You Can Run To Me

Twenty-Six

Natalie panicked. After all, what else was there to do? She clapped her hand over her mouth and closed her eyes. Then she heard someone come in, and she suddenly remembered that SHE WAS STOOD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BOY'S CHANGING ROOM. By then, though, it was too late. Someone had already come in. She was just studying her feet as she readied herself with a unarguably false-sounding excuse (that was nonetheless completely true), when she heard a familiar voice.

"Natalie?"

The word was whispered and hoarse, but Nat still recognized it instantaneously. For a millisecond, relief flooded through her - he was here, he would help her – and then she remembered his betrayal. She began to back away from him, hissing at him to stay away. Yet the voices were getting closer. Ephren darted forwards lithely and cupped a hand over her mouth so that she could taste the chlorine on his skin. He didn't stop there, though, but kept on going, pushing her back and back until her knees buckled against the cold rim of a toilet. He slammed the door shut and pulled Natalie upright briefly so that he was sat on the toilet lid and she was sat on him. He motioned at her furiously, trying to get her to pull her feet up.

"It's so they think I'm alone in here dammit," he murmured quickly in her ear, his breath warm and damp against her cool skin.

Natalie could now hear the others very clearly; they must have been in the main room, where presumably all these self-confident youths would strip bare in front of each other.

"I know, man, but that last dive I did, that was perfection."

"Yeah, I saw it. I think perfection is going a bit far. You were a bit splashy in the landing. I, on the other hand, landed ten out of ten every single time."

"No, you didn't," interjected a third voice, that Nat thought might just be Steve.

"Oh, and what makes you so sure?"

"'Cause I saw you belly flop it on your third go. Kinda makes me wonder if you should be on the team, making noob mistakes like that."

There was a moment's tense silence, then Natalie heard a scuffling of feet and laughter.

"Alright, alright. I admit it; you're the best diver in our group. Except Eph, that is."

"Oh don't you start with that-"

"Hey, Eph, where'd you go?" called Steve.

Natalie opened her mouth to beg him not to say anything, but he put a finger to her lips again, which meant he had to reach around her awkwardly. She could feel his warmth through her soaked and stained t-shirt. Natalie gritted her teeth, leaning as far away from him as she could. He loosened his arms slightly to let her move, as though he was glad she didn't want to be near him. What a surprise, Natalie thought sarcastically. Despite being further away, she could still feel him reply to his friends, his words buzzing in her bones. The electricity was almost unbearable.

"Where'd you think? A guy's gotta have a sh-"

"Alright, alright. Enough information already."

"Aww... Wickle Stevey doesn't wanna hear about Eph's taking a dump."

There was the sound of a little more scuffling, probably some guy trying to give Steve a nuggy, Natalie saw Eph's face crease slightly with contempt. She carefully tried to seem as though she wasn't looking at him and watched him curiously as he suddenly snapped out an order at his friends. His face, she found was strangely blank and devoid of emotion; it was as though he wasn't speaking at all.

"Quite it guys. You need to hit the showers – you stink."

"Not as much as you! You'd better not be getting busy in there, Eph."