalmatian boy and the Husky girl turned from the sidewalk after crossing a vacant street; stepping off onto a dirt path that led into a forest. Right away, Everest managed to find some comfort in the shade of the dense branches and leaves that made up the canopy of the woods. The ambient temperature was still frustratingly high, but at least now the sun wasn't beating down on them directly. It didn't beat the coolness of air conditioning, but it was something. They'd have plenty of shade for the rest of their walk, and Everest was getting quite excited to take a private swim with her favorite pup in the whole world. \n\n``Well, at least those flowers are enjoying the hot sun,'' the Husky commented, pointing out a few wild red flowers that were growing a short distance from the path, basking in an area that was bathed in largely uninterrupted sunlight. ``The flowers around here are so pretty. A lot prettier than the ones we had up north.'' \n\n``Yeah, but you had like... mountains and stuff,'' Marshall said, wagging his tail as he looked at her. ``I mean, we have a few here, but I can't imagine what it was like up there! Mountains as far as the eye could see, always capped with snow year-round.'' Everest cocked an eyebrow, giggling as she replied,\n\n``Well, there were a lot of mountains in Fairbanks, but it wasn't all mountains. And they weren't snowcapped all year long.'' Marshall tilted his head.\n\n``They weren't?'' he asked, ``I thought they got really cold up at - WAH!'' The Dalmatian broke off as he took a bad step on an exposed root, tripping and tumbling down to the forest floor. He would've taken Everest down with him, but he'd dropped her hand as he tried to catch himself, tumbling face-first on a patch of leaves and dirt that was kicked up in a cloud around his crash site. \n\n``Marshall!'' the Husky exclaimed, quickly crouching to help Marshall back to his feet, as he spit a leaf out of his mouth. ``Are you okay? Are you hurt?'' The Dalmatian shook his head, gladly taking Everest's assistance as he slowly climbed back into an upright position; making sure that nothing on him was hurt.\n\n``Y-yeah, I'm cool;'' Marshall assured his friend, ``Just stumbled. Those tree roots like to jump out at you sometimes, huh?'' He chuckled, brushing himself off as he flexed each of his legs. He made a face as he looked down at himself. ``Aw, I got my shirt all dirty, though;'' he grumbled, ``It's gonna take forever to get all those tiny little pieces of wood and leaves out of it...'' Everest clicked her tongue at the state of her friend's bright red garment, now stained with various patches of brown and gray. She tried to brush him off as best as she could, but it wasn't going to change the fact that the shirt would need a wash. In the meantime... the Husky's heart pounded as an idea crossed her mind. To her astonishment, she was voicing the idea before she'd even taken a second to ponder it.\n\n``Well, you could just take your shirt off for the rest of the walk.'' She said. Everest swallowed past the lump that had returned to her throat. Or... perhaps it had never gone away to begin with. Had she really just suggested that!? Did it sound weird? Would he do it? What in the world was happening inside her head? Marshall, however, wasn't nearly as bewildered by the Husky's proposal as she was, simply asking,\n\n``Do you mind if I do? It'd make the walk a lot cooler, too. I do it all the time at home, but I don't want to do it now if it makes you feel weird.'' \n\n``Not at all!'' Everest assured him, hoping she was keeping a very steady face. In truth, the idea of seeing the Dalmatian boy with his shirt off was making her feel very weird, but in a way that she wanted more of. She also hoped that he couldn't tell how excited she was to see him disrobe, which was something he'd have had to do anyway once they reached the lake. If Everest could see more of him now, though... ``I mean, you would have to take it off to swim anyway, right? Might as well take it off now so you don't have to wear a dirty shirt the whole way.'' The Dalmatian nodded, not showing any signs that he suspected any ulterior motive from his friend.\n\n``Yeah, fair point.'' he said. Then, without a moment's more of hesitation, he gathered up his shirt by its hem and scrunched it up, tugging his arms back through his sleeves and pushing the garment up and over his head to take it off. It was a quick motion, and one that only took a few seconds to complete. For Everest, however, it felt like she was staring at Marshall for many, many minutes. She couldn't take her eyes off of his fuzzy, white-furred tummy as it was revealed to her, much less so his chest once it had been unveiled. His chest had a few more black spots than his belly did, though his sides and back were much more speckled than either. This left a sleek covering of bright white fur that left little to the imagination. Little to Everest's imagination, to be precise. She chewed on her tongue, astounded at how, well... how nice the Dalmatian looked with his shirt off. She was sure that there was a better word to describe it, but it eluded her. He slung his shirt over his shoulder like it was a rag, smiling at his friend. ``Ah, that's a lot cooler, too. Glad that you don't mind it, Ev.'' \n\n``Not at all!'' the Husky practically squeaked, quickly clearing her throat as she tried to stop her tail from wagging like mad. She didn't think that she'd be able to shake this funny, fuzzy feeling anytime today after all. ``Let's, uh... keep going, then. It'll be even cooler once we're in the water.'' \n\n``Agreed!'' the Dalmatian hummed, taking ahold of his friend's hand again as they continued traipsing through the forest, being a little more mindful about where they placed their footpaws. The Husky hoped that Marshall couldn't feel how much her hand was trembling. She kept stealing glances at him, not wanting the image of the shirtless pup to be out of her sight for more than a few moments. However, she knew that it was going to linger in her mind for a long, long time. ``So, got anything else planned for the summer, Ev?'' he spoke again after a minute or two; disrupting Everest from her thoughts. Glad that she had something else to focus on besides the Dalmatian's lithe-yet-strong body, she cleared her throat again as she said,\n\n``W-well, I'm not sure. If it's gonna be this stinkin' hot for all of summer, I might have to start taking ice baths to stay cool.'' \n\n``That sounds... uncomfortable, to say the least.'' Marshall replied as he wiggled one of his ears. \n\n``Yeah, you're telling me!'' the Husky giggled, sticking her tongue out at him. Before her eyes could linger over him for too long, she continued, ``Outside of stuff with the rest of the PAW Patrol, I don't think there's anything set in stone. I know Rubble's family is having that cookout next weekend, so that'll be a lot of fun. Oh, and didn't Zuma say something about wanting to have us all over to his place for a pool party?'' \n\n``Oh yeah, he said that he'd have more details when we all met up again.'' Marshall said, wagging his tail. ``That'll be fun, too! And a good way to stay cool. I guess we're gonna be spending a lot of summer in water if the heat keeps up like this.'' \n\n``That's not a bad thing!'' Everest said, grinning. ``Even if we end up smelling like a bunch of wet dogs. I'll need to see if my swimsuit still fits, though. It didn't get a whole lot of use up north, and it was kinda tight the last time I wore it. I might need to grab a new one before Zuma's party.'' \n\n``It's only just occurred to me that I haven't seen you in a swimsuit, yet;'' Marshall mused aloud. ``But I bet you'll look really cute in one.'' The Husky's heart lurched; her eyes going wide at her friend's comment. Every time she thought that her strange feelings were starting to subside, the Dalmatian said or did something that made them surge again. She licked her lips as she made eye contact with Marshall.\n\n``Y-you t-think so?'' she stammered. The Dalmatian tilted his head, curiously.\n\n``Well... I mean, yeah!'' he said, ``You're, uh... cute already. So, I think a swimsuit would make you, like... extra cute. Somehow... Or something...''\n\n``I think you'd look cute in swim trunks, too.'' Everest blurted out; her mouth once again acting on autopilot. True, she had never seen him in a swimsuit, either; mainly due to the fact that she had started school in Adventure Bay back in October. But what was she doing? What was she saying? Why did it feel so right? Marshall smiled, a hint of red in his own cheeks.\n\n``Well... I guess we'll both know for sure whenever the pool party is, right?'' he asked.\n\n``Y-yup, definitely!'' said Everest, ``Definitely. I um... I look forward to that, Marshie.'' She smiled back at him, gazing into those pretty blue eyes of his, a pair of sapphires amidst the black and white of the rest of his body. After a moment, she looked over his shoulder as she noticed something. ``Oh, hey, look!'' she exclaimed, ``I think we can go through those bushes there and save a minute of walking. The path loops around up there, and it comes back just past the bushes here. Come on!'' The Husky quickly led the way, starting to take wide steps into the thick undergrowth, living and dead leaves alike crunching underneath her sandals. \n\n``Wait a second, Ev! Are you sure that's a good idea?'' Marshall asked, cautiously; reaching out to help steady the Husky as she wobbled in between steps. ``The bushes look pretty dense. Maybe it's better if ww...'' \n\n``Marshie, you're being a worrywart again!'' Everest teased, winking at him over her shoulder. ``It's just a couple of steps, nothing to worry about! What could possibly... hah-mmf!'' the Husky grunted as she tried to take another step, finding that she'd been practically rooted into place by the waist-high vegetation. She could feel it tugging at her clothes; and came to the realization that the bush was full of thorns! Marshall sniffed as he watched the Husky suddenly stop moving, realizing right away what had happened.\n\n``You were saying, Ev?'' he taunted, playfully crossing his arms. \n\n``Har-har, very funny, Marshall!'' Everest grumbled; giggling as she threw a clump of leaves in his general direction. ``It's just... a minor... slowdown!'' She wrenched her body to the side, managing to force her way into another step, but not without consequences. She gasped as she heard the sound of fabric tearing, and looking down at her shirt, she realized that it had gotten snagged on a particularly thorny set of higher branches. The pink fabric was now torn in several places, and her white undershirt could be seen through the holes. Some strings of pink had even been left behind in the bush! ``Oh, no!'' the Husky cried, ``My shirt!'' \n\n``Yikes, you're wedged in there really good.'' Marshall observed; not being much help with what he was saying. Eager to fix this, he said, ``Hang tight! I'm gonna wrap around and meet you on the other side. Then I'll help pull you out of there. Be right back!'' \n\n``I'm not going anywhere,'' Everest assured him; watching as the Dalmatian jogged off down the path, leaving her alone for what would be just a handful of moments. She took a long, hard look at Marshall's muscles rippling under his spotted fur, like a handsome prince on the way to rescue his princess... She swallowed, bashfully; trying to focus on getting herself a little less stuck in the meantime. As she twisted and turned, she only managed to tear her shirt into more of a tattered mess, to the point where it was nearly unrecognizable as a shirt. She decided to wait for Marshall's help, lest her undershirt fall victim to a similar fate. It was one thing for the Dalmatian to not have any clothes on above his waist. For Everest, it would be positively indecent. And yet... the stranded Husky couldn't help wondering why that was so. After all... boys had nipples too. How come they could show them while girls couldn't...? Thankfully, Marshall didn't keep her waiting for too long. He soon appeared on the other side of the bushes, appearing only slightly out of breath from his jog around the bend in the path. He wiggled his nose at the sight of her shirt.\n\n``Oh, jeez...'' Marshall muttered, ``I'm sorry about your shirt, Ev. Is the rest of you okay?''\n\n``I think so;'' the Husky assured him, carefully brushing at a thorn with her finger. ``My fur is keeping me safe, mostly. These thorns aren't catching on it like they are on my clothes.'' \n\n``Alright, good; at least you aren't hurt.'' the Dalmatian observed, tossing his shirt down on the path before tiptoeing as close to the thorny bushes as he dared to get. He was easily within arm's reach of the trapped Husky, so they didn't hesitate to join hands. ``Okay,'' said Marshall. ``On the count of three, I'll give you a pull. Try to make your way out, and let me know if it's not doing any good. Alright?'' \n\n``Okay,'' Everest said, nodding as she squeezed both of Marshall's handpaws. Her situation was kind of embarrassing, but it meant that the Dalmatian was focusing on her a little more than he otherwise would. So, in a way... it was a bit of fun; In a very bizarre sort of way. \n\n``One... two... three!'' At three, Marshall gave Everest's arms a firm pull; putting his back into it as he dug his flip-flop-clad footpaws into the ground. The Husky similarly grunted as she tried to push herself towards her savior. She felt herself coming loose; but as soon as she tried to take a step, she became stuck again. As the upper half of her body bent forward, her cheeks became aglow as she heard the loud tearing sound of her tattered shirt coming completely off of her body, leaving her white undershirt as the last line of defense for her white-furred tummy and chest! \n\n``Okay! Okay, stop!'' Everest barked, feeling that she wasn't coming unstuck anymore, and the pulling of her arms was making them sore. Marshall quickly let go and stepped back. It was clear to Everest that he was trying his hardest to ignore the fact that he was looking at part of his friend's underwear. This, ironically, made the Husky realize exactly what it was that she had to do. And it made her cheeks even hotter than they already were. \n\n``Phew... No good, huh?'' the Dalmatian huffed, gently parting some of the nearby thorny branches with his hands. ``I guess we can try moving aside all of the branches, one at a time.'' \n\n``That'll take ages, and we'll get our hands all cut up.'' Everest pointed out, chewing on her lower lip. Her handpaws trembled as they slowly moved down towards her khaki shorts; specifically, the button and zipper that kept them tight around her waist. ``It's... it's these shorts that are keeping me stuck here. I think I need to... t-take them off...'' She gulped as she fidgeted with the button, having a very difficult time making eye contact with Marshall. ``I-is that...okay?'' she asked, quietly. For his part, the Dalmatian looked quite flustered as he rubbed at his cheek, looking around as if trying to find some other solution to their problem. However, he, just like Everest, knew that this was likely the only solution that made much sense.\n\n``Well... I suppose it's better than being stuck in there all day long, right?'' he said, as his cheeks flushed a little red, ``Don't worry, we can keep this between us. No one else on the PAW Patrol has to know.'' Everest let out a gentle sigh of relief. She had no reason to believe that Marshall would ever try to embarrass her like that, but it was still reassuring to hear the words come out of his mouth.\n\n``Thanks, Marshie.'' she said, ``Alright, um... I'll just... loosen them a bit more, and then you'll have to pull me again. Here goes nothing.'' The Husky shivered a little as she navigated her paws through the thorns, managing to undo the button of her shorts without too much trouble. She also undid the button in the rear of her pants; the one that allowed her tail to sit comfortably within its slot, while also providing extra support for the garment. Finally, her zipper followed suit. The Husky was sure her cheeks were as red as the fire trucks her friend's parents operated as she tugged the zipper down; feeling the garment loosen significantly around her waist. Though it was hard to see through the tangle of branches and leaves, there was a hint of her purple panties peeking through the opening of her shorts; and it was about to become much more obvious to Marshall as to what color her underwear was. To his credit, the Dalmatian didn't really try to steal any glances at her exposed waistband. At least, not that she saw. Regardless, such glimpses wouldn't matter at all in a handful of moments. Everest could hardly believe her luck. Of all the ways to get stuck! She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was about to happen as she reached for Marshall again. ``Alright... they're loose. We go on three again?'' He gave a nod of agreement as he took ahold of his friend's paws once more, bracing himself to give her another big pull.