Romantic One Shots & Imagines

One Shot #44: Midsummer Nights

      I felt the cool winds coming as the warm streaks in the sky turned dark blue. The last of the sun reflected off the whistle around my neck. I started picking up the floaties and goggles that were scattered around the pool. On the other side, getting the last of the kids out, was Scott. Ever since the beginning of Summer, it was just the two of us against the sea of children who would come out to cool off. This was to be the last year that the town pool would be open, so they could only afford to pay two full time lifeguards. This was my first year working at a public pool. They told me it would be tough, but I considered myself lucky.

     The sun had just about set when I noticed him walking back from the gate, nonchalantly twirling the keys on his finger. I would have to tell myself to stop staring. I used to think I was inconspicuous until my friends revealed to me that I was the complete opposite. He walked right passed me as if nothing's ever happened between us. All of those times he'd grab me from behind a tree and kiss me. All those times he would accidently touch me as he walked by me on the pool deck. Maybe he walked right passed me because all of those times were fantasies. I had no business going after someone like him. I wasn't the stereotypical outcast and he wasn't the stereotypical jock, but he was still out of my league.

     I don't know what it is about the summer time. Something about this certain solstice sparks a warm feeling inside me and it isn't the 90 degree weather. He called my name and suddenly I was sucked out of my thoughts. He furrows his eyebrows slightly as he beckons me with a wave. His eyebrows! How could I be attracted to someone's eyebrows?

          "How do you feel about cleaning out the pool pipes?" He asks seriously.

          "I think I can do it. I've never done it, but it didn't sound hard." I answer bravely.

          "It's not. All you have to do is put the cleaning solution in the big pipe near the lost and found shelf. Make sure you tighten the cap back on and just let the solution pump through the system." He responds.

     I nod before walking off. I find the solution on the shelf. The old metal cap was on there tight. I knew if I really tried, I could get it off by myself, but I also knew that I could just call him over and watch him help me. I shake the thoughts out of my head as I continue to struggle. Sweat dripped down my brows as I successfully threw the cap to the side. The bottle of solution was big and it quickly became too heavy to support on my shoulder. Before I could let it down, the bottle tipped over and most of its contents spilled into the pipe. There was nothing I could do, so I just made a quick wish for everything to be alright and put the cap back on.

     As I was packing my bag inside the employee shed, a strange gurgling sound caught my attention. I looked up to see that my wish wasn't answered. Clusters of suds and bubbles were spilling out the pool hoses. I ran out to do something, but it was a hopeless cause.

          "Scott!" I scream out for my elusive coworker. After a moment, he came running. His eyes wasted no time bouncing from me to watching the pool overfill with huge bubbles.

          "What happened?" He asks, his voice surprisingly calmer than I expected.

          "It spilled. It all spilled into the pipe. It was too heavy. I couldn't stop it." I started to explain quickly.

           He looks at me for the first time that night. "It's ok. It happens. Nothing that can't be fixed."

          I stare at him, taken aback. "But everything's a mess. Suds are going to keep coming out and cover the whole place!" I was so concerned about losing my job that I barely noticed him taking his shirt off.

          He starts to kick his sandals off. "The system has a timer. The suds will stop soon." He immediately dives into the pool. I stare at the spot where he stood not even two moments ago. He was fearless to get in, not being able to see what's at the bottom.

          "Scott?" I yell, worried after he had yet to resurface through the bubbles.

          "Come in! The water's great!" He answers from the other end of the pool.

     Hesitantly, I made up my mind. I could see his face fall in the corner of my eyes as I walked away from the pool. I went over to the shed to turn on the water slide. The thumping sounds of unused pipes restarting could be heard outside. A slushy mix of water and suds slid down the tall slide. I practically ran to the deep end, leaving a trace of my clothes behind me. I could feel his eyes following me as I climbed the stairs. Goosebumps ran up my bare legs. I sat at the top, ready for the unknown but also ready for him as he waited at the bottom. I pushed myself off.

     I was four feet under the water when I opened my eyes again. The surface was almost opaque but reflected the pool lights. I could see Scott's legs as he treaded water to stay afloat. Confidently, I swam back up towards him. I didn't realize how close I was to him until I resurfaced. Our faces were only inches away. He jumped, but I didn't scare him off. Scott smiled at me. The smile recreated lines and wrinkles that were left there from years of laughing in the sun. They reached his electric blue eyes. I was biting the inside of my cheeks to hide my feelings, but my own smile won the battle.

     I was the first one to make the splash. Suds flew into the air and landed everywhere. It contrasted with his dark hair before it all popped away. Before we knew it, we were at war. I was at one end of the pool, and he was on the other. We went all out and grabbed water guns. A whirlwind of water and suds flew my way, but I wouldn't let him get the best of me. I immediately found out how wrong I was when he quickly disappeared.

     Suddenly, he popped up out the water behind me. I turned to meet him. We were doing it again, having a moment. This time, I didn't ruin it. With new found confidence, I grabbed his face in my hands and slammed my lips onto his. It was all so fast, but it was now or never. My confidence only got higher as I felt his lips move with mine. He slid his arms around my waist as our bodies moved closer. We stayed there in that position for a few long moments, floating in the middle of the pool. Was it him or was it the flow of the water? Somehow, we ended up at the edge of the deck. He kept me there, pinned between him and the back of the pool with one hand as his other started to slide down my thighs. Shivers traveled up my spine and dispersed at my fingertips. The water was cool, but I knew that it wasn't the source of the sensation.

     My fingers found their way to the curly tips of his hair. I was lost to reality and time. I wasn't even sure if this was a fantasy or not; the balmy summer air casting a spell on me. Whatever it was, I didn't care.