A Nice Swim

[SharkyTGirl185]

The Nevadan heat beats down across Red Rock’s field, a humid scent permeating the air. At the edge of the swimming pool, a girl was stretching from side to side, hands above her head with her fingers locked together, releasing a small groan with each stretch of her hip muscles. She wore a one-piece swimsuit with a blue swimming cap and goggles on. She had a bright smile, the sun beaming against her face, which shows her light dimples and brown eyes.

((Meghan “Meggy” Thompson- Pregame START))

Meggy leaned backwards, stretching her back while lifting her head to see behind her. “Another round, Thompson. Keep it up.”

She gives a small encouragement to herself, laughing as she stands up straight and kicks her legs, staring at the crystal blue water beneath her. She took a deep breath, crouching down and getting close to the edge of the pool. She rubs her hands together, remaining focused and attentive as she sways back and forth.

“Can I beat 26 seconds? I think I can.” She grins, leaning back once more before suddenly lunging forward.

SPLASH

She crashes into the water, torpedoing herself across the water as she begins her strokes, taking in the cold water cooling her from the heat of the sun. She kicks her legs with each stroke of her arm, imagining a crowd cheering her on like it was the Olympics.

[Dr Adjective]

[Begin Pregame, Heather Klein.]

Heather had picked the pool expecting quiet. It was January, even if the weather was unusually warm for the season, she hadn't anticipated much activity. She'd been wrong. Even so, the proximity to water was pleasant, it reminded her a little bit of home. Of all the features of California that she missed, Heather missed access to the ocean perhaps the most often, if not necessarily the most.

Lounging halfway up the bleachers, a vision of black and blonde, Heather Klein was prodding tentatively at her tender left shoulder. A thin plastic wrap covered the skin, underneath which lay a new-minted tattoo partially obscured by dried blood, an eight-pointed star in stark, solid black. A couple more days and she'd be safe to unwrap it and clean it up, but until then she'd been strongly advised to keep the new ink covered so as to avoid infection and unsightly scabs. Satisfied that the healing process was going as described and that the flesh was less painful to touch than ever, Heather shrugged her jacket the rest of the way off and lay back on her chosen bench. She fished her journal out of her bag, flipped the worn beige notebook open close to the middle, and pulled free the pen she kept tucked into it.

Dearest darling diary, she began, allowing herself a light smirk as she wrote. For some reason, addressing the book sarcastically always improved her mood.

A voice arose from below, close to the water's edge. Heather lifted her head, then her upper body, to look down and identify the source. Not that it was necessary in hindsight, she should've easily recognised the Thin Blue Line's strongest soldier by voice alone. Ugh. Heather shot Cop Girl a withering glance, seemingly unnoticed, then lay back down to continue writing.

Looks like the wrap can come off tomorrow, so that's nice. Decided to do lunch by the pool, that cop girl's here. Day ruined.

She paused, tapping the top of the pen against her lips rhythmically. A splash erupted from below.

No, it's my day. I'll ruin it myself.

Hugs and kisses, Heather

With that, the Thin Blue Line's strongest hater sat back up and dug into her bag in search of her lunch. Meggy might be annoying, but at least she could be a mildly entertaining distraction before classes resumed.

[SharkyTGirl185]

After a few seconds of silence, the water broke, and Meggy popped her head out on the other side of the pool, her body flung upwards like one of those swim models. She placed her hands against the edges, stretching her back as she lifted her head upwards, releasing a satisfied yell.

“Ahh, three seconds shaved off!” She pushed herself backwards, lying on her back on the surface of the water while she stared up at the sky. She then turned her head with something catching her eye.

Oh! Heather! 

Oh… Heather…. 

Meghan seemed uncomfortable for a moment. She didn’t realize Heather was already here. 

Okay. So, you and Heather have had your fair share of…disagreements over certain topics, but don’t be mean. She’s a good person! You just…gave to get over some opinions, that's all.