\n\n``Alright, Ev,'' said Marshall, ``Here we go again. One... two... and three!'' The two pups repeated what they'd done before. Marshall gave the Husky's arms as strong of a pull as he could muster, and Everest attempted to fling herself in the Dalmatian's direction. As luck would have it, the Husky girl's game plan worked. It was her khaki shorts that were keeping her stuck in the bush. Her plan, however, ended up working a little too well. After breaking through a small bit of resistance from the thorny branches, she yelped as she was suddenly flung forward, her shorts sliding off of her legs in the blink of an eye. Or, perhaps it was more fitting to say that she was tugged out of her pants, instead. She became airborne for a second as she was freed from the bush. Yet, because of how she'd lunged, there was only one direction in which she could go; and that was towards the Dalmatian who was losing his footing from giving her harder of a pull than was needed. \n\n``Oof...!'' Everest yiped as she collided with Marshall, knocking the pup over the rest of the way. They fell to the ground in a heap, dust and leaves being kicked up all around them from the impact. Thankfully, there was nothing but smooth dirt and loose foliage where Marshall landed on his back, due to him taking the brunt of the impact. And Everest, well...she had a Dalmatian to cushion her fall. She fell atop Marshall, pinning him underneath her body as they recovered from the suddenness and shock of her suddenly coming free from the bushes so easily. Once that shock had worn off, a shock of a very different sort befell the pair of pups. Marshall was lying underneath Everest, essentially trapped by her weight. Their bellies and chests were touching one another's. And the Husky was staring wide-eyed at the Dalmatian looking right back up at her. And she was wearing nothing but her underwear and sandals. Her undershirt was brushing against his bare chest. And her purple panties were pressing against his basketball shorts! The two young dogs froze up completely; staring at each other with shocked, flustered expressions. A red blush appeared through the white fur of Marshall's cheeks, and Everest could feel her own cheeks becoming similarly flushed. She'd wanted to feel close to him earlier, and now, well... she didn't see how they could be any closer. They were half naked in the middle of the forest, and she was lying on top of him, gazing down into those beautiful eyes of his... \n\n``Uh... Everest...'' Marshall started to say. The Husky's ears went flat as she realized that she was still lying on top of him. She gave him an awkward smile, which he returned, before they both fell into a brief fit of giggles from the absurdity of all that had just happened to the pair of them. Everest quickly scrambled off of the Dalmatian, tucking her tail between her legs as she tried to cover her panties with it and both of her handpaws as she knelt on the forest floor.\n\n``Hah, uh... I'm free now!'' Everest said, sheepishly, ``Th-thanks, Marshall. And sorry that I flattened you.'' \n\n``No need to apologize, Ev; and you're welcome.'' Marshall assured her as he rose to his feet, quickly tugging at his shorts to make sure they were still in place. He offered a hand to help the Husky stand up; and though she accepted this offer, it forced her to uncover her panties, partially. Maybe it was a little silly that she'd be so self-conscious about the boy seeing her in her underpants; wasn?t the same going to have happened anyway, once they'd reached the lake? It just felt so... naughty, almost, for things to happen the way that they did. But not a `get a spanking and get put in time-out' type of naughty. It was... something else; Something that the Husky couldn't quite put her finger on. ``So, uh... Do you wanna try and get your shorts back?'' Marshall asked. Everest turned to look at the bush, keeping her tail low over her undies-clad bottom. She pursed her lips as she saw the ugly khaki shorts stuck within the grasping tendrils of the thorny bushes, along with the tattered remnants of her shirt. The loss of her shirt stung her a little, but the shorts...\n\n``Nah, I don't think it's coming out of there in one piece.'' She said, ``I always hated those hideous things anyway. Let the bush eat them for lunch.'' Marshall snickered, quickly looking back up at Everest's face as she turned back to him, as though he'd nearly been caught trying to gaze elsewhere. Everest was torn between continuing to try and keep her panties hidden and simply accepting the fact that she wouldn't be able to completely hide them from Marshall. Even while trying, it was still quite obvious that she was clad in nothing but her underwear.\n\n``Fair enough, I guess!'' said Marshall, ``I suppose you'll be a lot cooler without them, anyway.'' He chewed on his lip, looking as though he had some other comment to make, but couldn't bring himself to say it. Just before she tried to prompt him into speaking, however, he said, ``So, uh, should I take my pants off, too?'' Everest felt her heart lurch into her throat. If she wasn't trembling already at being seen by her closest friend in nothing but her delicates, she would certainly start at the thought of him following suit!\n\n``W-wha? I mean... w-why would you, M-Marshie?'' the Husky stammered, nervously. The Dalmatian was thumbing at the waistband of his shorts, as though his mind had already been made up.\n\n``Well, to keep things fair, I guess?'' he suggested, ``So you're not the only one traipsing through the forest in their underwear. I thought, you know, maybe it'd make you feel more comfortable if I only had my briefs on. But if it's weird, then...'' \n\n``No, not weird!'' Everest interrupted, quickly; unsure if this response was her mind on autopilot or actually her this time. ``I mean, I guess it's kinda weird, but... what about this whole walk hasn't been weird so far? It'd make me happy if... if you took your shorts off, Marshie.'' She swallowed as her throat felt dry; though it wasn't because she was thirsty. There was something odd stirring inside of her mind and body. She'd been feeling its presence all day long. And now, with the desire to see her best friend wearing nothing but his underpants, and standing alongside him in similar apparel... Marshall nodded, slowly; hooking his forefingers underneath the elastic waistband of his shorts. Unlike Everest's khakis, he didn't have a zipper or button holding his pants in place. So, he hardly needed to shimmy his hips as he pulled them down his thighs, moving rather slowly, likely because he was just as embarrassed about all of this as Everest was. Meanwhile, the Husky's breath was ragged and nervous as she watched Marshall take his pants off. It was probably a bit rude to watch him undress himself like this, but he was the one who'd offered to do it; and try as she might, she couldn't avert her gaze anywhere else. Her eyes were glued to Marshall's waist as his blue shorts came off, slowly unveiling the pair of briefs they concealed. His undies were bright red, like the shirt that he'd already removed. Everest knew that red was his favorite color, and the signature of the firefighter that he aspired to be, like his parents. It was a delightful aspiration to have, and one that the Husky admired him for. She admired him for an endless list of things. And today, a few things were being added to that list. \n\nA chill ran through her body as her best friend stripped himself down to nothing but his briefs, kicking his shorts aside and putting his flip flops back on shortly thereafter. Everest's tail slowly wagged as she looked at his underwear; the way they curved around his waist and thighs, the little flap that girls' panties lacked, and how nicely it fit the Dalmatian's body. She kept her hands clasped behind her back, because she knew that he was ogling her underwear in much the same way. He was taking in the small details of how smooth and silky her panties were, how they had a lacy trim around her waist, and how they were noticeably less bulky than his own undergarments. Owing, of course, to their differing anatomies. But the pups' gazes didn't linger solely on one another's underwear. They slowly traveled up along their bodies; her clothed torso and his naked one. Until, once more, they stared into each other's eyes. An enormous smile had spread over Everest's face; and it was one that reflected in Marshall's expression. Her tail wouldn't stop wagging, and her heart wouldn't stop pounding. She was so... happy. That was all that there was to it. Marshall made her so very, very happy. And she could tell that he felt the same way about her. She loved the Dalmatian very much; and she had no doubt that he loved her just the same. \n\nAfter a few moments of staring, fondly, at one another, they both looked away, simultaneously; giggling as the silliness of their situation struck them once more. Everest had all but lost her clothes to the dangers of the forest, and Marshall had taken off everything but his undies and collar so that she wouldn't have to suffer the embarrassment alone. And now, once the Dalmatian had gathered up his clothes, the two pups joined hands as they continued along the path. It sent a ripple of excitement through Everest's body; they were walking through the forest in just their underwear! All alone! Her parents would surely be furious if the two pups returned home in such a state. Boy... they would have to make an effort to beat them home if they didn't want to get in trouble. But for now, Everest only wanted to focus on her closest friend in the world. She held his paw tightly, nearly leaning on him as they shuffled through the forest, enjoying the cool shade and the gentle breeze that rippled through their fur as they drew closer and closer to their destination. \n\n``This has been a pretty interesting walk, huh?'' Marshall quipped, having made sure to reclaim his clothing. Unlike Everest's, his were still salvageable, just a little bit dirty. Hers had been sacrificed to whatever spirits might dwell in the forest. \n\n``That's one way to put it...'' agreed the Husky, shyly tugging at the waistband of her undies. She knew that they were properly in place, but she felt extra conscious about them now that she had no second line of defense covering them. That being said, she made sure not to pull them so hard that they rode up on her. ``It's been pretty fun, though, all things considered; Even if I had to sacrifice an outfit for it. I honestly haven't really even noticed the heat since we got into the forest. The shade really keeps things cool. Ooh, do you hear that?'' she asked, perking up her ears. Marshall tilted his head, angling it a few ways as he listened for the sound that Everest had picked up. Soon, amongst the rustling leaves and the crunching of dirt and debris under their shoes, he heard it too; the rippling and gentle splashing of water.\n\n``I do hear it!'' he exclaimed, ``It's the lake!'' The Husky beamed and nudged her friend's waist with her own; coming a little too close to bumping butts with him; as she gained a step on the Dalmatian.\n\n``Race ya the rest of the way!'' said Everest, ``Ready?'' \n\n``Wait, wha...?'' asked Marshall. \n\n``Go...!'' Everest said, before he had a chance to protest or question her sudden challenge, and immediately broke into as fast of a dash as she could muster. \n\n``Hey! No fair!'' Marshall protested as he began to run after her. Everest could only giggle in response as she ran; a little clumsily thanks to her sandals, but it was a straight shot to the pond.\n\n``Try and catch me!'' the Husky girl teased. She soon heard Marshall's hurried set of pawsteps following along behind her, his flip-flops making a considerable amount of noise as they stomped along on the forest floor. Usually, he was capable of outrunning her, being a rather athletic individual. This time, however, Everest ended up staying ahead of him the rest of the way to the lake. Perhaps it was how suddenly their race had started, or the fact that he was running in flip-flops, but there wasn't much of a competition for the Husky. She supposed that he could've been distracted by something, but she couldn't fathom what that could possibly be. Regardless, she didn't think about these factors too hard. She soon broke free from the undergrowth and beheld her favorite private getaway; the pond that stretched a far distance before her, nestled away in the middle of the quiet forest, far from the modernity of the suburbs. The surface rippled and gleamed in the sunlight. The water was never perfectly smooth and reflective, but the Husky suspected that this was due to whatever hidden source kept it so full and perfectly clean, practically to the extent of a pool's filter. She knew better than to try drinking the water, of course, but she had long ago established that it was completely safe for swimming; as the rest of the PAW Patrol knew quite well.\n\n``C'mon, Ev...!'' Marshall protested, ``Wait for me...!'' Everest, however, slid to a stop on the shore of the lake on an area that was raised, slightly, above the water's surface. She hurriedly kicked off her sandals as she shielded her eyes from the sun above. She glanced back towards Marshall in time to see his gaze quickly shift upwards; simply smiling at him as she bent her knees.\n\n``I win...!'' she declared; before launching herself from the edge and howling as she leapt into the water. With an enormous splash, the Husky fell beneath the surface of the lake. Her cheeks puffed out as she held her breath, she relished the feeling of the cool, pristine water soaking into her fur; her undershirt and panties becoming just as saturated as they clung to her body. Her ears lay flat as she realized how revealing this would make them. But as she hung suspended beneath the water, touching neither floor nor surface, her senses dulled and muted by the liquid all around her, it felt as though all of her worries were washed away in an instant; Swept away by the splashing waves. She was floating in an alternate dimension, where time slowed and her body was weightless... swimming was something she rarely got to do back in Fairbanks, since it was cooler more often than it was warm. Ever since moving down here, though, it had become a favorite pastime of hers. There was something so mystical about it all. Before long, she was joined by a second clamorous splash. The curtain of bubbles cleared away to reveal Marshall, who had jumped in just a few feet away from her, in a great cannonball. Her heart raced as she stared at him; his underwear clinging to his body as it was soaked through in an instant. And he couldn't hide the fact that he was looking at her in much the same way. As they locked eyes, they swam over to one another; closing the short distance swiftly. They managed to smile with their puffed cheeks as they joined hands, pressing their noses together underwater for a brief moment. The pups were smart, though, and they quickly drifted over to a shallow area where they could stand upright with only their heads and shoulders breaching the surface. They gasped and took in a fresh lungful of air as they shook water out of their faces, for once able to enjoy the sunlight bearing down on them now that they were both soaked to the skin; the hot sun creating a pleasant equilibrium with the cool water. Once more, the pups smiled at one another, having a hard time doing anything else. Though they did giggle at how silly they looked with their fur plastered to themselves.\n\n``Okay, Everest...'' said Marshall, ``You win this time.''\n\n``It's not so bad is it?'' asked Everest, stifling a giggle. Marshall just smiled and said,\n\n``It's never bad when I'm with you.'' As they stood in the shallow end of the lake, bathing in the rippling water, holding one another closer than they realized, Everest finally allowed her instincts to take control. Gazing at the Dalmatian's beautiful blue eyes, she couldn't control herself any longer. A bashful expression crossed her face as she leaned forward; her heart racing, her expression and mannerisms all but reflected in Marshall's own face as he met her halfway. The pups hugged each other tighter as their lips met in a kiss. A real, deep, meaningful kiss that carried countless emotions within it. Most important of these emotions, however... was love. Everest loved Marshall very, very much. And she knew that the goofy Dalmatian boy loved her, too. It was easy to see, even from the kiss alone; the way that they gently huffed into each other's mouths, how their hands were running up and down one another's backs, how they simply held the embrace for several very long seconds, each being entirely unwilling to pull apart from the other... it was a moment unlike any Everest had ever experienced before. And all of those strange emotions she'd been feeling throughout the course of the afternoon vanished as their lips pressed together. She was sure that they'd return eventually, and with greater force; but for now, they were sated. Maybe looking into those feelings wouldn't be such a bad thing, after all. After what felt like ages, the two pups finally broke from their kiss, panting a little as they exchanged a meaningful look with one another, though no words passed between them. They knew what had just happened, and they didn't need to discuss it any further.\n\n``So, um...'' said Everest, ``What do you wanna do?''\n\n``I dunno...'' Marshall admitted, shrugging, ``Let's just... swim.''\n\n``Yeah...'' said Everest, ``Let's swim.'' They rubbed cheeks before wading further into the lake; dropping each other's arms as they swam through the clear, cool water. They would spend a large chunk of the afternoon frolicking with one another, splashing and swimming and laughing with each other. Not as best friends... but as boyfriend and girlfriend. It was an arrangement that Everest was more elated about than she could put into words. It felt so right, so... perfect. Marshall was a very special boy, and she always felt all sorts of things when she was around him. And from today forward, they would be boyfriend and girlfriend. And an afternoon of swimming around the lake in their undies was the most perfect first date that Everest could think of. \n\n[b][u][right]End[/right][/u][/b]", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "
PAW Patrol: A Secret Swim


