Simple Talents

Chapter Four

After they had both changed, the girls parted. Ria waved as Sara left to meet up with Jammin',

"Come hang when you're done kay?"

"Sure, if you guys leave before I come out to see you, drop in for me."

"M'kay. See ya!"

"Bye!" 

Ria flipped her towel over her one arm and slung her beach bag on the opposite shoulder, heading for the indoor-pool. The indoor-pool was mostly for training. It wasn't even used in the winter because the outdoor pool was heated when people needed it. This pool was more equipped for first time levitationists and bird-people learning to float and fly above the pool, with catwalks above and an opening ceiling. Fish people, fresh or salt-watered could use an adjuster in the pool desk to change it's PH balance and even nutrients. Water talents could use the soundproofed walls to concentrate, and the talented earth tribes could make it freeze over, walk on it, or even move it like the water talents. The pool could even be divided if needed to by the clerk at the pool desk.

It was the most expensive and important place on campus for anyone having a talent connected to water or air. Ria was almost shocked to be alone.

She was, however, thankful that no one else was around to watch her squander, not even missing the clerk. She set down her bag by the side of the pool and placed her towel nearby.

"Breathe Ria Breathe!" the only way to do this was to be completely relaxed and to believe that the water was more like rock. She tentatively inched out a toe and then her right foot. She needed to feel the lap of the waves and match it to her own heartbeat, by doing that, the water would calm and become like a patio to walk across. She felt the water calm below her and took her next step.

Absolute silence filled Ria's ears as well as the waves' movement below her feet. If she could remain calm, and make to the other side of the pool, she would definitely pass her test. Right foot, left foot, right foot, left foot. She continued until halfway across the pool when the water below her became unsettled, drops of red were falling into the pool. Ria lost focus and fell into the pinkish water. It turned quickly darker and darker pink until she knew that it must be blood, it was a pool of blood, and she could no longer feel the calm of her walk, the steady thump of her heart was gone. It was replaced by some other person's heart, one that jumped and skipped beats. Ria hears a scream pierce the air. Only to realize that it was her own. Her worst nightmare had come to life, and she was drowning in it.

-

Sara walked on after leaving Ria and met Jammin' at the edge of the outdoor pool. He was all fished up and swimmin' up a storm. The sun glinted off of his blue skin and green-scaled fins; this was where he was happiest. Seeing him like this made Sara happy too. He swam up to the edge of the pool and laced his arms at her feet.

"You coming in?" his eyelids blinked sideways like a snake's. The blue in his irises were bright and small around his pupil.

"Yeah, but you'll have to give me a minute, I gotta drop off my bag and towel."

"aw common'! Just throw your stuff on that chair" he gestured to the chair directly behind her "and hop in!" Sara laughed before complying with his request. She then sat with her feet dangling in the water where Jammin's head once was,

"Hop in!" he swam in place just in front of her feet,

"I dunno!" she sang in a sing-song voice,

"I will pull you in!"

"No you won't!" she laughed

"Really?" his eyes spoke to challenge,

"Try it." And he complied by grabbing her legs with one arm and her hands in his other, she slipped out easily though and jumped over his head and into the pool. Her one-piece was pink like her eyes and shined off her back as she gracefully dived into the water. A perfect swan dive.