Going Off the Deep End #Wattys2015

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

"Invisible things are the only realities."---Edgar Allan Poe, Loss of Breath

~~~

The swimming pool looked peaceful, unassuming, harmless, but I still shifted nervously looking at it. It seemed like a well-made facade to cover up the mystery that was inside.

It was my family's indoor pool, on the top floor of the house. There was a glass roof above it, but other than that, there was nothing except the stars in the sky.

My hands clenched and unclenched and my legs wobbled slightly. It was ridiculous how crazy I was acting. I could almost hear my friend, Joanie whisper, "Scaredy Cat," in my ear.

Feeling a rush of anger and embarrassment, I walked towards the shallow end and tested the water with my toe. It was freezing cold! I yanked away my foot and walked a few paces backward. I'd die of hypothermia if I got in.

Formulating a plan, but then scrapping it, I decided to just jump in the deep end.

Before you get the wrong idea, it wasn't as if I couldn't swim. No, it was because I simply hated swimming. I don't know why. They say that everyone's fears are linked to death, but I don't think mine is. I think it's because I can't stand the idea of being in water for long. I even preferred showers over baths.

Taking a deep breath, I took a leap and before I knew it, I'm underwater.

Bubbles moved around me haphazardly, all striving to reach the top.

Oh, my god. The water was icy cold.

Immediately, my legs kicked upwards as if on autopilot. Once I broke the surface, I gasped for air, it was like I had jumped into a bucket filled with ice.

I started shivering uncontrollably and my teeth chattered. I gripped the edge of the pool and waited for my body to get used to the cold.

After a few minutes, I let go off of the edge and pushed off a little bit. The water felt refreshingly cool now, instead of mind-numbingly cold.

I hadn't realized that my eyes were screwed shut, so I opened them hesitantly. It was pretty helpful that I could open my eyes underwater, it meant that I didn't need to wear goggles.

My dark brown hair drifted around me, suspended in water like slow motion.

I slowly sunk down to the bottom, 8 feet below. All I heard at that point was the hum of water. All my anxiety seeped away to be replaced by calmness and satisfaction.

I sat cross legged on the bottom, occasionally being lifted up slightly by the flow.

I let out a small secret smile. Solitude, at last.

~~~

All I saw was the blur of the pool floor as it seemed to lead to darkness. A chill ran up my spine as I imagined a monster lurking there, watching me.

There wasn't much time before I ran out of breath. The whole idea of me doing this was to get some me-time. It sounded completely stupid, but I really thought that being underwater would give me the freedom to think without any judgement, which was quite silly because nobody could read my mind.

Perhaps I'm just crazy. And paranoid.

I let the first of my thoughts be---thought. I thought about my first day of high school which happened exactly six days before today.

It was strange, seeing how everyone had changed over the summer, at least physically. Some of the girls were wearing makeup, others had a whole new dress style. The guys had grown taller and sounded...different.

Meanwhile, all that changed for me was that I became taller. I towered over most girls now and even some of the guys! I felt like the walking-talking giant from Jack and the Beanstalk.

My mother, Vivian said that that I shouldn't worry about my looks and should just concentrate on my grades, but it's impossible to not feel awkward. At least for me.

She hates it when I call her Vivian instead of "Mom" and Samuel instead of "Dad". I suppose it is odd that when you call you parents by their first names, but it seems so...so artificial, you know? Like labelling who you are to them. For example, it'd be weird if my parents called me, "Daughter", instead of "Liv". Names are a lot more humane in a way. You know what I mean? Probably not, but I really can't explain it better.

Anyway, my friend that I mentioned earlier, Joanie looked TOTALLY different. I remembered her telling me how she hated wearing skirts back in third grade, but there she was: wearing a skirt! Her chest looked huge in her tight shirt. I wanted to throw my jacket over her to cover her up, but she just laughed like I was crazy when I offered her my jacket.

My other friend, Melissa wasn't wearing a skirt, but she did add purple highlights to her short blonde hair. She had learned how to play volleyball over the summer, thus the volleyball which she held proudly against her waist. Melissa had made lots of friends from the volleyball team in school because of that.

The three of us still had talked excitedly to each other, but in the back of my mind, I knew it wasn't the same. Our conversations no longer flowed smoothly and there were a few awkward pauses. Not enough to send me into a panic that our friendship might be dying, but enough to make me have doubts.

When you've been friends with them for nearly 10 years, you want to hold on to them. To believe in something as delusional as forever. I'm not stupid, I know that our friendship may not be able to withstand the current of growth and change.

I turned my head above, facing the distorted pool surface. My chest was starting to feel tight from the lack of oxygen. Deciding it was time to go, I kicked up and quickly rose up, breaking the smooth exterior.

Huge fat droplets of water clung to my eyelashes and dripped from my hair and face. I quickly looked at the stopwatch that I had placed near the pool.

1 minute and 43 seconds.

Not bad, for the first time. I honestly thought it would be less that that.

I felt content, like a huge weight had been lifted from me. I liked the idea of the pool having magical abilities to take all my worries and pain away.

A wide grin broke out.

It was a magical, marvelous, mystic swimming pool.

---

A/N

Writing this story means a lot to me. It's a lot like therapy in some ways to me. It makes me forget the real world, even for a short time.

Hope you all like this story.

~G

P.S This is shameless advertising, but it would be great if you could check out my other book, Kiss My Ring. It's a more fluffy romantic comedy kind of book, so VERY different. If you like that genre, of course.

No pressure (but I may or may not steal you favorite stuffed animal).

P.P.S Don't hesitate to point out any grammar mistakes. Thanks :)