Screw it. If you're not gonna tell me where the pool is, I'll find it myself.
I took off my clothes and pulled out one of my plain cotton lingerie sets.
one of the few that actually looked… normal.
The sides of the panties tied into little bows,
and the bra fastened at the back and behind the neck.
Somehow, I managed to get it all on, and threw a robe over myself at the end.
I wandered from hallway to hallway until I finally found the pool.
-"Should've just done this from the beginning.
Not… all that other nonsense."
The memory of his words suddenly hit me.
I covered my face with both hands.
I walked down the steps and paused in front of a glass door.
Next to it, there was a keypad.
-"Figures. The only door without a code is probably the bathroom.
Idiot."
I pushed the door anyway… and lucky me.
it opened.
I laughed quietly and quickly slipped off my robe.
It had been so long since I last swam.
I just hoped I still remembered how.
I stepped into the water slowly.
-"Heeey... ahhh."
The temperature was perfect.
I waited a moment for my body to adjust, tightened the clip in my hair,
and then began to swim.
When I realized I still could swim.
I lit up inside.
Just staying afloat was a win.
I swam for about an hour. I thought about heading to the deeper side
but then I remembered I'd always had trouble with that part. I'd just sink.
So instead, I floated peacefully near the surface and took a long, deep breath.
-"God… this is perfect."
Suddenly, I heard a faint beep.
I looked around, no one was there. Maybe I'd been in here too long. It was probably time to go.
I stood up in the water, dipped my head under once,
slicked my hair back, and blinked the water out of my eyes.
And when my vision cleared, Matthew was standing at the edge of the pool.
He pulled his shirt off and started rubbing his shoulders as he stared straight at me.
Cracked his neck. I greeted him softly and started walking up the pool steps.
"Please don't mess with me", I begged silently.
From the corner of my eye, I saw him pull off his shorts, too.
I swallowed hard.
I think I was close to my period. that weird time when your hormones want sex.
That's the only explanation for why I was falling apart like this.
I walked slowly toward the glass door. When I reached it, I exhaled in relief.
Almost out...
I grabbed the handle and pulled.
Nothing.
I tugged harder.
Still nothing.
"Please. Please just open…"
I whispered desperately.
While I struggled with the door... his arms wrapped tightly around my waist from behind.
Narrator pov:
+"Hmm... what's the problem?"
Matthew whispered softly in her ear, lightly tracing her stomach with his fingertips.
-"I just want to rest," she said.
-"Swimming wore me out. Can you please open the door?"
She tried to make her eyes look extra innocent.
Matthew glanced into those blue eyes.
+"Sure, little one. Why not?"
-"Oh… thank you."
+"But first, how about we swim a little together? What do you say?"
-"What do I say? No. No thanks. I say no."
He leaned in again and murmured into her ear
+"That wasn't a request."
He lifted her into his arms.
+"It was an order."
He squeezed her soft thighs gently.
Diana instinctively wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
-"Then why bother asking, if you're going to do whatever you want anyway?"
+"Because I believe in democracy."
-"Hah… that's a really special kind of democracy you have.
Hey..wait! why are you going toward the deep end?!
I can't swim there!"
She started kicking her feet in the air.
-"I'm talking to you! Hey!"
Once Matthew saw that her arms were tightly looped around his neck and she wasn't about to fall, he slapped her butt with one hand.
+"Shhh... quiet now."
The way she went silent made him chuckle darkly.
Diana peeked over his shoulder and caught a glimpse of the deep, still water.
Her heart skipped a beat.
She clung to him tighter.
-"Oh my God… I'm serious! I really can't swim here! I'm scared!
Please take me back. Why don't you believe me?"
+"You were swimming just fine earlier."
He looked down at her, amused.
-"That was different. It was shallow there. I was doing the front crawl.
Here, I can't stay afloat. I'll sink. Please, just put me down."
Matthew took a few steps back.
+"Let's test it and see."
He tightened his grip around Diana's legs and suddenly sprinted straight into the pool and dove in.
She plunged into the water just seconds later. Bubbles surrounded her as she flailed in shock.
She hadn't taken a breath. Now she was panicking.
Matthew waited at the surface for her.
When she didn't come up right away, a frown formed between his brows.
He dove under and swam to her. Wrapped his arms around he and brought her to the surface. She gasped sharply as air hit her lungs, coughing and breathing hard. She clung to him, terrified, arms digging into his neck. She couldn't read anything from his expression.
but his hands gripped her ass tighter than before.
+"How can you swim there but not here?
Are you stupid or something?"
-"I'm not stupid!"
she snapped.
- "I just forgot, okay?!
I told you, the deep end scares me."
Her hot breaths hit his neck.
She clung to him like a kitten.
+"Hey… look at me. It's not that scary. See? You're fine.
Now let go and swim across."
-"Why?"
I'm fine right here. I'm not drowning."
He bit back a laugh.
+"You're not drowning because I'm holding you, little one."
Then he loosened his arms.
Diana immediately pulled herself up and clung tighter.
-"Okay, okay!
I'll swim! Just… stay close.
Let me grab the edge so I can backstroke."
She reached for the side of the pool and curled her body in. She glanced back at Matthew,
who was gripping the edge with both hands and watching her closely. She locked eyes with his stormy gray ones.
-"I'll beat you there."
She winked.
and launched herself off the wall with power.