Everest Berkley scooched over in her bed, shifting herself to the next cool spot upon her comforter. She didn't have to be in bed since it was the middle of the day and she'd long outgrown afternoon naps. Though, this didn't stop her from taking them on long car rides. But... lying in bed on such a sweltering day was about all that she had the energy for. The ten-year-old Husky stared up at the ceiling, panting gently to try and let her body cool itself off through natural means. Even with her ceiling fan on full power, and with her stripped down to her slim undershirt and favorite pair of purple panties, she was still too hot. She was a Husky, after all, and dogs of her breed generally weren't meant to live in places as hot as this. That being said, she wanted nothing more than to live here; thanks to all the friends she'd made in her friendship group known as the PAW Patrol; Chase, Skye, Rocky, Zuma, Rubble... and Marshall. Especially Marshall Munroe. Just thinking of the Dalmatian sent a shiver through her body; though, unfortunately of a nature that didn't help her cool down at all. She wanted nothing more than to be playing with her closest friends right now, but it was just too warm to do much of anything indoors or outdoors. So, she'd resigned herself to an afternoon of lying on her bed in nothing but her underwear, staring up at the ceiling, and cursing the sun for being so hot in the summer.

At least it allowed her mind time to wander... but her thoughts inevitably made their way back to her friends time and time again. She wondered what they were all doing today, anyway. Had they found some way to beat the heat, or were they spending their day the same way that she was? Chase and Skye were probably playing videogames together, since they were spending more and more time with each other, lately. It was obvious that there was something going on between them, just like it was for her and Marshall. She remembered that Zuma had gone on a trip to the beach with his grandparents, which Everest wasn't very jealous of. She hated it when sand got in her fur, and the smell of seawater drying in her fur wasn't the most flattering scent for a Husky like her. Plus, it was probably even hotter at the beach. So... that left Rocky, Rubble, and Marshall. She really had no clue what any of them could be doing today, but she hadn't received a call from any of them, so they all must've been busy. The Husky thumbed at the charm dangling from her collar; her personal emblem, and indication that she was a part of the PAW Patrol friendship club. She wasn't terribly frustrated that no one had contacted her today. She was sure that they all had good reasons to be missing in action. They were good enough friends with each other that they'd never think to leave one of their club members out of a group activity. Still, Everest felt mildly annoyed that she didn't have much to do today, mostly thanks to the rays of the sun beating down from above.

