Mute Songbird (boyxboy) -Complete-

Swimming

I actually had a class with Kevin and recognized him as soon as he opened the door. He knew me too, that was the thing with being new and 'special' -- people remembered and noticed me while I had to struggle with names. He was great though and soon we were heading out to his patio where 2 younger girls I didn't know were already relaxing.

I wasted no time and soon I was reclining on a lounge chair, trunks and t-shirt on, book in hand. I was good. Dan had thrown his towel onto the chair next to mine and literally run to the stairs and clambered in. He was sitting on the steps and it looked like he was waiting for me. He was just a little bit excited.

"Aaaaaassh, come in!" he called.

I shook my head no and held up my book.

"You can read at home. You can NOT pool at home. Get in here with me!" He stood and walked over to the edge, facing me.

My father taught me that there are many ways to get into a pool but the stairs is not one of them. I stripped out of my shirt and walked over to the diving board. I considered showing off but did a simple dive into the water, then swam over towards Dan.

"Wow! You are amazing. Can you do any others? Dives I mean?"

I nodded and looked pretty proud of myself.

"I wish I could."

This was the bad part about pools. I had no way of talking to him. My phone was safely tucked in my bag and my pad was laying on my chair. I tried for a few seconds to gesture that I would show him and somehow, he got it.

"Oh, um, you'd have to teach me to swim first."

The look of shock on my face must have said all it needed to.

"Cross my heart, I can't. I mean, I could probably doggy paddle or manage to not die if I really had to, at least I hope I could, but there's no way I'm hopping into the deep end on purpose. And no, you can't teach me because even if you could, it's embarrassing as hell that I can't yet. Plus, I don't think I'm the floaty type, you know? I'll sink like a stone. I'm a noodle."

I wish I could have told him that swimming wasn't that hard and that I could probably teach him the basics in like 20 minutes if I could talk. Maybe if the new therapy worked I would try to figure out a way to get him alone in a pool or lake so he wouldn't be embarrassed. I'd add it to my 'If I ever get fixed' list.

"Hey guys, I'm gonna run my sister and her friend over to the mall. You two okay here for a few?" Kevin asked.

I heard Dan mutter a 'sure we're good if you don't mind us staying' but all I could think about was that if I was a guy who believed in signs, this would be one. As soon as the glass door slid closed, I got Dan's attention and told him to watch me. Then I lay on my back and floated before standing up and pointing to him.

"You want ME to do that? Wait, that's not what I mean -- you want me to TRY to do that?"

Yes. I held my arms out with my palms facing up just below the water, promising to hold him.

"You're funny but there's no one here to see us, I guess, and it's only four feet of water. Fine. Are you ready to laugh?"

I tilted my head to the side and tried to look bored.

"So do I just lean back? Or is there an order I need to do this in?"

I pushed on his chest, which is very, very nice by the way and he leaned back. I have to admit that his head went under once before I realized that all his weight was up top and moved my arms. I managed to get him floating a little bit though, although his feet were still dipping down. Maybe he was right, his body was not exactly buoyant. This was going to require kicking.

I stood him back up, then grabbed onto the edge of the pool and pushed back, bringing my legs up and kicking lightly.

"And now you want me to do that, right? Just kick? How are you holding yourself up?"

I stood up and flexed my non-existent bicep.

"Well if you can do it, I probably can too. Okay. Watch out, I'm not responsible for who or what I kick."

I took his advice and stepped back a bit since there was no danger of him drowning or anything. I spent 45 seconds doing my absolute best to not laugh, but wow was it a sight. Legs wide, then together, way high and splashing water practically to Nebraska but it didn't take him too long to settle in.

I tapped his shoulder and he stood up, then looked back towards Kevin's house before pulling me close and kissing me. The feeling of his chest up against mine and the cool water around us was amazing.

"Thanks for teaching me, for trying. I'll practice in my bathtub" he joked just as we heard a door slam. "More of both of those things some other time Ash."