Their Loving Solitude

Chapter 3 Swimming By

Mia's POV

I get into the shower very quickly, just aching for the calming feeling to take over, making me feel better.. The water has always done that for me, and I want it now more than ever. I scrub my body down until every inch of me is covered in suds. I turn to wash myself off as I hear the shower curtain opening up. I jump as I turn, seeing that it is Naomi. "Nay, you scared the hell out of me.. what are you doing?" I ask her as I continue to wash myself off.. like I said before, we have been around each other and have been best friends for 6 years. So we have been known to go with each other to the shower or bathroom.

"I needed to hurry up. They asked if I could come in a little earlier because they want me to be the opener." She states as I get the rest of the soap off of me as I nod and step out of the shower, letting her take over. "Ok, sounds good.. I wonder if they need me to come in early, too?" I say to her as my music on my phone is interrupted by me getting a phone call.

I grab my phone and state out loud. "That's weird.. Stacy is calling me.. Wonder why?" I pick up the call as I sweetly state. "Hey girl.. what's going on?" Waiting for a response as I cover my body with my towel. "Hey Mia, I'm sorry to call you a little early. I hope I didn't wake you." She states to me as I quickly reply. "No, I just got out of the shower.. what's up?"

"I know I asked you to cover my shift this morning so I could go to my son's game.. but it is canceled.. so if there is any way I could take my shift back, I would appreciate it because I really need the money." She asks as I wave my hand as if she can see it, feeling silly about that automatic response.

"Oh, of course.. I'm sorry the game was canceled, but I would be fine with having the morning off because I close tonight.. your shift is yours once again." I casually declare as she retorts with excitement. "Thanks so much. I really needed this shift.. I just wanted to be a good mama, too.. So it all worked out.. I looked good to my son but still got my shift! Thanks girl see you tonight!" she hangs up the call as I turn to yell to Naomi.

"Hey, Stacy wanted her shift back she really needed the money, apparently, so I'm just working tonight.. So I think I'm going to check out the new pool and hot tub they just finished down stairs.. because it's finally opened." I state telling her my plans since she would have noticed I wasn't there at work eventually if I didn't.

"Awe, I thought we were going to try it out together!" she sounds almost mad, but I don't think she has ever truly been mad at me before. "Well, I want to swim now that I have the morning off.. you know how much I love to swim and it helps calm me.. Besides, we live here, and they just added it for our apartment complex. So why not take advantage? We can come here together or by ourselves any time anyways." She is silent in the shower, showing she might actually be mad at me.

I think about it for a second before I try to negotiate with her. "If you want to, we can go there tomorrow together." I declare trying to make it up to her. "Fine.. we are swimming tomorrow then... have fun." I smile, knowing I won't this even though I know she is irritated knowing I will be swimming while she is working.. but I just worked a double yesterday and want the extra rest.

"Have a good shift, Nay. I'll see you there later.. bye girl.. love ya." I say over my shoulder as I leave the bathroom and head straight to my room, putting on my favorite rainbow bikini. I grab a towel and my keys to head down to the water while I have a chance. Once I leave my apartment door, I look over the edge of the railing and down a couple of floors at the blue water. It is empty for the moment, so I'm happy to know I beat the plethora of kids that live in this complex.

I pick up my speed, prancing down the stairs in twos to get me there and as much time by myself as I can. We have been asking for the pool area to be fixed for months but they said since it was winter time so they wouldn't fix it yet, but now that spring is ending and the summer is starting its perfect time for them to fix it. So luckily they stuck to their word and I couldn't be happier about it!

I use my key to open the gate as I smirk to myself at the emptiness of the pool area. I set my towel and keys onto one of the chairs off to the side as I instantly go to the edge and dive it. I shoot through the water, cutting it with my arms and legs to shoot through like a hot knife through butter. I love the way water feels passing over my skin. It is a stress reliever I always turn to if I can.. water has that effect on me taking every bit of stress from my body with each drop that travels over me.. I would sit in water forever if I was allowed.

