Leo ambled home, his backpack bouncing lightly against his back. He paused by the canal, drawn by the sight of two fish darting beneath the surface, their scales catching the sunlight in dazzling bursts of color.
"Hey, Leo! Look what I can do!" Max exclaimed, reaching down with quick hands to scoop one of the fish from its watery playground.
Leo watched, his amusement fading into concern as the fish wriggled helplessly in Max's grasp.
Ben frowned, his eyes narrowing at the scene unfolding before him. "Max, let it go. You're scaring it," he admonished, his voice a mix of authority and annoyance. But Max only laughed, holding the fish aloft defiantly.
With a twist and a flick, Ben managed to pry the fish free, his hand launching it through the air with unexpected force. Time seemed to slow as Leo watched, his heart in his throat.
Leo let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. "That was close," he murmured, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he glanced at Ben, who stood watching the water with a satisfied nod.
Max, chastened but not defeated, shrugged and turned to leave, casting a final glance at Leo. "Guess we'll have to find another game," he said, a hint of mischief still lingering in his tone.
Leo watched them go, the afternoon's events playing through his mind like a story he'd tell later. He knew the canal held many secrets, and today, he'd been a part of one.