She jumped a little as there was a knock at her ajar bedroom door, and she quickly sat up in her bed as her parents stepped into her room. She pulled a blanket that was way too warm over her purple panties, reflexively trying to keep herself modest. It was a little silly, since her mother and father were the ones who changed her diapers until she was four; but she didn't want to just be half naked in front of them.

``Hi, Snowdrop; Sorry to bother you,'' Berg, her father, apologized to their daughter.

``It's okay, Daddy;'' Everest assured him; swishing her tail as he used the nickname that they often called her, ``What's up?''

``Your father and I need to run some errands today,'' her mother, Flo, informed her; at which point Everest realized that they were dressed nice enough to leave the house, and probably overheat along the way. They were both Huskies like her, so she couldn't imagine how hot they were in their full outfits. They were either better accustomed to the heat than their daughter, or they were simply better at hiding their discomfort. ``We'll be out for a few hours.'' Flo continued, ``Will you be alright here by yourself?'' Everest nodded. It wasn't the first time she'd been left home alone for a little while. It was actually kind of fun; she felt like she was the one in charge for a bit! She knew to keep all the doors locked and to call 911 right away in case of an emergency, so she was perfectly capable of being left on her lonesome for an afternoon. She didn't feel left out from her parents running errands without her; errands were usually boring, and Everest really didn't want to leave the relative coolness of the house.

``I'll be okay, Mommy.'' Everest assured her mother, ``I'm not really doing a whole lot, anyway.'' The three Huskies shared a chuckle before Berg and Flo came forward to give their daughter a hug and kiss on the cheek; the former of which were both kept brief.

``Your mother made some lemonade not too long ago,'' Berg told the youngest dog. ``We've had our glasses already, so you're free to finish it up. It's on the kitchen table.''

``That sounds great! Thanks, Mom.'' Everest smiled, licking her lips at the thought of fresh cold lemonade on such a hot day. ``Try not to get too hot out there!''

``No promises there,'' Flo groaned, betraying that she was just as annoyed with the heat as Everest was. ``See you in a little while, baby girl.''

``Bye, Mommy! Bye, Daddy!'' Everest waved at her parents as they left her room, and they waved back until they'd disappeared from sight. As soon as they were gone, Everest kicked off her blanket and fell back down on her bed, making sure she was lying spread-eagle on a cool spot. She'd get lemonade a little later. She didn't feel like getting up right now. She listened as the front door to their house opened and closed, followed moments later by an automobile starting up and driving off; its sound fading into the distance. Everest's bedroom was filled with an almost uncanny quiet, disturbed only by her light panting and the whirring of her ceiling fan. The Husky girl blew a raspberry with her tongue as she rubbed her forehead with a handpaw, cursing the sun's exhausting heat for at least the eleventh time that day. She supposed that the only bright side to this horribly hot day was that she didn't have to go to school. Then again, some of her classrooms were kept even colder than her own home, so it might've been a little more comfortable for her. If this place had the chilly temperatures that her old home in Fairbanks had had some time other than just in the middle of winter, it would've been the best place in the entire world to live.

*****


Only ten minutes passed from the time her parents had left the house. In that moment, Everest was mulling silently as she lay on her bed. She almost ignored the knock that came at the front door. Once she processed the fact that someone had knocked at the door, her eyes went wide. Rap-tap-tap-rap-tap... tap-tap... tap-tap-tap. She knew that knock anywhere. Marshall always knocked like that! Everest let out a girlish squeal of excitement since no one was around to hear it; leaping out of bed and momentarily forgetting all of her frustrations about being so uncomfortably warm. She dashed out of her bedroom and towards the stairs, her tail wagging a mile a minute. But she stopped herself as she held a bare footpaw out over the first step of the staircase. Looking down to see where she was putting her foot, she realized that she was staring past her undershirt and panties. She couldn't greet Marshall in her underwear! Embarrassed at the mistake she'd nearly made, Everest quickly doubled back to her room; hastily rummaging through her dresser for something to throw on over her delicates. She didn't want to keep Marshall waiting for too long; and she hoped that he wouldn't assume that no one was home, since there was no car in the driveway. She needed some sort of excitement today, and she didn't want her favorite Dalmatian to slip away! She tugged a pale pink blouse on over her undershirt, complementing them with a pair of rather hideous khaki shorts, only because they were the first pair of pants that she'd found that she wouldn't overheat in. She put them on as she left her bedroom again, hopping on one foot until both paws were through, shimmying her hips from side to side as she tugged them up over her underwear. She practically flew down the staircase, securing the button and zipper of her shorts once she'd reached the bottom floor. From there, it was a straight shot to her front door. She ran forward, running her paws through her headfur and flattening out her outfit, trying to make herself presentable as she peered through the peephole, just to make sure it was Marshall waiting outside. Sure enough, she'd recognize that pattern of black spots on white fur from a mile away. Everest unlocked the front door and pulled it open, trying not to recoil at the wave of heat that flooded into the house as a result.

``Marshall! Hey! Good afternoon!'' she said.

``H-hey, Everest...'' the ten-year-old Dalmatian said, tugging at the collar of his red tee shirt; either because he too was uncomfortable from the heat, or he felt just as shy about seeing the Husky as was true the other way around. Everest's heart was thumping hard, and only partially from how fast she'd made her way downstairs. ``I was hoping you were here;'' said Marshall, ``I didn't see a car in the driveway, but I figured I'd check to see if anyone was home before giving up.''

``I'm home! As you can, uh, clearly see.'' Everest exchanged a smile with her closest friend, trying to at least slow down the manic wagging of her tail. Just the sight of Marshall standing in her doorway was enough to make her feel positively giddy. But, remembering her manners, she stepped aside and motioned for Marshall to enter. ``Come inside, Marsh! It's hot as a volcano out there. Are your parents here, too?'' She looked past him to try and locate his father's bright red Oldsmobile, but she only saw an empty driveway.

``No,'' said Marshall, as he stepped into the cool indoor air conditioning, after which Everest closed the front door right away, ``Mom and Dad are both on call today. Phew, that feels better. But yeah, since everywhere is really hot and the air and ground are so dry, it's all paws on deck at the fire station. If they get a call, they have to drop everything to rush out and help. So, they left Sarge at daycare and told me I could do whatever I pleased for the day, obviously within reason. What's your story, Ev?''

``My parents are just out and about running errands and stuff.'' Everest replied, twitching her perky ears. She couldn't help but feel a little excited about the situation she'd found herself in; she was all alone with the boy that she had a crush on, and their parents were nowhere to be seen. They practically had the entire day to themselves! They could do whatever they wanted to do! Well, within reason, like what Marshall's instructions were. ``So... here we are now!'' she added.

``Yup, here we are.'' Marshall agreed, rubbing the back of his neck. After a moment of somewhat tense silence, Everest tilted her head and asked,

``Sooo... what brings you here, Marshie~?'' The Dalmatian licked his lips, his tail twitching a little bit.

``I-I uh... well, um... I, you know, I just...''

``Spit it out, Silly!'' Everest urged her awkward, bashful friend; always finding his mannerisms to be absolutely adorable. ``There's no one else here, I promise! What's on your mind?'' Marshall swallowed before clearing his throat, moving his hand down to start rubbing his forearm rather than his neck.

``W-well, I uh... wanted to see you, Ev. S-so, I, um... came here. That's all there is to it, really.''

``And I'm absolutely flattered that you came all this way just to see little ol' me!'' teased the Husky; though she was entirely genuine in her choice of words. She stepped forward and gave her Dalmatian a tight hug, not even minding the fact that it was way too hot for hugs. Marshall hesitated for just a moment before returning the hug, holding the Husky close to him.

