Have a Little Faith

Dakota's POV

Dakota's POV

I accidentally snapped the shoulder strap of my bathing suit as I fiddled around with it and let out a surprised yelp, hissing slightly at the mild pain. Levi, who was next to me tried to stifle a laugh but failed miserably. I smacked his shoulder as he grinned down at me, his golden eyes glimmering in the early morning sun.

I turned back to look at the people around us, all looking equally nervous as me. It was the first day of the life guarding course Levi had gifted me with and I stood at the edge of the pool, trying to calm down my racing heart. My heart hand clutched at Levi's as I waited for the instructor to come out of the small white house on the opposite side of the pool.

"You'll do great." Levi said reassuringly pressing a kiss to my temple.

I nodded slightly, despite my nerves and reached up to run my thumb over the pebble heart, only to remember again that I had taken it off. I had grown attached to the simple jewellery, the smooth stone reminding me of him everyday.

"There he is. His name is-" Levi started saying before being interrupted by the instructor who had emerged from the small building.

"My name is Mark. That's all you need to know for now. I want all of you in the water and two laps. You have two minutes.  Go!" He exclaimed.

Some of the people had jumped in immediately after his order while others stood looking at each other, startled expressions on their faces.

"Go get them tiger!" Levi said smiling broadly at me.

I closed the distance between the edge of the pool and dove into the water, relishing the feeling of the streaming water rushing past my body.

I zoned in on the person in front of me, a girl, and began streaking through the water after her. At the end of the first lane I tumble turned and kicked off, coming up for air in shorter intervals and increasing my speed. I left behind the girl and tried catching up to a young man who was racing through the water in front of me.

As the end of the pool approached I grinned slightly to myself. I hadn't managed to catch the guy but I came second. When I rested my arms on the edge of the pool and looked up I saw Mark and Levi talking.

"That was excellent!" Mark said, crouching down in front of me, "How long have you been swimming?"

"For some years now" I said, suddenly uncomfortable with all the people looking inquisitively at me.

"Some years, huh?" Mark said amused.

"Yes, sir"

"Levi here tells me your name is Dakota?"

I nodded my head.

Mark wrote something down on his clipboard and stood up, nodding at me briefly before going to the guy next to me.