Meghan took a deep breath and smiled as she swam over to the edge where the bleachers were, folding her arms on the edge, and she looked up at Heather.

“Heather! Hey! I didn’t see you there!” Meggy greeted, her voice higher toned as she grinned up.

[Dr Adjective]

Into the bag went Heather's journal, out came a tub containing the lunch she'd prepared over the weekend. She'd made a batch of marinated and baked tofu, and made it the centrepiece of five different meals for the week, not a thrilling or varied approach but a very efficient one. As Meggy resurfaced and greeted her, Heather couldn't help but think about how long she'd been underwater, holding her breath. Looking back down to the poolside, she resisted the urge to make a sarcastic comment about police and asphyxiation; she'd promised herself this year that she'd be pleasant.

"Yeah. I'm easy to miss."

Yep. She was now being pleasant.

Leaning forwards with her elbows on her knees, Heather took out her lunch and took a bite whilst she regarded Meghan. In all honesty, it's not like the other girl was a bad person in Heather's estimation. She meant well, and they had more than enough common enemies. She made a second attempt at pleasant.

"Three seconds is pretty big, right?"

[SharkyTGirl185]

Meghan gave a high-pitched laugh, nodding a little as she lifted her body up from the water slightly. “Yeah! No kidding! Usually I can never get more than a second shaved off, but now I’m much faster!”

She swam backwards a little, lifting her arm up to do some stretching, rolling her neck, and popping her knuckles.

Okay, Meg, good one! Nice conversation! Keep it light! She’s being nice, and I’m being nice.

“Woof, I’m just glad to be out of this darn heat! Let me tell you, it never got this hot on the East Coast.” Meghan giggled a bit, taking a handful of water and splashing it on her face. “I’ll never get used to it, no matter what I do!”

[Dr Adjective]

Out came the laugh, that irritating squeaky... no, no focusing on that, Heather had probably just decided that Meggy's laugh was irritating post-hoc because she already disliked what she stood for. Be better. Be better. Staying civil remained an active decision she had to make, however.

"Yeah." the taller girl replied flatly.

"At least Nevada sort of has winter. In LA it was summer or hotter summer." she added, the one thing she didn't miss about Southern California.

Comparatively, she understood that New England got actual seasons. Natural snow sounded like it might be nice, but never having to really be cold was certainly a perk of the southwest. Heather idly wondered what made Meghan move from almost as far north east as one can go to the opposite corner of the country. She didn't really know Meghan all that well, and so wasn't entirely sure how long ago the move had even happened. But that said, about three or four years prior hadn't it been kids from outside Boston that were the last ones to be kidnapped for Survival of the Fittest, before the terrorists behind it were finally taken out? Which somehow still wasn't enough to pad out the Dems' resume and keep Canon from being re-elected, too... Anyway. Maybe that was why? Better not to comment, then.

Instead, Heather scowled and carried on eating.

[SharkyTGirl185]

“Oh dear lord, yeah, that’s bad.” Meghan gave a chuckle, lifting herself out of the pool. “I wouldn’t be able to handle the heat!” 

She stretched as she got to her feet, promptly removing her goggles and her swim cap. Her bright, dyed orange hair fell out, and she brushed it behind her shoulders and back. 

“I never went to California before! Though it always looks beautiful!” Meghan told Heather, walking over towards her towel, which was on the lower bleacher, and wrapping it around her body, “And I heard they had great forensic science degrees! How was your time in LA? Besides, you know, the heat, heh!” 

[Dr Adjective]

The response didn’t do much to alter Heather’s scowl.

Truly was, loathe as Heather may have been to admit it, she didn’t remember Los Angeles nearly as much as she’d have liked to. She’d only been nine when she left. A few places and faces stuck in her mind, but nothing nearly as coherent as her adolescence in Las Vegas.

Well, at least the sight of a fit - literally as well as figuratively - girl getting out of the pool had been a pleasant one.

“Mmh, I miss the ocean.” she eventually managed.