``I-I missed you a lot, Everest;'' he said, shyly nuzzling her cheek, ``I-I know we all met up two days ago, but still... I missed you.''

``I missed you too, Marshie,'' Everest breathed, softly rubbing a hand up and down along his back. He was doing the same to her, and it felt like the right thing to do. ``And now, we've got my whole place to ourselves,'' she giggled, swishing her tail as she broke the hug, which was starting to get uncomfortably warm. ``We can watch movies, play games, have a rock-paper-scissor tournament - oh! My mom made some lemonade before she left. I think there's enough for you to have some!''

``Let's start with the lemonade first; that sounds awesome.'' Marshall decided, fanning his shirt by its hem. He, like Everest, was wearing his collar with his shiny PAW Patrol emblem clipped to it. He'd also donned a pair of navy-blue basketball shorts that looked much more comfortable than Everest's khakis. ``Lemonade, then videogames. How about it?''

``Perfect!'' Everest agreed, guiding him towards the dining room, moving at a slower pace now that the excitement of his arrival had begun to ebb. She was overjoyed that she finally had some company to focus on, but it couldn't entirely make her ignore the unbearable warmth that still permeated the house. She tried not to imagine a world where their air conditioner decided to break. This place would be more of an oven than it would be a house! Sure enough, there was just enough lemonade sitting in the pitcher on the table for both pups to have a tall glass to themselves. They stayed downstairs while they enjoyed the refreshing beverage, since her parents had a very strict policy of not taking any food or drink outside of plain water where there was carpet in the house. The two pups probably could've gotten away with breaking a rule or two while they were alone, but Everest knew that it wasn't worth the risk. That, and she'd be upset with herself for knowingly defying her parents behind their backs.

Either way, with how warm they both were, the delicious lemonade didn't last for very long in their cups. As they drank, Marshall revealed that he had just about as much knowledge as Everest did regarding the whereabouts of the rest of their friends; coming to the conclusion that it was just too darn hot to do much of anything. After drinking up their refreshments, the pups hurried upstairs to play on the game system in Everest's room. Being alone with her best friend in her room was something that had happened several times before, but now that there was truly no one else in the entire house... it almost made her feel like she was doing something naughty and super exciting all at once. As she booted up her game system, putting in a copy of the latest Astral Conflicts Arcade for them to play, Everest couldn't help but sit a little closer to Marshall than she usually did. She couldn't tell if the Dalmatian noticed this, as he was quickly swept up in working with his friend to shoot down various alien spacecrafts as they tried to make progress further into the somewhat more challenging than expected videogame. The Husky, however, was having a much more difficult time focusing on the flickering television screen than usual. Maybe it was the heat more than anything, but she kept taking glances at Marshall out of the corner of her eye. The way his face got all scrunched up from his determination, his tongue sticking out of his mouth as he leaned forward, trying his hardest to beat the level that they'd been stuck on for almost weeks now... He was really cute. And it was making Everest feel a lot funnier than she usually did. Hotter, too. It was way too hot in this house.

*****


``Ah crud,'' Marshall grumbled as he lost his last spaceship, roughly a minute after Everest had lost hers. ``Three attempts already. I dunno why they made this level so hard! Maybe we're missing something. We should try going in close to the enemy flagship, see if there's a power-up hiding behind it or something. It'll be tough to dodge all the enemy fire while we do that, though, so one of us should cover the other while...''

``This is fascinating and all,'' Everest interrupted the Dalmatian, making a show of stretching in an overdramatic fashion in order to drape one of her arms around Marshall's shoulders. It was a bold and adventurous motion for the Husky to make, and she was delighted, for reasons that she didn't fully understand, when her best friend tensed up just a little from her touch. ``But it's ridiculously hot and I don't know if I want to keep putting up with this frustrating level right now.'' Marshall licked his lips, nodding slowly.

``H-honestly, um, fair. I was kinda feeling the same way.'' he said, ``Maybe uh, it'll be easier if we come back to the game with a clear head.'' He sat for a few moments longer; his tail slowly wagging, before getting up and tearing himself away from Everest's touch to turn off the game. ``But, uh... what should we do in the meantime?''

``We've gotta find some way to beat the heat before I start ripping my fur out!'' Everest stated, bluntly; pressing the edge of her controller against her cheek. ``We could stand in front of the open fridge and freezer, but that'd probably make my parents' electricity bill skyrocket.''

``Yeah, maybe not the best idea.'' Marshall agreed. He blinked, ``I mean, it's a good idea; but like, not good because of, uh, what you said.''

``I know what you meant, Silly.'' Everest giggled, sticking her tongue out, playfully, at the Dalmatian. ``That being said, you've got a better idea? We could drop ice cubes down our shirts, but that'd just make us wet and probably even more miserable.'' The Dalmatian snickered, but made a face as though he was actually considering the silly suggestion.

``Wet...Wet! I've got it!'' Marshall exclaimed, ``We could go to your pond, Everest! The one where we all went to celebrate you not having to move away from here! It's a bit of a hike in the sun, but the forest path has lots of shade to help keep us cool. And that fresh water will be nice and cool, too!'' Everest blinked, perking up her ears at her friend's suggestion. She didn't really want to go out into the heat, but the thought of going for a swim in her favorite nearby lake was rather enticing. As Marshall had said, the water there was always at a comfortably low temperature, no matter how warm it was outside. And the thought of taking a stroll through the forest alone with the Dalmatian... that was something that made her heart flutter in her chest. It was a positively romantic idea, and it filled the Husky with that same funny feeling from earlier. The sensation was embarrassing, but really nice at the same time. She nodded eagerly, setting her controller down as she jumped up to her paws.

``That's a wonderful idea, Marshie!'' she said, enthusiastically, ``Should I get changed into my bathing suit before we head out, then?''

``If you wanna,'' Marshall said, shrugging. ``I don't have my bathing suit with me, so I'm probably just gonna swim in my underwear.'' The Husky's tail twitched, and she quickly looked off to the side as she realized that she was imagining what Marshall looked like in nothing but those briefs of his; her heart thumping at the realization that she wouldn't have to only imagine this picture for much longer. She didn't understand why she was having so many bizarre thoughts like this today. For now, though, all that she could do was roll with it.

``A-alright, then...'' said Everest, ``I'll do the same! You know, t-to keep things... fair!'' She cleared her throat, quickly brushing past Marshall so that he wouldn't see the redness under her white cheek fur. ``Let's get going! The sooner we get there, the sooner we'll be cool!'' Marshall giggled, excitedly, as he followed his friend downstairs. Along the way, Everest realized that she didn't know exactly when her parents would be home. She didn't think that she and Marshall would be out any longer than them, but she also didn't want them to panic at coming home to an empty house. So, she decided to leave a note for them on the table that read,

`Hi mommy and daddy! Marshall came over, and we're out for a swim in that pond nearby that I like. Love you!'

After punctuating her message with a heart, Everest slipped on her sandals and Marshall put on his flip-flops, and they left the house. The Husky couldn't help but groan as they stepped out of the cool indoor air and into the stifling warmth of the outdoor world. Cicadas buzzed in the background, and the paved street seemed to ripple and shimmer from the radiating heat. This was going to be the longest fifteen-minute walk that Everest had ever been on, but it would be worth it. She'd spend time with her crush, and they'd take a refreshing, relaxing swim together. They'd gotten so little time alone together like this, and while it had happened before, this time felt... different. After Everest had locked the door with the spare key that they kept underneath a rock close to the walkway, and as she walked along the sidewalk with Marshall, she realized that she couldn't stop herself from drifting closer to him as they plodded along. Despite it being much too hot for almost any sort of physical contact, the Husky just... couldn't help herself. She was filled with the overpowering urge to simply be close to the Dalmatian, and she couldn't seem to get close enough. If it wasn't what felt like a-hundred-and-five degrees Fahrenheit, she might've considered clinging to Marshall for the duration of their entire walk...

``Are you okay, Ev?'' Marshall asked, breaking the silence after they'd walked a couple of blocks. He was fanning himself with his shirt again. ``You're a lot quieter than you usually are.''

``Y-yeah, I'm good! It's just... you know, the heat!'' Everest stammered in reply, clearing her throat as she smiled at her friend, ``If the sun would just look somewhere else for a while, I'd be a lot more energetic. And hey... what do you mean I'm quieter than usual?'' The Dalmatian gulped, rubbing the back of his neck.

``I-I, uh... I didn't mean...'' Everest sighed, giving Marshall a playful elbow to his side.

``Oh, I'm just pulling your leg, you big worrywart.'' she said, ``It's so cute how easy it is to make you all flustered.'' Marshall blinked, licking his lips.

``You... think it's cute?'' he asked, an odd tone in his voice.

``Well, um... sorta, I guess...'' Everest said; shrugging as they turned a corner at the end of the street, ``It's more like, well... it's very... you. And that's what makes it cute. So... Yeah...'' The young Dalmatian tilted his head as his friend trailed off; a deviously sly smile crossing his face, unlike any of the sort that she'd ever seen him wear. He stepped in front of the Husky, making them both stop in their tracks.

``Ev...'' he said, ``If there's anything between the two of us that's cute, it has to be you.'' Everest's purple eyes went wider than they'd ever been before, her cheeks flushing to the point where it was impossible to miss. She opened and closed her mouth several times, feeling as though she was about to be swept off her feet. Her heart pounded in her ears, and she was unable to speak past the bashful lump that had formed in her throat. Marshall... he'd called her cute! He saw her as cute! She was cute!  The Dalmatian giggled, taking ahold of Everest's hand (something that made her squirm even harder on the inside) as he coaxed her into continuing down the sidewalk again. ``Hah, you were right! Puppies are kinda cute when they get shy. I guess we can say that it's something we have in common. If... you want.''

