This is how we'll dance when
When they try to take us down
This is what we'll sing
Oh glory...

The spa was, by about a million lightyears, Ash's favourite part of the island. It was so awesome it wasn't even funny. There was absolutely no better way to unwind and forget about the piles of homework you were sure to get during the term. Even though the school year hadn't technically started yet, Ash was still craving a mud bath and a massage. She made her way down the hall to the glass door marked 'SPA', pushed it open and slipped inside. The girl behind the front desk looked up. She was about twenty, with dark hair and a nametag that read 'MELINDA'.

"Hey," smiled Ash, walking up to the desk. "Welcome to the spa," said Melinda, clicking her pen. "What's your name?"
"Ashley Cortez."
"Year?"
"Fifth."
"And what treatments do you plan on having?"
Ash paused, thinking. "Surprise me."
Melinda laughed. "Okay, take a seat," she gestured to one of the white padded chairs arranged in lines. "We'll be with you in a minute."
"Thanks," smiled Ash, making her way over to a chair near a stack of magazines.

She plonked herself down, pushing her handbag underneath her chair. She looked around, then reached for the pile of magazines. They weren't that interesting. Just a load of old gossip dumps from about five years ago. Sighing, she picked up a magazine titled 'PERFECT HAIR' and began to flip through. As it always was with hair magazines, the models were sporting absolutely ridiculous styles that would be impossible - not to mention stupid - to wear in real life. Still, it was amusing and at least better than nothing.

Wow... how the hell can all that hair even fit on that head? The hairstyles seemed to be getting crazier the further through she flipped. she was barely on the twentieth page when she heard the door open. Looking up, she saw a girl about her age, wearing sunglasses, a black and white dress and white shoes, walk across the room to the front desk.

"Facial, mud bath and massage," she said to Melinda, without even checking the list of treatments available. "Melinda."
Melinda rolled her eyes and wrote down her details, and the girl made her way over to the chair next to Ash and sat down. She looked tired and - despite her perfectly clean and stylish outfit - her hair was messed up. She was definitely in dire need of a day at the spa.

"Hey," smiled Ash, looking over at her. "Ashley Cortez, fifth year. I don't think I've seen you before, what's your name?"

Ash watched the girl take a magazine out of her bag, and put Weird Hairstyle Weekly or whatever it was called back on the rack. She looked over at the front cover of the girl's magazine, and sighed. Not that interesting. Ash didn't mind reading about celebrities wearing what and dating who, but it did get a bit pointless and boring after a while. The girl didn't look that interested either.

"Hey, I'm Alex," she said, rubbing her eyes. If she looked closely, she could see the bags under them. Someone had had a busy holiday. "Fifth year, too. I need the spa right now." She laughed, looking across at the magazine Ash had just put back. "Me too," said Ash. "The holidays are much less relaxing when you share them with a family of eleven."

She felt a pang, and realised it was coming from her stomach. She hadn't eaten in what, half an hour? God, she was starving. Luckily the spa usually had a plate of snacks out. She swept her eyes around, looking for the little white platter. She found it on Melinda's desk. "Two secs," she said to Alex, then got up and walked over to the desk. Melinda didn't even look up as she picked up the platter of tiny sandwiches and brought it back over to her chair. She took a bite out of one. Cheese, yum.

Ash was quiet for a moment (a rare event) as she chewed her sandwich. Alex reached out and took one too. She didn't mind. There were plenty to go around. She had just started on her fourth when a movement by the desk caught her eye. Melinda scribbled something on a piece of paper and pushed her way through a door marked OFFICE, a clipboard in her arms. She was back within minute.

"Alex and..." Ash was about to open her mouth, but Alex replied for her. "Ash." Melinda rolled her eyes and continued. "Ashley, your first treatments are ready for you." Ash smiled at her, her mouth still full of bread and cheese. Alex shrugged and stood up, looking casual, but Ash could see the desperation in her eyes. "Come on," she said, turning to Ash. "I didn't know you were getting a..." she paused. "Mudbath," sighed Melinda. "Mudbath as well," Alex continued. "Cool, come on."

Ash stood up, swallowing her last mouthful. She turned to leave, but turned back a second later. The sandwiches! She took about five of them, stuffing them into her bag. There. She gathered her stuff and followed Alex through the door marked SPA. The familiar scent of soap and lavender filled her nostrils and she smiled. She kept going, her shoes tapping against the polished tiles, until she found the door marked MUD BATH.

Inside was a large room covered in tiles so white you needed sunglasses to look straight at them. There was a woman in the spa uniform standing next to five bathtubs built into the floor. The first two were filled with a thick, brown gloop. "The changing rooms are over there," said the woman, gesturing to a door. "Here, take these." She handed them each a cheap white bikini. "Go get changed, I'll have the baths ready when you're done."