"It's too hot," Ivy mumbled, kicking her blanket off of her bed.
After laying in bed for a few more minutes, Ivy sat up with a groan. She could already feel a small amount of sweat on her body. She changed into a pair of shorts and a tank top. Choosing to go barefoot, she walked out of the hut, shutting the door behind her. She glanced around the Glade, huffing when she could basically see the heat waves rising from the ground. She already knew it was going to be too hot to work. None of the boys were going to be motivated in this weather.
Ivy turned and headed for the Map Room. She smiled slightly at the feeling of grass in between her toes. She eventually came to the Map Room and pushed the door open, noticing Adam and Minho gathering their supplies for their runs. Minho had been a runner for almost two weeks now and was doing a great job. He was able to cover a lot of ground during the day then remember it all when he got back to map his run. To say the least, he was impressing Ivy.
"Don't bother," she said, causing the two to jump a little.
"Why not?" Adam asked. "We have a job to do."
"Yeah, and as the Keeper, I won't be having my Runners overheating and passing out however many miles away and not knowing where they are. It's too hot to run without getting exhausted or sick. We get the day off. I'll talk to Alby about it during breakfast. Now put your stuff away and get out of here."
Both boys nodded in thanks and did as they were told. After closing the door to the hut, the three Runners headed back to the Glade. Upon entering the Mess Hall, Ivy left her friends to find Alby. She looked around for several minutes, huffing when she didn't see her oldest friend.
"Everything all right?"
Ivy looked over her shoulder to find Alby and Newt approaching. The girl shook her head.
"I'm giving the Runners the day off," she told them. "It's far too hot to be running. Far too hot to be doing anything, honestly."
"You suggesting we give everyone the day off?" Alby asked.
"If we don't want people to overheat, then that would probably be best."
Alby stayed silent for a minute before nodding.
"I'll make the announcement once everyone has their food," he said. "A rest would do everyone some good."
The trio got in line for their food, thanking Frypan once they got their plates. They sat down amongst their friends, making simple talk about random topics. It wasn't long after that Alby pushed his chair back and got on top of the table.
"Can I have everyone's attention?" he called. The Gladers quieted down in no time, all giving their leader their attention. "Due to our extreme weather today and not wanting any of you shanks getting jacked in the head thanks to the heat, you all get the day off. No one has to work today."
A chorus of cheers erupted throughout the Mess Hall, along with applause and several whistles. Alby got off the table and sat back down. Ivy gave him a smile before looking around the room. The boys all had wide smiles on their faces, overjoyed that they had the day off. She listened as they began to make plans with what they were going to do with all their free time. Several boys said they would go to the pond and relax in the water. Others said they would probably just sit in the shade of the trees. And there were a few who claimed they would be going back to their hammocks to rest. As the teens talked about their goals for the day, an idea came to Ivy. She quickly began to think of the things that she would need.
"I know that look," a voice suddenly said. The three glanced up to see Minho, Adam, and Frypan approaching them. Adam smiled and crossed his arms as he continued: "That's the look you get when you're plotting something.
"Care to share?" Newt inquired.
"How would you guys like to help me make this a really entertaining day off?"
"Depends on what you're planning," Alby replied.
"You know all those inflating balls and buckets we have in the storage shack?"
~
Ivy peaked around the side of the Homestead, looking around the Glade. There were several boys splashing each other in the pond, only dressed in their boxers as not to get their other clothes wet. Another group of boys were sitting in the shade of the trees. Ivy turned to look back at Newt and nodded to him. The boy nodded back and hurried off to signal the others. Ivy picked up her bucket of water, a mischievous glint in her eyes. She dashed out into the Glade, making sure not to spill the water.
As she approached, most of the boys sitting under the trees noticed her coming. She quickly put her fingers up to her lips, signalling them to keep quiet, then pointed at one of the boys. A few nodded slightly while others smirked. Meanwhile, her target was still unsuspecting.
Ivy stepped quietly as she came up behind the boy, making sure her feet made no noise as to not alert him. She glanced at the ground, glad to see that her shadow wouldn't give her away either. Slowly raising the bucket up, she saw some over the boys trying to hold in their laughs. She shot them a warning glance before proceeding to focus on her task.