``Y-yeah, um... I suppose that... w-works.'' Everest stammered, barely able to form a complete sentence; her mind was racing as fast as her heart was. She squeezed her friend's hand tightly, her tail a blur as it wagged behind her. All of the strange feelings she'd been feeling up to now had multiplied at least threefold in the blink of an eye. She wanted to wrap her arms around Marshall in the biggest hug that she could possibly give him. She wanted to be close to him; closer than they'd ever been before, even though it was too hot for such things. For now, at least, she was more than content with holding his paw. Maybe later, she'd have some time to sort out all these strange things that she was feeling.

*****


The Dalmatian boy and the Husky girl turned from the sidewalk after crossing a vacant street; stepping off onto a dirt path that led into a forest. Right away, Everest managed to find some comfort in the shade of the dense branches and leaves that made up the canopy of the woods. The ambient temperature was still frustratingly high, but at least now the sun wasn't beating down on them directly. It didn't beat the coolness of air conditioning, but it was something. They'd have plenty of shade for the rest of their walk, and Everest was getting quite excited to take a private swim with her favorite pup in the whole world.

``Well, at least those flowers are enjoying the hot sun,'' the Husky commented, pointing out a few wild red flowers that were growing a short distance from the path, basking in an area that was bathed in largely uninterrupted sunlight. ``The flowers around here are so pretty. A lot prettier than the ones we had up north.''

``Yeah, but you had like... mountains and stuff,'' Marshall said, wagging his tail as he looked at her. ``I mean, we have a few here, but I can't imagine what it was like up there! Mountains as far as the eye could see, always capped with snow year-round.'' Everest cocked an eyebrow, giggling as she replied,

``Well, there were a lot of mountains in Fairbanks, but it wasn't all mountains. And they weren't snowcapped all year long.'' Marshall tilted his head.

``They weren't?'' he asked, ``I thought they got really cold up at - WAH!'' The Dalmatian broke off as he took a bad step on an exposed root, tripping and tumbling down to the forest floor. He would've taken Everest down with him, but he'd dropped her hand as he tried to catch himself, tumbling face-first on a patch of leaves and dirt that was kicked up in a cloud around his crash site.

``Marshall!'' the Husky exclaimed, quickly crouching to help Marshall back to his feet, as he spit a leaf out of his mouth. ``Are you okay? Are you hurt?'' The Dalmatian shook his head, gladly taking Everest's assistance as he slowly climbed back into an upright position; making sure that nothing on him was hurt.

``Y-yeah, I'm cool;'' Marshall assured his friend, ``Just stumbled. Those tree roots like to jump out at you sometimes, huh?'' He chuckled, brushing himself off as he flexed each of his legs. He made a face as he looked down at himself. ``Aw, I got my shirt all dirty, though;'' he grumbled, ``It's gonna take forever to get all those tiny little pieces of wood and leaves out of it...'' Everest clicked her tongue at the state of her friend's bright red garment, now stained with various patches of brown and gray. She tried to brush him off as best as she could, but it wasn't going to change the fact that the shirt would need a wash. In the meantime... the Husky's heart pounded as an idea crossed her mind. To her astonishment, she was voicing the idea before she'd even taken a second to ponder it.

``Well, you could just take your shirt off for the rest of the walk.'' She said. Everest swallowed past the lump that had returned to her throat. Or... perhaps it had never gone away to begin with. Had she really just suggested that!? Did it sound weird? Would he do it? What in the world was happening inside her head? Marshall, however, wasn't nearly as bewildered by the Husky's proposal as she was, simply asking,

``Do you mind if I do? It'd make the walk a lot cooler, too. I do it all the time at home, but I don't want to do it now if it makes you feel weird.''

``Not at all!'' Everest assured him, hoping she was keeping a very steady face. In truth, the idea of seeing the Dalmatian boy with his shirt off was making her feel very weird, but in a way that she wanted more of. She also hoped that he couldn't tell how excited she was to see him disrobe, which was something he'd have had to do anyway once they reached the lake. If Everest could see more of him now, though... ``I mean, you would have to take it off to swim anyway, right? Might as well take it off now so you don't have to wear a dirty shirt the whole way.'' The Dalmatian nodded, not showing any signs that he suspected any ulterior motive from his friend.

``Yeah, fair point.'' he said. Then, without a moment's more of hesitation, he gathered up his shirt by its hem and scrunched it up, tugging his arms back through his sleeves and pushing the garment up and over his head to take it off. It was a quick motion, and one that only took a few seconds to complete. For Everest, however, it felt like she was staring at Marshall for many, many minutes. She couldn't take her eyes off of his fuzzy, white-furred tummy as it was revealed to her, much less so his chest once it had been unveiled. His chest had a few more black spots than his belly did, though his sides and back were much more speckled than either. This left a sleek covering of bright white fur that left little to the imagination. Little to Everest's imagination, to be precise. She chewed on her tongue, astounded at how, well... how nice the Dalmatian looked with his shirt off. She was sure that there was a better word to describe it, but it eluded her. He slung his shirt over his shoulder like it was a rag, smiling at his friend. ``Ah, that's a lot cooler, too. Glad that you don't mind it, Ev.''

``Not at all!'' the Husky practically squeaked, quickly clearing her throat as she tried to stop her tail from wagging like mad. She didn't think that she'd be able to shake this funny, fuzzy feeling anytime today after all. ``Let's, uh... keep going, then. It'll be even cooler once we're in the water.''

``Agreed!'' the Dalmatian hummed, taking ahold of his friend's hand again as they continued traipsing through the forest, being a little more mindful about where they placed their footpaws. The Husky hoped that Marshall couldn't feel how much her hand was trembling. She kept stealing glances at him, not wanting the image of the shirtless pup to be out of her sight for more than a few moments. However, she knew that it was going to linger in her mind for a long, long time. ``So, got anything else planned for the summer, Ev?'' he spoke again after a minute or two; disrupting Everest from her thoughts. Glad that she had something else to focus on besides the Dalmatian's lithe-yet-strong body, she cleared her throat again as she said,

``W-well, I'm not sure. If it's gonna be this stinkin' hot for all of summer, I might have to start taking ice baths to stay cool.''

``That sounds... uncomfortable, to say the least.'' Marshall replied as he wiggled one of his ears.

``Yeah, you're telling me!'' the Husky giggled, sticking her tongue out at him. Before her eyes could linger over him for too long, she continued, ``Outside of stuff with the rest of the PAW Patrol, I don't think there's anything set in stone. I know Rubble's family is having that cookout next weekend, so that'll be a lot of fun. Oh, and didn't Zuma say something about wanting to have us all over to his place for a pool party?''

``Oh yeah, he said that he'd have more details when we all met up again.'' Marshall said, wagging his tail. ``That'll be fun, too! And a good way to stay cool. I guess we're gonna be spending a lot of summer in water if the heat keeps up like this.''

``That's not a bad thing!'' Everest said, grinning. ``Even if we end up smelling like a bunch of wet dogs. I'll need to see if my swimsuit still fits, though. It didn't get a whole lot of use up north, and it was kinda tight the last time I wore it. I might need to grab a new one before Zuma's party.''

``It's only just occurred to me that I haven't seen you in a swimsuit, yet;'' Marshall mused aloud. ``But I bet you'll look really cute in one.''  The Husky's heart lurched; her eyes going wide at her friend's comment. Every time she thought that her strange feelings were starting to subside, the Dalmatian said or did something that made them surge again. She licked her lips as she made eye contact with Marshall.

``Y-you t-think so?'' she stammered. The Dalmatian tilted his head, curiously.

``Well... I mean, yeah!'' he said, ``You're, uh... cute already. So, I think a swimsuit would make you, like... extra cute. Somehow... Or something...''

``I think you'd look cute in swim trunks, too.'' Everest blurted out; her mouth once again acting on autopilot. True, she had never seen him in a swimsuit, either; mainly due to the fact that she had started school in Adventure Bay back in October. But what was she doing? What was she saying? Why did it feel so right?  Marshall smiled, a hint of red in his own cheeks.

``Well... I guess we'll both know for sure whenever the pool party is, right?'' he asked.

``Y-yup, definitely!'' said Everest, ``Definitely. I um... I look forward to that, Marshie.'' She smiled back at him, gazing into those pretty blue eyes of his, a pair of sapphires amidst the black and white of the rest of his body. After a moment, she looked over his shoulder as she noticed something. ``Oh, hey, look!'' she exclaimed, ``I think we can go through those bushes there and save a minute of walking. The path loops around up there, and it comes back just past the bushes here. Come on!'' The Husky quickly led the way, starting to take wide steps into the thick undergrowth, living and dead leaves alike crunching underneath her sandals.

``Wait a second, Ev! Are you sure that's a good idea?'' Marshall asked, cautiously; reaching out to help steady the Husky as she wobbled in between steps. ``The bushes look pretty dense. Maybe it's better if ww...''

``Marshie, you're being a worrywart again!'' Everest teased, winking at him over her shoulder. ``It's just a couple of steps, nothing to worry about! What could possibly... hah-mmf!'' the Husky grunted as she tried to take another step, finding that she'd been practically rooted into place by the waist-high vegetation. She could feel it tugging at her clothes; and came to the realization that the bush was full of thorns! Marshall sniffed as he watched the Husky suddenly stop moving, realizing right away what had happened.

``You were saying, Ev?'' he taunted, playfully crossing his arms.

``Har-har, very funny, Marshall!'' Everest grumbled; giggling as she threw a clump of leaves in his general direction. ``It's just... a minor... slowdown!'' She wrenched her body to the side, managing to force her way into another step, but not without consequences. She gasped as she heard the sound of fabric tearing, and looking down at her shirt, she realized that it had gotten snagged on a particularly thorny set of higher branches. The pink fabric was now torn in several places, and her white undershirt could be seen through the holes. Some strings of pink had even been left behind in the bush! ``Oh, no!'' the Husky cried, ``My shirt!''

``Yikes, you're wedged in there really good.'' Marshall observed; not being much help with what he was saying. Eager to fix this, he said, ``Hang tight! I'm gonna wrap around and meet you on the other side. Then I'll help pull you out of there. Be right back!''

