Finding Them...

Ch. 6 Fun in the Sun

As my mom parked the suburban in a spot up front by the entrance, I gathered my stuff, got off and signed us in. I walked to the deck and began looking for a good table because our regular table was being occupied by some snot nosed brats. They were giving the up and down with scrunched up noses as if neither of them had ever seen someone come to the pool before. See where I'm from you look at people like that, you're basically looking for a fight. You can't stare at someone the way they were dogging me out, its disrespectful. I look at them with a ferocity that makes my mom and sister uncomfortable most call it a Resting Bitch Face or RBF for short, but others call it a hard stare. Now these make a lot of people uncomfortable, uneasy, and awkwardly look away with panic and anxiety. I'm not someone who ever backs down from just about any challenge thrown my way. As I continued to walk to one of the tables at the end of the row, I began to hear laughing and whispering over the very low music that was supposed to be way louder over the speakers. I began to turn around, but my sister stopped me.

"Katherine, stop trash isn't worth your time and energy. Besides its way too hot for you to be hot headed. Just jump into the deep end or do a dive off the board, but just go and cool off."

"Fine, but you watch Junior."

"You say that, like one you were ever going to do it, and two you care if the kid drowns or not."

"Hey, excuse you, Ms. I-wanted-to-throw-my-brother-out-a-hospital-window-right-after-he-was-born!"

"Yeah yeah yeah whatever I know I know. You don't have to keep reminding me."

"Oh yeah, let's not forget about the gun safe incident?"

"Can you like shut up or do me and favor and drown?" As I was about to respond one of the life guards which was a friend of mine from school because we were on the swim team together. He was walking towards us and I couldn't help but stare. I'd had a crush on him since the moment I saw him at swim tryouts not my best season by the way. His name was Gerald Graham he was so handsome and tan.

The best part about Gerald wasn't his amazing good looks it was his dorky jokes. They always made me laugh no matter what, but lets face it a guy like Gerald would never look in my direction no one does. I'm not trying to be self pitying or anything along those lines. I just know I'm not someone he would see in such a way.

"Hey Katherine, you here to practice or have fun," he said with that amazing half smile that makes feel slack jawed.

"Hey Gery, and just here to have some fun. Maybe I'll get some practice in later," I said, trying to sound completely normal.

"Alright, well have fun. I'll be up here if you need anything."

"Thanks Ger, I'll try to keep them from drowning," I said with a confidence I didn't know existed around him.

He gave me a polite smile. My heart fluttered. Then my phone started going off with nonstop notifications. I looked down and I had 16 Snapchats, 7 texts, 56 Facebook notifications, and 13 Wattpad notifications. Apparently I was little miss popular today. I started with text messages.

Anonymous Number 4: Hey is this the thick girl with the legs that go on for days?

Katherine: Maybe, who's asking?

Anonymous Number: I'm wounded that you wouldn't believe me😢💔

Katherine: Tell me something that I don't know

Anonymous Number: Oh hun you have so much to learn😈

Katherine: Whatever you say, oh wise one👀

Anonymous Number: Fiesty I like it😘

Katherine: You wouldn't know what fiesty was if it hit you in the face👀

Anonymous Number: Awww did someone forget to take their midol this morning?

Katherine: That was so funny I forgot to laugh.

Anonymous Number: Watch it babydoll

Katherine: Would you quit it already with the pet names?!😑

Anonymous Number: What? Don't you like my terms of endearment and affection?

Katherine: More like infection if you ask me.

Anonymous Number: Nice try with the play in words, but that made no sense.

Katherine: It honestly sounded so much better in my head.

Anonymous Number: I'm sure everything sounds better in your head like those weird noises you were making at the cashier yesterday?

Katherine: Stalker much?

Anonymous Number: Nah babydoll just honest

Katherine: Well if I'm being honest I have to go enjoy this beautiful weather and take some laps in the pool later stranger who's totally obsessed with me!

I pulled off my t-shirt, unbuttoned and pulled down my shorts, and slipped off my sandals. I grabbed my goggles and walked over to the deep end, snapped on my goggles then dove straight in. I did a 200 (yard) freestyle warm up then 100 (yard) back. Then I did 50 (yard) Brest and 50 (yard) butterfly. I grabbed a board and did a 500 (yard) kick. after that was done and what seemed like forever I did another 200 (yard) back and 200 (yard) free as a cool down. I hoped out of the pool feeling exhausted and a little shkey on my feet after the intense workout.

I checked my phone and I had 6 missed calls, 19 text messages, 12 Snapchats, 9 emails, 4 Instagram DMs, and 5 voicemails. Just the thought of checking all these things started to give me a migraine.