Love Under Water

The Note

“What if she’s ugly?” Ashton looks at me with a wicked smile. He knows he can piss me off easily with his dumb remarks, so I roll my eyes at him, “Or her face is full of zits?”

“I couldn’t care any less, I need to find her.” I keep walking towards my class.

“Have you thought about Valerie?”

“What’s there to think about, we’re not dating. We just have casual hookups and that too on her insistence.”

“She doesn’t think so.”

“She thinks wrong.” I answer him with all seriousness, “I need to find that girl, Ashton.”

“Yeah I get it man and we will find her.” Ashton pats my back and we continue walking toward our class until we bang into Valerie. Ashton makes a beeline and leaves me alone.

“Coward”, I mutter after him and he just salutes back at me.

“Hey Matt, I missed you yesterday. Why didn’t you come to the hills? I wore my new black dress, especially for you.” She is wearing a tight-fitted yellow dress which shows off her bra clearly. I focus back on her face.

“Why would you wear a dress to the hills? You should’ve worn simple jeans and a t-shirt.” I reply shrugging my shoulders.

“Don’t be mean.” Valerie starts touching my chest again and I don’t appreciate it. A gesture that shows that she owns me. I hold her hand, stopping her action, and gently let it down. She looks at me questioningly as if I have hurt her feelings and what she is doing is completely normal.

Nope lady, not happening.

“I have a class to attend.” I don’t want her to create any drama which I know she is well capable of, after all our families have attended enough social gatherings together for me to know her true colors. Valerie is a knockout but I know her, she is more like a devil in disguise. I am a witness to how she manipulates her father who caters to all her whims and I have been a witness to the s**t hole she has led some of her ex-boyfriends' cos we went to the same high school.

I leave her pouting, I’m in no mood to appease her hurt ego and I do wish that she gets a hint from my attitude but the girl seems to be thick headed. Since we were kids, our parents would try to bring us together. We would be asked to stand together for a dance. Thank god she is a semester junior in college otherwise she would be following me around me all the time. We do have a history, no denying that but it was always a fling nothing serious no attachments. Frankly, I don’t do attachments they’re kinda scary. Too much commitment and hey I’m already committed to my sport. My life is easier that way, no one asks me questions I don’t like answering.

Once the lecture starts, my mind drifts to my mystery girl. I hope she reads the note I wrote in the book for her.

Ariel POV

Once I’m done with all my classes and have safely handed my internship form to Mr. Dawson, I head towards the library to check if the book has been returned. Mia has also decided to be in the swimming tryouts so we’ll meet by the pool later. I guess today is my lucky day, as not only the book has been returned but it’s still there on the shelf. Glad no one else has taken it yet. I grab it and head towards the librarian only to collide with Valerie and her side kicks.

“Why are you everywhere b***h?” her sidekicks snicker.

“This library is not your personal property Valerie,” I clutch the book tightly against my chest. I won’t allow her to crawl under my skin. In order to avoid creating a scene at the library, I side step but her cronies block my way. She whispers something in their ears and they giggle. What a bunch of immature girls.

“You don’t get to talk back and then leave.” Her eyes scan me, wondering if I would crumble. Little does she know that although I avoid confrontations I never back out from a challenge.

“What’s your problem?” I cross my arms over my chest. I am easily a couple of inches taller than Valerie so I have an advantage over her. I know for sure Mia would be so proud of me right now. Valerie steps closer to me and I stand my ground.

“Hand me over that book and I’ll let you go, it’s a reasonable proposition.” She shrugs her shoulders.

“I claimed it first and secondly I have the assignment to complete.” I clutch the book tighter.

“Do as she says, Valerie always gets what she wants,” Shauna speaks up on her behalf, I can’t help but roll my eyes. Valerie is one of those stereotypical blonds with blue eyes and big boobs and her two sidekicks practically worship her reason being she belongs to an affluent family. And she is their one and only spoilt brat.

“Sorry to disappoint you but you’re not getting this.” I lift my chin up ready to put up a fight but just then the librarian walks in on us.

“Is there a problem here?” she raises an eyebrow from behind her thick spectacles.

Suddenly, Valerie’s tone changes. It’s like she has transformed into a completely different person, “Oh no, we were just talking about this book. Don’t worry all is good here.”

I take that opportunity and slip away from them and tell the librarian that I’ll issue the book. I know Valerie must be staring daggers at me right now. I keep it in my bag quickly and head straight for the tryouts. I am almost out of breath when I reach the poolside. A couple of swimmers have already arrived.

“What took you so long?” Mia asks as soon as she sees me.

“Valerie and her gang rounded me up, apparently she wanted the same book as I had. But I didn’t give in.” feeling proud of myself.

“I am proud of you girl.” And we high five. Just then someone comes up and asks for the lockers and I get busy.

As I sit on a chair behind a desk, I have a perfect view of the swimming pool but those in the pool would not be able to see me very clearly. I scan the water and recognize someone familiar, ah it’s Mr. Swimmer himself and today I got to see him twice.

He looks graceful as his body propels through the water, gliding with those strong arms and legs breaking through the water effortlessly. He looks so beautiful, I could watch this guy the whole day and still not get enough. He is strong, skilful and appallingly energetic. He has a toned body, broad shoulders, and well defined abs, lats, and triceps. The guy just came out of a playboy magazine. In one swift motion, he is out of the pool. The water dripping down from his torso to his v-shaped dent. This guy is great eye candy, completely irresistible and I blush realizing what I have been doing. Thank god, nobody was watching coz I am sure my cheeks must be burning.

He makes his way past me and into the men’s locker.

Later, when I reach home I have a quick dinner with my parents filling my stomach with delicious chili chicken and garlic bread, helping with the dishes then heading straight to study. I make myself comfortable in a tank top and shorts and sit on my bed. As I open the book, I stop on the first page noticing something written on it with a pencil.

To ‘A’,

I have your bracelet, you dropped it when we kissed. Will wait for you at the same place tomorrow around five.

xxx

I don’t get it, how did this guy know I would be issuing this book. Oh my god, does he know it was Me who he had kissed while I don’t have the slightest clue who he might be? He even ended the note with kisses. He expects me to be at the sauna again tomorrow, no way I ain't going. Who knows who might be there waiting for me. What if it’s a trap? But my bracelet, he has my precious bracelet.

I feel the need to talk to Mia, so I call her up.

“Hey Mia, you free?” I am pacing the room and my brain is running a thousand miles per minute.

“Yeah, you okay?” she asks concerned. “You seem distracted.”

“I need to talk to you, it's important.” I’m still pacing my room.

“Come on over, my roommate’s gone for two days you can stay over.” She lives in the college dorm which is just a stone’s throw away from my building.

“Great, I’ll be there.”

I put my books and clothes in a bag, change into my jeans and head down. I peek into my parent’s room, mom has already dozed off while dad is still working on his laptop.

“Hey Dad,” I whisper, “I’m going to Mia’s place.”

“Okay honey, take my car I’ll hitch a ride with your mom in the morning.”

“Love you, dad.” I peck his forehead.