My PAAS Part 1.3

After the workout, they staggered to the pool, sweaty and panting. Charlie pulled Jo into a side-hug as they walked and asked, "Feel better?"
"Yeah."
Tango fell in step and asked, "So, Papa Charlie, how does it feel to be in charge?"
Mike pushed Tango. "He can't be Papa Charlie. That's two names. He'd just be Charlie and then Charlie would mean "Papa's pet" forever, the way Papa means "Supreme Leader of the Universe"."
"It does not," Tango said.
"Does too. I asked him when I was a runt and that's what Papa said. So it's true," Mike said.
"To answer your question," Charlie spoke up, "I feel nervous. But excited. I'm looking forward to it, but I'm afraid of making a mistake."
Mike and Tango exchanged a look and even Jo laughed.
"What?" Charlie asked.
"Oh, Charlie!" Tango began in a sing-song voice, "It's my first time. I'm so nervous, but excited. I'm afraid of making a mistake and you'll never sleep with me again!"
"Shut up." Charlie chased after the two of them for a little, but gave up.
They regrouped at the edge of a cliff, a rushing underground waterfall roaring next to them. They lined up and stared at the black pool at the bottom.
"Man, I hate this part," Mike said.
"You can always take the runt path," Kilo pointed to a narrow pathway that curled from where they stood around the edge of the cavern to the pool below.
"We'll only treat you like a runt for a few days. Spoon feeding, changing your drawers for you..." Tango trailed off.
"What'd you say?" Kilo laughed.
"I mean, not really..." Tango said.
Jo was silent, standing with her toes gripping the edge of the cliff, her eyes closed, feeling the updraft of misty air on her face.
"Aw, I hate it when she does this," Mike said.
"You hate everything," said Kilo.
"Give her some space," said Charlie, and they all backed away from her.
Eyes kept closed, Jo slowly raised her arms. When they were level to the ground, she leaned forward just enough to send her over the edge. Her body stayed rigid as she fell and Jo pretended that she was skydiving through the wide blue sky, through bright, cold clouds, the ground stretching out forever around her... Jo learned how to time her dive just right so that she slowly pulled her arms over her head and they made their point just as her rotation through the air brought her head down for perfect submersion.
From above, it seemed like Jo lost her balance, went rigid, and for several agonizing seconds seemed sure to do a bellyflop or break her neck. Everyday they came here after their workout, and everyday they held their breath as she fell.
She slid into the water, speeding deep into the dark water. Jo angled her body up and floated for a moment, completely suspended. Then she gave a strong kick and swam back up. The boys all let their breath go when her head broke the surface.
"You know, it probably wouldn't be so scary if she didn't close her damn eyes," Kilo said.
"No one's asking you to watch," Charlie smiled.
"Come on, you pansies!" Jo shouted.
"Last one in's a scared little runt!" Tango shouted as he ran over the edge. Yelling, he decided at the last moment to do a cannonball, landing on his back. "Ow!"
Charlie and Kilo pushed each other over and managed decent pencil dives. Which left Mike at the top, staring down at them.
"Come on! Shouldn't it be easy by now?" Kilo shouted.
"It's never easy, staring at your own death!" Mike called back.
"You baby!"
Jo and Kilo started splashing each other. Mike couldn't even hear it over the waterfall.
Tango started the chant.
"Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump!"
Jo and Kilo stopped splashing to join.
"Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump!"
Finally with a terrified yell, Mike jumped into the oblivion.