``I'm not going anywhere,'' Everest assured him; watching as the Dalmatian jogged off down the path, leaving her alone for what would be just a handful of moments. She took a long, hard look at Marshall's muscles rippling under his spotted fur, like a handsome prince on the way to rescue his princess... She swallowed, bashfully; trying to focus on getting herself a little less stuck in the meantime. As she twisted and turned, she only managed to tear her shirt into more of a tattered mess, to the point where it was nearly unrecognizable as a shirt. She decided to wait for Marshall's help, lest her undershirt fall victim to a similar fate. It was one thing for the Dalmatian to not have any clothes on above his waist. For Everest, it would be positively indecent. And yet... the stranded Husky couldn't help wondering why that was so. After all... boys had nipples too. How come they could show them while girls couldn't...? Thankfully, Marshall didn't keep her waiting for too long. He soon appeared on the other side of the bushes, appearing only slightly out of breath from his jog around the bend in the path. He wiggled his nose at the sight of her shirt.

``Oh, jeez...'' Marshall muttered, ``I'm sorry about your shirt, Ev. Is the rest of you okay?''

``I think so;'' the Husky assured him, carefully brushing at a thorn with her finger. ``My fur is keeping me safe, mostly. These thorns aren't catching on it like they are on my clothes.''

``Alright, good; at least you aren't hurt.'' the Dalmatian observed, tossing his shirt down on the path before tiptoeing as close to the thorny bushes as he dared to get. He was easily within arm's reach of the trapped Husky, so they didn't hesitate to join hands. ``Okay,'' said Marshall. ``On the count of three, I'll give you a pull. Try to make your way out, and let me know if it's not doing any good. Alright?''

``Okay,'' Everest said, nodding as she squeezed both of Marshall's handpaws. Her situation was kind of embarrassing, but it meant that the Dalmatian was focusing on her a little more than he otherwise would. So, in a way... it was a bit of fun; In a very bizarre sort of way.

``One... two... three!'' At three, Marshall gave Everest's arms a firm pull; putting his back into it as he dug his flip-flop-clad footpaws into the ground. The Husky similarly grunted as she tried to push herself towards her savior. She felt herself coming loose; but as soon as she tried to take a step, she became stuck again. As the upper half of her body bent forward, her cheeks became aglow as she heard the loud tearing sound of her tattered shirt coming completely off of her body, leaving her white undershirt as the last line of defense for her white-furred tummy and chest!

``Okay! Okay, stop!'' Everest barked, feeling that she wasn't coming unstuck anymore, and the pulling of her arms was making them sore. Marshall quickly let go and stepped back. It was clear to Everest that he was trying his hardest to ignore the fact that he was looking at part of his friend's underwear. This, ironically, made the Husky realize exactly what it was that she had to do. And it made her cheeks even hotter than they already were.

``Phew... No good, huh?'' the Dalmatian huffed, gently parting some of the nearby thorny branches with his hands. ``I guess we can try moving aside all of the branches, one at a time.''

``That'll take ages, and we'll get our hands all cut up.'' Everest pointed out, chewing on her lower lip. Her handpaws trembled as they slowly moved down towards her khaki shorts; specifically, the button and zipper that kept them tight around her waist. ``It's... it's these shorts that are keeping me stuck here. I think I need to... t-take them off...'' She gulped as she fidgeted with the button, having a very difficult time making eye contact with Marshall. ``I-is that...okay?'' she asked, quietly. For his part, the Dalmatian looked quite flustered as he rubbed at his cheek, looking around as if trying to find some other solution to their problem. However, he, just like Everest, knew that this was likely the only solution that made much sense.

``Well... I suppose it's better than being stuck in there all day long, right?'' he said, as his cheeks flushed a little red, ``Don't worry, we can keep this between us. No one else on the PAW Patrol has to know.'' Everest let out a gentle sigh of relief. She had no reason to believe that Marshall would ever try to embarrass her like that, but it was still reassuring to hear the words come out of his mouth.

``Thanks, Marshie.'' she said, ``Alright, um... I'll just... loosen them a bit more, and then you'll have to pull me again. Here goes nothing.'' The Husky shivered a little as she navigated her paws through the thorns, managing to undo the button of her shorts without too much trouble. She also undid the button in the rear of her pants; the one that allowed her tail to sit comfortably within its slot, while also providing extra support for the garment. Finally, her zipper followed suit. The Husky was sure her cheeks were as red as the fire trucks her friend's parents operated as she tugged the zipper down; feeling the garment loosen significantly around her waist. Though it was hard to see through the tangle of branches and leaves, there was a hint of her purple panties peeking through the opening of her shorts; and it was about to become much more obvious to Marshall as to what color her underwear was. To his credit, the Dalmatian didn't really try to steal any glances at her exposed waistband. At least, not that she saw. Regardless, such glimpses wouldn't matter at all in a handful of moments. Everest could hardly believe her luck. Of all the ways to get stuck! She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was about to happen as she reached for Marshall again. ``Alright... they're loose. We go on three again?'' He gave a nod of agreement as he took ahold of his friend's paws once more, bracing himself to give her another big pull.

``Alright, Ev,'' said Marshall, ``Here we go again. One... two... and three!'' The two pups repeated what they'd done before. Marshall gave the Husky's arms as strong of a pull as he could muster, and Everest attempted to fling herself in the Dalmatian's direction. As luck would have it, the Husky girl's game plan worked. It was her khaki shorts that were keeping her stuck in the bush. Her plan, however, ended up working a little too well. After breaking through a small bit of resistance from the thorny branches, she yelped as she was suddenly flung forward, her shorts sliding off of her legs in the blink of an eye. Or, perhaps it was more fitting to say that she was tugged out of her pants, instead. She became airborne for a second as she was freed from the bush. Yet, because of how she'd lunged, there was only one direction in which she could go; and that was towards the Dalmatian who was losing his footing from giving her harder of a pull than was needed.

``Oof...!'' Everest yiped as she collided with Marshall, knocking the pup over the rest of the way. They fell to the ground in a heap, dust and leaves being kicked up all around them from the impact. Thankfully, there was nothing but smooth dirt and loose foliage where Marshall landed on his back, due to him taking the brunt of the impact. And Everest, well...she had a Dalmatian to cushion her fall. She fell atop Marshall, pinning him underneath her body as they recovered from the suddenness and shock of her suddenly coming free from the bushes so easily. Once that shock had worn off, a shock of a very different sort befell the pair of pups. Marshall was lying underneath Everest, essentially trapped by her weight. Their bellies and chests were touching one another's. And the Husky was staring wide-eyed at the Dalmatian looking right back up at her. And she was wearing nothing but her underwear and sandals. Her undershirt was brushing against his bare chest. And her purple panties were pressing against his basketball shorts! The two young dogs froze up completely; staring at each other with shocked, flustered expressions. A red blush appeared through the white fur of Marshall's cheeks, and Everest could feel her own cheeks becoming similarly flushed. She'd wanted to feel close to him earlier, and now, well... she didn't see how they could be any closer. They were half naked in the middle of the forest, and she was lying on top of him, gazing down into those beautiful eyes of his...

``Uh... Everest...'' Marshall started to say. The Husky's ears went flat as she realized that she was still lying on top of him. She gave him an awkward smile, which he returned, before they both fell into a brief fit of giggles from the absurdity of all that had just happened to the pair of them. Everest quickly scrambled off of the Dalmatian, tucking her tail between her legs as she tried to cover her panties with it and both of her handpaws as she knelt on the forest floor.

``Hah, uh... I'm free now!'' Everest said, sheepishly, ``Th-thanks, Marshall. And sorry that I flattened you.''

``No need to apologize, Ev; and you're welcome.'' Marshall assured her as he rose to his feet, quickly tugging at his shorts to make sure they were still in place. He offered a hand to help the Husky stand up; and though she accepted this offer, it forced her to uncover her panties, partially. Maybe it was a little silly that she'd be so self-conscious about the boy seeing her in her underpants; wasn?t the same going to have happened anyway, once they'd reached the lake? It just felt so... naughty, almost, for things to happen the way that they did. But not a `get a spanking and get put in time-out' type of naughty. It was... something else; Something that the Husky couldn't quite put her finger on. ``So, uh... Do you wanna try and get your shorts back?'' Marshall asked. Everest turned to look at the bush, keeping her tail low over her undies-clad bottom. She pursed her lips as she saw the ugly khaki shorts stuck within the grasping tendrils of the thorny bushes, along with the tattered remnants of her shirt. The loss of her shirt stung her a little, but the shorts...

``Nah, I don't think it's coming out of there in one piece.'' She said, ``I always hated those hideous things anyway. Let the bush eat them for lunch.'' Marshall snickered, quickly looking back up at Everest's face as she turned back to him, as though he'd nearly been caught trying to gaze elsewhere. Everest was torn between continuing to try and keep her panties hidden and simply accepting the fact that she wouldn't be able to completely hide them from Marshall. Even while trying, it was still quite obvious that she was clad in nothing but her underwear.

``Fair enough, I guess!'' said Marshall, ``I suppose you'll be a lot cooler without them, anyway.'' He chewed on his lip, looking as though he had some other comment to make, but couldn't bring himself to say it. Just before she tried to prompt him into speaking, however, he said, ``So, uh, should I take my pants off, too?'' Everest felt her heart lurch into her throat. If she wasn't trembling already at being seen by her closest friend in nothing but her delicates, she would certainly start at the thought of him following suit!

``W-wha? I mean... w-why would you, M-Marshie?'' the Husky stammered, nervously. The Dalmatian was thumbing at the waistband of his shorts, as though his mind had already been made up.

``Well, to keep things fair, I guess?'' he suggested, ``So you're not the only one traipsing through the forest in their underwear. I thought, you know, maybe it'd make you feel more comfortable if I only had my briefs on. But if it's weird, then...''

