Awakened

Look Who It Is

Once I am home, I take a cold shower before heading to work at the community pool. I'm a life guard a couple of days out of the week to make some extra cash. I know that if I want to go out with my friends I will not be able to keep asking my parents for money.

I put on my red one-piece swimsuit and a pair of black shorts with an elastic band. I let my short, brown hair air dry and head downstairs, where my mother is getting ready to leave for work.

"Another shift today sweetie?" she asks as she packs her lunch in a bag.

"You know it," I reply, sliding into a barstool by the kitchen island. I contemplate telling her about the incident with the car, but I don't want her to stop me from running at the park, especially if Harry is going to be there. Just thinking about him makes me swoon. Instead I say, "It's supposed to be 96 degrees again today."

"Oh, no. Please don't forget to put sunscreen on, and try to stay out of the sun as much as possible. I know you don't burn, but I do not want you getting anymore tan."

I wave away her concern. "There are umbrellas we sit under at the pool. I'll make sure to put on the sunscreen before I head out." 

She grabs her car keys and purse from the living room.

"See you later, mom."

"Bye," she kisses my cheek. "Make sure to wake Jacob up. I think he has a shift, too."

I nod and check the time as she heads out the front door. I have enough time to eat. While I make myself eggs and hash browns, my phone rings indicating a text message. Lo and behold, it's from Harry. I smile like a dork and wash my hands.

-Hey this is Harry :)-
*Yeah I figured lol*

While I wait for his response, I serve myself and begin eating. My phone pings.

-What are you doing later?-
*I have a shift at the community pool. I'm one of the lifeguards*
-Really? Sounds cool. Saving people and stuff-

I laugh. 

*Hopefully I won't need to do that anytime soon*
-Now that I think about it I just suddenly forgot how to swim ;) I might need a little saving-
*Oh really? I think my friend Eric will be able to pull you out*
-Ha ha very funny. I'll drop by later, if I have time.-

My heart flutters as I imagine him in his swim trunks. All hot and with wet hair that I could just run my fingers through. I swallow hard. You just met this kid. Chill.

*Ok well I'll see you maybe*
-See you later-

It's almost time to go so I hurry upstairs and push open my brother's door.

"Wakey wakey, Jakey," I announce rather loudly. It's the only way to wake him up. That, and dumping water on his head, but I'm saving that method for another day.

He is sleeping diagonally across his bed with his dark blue covers splayed on the floor. His brown hair is sticking out at all ends and he's softly snoring. 

I huff, grab a pillow off the floor, and smack him with it. "Yo, Jacob! Time to get up," I repeat. "We're going to be late if you don't get your lazy ass up, so hurry!"

He groans and opens one eye. "I'll get up in a bit." He rolls over and makes himself comfortable.

I roll my eyes and keep smacking him all over his body until he finally gets up.

"Alright, alright," he says. "Jeez, I'm up already. Can't even get some sleep around here," he mumbles. 

"Whatever. Just hurry and get ready. I'll be in the car waiting."

*
By the time we arrive to the pool, there are already a couple of people swimming and two other lifeguards: Eric and Mason. They're my brother's friends, but we have all gotten really close working together for the past few weeks.

"Finally bro!" Eric yells from across the pool.

He has brown hair so dark it's almost black. His eyes are brown, but, in just the right angle, they have a green tint. He's the extremely funny and sarcastic one in the group. Once upon a time, I had a huge crush on him, but now I'm over it. My brother would have never let him get to me anyways. He is annoyingly protective like that. 

"I thought you were gonna sleep in again," Eric jokes.

"Hey," Jacob says defensively, "that was only one time."

"It's okay. We all know that you need the beauty sleep."

I laugh. "You've got that right."

Eric winks at me as I walk over to my assigned lifeguard chair. There are five in total. I get the one furthest from the entrance, but closest to Eric's. He keeps me entertained most of the time. When he's not being annoying, that is.

The cool shade under the chair's umbrella is a reprieve from the already hot sun. Southern California can be brutal during the summer. I don't know how people can be outside at all, even to swim.

I hang my towel and tote bag over the corner of the chair and pull out my black sunglasses. That's much better. I can actually see now.

Eric saunters over to me. 

I climb down the chair and he moves closer.

"Here is your whistle," he tells me. "Let me remind you how it works. You just place it right between your lips, take a deep breath, and-"

"Blow," I interrupt, narrowing my eyes over my glasses. "I know the drill."

He smirks. "Seems like it."

I shove him back. "Get your mind out of the gutter, Eric." 

"But why!" he playfully whines. 

I roll my eyes and snatch the whistle out of his hand, placing it around my neck.

"Hey, Eric!" my brother yells. "Get the hell away from my sister, please."

"She's the one coming onto me," he says, backing away from me with his hands in the air. 

I follow him over to where my brother and Mason are talking. "You certainly wish."

He winks at me. "You know I do, Y/N."

Jacob shoots him a dirty look. "Please shut up."

"Did you hear about the new guy they got this summer?" Mason changes the subject. "He just moved here. He's supposed to be working with us today."

"Really?" I ask. "What happened to Stephanie?" She's the one that usually has shifts with us.

"I heard she moved away early for university," Eric says. 

My brother nods. "Yeah, figures. What's the new guy's name?"

Mason's face scrunches up as he tries to remember it. "I forgot. I think it started with an 'H'." He looks behind me over my shoulder. "Oh, look! There he is. Right on time."

We all turn simultaneously and my mouth just about drops in shock Actually, I'm sure it did drop because the new lifeguard is Harry.