The Misfortune of Meeting Dakota

Part 2

"What the heck just happened?!?" I thought as I exited the water. My heart was pounding like I had just ran a sprint. I felt confused, but excited at the same time. I walked away stunned, separating myself farther and farther from the boy. I went to my things under the shady oak tree and rummaged through my bag, trying to find my towel. "I need to calm down, this is stupid..." I thought. I suddenly heard the sharp sound of all the lifeguard whistles blowing at once, indicating the time of closing. I looked up, searching through the constantly-shifting crowd, trying to spot the boy. I was abnormally interested in what he was doing and where he would be heading after his shift. I didn't know what to do. I had never felt this way before about anyone in my whole life. That feeling, that click that I had the moment that I looked at him. I had no idea what it was or what caused it.

As I was drying off, I spotted through the crowd of leaving patrons, the boy casually talking to one of the older lifeguards. Even though he was all the way across the pool, I could still see how he smiled and it made me blush on the spot. I wanted to talk to him. I just had to. I needed to, but I had no idea how. I was never the girl who had the confidence to walk up to any cute guy and start a conversation. Suddenly, I spotted a concrete bench nearby. My eyes shifted between the bench and the boy, "I wonder if I sat there, if he would notice me..." I went with the idea and quickly grabbed my towel and cell phone. I sat down on the bench, the hot concrete burning my thighs, making it hard to sit still. I glanced at the clock, making note of how I had to be home in fifteen minutes. Then, in the distance, I saw the boy starting to walk in my direction. I quickly buried my face in my phone, my heart beating fast, my palms sweating. I glanced up briefly.  He was walking past me, slowly. He was almost completely past when he stopped and turned around. He looked me right in the eyes and said with a charming smirk, "So, do you come here everyday?" 

My mind went blank, I didn't think he would actually talk to me. I didn't know what to say, I was too surprised. After what seemed like an eternity, I managed to smile and say, "Yes. I do actually." He laughed and took a seat down next to me, surprising me even more. "Really? Don't you have anything better to do than come here?" He looked at me with deep hazel eyes. They were beautiful. "Um," I stuttered, getting lost in his eyes, "Honestly, I don't have anything better to do." I giggled a bit. He smiled sympathetically and laughed. Man, I really liked his laugh. "So, you're a junior lifeguard?" I asked, while scanning his shirt. It read "JUNIOR LIFEGUARD" in big, bold, red letters. "Oh yeah!!" he said excitingly, "It's really awesome!" We jumped into a conversation about his lifeguarding duties. I asked him questions about his job and what the differences were between Junior and Full lifeguards. The words seemed to flow out of my mouth. I had no problem talking to him. I felt so comfortable.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps behind me, taking me back to reality. I turned to see an older lifeguard walking up to me and the boy. He gave the boy a dissatisfied look. "Hey you wanna stop flirting and help me and Ty take down the obstacle course ?" the older lifeguard said, while motioning towards another lifeguard in the distance. "Yeah sure, man." The boy laughed and jumped up off the bench. As he walked away and turned back towards me, "Hey I'll be right back. I just gotta help them with somethin'." I glanced at the clock. I had to leave or my parents would kill me. "I'm sorry! I have to go!! My parents are expecting me back really, really soon!!" I felt annoyed, I wanted to spend more time with him. "No, no. Don't worry. I'll be here tomorrow, so maybe I will see you," he said, while giving me a forgiving smile. "Okay! Well I have to go..." I jumped up off the bench, wiping my sweaty palms on my towel. I had been so nervous. He waved and I gave him a smile, I started to swiftly walk away when suddenly, "Oh shoot! I didn't tell him my name!" I whispered to myself. "Wait!!" I called to the boy.  He turned to look at me with surprised eyes. "My name is Mariella by the way!" I said. The boy smiled, "Nice to meet you, Mariella!" We were practically yelling and people were staring at us, but I didn't care. I smiled back and ran to the rest of my things under the oak tree. I quickly threw on my clothing and stuffed my towel into my bag. I turned to look at my feet and noticed my toe, it was swollen and red by now. "Wow. I totally forgot about that bee sting..." I shrugged and walked back though the door of the front building and down the hallway once again. I waved to the lady at the front desk and stepped back out into the late afternoon sun.

I was so happy. I skipped through the grass as it tickled my feet. I spun in circles while I ran down to my bike. My smile was ear-to-ear as I put on my helmet and climbed on my bike. I had made a new friend and he was cute as well. I just remember how comfortable I felt while I was talking to him...and how I wanted to talk to him even more. I wanted to come back to the pool everyday, just to see him. I was so curious about him now. I had a crush on him. Wait...no...I REALLY liked him. And as I rode down the trail with the hot summer sun on my face and the cool vines gently hitting against my ams, all I could think about was that I hoped that he liked me too.