Overlap

Chapter 48-C: The Fear of Tape

<04/10/2011 - 16:51 | Link Street (Pool), Marietta, GA, USA>

When I pushed my way past the gate opening up to the community pool, I was thrilled to see that it was still open, and also devoid of all other people besides myself. I threw my arms up in the air with celebratory attitude, chanting to my good luck. "Look at this! We get to have the pool to ourselves!" Being in full link with Lumina, I still didn't want to risk that somebody lurking or hiding nearby could overhear my physical voice, so I shouted in the safe space of telepathy.

My mood really was as good as I made it sound. Ever since last night, I've felt a lot better about our situation. It wasn't the brightest of topics, but we managed to feel better about the past, and I felt more attached to Lumina's sisters than ever. Plus, going by what she suggested earlier, I figured now would be the best time to try out something new Lumina could enjoy. I was stoked to arrive at the pool with it being just the two of us.

"Yay..." Lumina sounded most deterred to be in this kind of place with me, for reasons I already knew why.

"I bet you don't get to go swimming a lot in your world. But because it's so cold out, you should be able to feel all of that water rushing around me." I'm a bit nervous to dive into a pool when it's below fifty, but then it's literally the only way Lumina can share such sensations with me in the first place.

"Yeah... On second thought, how about I just shut off the sensation node where I would feel the water, and you just have your fun at the pool today?"

I should have known she was going to try and chicken her way out of this, but I'm still surprised to be reminded that she can even do that with telepathy in the first place. "Come on. Quit being such a baby about it. It's just water."

"I'm not being a baby about anything... I just don't feel like swimming today is all."

Based on her voice, I'm imagining her making such a cute fish face trying to get out of this, but she has to learn at some point how to swim. "Oh, I get it now... You're just afraid of a little bit of water." I made sure to tease her about it obviously, waiting for her desperate denial.

"I am not afraid of swimming in the water!"

But it was too late for her to pretend she was fine now. A sadistic smile formed through my lips, and right as she was talking, I dragged my bare foot an inch deep into the cold pool water, slushing it forward before lifting it out again.

"Reeightebee!" Those weren't even words just now, but her expression was totally priceless. "Why would you do that? It feels so gross!"

Her reaction was too cute and funny to ignore, so I just started laughing at the thought that I could sneak that onto her. "That's rich! Out of everything you are and everything you've been through, a little bit of water messes with your head? Haha!"

"That's not funny Reed! You know Altiri people don't like going for a surprise swim."

"Yeah... Wait, it's not just you? All Altiri people are this way?" Call me shocked. I was under the impression that it was just an irrational fear only Lumina had. But if all the Altiri have the same reaction to water on their skin, it warrants answers.

"We don't like to get water on our skin."

"I know. But why is that? Don't you drink a ton of that stuff every day?"

"Yes, in our mouths. Anywhere outside of that, and it messes with my peace of mind."

It sounds like even she doesn't really know why. "That's crazy. What happens when somebody spills a drink on themself by accident? I do it all the time with my water bottles."