Sat halfway up the bleachers, she couldn’t actually see in all directions, but Heather didn’t need to to feel hemmed in by mountains on all sides. Like living in a giant brown bowl.

“You ever miss the Atlantic the same way?”

[SharkyTGirl185]

Meghan gave a small smile as she glanced at the pool, dipping her toe in and lightly treading it across the surface. She placed her foot back onto the hot concrete of the edge and glanced back.

“Yeah, I do. I haven’t gone much to the beach, since my mom always hated the ocean, but my dad used to take me when he was off duty.” Meghan explained, crossing her arms together and giving a reserved chuckle “He taught me how to swim actually, since I always sucked at it.”

She thought back to her dad for a moment, frowning at the memory of him before she exhaled out of her breath shrugged a bit and scratched her head “Couldn’t be able to swim ‘til I was eight.”

[Dr Adjective]

Unlike the oceans, it was pretty obvious that Meghan missed her father. A small part of Heather’s brain screamed at her to point out what seemed obvious to her, but she bit back the urge. She’d made her opinions clear enough, often enough.

Problem was, she didn’t have much else to say. What else was there? She didn’t remember a time when she couldn’t swim? Going to the beach with her own dad was also a fond memory, but he wasn’t dead, just kind of out of her life anyway?

“Hmm.”

Heather made a gesture with the hand holding her food. Not really towards anything, nor signifying anything other than to call attention to the existence of said food.

“Anyway.”

With those insightful replies, Heather refocused on eating her lunch. Truly, her charm offensive was off to a great start. But at least she’d gotten through a conversation with Cop Girl, without making it A Thing.

[SharkyTGirl185]

Meghan’s smile stayed before she registered Heather eating. 

Meghan, why are you bothering a girl just trying to eat lunch?

She immediately cleared her throat, laughing a little as she adjusted her towel and waved, “Well! I had a good chat! I’m going to go and, uh, get changed! I’ll see you later, Heather!! 

Good, you made a good conversation! See? Not everything can be drama!

“I, uh, hope you enjoy your food! Looks delicious!” Meghan added as she walked backwards, still trying to be nice and casual about it as she gave a wave. “So, uh, yeah! See you later!” 

[Dr Adjective]

And off she went. Compared to the low standards she'd set in her first three years at high school, Heather could consider that conversation a success. Perhaps the local liberals wouldn't be waving black flags any time soon, but if she could keep this up and improve, maybe people might actually start listening to her ideas. Shift the Overton Window some, even if only a little bit.

Looking up, Heather gave a little wave with her free hand, just in time to notice Meghan backpedalling directly towards the pool's edge. Maybe a second or two away.

Sure, maybe she could've said something. But her mouth was full, and wordless shouting would be just as likely to startle her into a worse fall as to warn her.

And seeing her fall in would be funny.

[SharkyTGirl185]

Meghan stepped back one more time, before suddenly unable to find anymore ground and she found herself falling backward and crashed into the pool with a large splash. After a few seconds, Meghan rose back up, spitting out some water, and her hair now completely wet and strands of hair now stuck to her face as she gasped and swam in place.

She glanced quickly before looking up at Heather from the pool, her face red like a fire hydrant at the idea she just fell right into the pool. She quickly scrambled back to the pool edge, putting the now soaked towel on the edge as she lifts herself out.

[Dr Adjective]

Stifling a laugh, Heather made a point of visibly swallowing before she called out a half-hearted "Careful!"

Her smile was certainly still audible in her tone, though.

Still. She'd gotten her chuckle, least she could do was be helpful thereafter. Heather stood and bounded down the bleachers towards the poolside, stooping to offer a hand up.

[SharkyTGirl185]

Meghan shakily took Heather's hand, scrambling to her feet as she looked away with an embarrassed look on her face. She gave a casual, almost sarcastic chuckle as she took the strands of her damp, darker hair and smoothed them back.

"Well, that was silly of me..." Meghan joked, clearly trying to not look any more stupid than she was at the moment. "You should always look where you're going while near a pool. That's a good lesson for me..."