My mother always said I was her little mermaid.. she didn't know how to swim and almost drown, so since then, she made sure I knew every single style of swimming, and from then on, it was my favorite thing to do.. too bad I lived in a small town because some of the people I had met said they had a swim team at their school, but no such thing was ever offered in my town.

I swim from one end of the pool and back doing lap after lap, feeling lonely still but better about being ghosted and my lack of a love life at the moment. I'm still mad, of course, but how mad can I possibly be while swimming? The answer for myself is not too mad at all.

I barely come up to breathe, just gently touching the wall with my fingertips and then flipping back around to swim right back to the other end. After so many laps without stopping, I get to the edge as I pull myself up to the ledge and out. I stand over the water as I ring out my long hair. I walk right over to my towel, drying my face off.

"That was astonishing how long you did that.. are you training for the Olympics or something." I hear from beside me as I quickly turn to look to the side, not knowing anyone was there. "Excuse me?" I ask, sending a glare to the handsome man sitting a couple chairs down from me. He has a book in his hand with sunglasses over his eyes with his hair drifting down in his face. He just has a t-shirt and some colorful swimtrunks on but not doing anything else that I can see.

"Your form was almost perfect, and with your speed and constantly going, I was figuring you were training or practicing.. maybe the olympics?" He states again as I clear my throat, feeling bad for snapping at him. "No.. I'm not training.. I just love to swim.. and it always makes me feel better when I'm upset." I explain softly to him as I look away.

"Feel better from what? Who has upset you?" He asks as I glance over to him to vaguely state. "Practically everyone because that is my life." He nods as he looks back down at his book. I think he is getting my hint of me not wanting to be bothered. "I'm sorry for bothering.. I hope you have a good day." He says to me as I turn and look back at him hanging his head.. dang it, now I feel bad.

"You weren't bothering.. I'm sorry I didn't wake up in the best mood. I barely got any sleep after working a double and getting ghosted.. I'm just mad.. and I shouldn't have taken it out on you.. I'm sorry for snapping." I declare feeling like an assh*le treating this man who is trying to be civil like that. "It's ok. You didn't need to explain.. I shouldn't have asked since it obviously wasn't my business, but I'm sorry you were ghosted.. he is obviously blind and doesn't deserve you." He states so nicely, but I still can't help but roll my eyes.

"Yeah.. sure.. He's not the first to do this, and I bet he won't be the last... Well, I have to shower again to start getting ready for work.. so have a nice day." I declare, grabbing my towel to wrap around my body as I grab my keys. "You too. I hope you have a good night at work, Olympian." I give him a small salute before turning away and walking out of the gate. I keep glancing back at him as he stares down at his book, turning the page and staring once again. "Oh, by the way.. I like the shorts." I find myself yelling back to him as he turns and pulls his sunglasses down, just to smile and say. "Thanks, Olympian." I smile as I prance up the stairs and back to my room.

Naomi's POV

I feel my anger building.. I know it shouldn't be increasing at something as little as this, but I have been getting irritated so easily lately. I'm frustrated wanting to be able to spend more time with Mia as if I don't get to see her every day.. but it never seems like it is enough. I feel like my body is starving from not being able to be with her as if she is the nourishment my day needs.

"Richard, I don't know what to do.. I want to find someone to be with because I'm so tired of being alone.. but Mia is never out of my head." I declare just wanting advice in my moment alone as I drive to work. "I think you either need to just tell her you like her or you need to drop this all together and find someone new. It's not healthy to keep all this pent up stress in." He states in his fatherly tone.. Even though he is not my father, but he is the closest I have got.

"I'm afraid if I tell her I like her that she will want to leave me and my life all together." I declare feeling confused and worried. "Well, you never know until you try.. but if she doesn't feel the same way and you both don't think you can be friends after this talk.. then maybe what you need is time away from her to get your priorities straight... either way, you always have me to talk to.. and even Deema.. you know she has been there for you just as much as Mia has." He states as I nod to myself, pulling up to my work.

"Thanks for talking with me, Rich. I know I can always count on you.. I have to get going to work, but have a good day." I state, huffing out as he replies. "You too buttercup.. talk to you later." He says to me as I quickly get out of my car and head into the restaurant to get this long day started.