A Ripple Between **CURRENTLY EDITING**

6- The First Lesson

It was Thursday. Tomorrow was Friday. And Friday was not like every other Friday. Friday was THE Friday. I was finally learning how to swim.

I invited Beth over because I really needed her to help me pick out clothes. I know what you're thinking: Why would you need clothes if you're swimming? But I still had to get there, right? And PJ would still see me in those clothes until I got my bathing suit on. Speaking of which, I also needed to find a bathing suit. We had a lot to do.

So I had all of my clothes laid out on my bed. I had already organized them into possible outfits and everything, and now Beth and I were silently studying them, pondering which would be best for the situation.

"I'd say definitely go with a tankini for this. You don't want to make him feel awkward with a bikini."

I nodded and threw my only bikini, if it could even be called that, on the floor and out of the way. She was definitely right. I was self-conscious anyway, and would probably be pulling at it more than anything else. It would get annoying. We ultimately picked my black two-piece, Beth saying that it went better with my skin tone than the pink one. I supposed she knew better than I did when it came to my skin tone. I was completely opposed to my fair skin and wanted nothing to do with it, so I took her word for it.

For my clothes, we decided (after about 10 minutes of going back and forth) on a pair of faded cutoffs and a slightly-flowy white tank top. Nothing special, as I didn't want to look like I was trying too hard, but I also was trying, so I wanted to look decent.

"So are you excited?" Beth asked me while I jammed my swimsuit into my bag along with sunscreen, a towel, and mascara (because although mine was waterproof, you can never be too prepared.)

"Nervous is more like it," I said, sighing and tossing the now ginormous bag into a corner and plopping down on my bed, seemingly exhausted from my efforts.

"Just stay calm. Don't rush it. You'll learn at your own pace. And if PJ makes you go any faster, I'll be sure to beat him up for you."

"He won't," I assured, grinning wickedly. "I can always beat him up myself if I have to."

She smiled back. "I still can't believe he said all that stuff about being worried for you! Ugh, it's just sooo cute!" And then she proceeded to do the dramatic falling-back-onto-the-bed that I'd seen way too many times in movies for it not to be cliché.

"Don't get so excited just yet," I smirked, as if I hadn't thought about the exact same thing for the past day and a half nonstop.

"I'm sure PJ's doing exactly this with Reed at this very instant," she said. I busted out laughing, picturing PJ with all of his swimming trunks laid out on his bed, hands tangled in his messy blond hair, completely stressed out: Reed! I can't decide! Black, navy, or gray?

But the boy did look absolutely amazing in dark colors, so I wasn't about to complain.

"Ok, you are getting way too into that idea," Beth said, noticing my expression.

"What?" I asked, snapping out of the thought.

Then we both dissolved into a fit of giggles. What in the world was I getting myself into?

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After school, I was more nervous than I figured I'd ever been in my life. Speaking presentations? Not as scary. Going on Terror, this insane roller coaster at Kilter Amusement Park**, this past summer for the first time? Not even close. This even contended with my very first day of high school. Yeah. I just went there.