Poseidon

Like in the movies

I rolled over and coughed up water. It was burning all the way through me, until I could breathe again.

"What the fuck!" Tara whispered.

I rolled over on my back and looked up at her. She wasn't wet. My throat felt a little raw, but it wasn't too bad.

Wow. "I was dragged under," I whispered.

Tara nodded. "Some asshole whacked you with his surfboard. Sure, he helped you out of the water, but idiot."

"What?" I asked. I was sure something had felt tight around my legs.

Tara nodded. "He ran off, and you weren't even out, just coughing up water."

I sighed and moved into a sitting position.

She wasn't wearing her sunglasses, though the sun was glaring at us from a cloudless sky. Her expression was worried. "Maybe we should get back?"

I nodded and moved to my feet. Everything was wet, except my purse. "Why isn't this wet?" I asked and held it up.

"Because you'd given it to me before you walked into the water," she said. "That's why I just gave it to you?"

I nodded and put on my wet shoes. "I'm glad it's the middle of the day, so there's warmth."

Tara nodded and reached for my hand. "Let's get back and make sure you shower and get warm again."

I nodded and followed her.

By the time we made it back to the dorms, my shorts looked dry, as did my tank, mostly.

Tara unlocked the doors for me. I dropped my purse on the bed, grabbed new clothes and a towel, and my shower bag, before I walked to the communal bathroom. I stepped into the cubicle, drew the shower curtain and started to peel of the still wet clothes.

I was dry, except my hair, when I entered the room again. Tara was lying on her bed with one of her school books, and looked back when I entered.

"You okay?" she asked.

I nodded. "Yeah, I'm good," I said. "I'm not sure about that party now."

"Me neither," she said. "We can go tomorrow, if you're up for it?"

"Maybe," I said and sat down on my bed. I hadn't ever gotten any lunch, coming to think of it.

Tara sat. "Hey, how about we go get some food, and then go back and chill?" she asked.

"You can still go out, Tara," I said. "I'll be fine."

She stood. "I don't want to. I want you there, for whatever reason. And it's not today, and I don't feel like going anyway."

"Then okay, we can go for dinner. I'm hungry." I said and braided my hair, sans hair tie at the end, and followed Tara to the dining hall.

The table wasn't overflowing with people. I sat next to Tara, and her friends were just there. I had no clue how it happened. It always happens in movies, where the cool kid just magically is surrounded by their friends.

Tara didn't seem to even notice. I didn't mind, it just baffled me it happened.

I was eating, but slowly. The warm pasta was just what I needed, but I was so tired. The moment you swim, and BAM!, you're tired. That's how it was for me, anyways. And I hadn't even been swimming.

I finished off on my food and looked at Tara's plate. It was empty, but she had told me, walking here, she was going for desserts.

I was too.

I walked to the selection of desserts and settled on a slice of blueberry pie and went back. I nibbled it, eating half of it, and then I was full.

Tara ate a cookie and looked at me. "Ready to head back?"

I nodded.

We each brought a second cookie for the walk, and were outside. The air was cooler, but it wasn't by much.

She unlocked the door, and we took the stairs up to the fourth floor, where we had our dorm.

I kicked off my shoes and went to lie down.

Tara smiled. "You worry me."

"I'll be fine," I said. "I'm just tired now. I forgot lunch, because I was pissed at that guy from my class."

Tara sat on her desk, her feet on the chair.

I looked towards her. "How do you know all these people?" I asked.

She shrugged. "I knew a few of them, the rest were friends of friends. But I like to talk."

I smiled. "Figures," I said.

She looked at her hands. "What do you do to chill?" she asked and looked at me.

I shrugged. "Watch a movie? If I've got too much energy I go for a walk, and if I'm in a weird mood where I'm productive, I research random stuff for no apparent reason."

"What random stuff?" she asked.

I smiled. "So, taxes for example. As it is right now, the richer you are, the less you pay, which is backwards, because it's the poorer people who need the money."

Tara frowned.

"I also read, that you can actually die of a broken heart. Like if you go through an emotional heart break, someone breaking up with you, it can kill you. I thought that was a joke, but apparently not." I bit my lip.

"That's... and you say it's weird I'm into Greek mythology?" she asked.

"Never said that," I said. "Just pointed out it's extensive knowledge you have. I also watched a Vox video on YouTube about how US teachers are working long hours for little pay, which, it's argued, is the reason why US schools aren't as good as in, say Finland."

"But it would take higher taxes to pay them?" Tara said.

"Yeah, but knowledge is our future, and if you had to look after twenty kids all day, and then plan what to teach them when you're off? You'd be tired too. Sometimes I fall down rabbit holes and get stuck."

Tara giggled. "I felt down one rabbit hole, and look where I'm at."

I stretched and stifled a yawn. "I think I'll watch a movie."

"Change into PJ's," Tara said. "Scooch over, and let's watch something together. As far as I can see, we're stuck this and the next semester, might as well get the best out of it."

I nodded. "Fine," I said and dragged my sorry ass off the bed to put on pajamas.