The Arsonist

Three

Due to how early Gray got off work, she decided to do two things. First, relieve stress 2.0, and second, visit her mother.
It was a short drive to the community center from the hospital, but long enough for Gray to sing along to Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.
Gray walked through the large double doors, swim bag in hand (she always kept it in her back seat).

Gray loved going to the community center, not just for the racing pools or the fact that it smelled like bleach and happiness, she liked going because of Sable.

Sable McCalaster had been Gray's best friend since kindergarten when she punched Bill Roberts in the face for saying "Gracie's a NEEERRRDD". She worked at the community center and it was a great way for Gray and her to catch up with Gray's busy schedule. Sable, above other things was a major hypochondriac. All the time she would text Gray saying things like, "my temperature rose a degree, I have Ebola." That's when Dr. Ashworth had to step in and say that an advance in degree did not mean her friend had a foreign disease, but Sable never listened.

"You look tired. Do you have chronic insomnia?" Was the first thing she said to Gray as she approached the counter and handed her her card.

"I'm fine, Sable," Gray giggled.

"It's a bigger deal than you'd think."

"I know sweetie," Gray said as she walked around the counter and tapped Sable's shoulder. They shared a quick hug before Sable pulled away.

"You got the job, right?"

"Yeah...?"

Sable turned to her desk again and pulled out an industrial sized GermX hand sanitizer. "There is no way in hell I will get any of those diseases."

"Mental diseases aren't contagious."

"I'm not taking any chances."

Gray laughed to herself and walked to the doors leading into the pool.

Gray never wore a cap while swimming. Something about how the water felt when it flowed across her face and through her hair made Gray feel alive. The way her heart would beat faster and faster made her love swimming all together. The water was a great place for her to think.

Oddly enough, for some reason that day, at the pool, the only thing she could think of was Lyle. Even when trying to focus on the water, the opposite element, made her think of his eyes or his cool personality, or his light blue sweater that she wanted to wear around on a rainy Saturday even though it was much too big for her. She wanted him to be holding her on the rainy Saturday. He would come sit next to her on the couch and lay his head in her lap as he read The Great Gatsby for the millionth time. She would stick her fingers in his hair and comb through it as she watched the news or filled out paper work. Out of the blue, she'd see him put down his book and once she looked up, he would have cupped her face and began kissing her. Not in the "first date" sort of way, the way that you knew was going somewhere, the way that whispered "I need you". She wanted to wear the sweater, but mostly, she wanted him to take it off of her.

Gray emerged from the water, gasping for breath. She wanted to beat her head up against a wall. You were not supposed to think about patients like this, especially the rude, crude, Lyle Conley. She had to keep reminding herself that he most likely didn't mean any of the things he said. She was not going to fall for anyone. Especially in the way she had for him then. It wasn't love, she didn't know anything about him except for his favorite color and his life story...then again.

Gray would admit she felt desperately sorry for him. No one has it good. Not even her.

The more Gray swam, the farther the fantasy went. The more it went, the worse Gray felt. she eventually got out of the water and changed back into her clothes.