"So what do you think the others are doing?" her target asked.
"Which others?" one of the boys replied.
"Alby, Fry, Newt, and Ivy. I haven't seen them around since breakfast."
"I have a feeling they're around here somewhere."
Grinning, Ivy dumped her bucket onto Gally's head. The boy cried out in surprise, jumping up. Ivy quickly stepped back, laughter exploding from her lungs. Gally spun to look at her, a look of shock and anger on his face. Behind him, the other boys were howling, clutching their stomachs as they rolled on the ground laughing.
"Are you serious?" he asked.
"Absolutely," Ivy replied. "Though, I can't take all the credit. I did have some help."
As she finished talking, water fell from the trees above them and landed on the previously laughing boys. They all gave shouts of surprise, obviously not expecting to have water poured on them. Ivy laughed again as Minho and Adam dropped down from the trees, laughing as well. The two walked over to Ivy; Adam patted her on the back while Minho rested his arm on her shoulder. Ivy smiled innocently at Gally and the other boys.
"Hey, at least you're not as hot anymore," she said.
Gally looked at the three Runners for a moment before glancing back at the wet boys. When he turned back to look at them, there was a smirk on his face. Suddenly, he lunged forward, attempting to grab one of the three in front of him. Ivy quickly pushed Minho and Adam away, forcing them to run. Looking over her shoulder, she saw that all the boys they had dumped water on were now chasing them. She laughed happily, following Minho and Adam across the Glade. She exchanged looks with her two friends before they split up. Ivy looked over her shoulder again, grinning when she saw that Gally and a few other boys were following her while the rest went after Minho and Adam.
"Get back here, Ivy!" Gally shouted, though his tone was far from angry. He actually sounded like he was having fun.
"Gotta catch me first, shuckface!" Ivy called back. Her grew wider as they approached the middle of the Glade. "Fire away!" she shouted.
Suddenly, something flew by her head and hit Gally, exploding and soaking him once more. Before he or any of the other boys could react, more objects came flying and splashing them with water. Alby, Newt, and Frypan popped out of their hiding spots in the bushes and behind Ivy's hut. In their hands were more water explosives.
Ivy dashed away from Gally and hurried to a stash of water bombs in a nearby bush. Looking behind her, she could see that Minho and Adam had done the same and were now attacking the Gladers. Ivy laughed as she threw a few, cheering when they hit someone. She went to grab a few more but someone suddenly grabbed her from behind. She cried out in surprise, looking behind her to see who had grabbed her. Gally shook his head a little, causing water to fly and splatter her face.
"Let me go!" she cried through her laughter.
"Nope!" was Gally's reply. He pulled her up and turned to face his 'attackers.' "Hold your fire there, shanks!"
Ivy saw the others pause when they noticed that Gally had her. While the group paused, several of Gally's friends came over to take from Ivy's stash and pass out the weapons. Ivy looked over at her friends; they were debating on what they should do. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion when she saw Minho smirk and say something to Newt. Newt considered what he said for a moment before nodding. Ivy's eyes widened when she saw the two throw their 'weapons.' She cried out in shock when the weapons hit her and Gally, soaking them both in cold water. Gally was so surprised that he released Ivy, letting her run away. She playfully glared at Newt and Minho, who innocently smiled back. She grabbed a few weapons from Frypan before throwing them at the two boys.
"Free for all!" she shouted, turning and throwing a water bomb at Frypan.
~
Ivy smiled as she rung out her hair. Shortly after she had declared a free for all, the other Gladers joined in on their fun. As a result, Ivy was soaking wet. Nevertheless, everyone had had a blast.
Ivy quickly put her hair into a braid before throwing her hair over her shoulder. She took off her wet clothes and found a set of dry one's to wear. After getting changed, she stepped out of her hut, still choosing not to wear shoes.
The Glade was quite once again but this time, it had a more happy and calm air about it. From where she stood, she could see small groups of boys around the Glade. Some simply laid in the grass, drying off from the water fight. Others were joking with one another in small circles. There were even some who were dancing as others banged on buckets and pans. Those she couldn't see, Ivy assumed that they were napping. Seeing the Gladers relaxed and smiling made Ivy relax herself. Everyone seemed to be in higher spirits because of their day off.