``No, not weird!'' Everest interrupted, quickly; unsure if this response was her mind on autopilot or actually her this time. ``I mean, I guess it's kinda weird, but... what about this whole walk hasn't been weird so far? It'd make me happy if... if you took your shorts off, Marshie.'' She swallowed as her throat felt dry; though it wasn't because she was thirsty. There was something odd stirring inside of her mind and body. She'd been feeling its presence all day long. And now, with the desire to see her best friend wearing nothing but his underpants, and standing alongside him in similar apparel... Marshall nodded, slowly; hooking his forefingers underneath the elastic waistband of his shorts. Unlike Everest's khakis, he didn't have a zipper or button holding his pants in place. So, he hardly needed to shimmy his hips as he pulled them down his thighs, moving rather slowly, likely because he was just as embarrassed about all of this as Everest was.  Meanwhile, the Husky's breath was ragged and nervous as she watched Marshall take his pants off. It was probably a bit rude to watch him undress himself like this, but he was the one who'd offered to do it; and try as she might, she couldn't avert her gaze anywhere else. Her eyes were glued to Marshall's waist as his blue shorts came off, slowly unveiling the pair of briefs they concealed. His undies were bright red, like the shirt that he'd already removed. Everest knew that red was his favorite color, and the signature of the firefighter that he aspired to be, like his parents. It was a delightful aspiration to have, and one that the Husky admired him for. She admired him for an endless list of things. And today, a few things were being added to that list.

A chill ran through her body as her best friend stripped himself down to nothing but his briefs, kicking his shorts aside and putting his flip flops back on shortly thereafter. Everest's tail slowly wagged as she looked at his underwear; the way they curved around his waist and thighs, the little flap that girls' panties lacked, and how nicely it fit the Dalmatian's body. She kept her hands clasped behind her back, because she knew that he was ogling her underwear in much the same way. He was taking in the small details of how smooth and silky her panties were, how they had a lacy trim around her waist, and how they were noticeably less bulky than his own undergarments. Owing, of course, to their differing anatomies. But the pups' gazes didn't linger solely on one another's underwear. They slowly traveled up along their bodies; her clothed torso and his naked one. Until, once more, they stared into each other's eyes. An enormous smile had spread over Everest's face; and it was one that reflected in Marshall's expression. Her tail wouldn't stop wagging, and her heart wouldn't stop pounding. She was so... happy. That was all that there was to it. Marshall made her so very, very happy. And she could tell that he felt the same way about her. She loved the Dalmatian very much; and she had no doubt that he loved her just the same.

After a few moments of staring, fondly, at one another, they both looked away, simultaneously; giggling as the silliness of their situation struck them once more. Everest had all but lost her clothes to the dangers of the forest, and Marshall had taken off everything but his undies and collar so that she wouldn't have to suffer the embarrassment alone. And now, once the Dalmatian had gathered up his clothes, the two pups joined hands as they continued along the path. It sent a ripple of excitement through Everest's body; they were walking through the forest in just their underwear! All alone! Her parents would surely be furious if the two pups returned home in such a state. Boy... they would have to make an effort to beat them home if they didn't want to get in trouble. But for now, Everest only wanted to focus on her closest friend in the world. She held his paw tightly, nearly leaning on him as they shuffled through the forest, enjoying the cool shade and the gentle breeze that rippled through their fur as they drew closer and closer to their destination.

``This has been a pretty interesting walk, huh?'' Marshall quipped, having made sure to reclaim his clothing. Unlike Everest's, his were still salvageable, just a little bit dirty. Hers had been sacrificed to whatever spirits might dwell in the forest.

``That's one way to put it...'' agreed the Husky, shyly tugging at the waistband of her undies. She knew that they were properly in place, but she felt extra conscious about them now that she had no second line of defense covering them. That being said, she made sure not to pull them so hard that they rode up on her. ``It's been pretty fun, though, all things considered; Even if I had to sacrifice an outfit for it. I honestly haven't really even noticed the heat since we got into the forest. The shade really keeps things cool. Ooh, do you hear that?'' she asked, perking up her ears. Marshall tilted his head, angling it a few ways as he listened for the sound that Everest had picked up. Soon, amongst the rustling leaves and the crunching of dirt and debris under their shoes, he heard it too; the rippling and gentle splashing of water.

``I do hear it!'' he exclaimed, ``It's the lake!'' The Husky beamed and nudged her friend's waist with her own; coming a little too close to bumping butts with him; as she gained a step on the Dalmatian.

``Race ya the rest of the way!'' said Everest, ``Ready?''

``Wait, wha...?'' asked Marshall.

``Go...!'' Everest said, before he had a chance to protest or question her sudden challenge, and immediately broke into as fast of a dash as she could muster.

``Hey! No fair!'' Marshall protested as he began to run after her. Everest could only giggle in response as she ran; a little clumsily thanks to her sandals, but it was a straight shot to the pond.

``Try and catch me!'' the Husky girl teased. She soon heard Marshall's hurried set of pawsteps following along behind her, his flip-flops making a considerable amount of noise as they stomped along on the forest floor. Usually, he was capable of outrunning her, being a rather athletic individual. This time, however, Everest ended up staying ahead of him the rest of the way to the lake. Perhaps it was how suddenly their race had started, or the fact that he was running in flip-flops, but there wasn't much of a competition for the Husky. She supposed that he could've been distracted by something, but she couldn't fathom what that could possibly be. Regardless, she didn't think about these factors too hard. She soon broke free from the undergrowth and beheld her favorite private getaway; the pond that stretched a far distance before her, nestled away in the middle of the quiet forest, far from the modernity of the suburbs. The surface rippled and gleamed in the sunlight. The water was never perfectly smooth and reflective, but the Husky suspected that this was due to whatever hidden source kept it so full and perfectly clean, practically to the extent of a pool's filter. She knew better than to try drinking the water, of course, but she had long ago established that it was completely safe for swimming; as the rest of the PAW Patrol knew quite well.

``C'mon, Ev...!'' Marshall protested, ``Wait for me...!'' Everest, however, slid to a stop on the shore of the lake on an area that was raised, slightly, above the water's surface. She hurriedly kicked off her sandals as she shielded her eyes from the sun above. She glanced back towards Marshall in time to see his gaze quickly shift upwards; simply smiling at him as she bent her knees.

``I win...!'' she declared; before launching herself from the edge and howling as she leapt into the water. With an enormous splash, the Husky fell beneath the surface of the lake. Her cheeks puffed out as she held her breath, she relished the feeling of the cool, pristine water soaking into her fur; her undershirt and panties becoming just as saturated as they clung to her body. Her ears lay flat as she realized how revealing this would make them. But as she hung suspended beneath the water, touching neither floor nor surface, her senses dulled and muted by the liquid all around her, it felt as though all of her worries were washed away in an instant; Swept away by the splashing waves. She was floating in an alternate dimension, where time slowed and her body was weightless... swimming was something she rarely got to do back in Fairbanks, since it was cooler more often than it was warm. Ever since moving down here, though, it had become a favorite pastime of hers. There was something so mystical about it all. Before long, she was joined by a second clamorous splash. The curtain of bubbles cleared away to reveal Marshall, who had jumped in just a few feet away from her, in a great cannonball. Her heart raced as she stared at him; his underwear clinging to his body as it was soaked through in an instant. And he couldn't hide the fact that he was looking at her in much the same way. As they locked eyes, they swam over to one another; closing the short distance swiftly. They managed to smile with their puffed cheeks as they joined hands, pressing their noses together underwater for a brief moment. The pups were smart, though, and they quickly drifted over to a shallow area where they could stand upright with only their heads and shoulders breaching the surface. They gasped and took in a fresh lungful of air as they shook water out of their faces, for once able to enjoy the sunlight bearing down on them now that they were both soaked to the skin; the hot sun creating a pleasant equilibrium with the cool water. Once more, the pups smiled at one another, having a hard time doing anything else. Though they did giggle at how silly they looked with their fur plastered to themselves.

``Okay, Everest...'' said Marshall, ``You win this time.''

``It's not so bad is it?'' asked Everest, stifling a giggle. Marshall just smiled and said,

``It's never bad when I'm with you.'' As they stood in the shallow end of the lake, bathing in the rippling water, holding one another closer than they realized, Everest finally allowed her instincts to take control. Gazing at the Dalmatian's beautiful blue eyes, she couldn't control herself any longer. A bashful expression crossed her face as she leaned forward; her heart racing, her expression and mannerisms all but reflected in Marshall's own face as he met her halfway. The pups hugged each other tighter as their lips met in a kiss. A real, deep, meaningful kiss that carried countless emotions within it. Most important of these emotions, however... was love. Everest loved Marshall very, very much. And she knew that the goofy Dalmatian boy loved her, too. It was easy to see, even from the kiss alone; the way that they gently huffed into each other's mouths, how their hands were running up and down one another's backs, how they simply held the embrace for several very long seconds, each being entirely unwilling to pull apart from the other... it was a moment unlike any Everest had ever experienced before. And all of those strange emotions she'd been feeling throughout the course of the afternoon vanished as their lips pressed together. She was sure that they'd return eventually, and with greater force; but for now, they were sated. Maybe looking into those feelings wouldn't be such a bad thing, after all. After what felt like ages, the two pups finally broke from their kiss, panting a little as they exchanged a meaningful look with one another, though no words passed between them. They knew what had just happened, and they didn't need to discuss it any further.

``So, um...'' said Everest, ``What do you wanna do?''

``I dunno...'' Marshall admitted, shrugging, ``Let's just... swim.''

``Yeah...'' said Everest, ``Let's swim.'' They rubbed cheeks before wading further into the lake; dropping each other's arms as they swam through the clear, cool water. They would spend a large chunk of the afternoon frolicking with one another, splashing and swimming and laughing with each other. Not as best friends... but as boyfriend and girlfriend. It was an arrangement that Everest was more elated about than she could put into words. It felt so right, so... perfect. Marshall was a very special boy, and she always felt all sorts of things when she was around him. And from today forward, they would be boyfriend and girlfriend. And an afternoon of swimming around the lake in their undies was the most perfect first date that Everest could think of.

End
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