“Cassie, let’s go swimming,” I say, hoping to get away from this ogre of a guy. I notice Brad and Todd aren’t wearing their bathing suits, so we should be safe in the water for a while.

“Okay, that sounds like fun.” She giggles and shimmies out of her cover-up. Todd’s eyes turn dark and Brad pushes him toward the pool house.

“Todd, thanks for the ride. You can go now,” Brad says. I can see the embarrassment on his face that he’s even related to this asshole.

“I think I’ll hang out for a bit.” He walks away, leering at other girls.

Cassie and I run toward the pool and we jump in holding hands. As soon as we hit the water, we each grab for our own bikini tops to make sure they’re still in place. I hope the cool water sobers her up a little bit.

“Oh, this feels amazing!” she cries. Everything is amazing tonight to Cassie.

We slowly float toward the cozy corner of the pool where Trish and some other girls from our class are lounging.

“Trish, hey!” Cassie says.

“Girls.” Trish smiles and takes a sip of her electric lemonade. “I see Brad finally made it, Cassie.”

Cassie giggles and looks back toward the pool house. Brad and Todd aren’t in sight, and I know she regrets leaving his side.

“Have you guys had sex yet?” Trish asks, loud enough for all of the other girls to hear. Their heads all turn inquisitively.

“What?” Cassie responds, embarrassed.

“Seriously, Cassie. Don’t you think it’s about time?” Piper chimes in.

Now I regret coming into the pool and subjecting Cassie to this inquisition. I know we both have a pact to wait to have sex until we’re at least eighteen. That’s a little more than two years away. I’m not worried, because I have no prospects on the horizon, but the way Cassie has been flirting with Brad lately, she could be jeopardizing our virgin pact.

“Ladies.” Brad’s voice is behind me, and Cassie immediately turns bright red.

He steps past the girls and wades into the pool toward Cassie. “You have a bathing suit?” she practically stammers.

“Of course. It’s a pool party, isn’t it?” He splashes her playfully and pulls her further into the water, away from us. Her eyes widen with delight and she flashes a smile just for the girls to see and be jealous.

“Well, I guess that answers our question,” Piper says. “If it hasn’t happened yet, it sure will tonight!” Her entourage laughs along with her, and I duck under the water, muffling their chuckles and voices. Trish’s pool is huge and seems to weave through her backyard like at a sprawling resort. I swim toward the shadows of the pool so I can hide from them all and relax. I see Cassie and Brad flirting over by the waterfall, so I turn around and follow the pool toward the quiet end, giving them a little privacy.

I lean back and float, closing my eyes. I remember the conversation I had earlier tonight with my parents and smile thinking about how happy they were. I can’t believe they’re having a baby. We’re having a baby. I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like, but I know that seeing my parents that happy makes me happy. My ears are filled with water, and I can only hear muted giggles through the water. I let the water guide me through the curves of the gigantic pool. It’s almost like a river. I hear my soft breaths in my ears as my chest expands and contracts slowly.

This is how I relax.

Back when I was seven and I had the accident in my pool, my parents immediately got me a swim instructor who taught me how to float before anything else. She said I could get out of any pool if I rolled onto my back and let the waves take me slowly to the edge. I could float for hours on end in my pool and it in turn made me get over any anxiety that I had in the water. As soon as I got past my nerves, I became one with the water and never looked back. I was like a little fish, as my parents would call me, spending hours upon hours floating and enjoying the pool. I had overheard my father tell my mother that he was so glad they had made the investment that they did in the pool. I know Mom used to think it was a dangerous ‘hole in the ground,’ but Dad insisted that it would bring our family many years of fun. He was right.

My face is barely out of the water. Only my nose and mouth are exposed to the warm night air. The party noises are barely audible as I float through the pool.

Suddenly, I’m underwater, strong hands wrapped around my ankles, pulling me deeper and deeper. I start kicking, but I’m not strong enough. My lungs burn, and I wave my arms in the water, trying to gain momentum so I can reach the surface. A hand loosens from my ankle, but one still holds tight. I bend my body so I can see what’s happening.

Todd Mitchell’s face is all I see underwater. His eyes glow like lanterns, and his face contorts into a grisly smile. I let out the air that’s crushing my chest and force all of the strength I have into kicking both of my legs, mermaid style. He lets go of me for a second, and that’s all I need. I kick as fast and hard as I can toward the surface, and as soon as the warm air hits my face, I scream louder than I ever have before. “Help! Over here!” I pant and gasp for air, and I hear him surface behind me, his body pressed against me from behind.

“I was just playing with you, baby.” His rough hand fondles my ass and I raise my heel, kicking him in the balls. “Ugh!” he grunts, and Brad swims up behind us with Cassie in tow.

“Is everything okay here?” Brad asks, his eyes worried.

“Sam?” Cassie asks hesitantly.

I reach the side of the pool and pull myself out in one motion, looking back at Todd as he tries to regain his monstrous composure. I know I kicked him hard, and I hope I busted at least one of his nuts, if not both. His glare causes chills to run down my spine.

“I’m fine,” I say and look at the pool house. I see the large dial on the clock that hangs outside above the bar. “It’s almost midnight, Cass. Your mom will be here any minute.”

I look at Todd again to make sure he doesn’t get out of the pool with us. I swipe my cover up and shoes and grab Cassie’s things as well.

“I’m coming!” she calls after me as I head up to the house. “Brad, call me tomorrow?”

“Sure,” he says, and then I hear him say, not so quietly, “Todd, what the fuck?”

Todd chuckles and another chill runs up my spine.

Cassie’s mom is waiting for us, as I predicted. We wrap towels around us and ride home in silence. She’s super excited about something but looks worried at the same time.

“Did you girls have a fun time tonight?”

“It was great, Mom.” She giggles.

“Hey, what happened with Todd?” she whispers in my ear. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m okay.” I think.

“What did he do to you?” she asks.

Her mother chimes in from the front seat, “What happened? Is everything alright?”

“Todd Mitchell was being a royal ass tonight. He was messing with Sam in the pool, and I think she kicked him in the nuts,” Cassie announces proudly.

“Are you okay, dear?” she asks.

“Yes,” I say and hope that I never see his face again.

“I can’t imagine why Todd Mitchell would be at a high school party. And why isn’t he at college where he’s supposed to be?”

“Isn’t he like twenty-five? He’s in his like tenth year of college!” Cassie smirks and I cringe.

I have no idea how old Todd Mitchell is. My skin is still crawling from that menacing look in his eyes.

“I think you girls should stay away from that boy, okay? I don’t think Todd is a very nice young man,” Cassie’s mom says, matter-of-fact.

Nope. Neither do I.

Garrett

Past

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Age 19