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he pushed the cover-up into Jenny's hands, his eyes remaining solely on Tami. He pulled off his T-shirt, stepped forward, and flung it over the girls' heads. It landed on an empty chair. He took Tami by the waist and led her to the deep end of the pool. After giving each other an I-know-what-you're-thinking grin, they dove into the clear, cool water of the pool.
    So that's how the pros do it.
    "Did you see that?" Liz asked sitting upright in her chair. "She is the reason women get no respect"
    "Wow," Rachel exclaimed. "I never thought anyone could get him away from Jenny."
    "I've never seen women act the way they do around him," added Ashley. "They're like a herd of lovesick cows."
    "Thanks," said Rachel. "You think I'm a cow!"
    Rachel's crush on Luke was getting more serious by the minute.
    "No, not you. You weren't over there sniffing around him like the others. Just look at them. They look like they just lost their best friend. I think Gwen might actually cry"
    Gwen was the fourth roommate in their tiny room, and she truly was mooning over Luke. Her pale blond hair reached down to her waist, and large cornflower blue eyes dominated her face. She looked like one of those paintings where the little girl's big eyes took up half her face, and always wore a pleading look. She desperately wanted Luke's attention, but so far hadn't gotten more than a cursory wave or casual smile in passing. Gwen just wasn't aggressive enough to play the game. Now she stood at the side of the circle of women as they all watched Tami and Luke frolic together in the water. Gwen seemed so disappointed, but obviously didn't have the nerve to jump in with them.
    "How am I supposed to compete with that?" Rachel complained as Tami dove below the water, her shapely bottom popping out of the water as she went down. "She is the reason he never notices me!"
    "You!" Ashley piped in. "At least you're cute, spunky, and tan. I feel like the ugly stepsister of the group"
    "Oh please," Liz said. "You're beautiful in your own way."
    "Ouch! That's hitting below the belt"Ashley cringed. "It's like the nice-personality thing" I know I'm not drop-dead gorgeous, but I'm certainly not plain enough to have to rely only on my personality.
    "No," Rachel interrupted. "She means you're more like the girl next door. Right, Liz?"
    "Exactly. You have natural beauty. Most of these girls are artificially beautiful. Their hair is processed, their skin has been bronzed, and they have implants. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if most of them vomit to stay thin."
    "Eww, please tell me you don't mean that," Ashley replied. "That is so wrong."
    Horrified, she looked over at Rachel and Liz. "You don't make yourself vomit, do you?"
    "Are you insane? I've earned this great bod," Rachel said. "All it takes is staying on the move. Being a poor starving traveler doesn't hurt either."
    Liz agreed. "Yup, I can thank my parents for my great bone structure and naturally high metabolism." Ashley took in Liz's long svelte body. She was about five feet ten and as lean as they came. On the bright side, kids in school had probably called her "bean pole"
    "Well, I am not going to leave my fate to a bunch of overprocessed airheads," Rachel said, standing up and stepping to the side of the pool. "I make my own rules and I will not be overlooked" She tossed her sunglasses onto her chair and dove into the pool with Luke and Tami.
    Not to be outdone, others jumped into the pool too. Even book-smart Liz wasn't going to be left out.
    "Come on, Ashley. Join the party," Liz urged as she jumped in.
    Ashley sat on the sidelines and smiled at their antics. Everyone was having a great time. She couldn't help but laugh. Luke was having a ball as well. No longer cornered by any one person, he was part of a splashingand-dunking party.
    Ashley saw the opportunity to get away and be alone for a while, as the camera crews surrounded the pool. She really needed a break from the insanity, so she grabbed her towel and quickly