Poolside
An interesting turn of events at a well known pool occurs.
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After getting permission from Wyla, I am free to use This Image for this story.
Wyla's request, Her character, Ember is not the actual character in this story, the image is only being used to give a picture of what a character in this story will look like.
The pool.
A place of swimming, relaxation, fun.
For most people.
Me though? Well, I'm still trying to figure that out, I can't really tell if I like it here or not.
Staying cooped up in the house all day doesn't do much good. I had no idea where else I could get out.
Out of all the places close to where I lived, the pool was where everyone went to mingle, play, and overall just have fun.
This was the case, if you knew someone beforehand. Meeting someone new though? Well there's a better chance of a friend introducing you to someone.
Me? I didn't have anyone. No one to hang out with, no one to introduce me.
So I just sit there, by the pool, feet in the water, silently hoping I could work up the courage to talk to someone.
Why did I even come here? What's the point?
This is pathetic, I can't work up the courage to talk with someone.
Where would I even start though? It's not like I can just walk up to some random stranger.
I guess its true, making friends gets more difficult the older you get.
Its not like in elementary or middle, or even high school.
It was difficult for me to make friends even then, so what chance do I have now?
Fuck...
Getting up I made my way over to the bar to get a refreshment.
Sitting at the bar, I was much more comfortable, with a few others sitting here too I was able to blend in.
Sure I was less likely to meet anyone, and the ones at the bar didn't seem like they were more interested in their drinks than anything else.
Oh well.
Least I made an attempt, its a start.
By the time I finished my drink, a few left, leaving just me, and two others.
But that soon changed, because two others, both male. A canine and a feline sat down next to me.
At first I didn't really pay attention, but there was a third.
I was shook out of my skulking by a tap on my shoulder. It was the one next to me.
"Hey, since your finished with your drink, you mind getting up?" The canine asked.
Seeing is how there was two empty seats, I didn't see a reason to.
The one standing, a lion, had his arms crossed.
I don't know if I should call it a resting bitch face, but that's all I knew how to describe the look he was giving me.
Well, the canine had a point, I was done with my drink, and while I didn't like the idea of going out in the open again, still I don't think it was worth fighting over.
So, getting up, I made my way back to where I was originally.
I don't know if it was an accident or on purpose, but my right shoulder briefly connected with his.
Most likely an accident, but the fact I even moved my shoulder to give him room, and he still managed to bump my shoulder, told me otherwise.
Best not get worked up over it, its done. Just avoid those three and you'll be fine.
Taking in a deep breath, I sat down at a new spot just in case, near the deeper end of the pool.
Scanning over the people in the water, I now realize how big this pool actually is.
My guess is 25 meters, maybe more.
As took my eyes from the other end of the pool, I noticed something, or rather someone, under the water.
Keeping my eye on them, I watched as they swam closer.
When they got close enough, I was sure they were heading straight for me. I almost wanted to pull my legs out of the water in fear of them dragging me down.
I didn't, however, when the figure emerged from the pool.
[C'mon in!](//d.furaffinity.net/art/wyla/1648402089/1648402089.wyla_ember2_c.png "Click to change the View")
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/46523427/
"Well, hello there." The female greeted.
I didn't seem to realize that I was staring, as she gave me a confused look when I didn't respond.
Say hello to her you idiot!
"Oh, uh, hello."
Really? That was your best?
"What brings you here?" She asked.
Great, now I needed to tell her. Lying won't do any favors, but should I just tell her?
"I- uh. Well I came here to...I heard this place was popular so I decided to check it out."
Ok, not bad, but not good. Starting off stale here, she's going to lose interest.
Wait...
What?
Why did I care if she lost interest or not?
What am I thinking?
"All by yourself? That doesn't seem like much fun."
Damnit, stop staring at her like that!
Blinking once I said the first thing that came to mind, which I regretted immediately after.
"Well, no one to go with."
"Hm, not even to swim? Or do you just not know how to swim."
"I can swim, I just...don't see the point really."
"Sooo, why bother coming here at all?"
"Well I was hoping to...meet some people." I said.
She got up from the pool and sat next to me.
At first I thought she was just going to sit there and wait for me to say something else, but she asked me something.
"May I?" She asked.
"What?"
"Your back."
My back?
"Sure?"
She scooched back some and examined my back.
I guess she was curious about the fur pattern on my back?
She must have spotted me before I spotted her. Otherwise how else would she be curious about something out of sight from her point of view?
My muscles tensed when I felt her place a hand on me.
She soon retracted her hand.
"Oh, sorry, I guess I should have asked first."
"Oh no, its alright, it just surprised me a bit. You can, if you want."
She was hesitant, but eventually placed her hand again.
It wasn't until a few moments later, she started to trace the edges, causing sensations up and down my spine.
When she was done, she hummed.
"Never seen anything like that, interesting." She commented.
"Oh, where are my manners, I'm-" She gave me her name.
I gave her mine, and soon silence fell.
Awkward...
"So you uh, wanna go swimming?" I proposed.
Her hears perked up at this.
"Yeah! Sounds like fun!" She smiled.
I don't know what it was about her smile, but it made me smile.
It didn't take her long to get into the water.
I followed, but slower.
Remembering my swimming lessons from, many years ago. I kept my head above water.
I wasn't able to find her, but she found me.
Looking to my left, I could see her resurface a few feet away.
The cool water was a nice sensation from the heat.
The niceness of the situation was turned to something else when she splashed me with water.
It turned from nice, to playful.
As I tried to wipe the water from my eyes, trying to see clearly, I could hear her giggling before going under the surface.
When I thought I would gain the ability to see clearly, she splashed me again, blurring my vision once more.
Thankfully she stopped after the third time.
Covering my eyes just in case, she resurfaced.
"What are you doing?" She asked. Still in a playful mood.
"Shielding myself." I said.
"Ok, ok I won't do it no more, you can uncover your face."
"You sure?" I asked.
"Yes."
Slowly uncovering my eyes, I could now see her, floating there, staring at me with those pink eyes.
"You should swim more, its good exercise." She said.
"Didn't realize I was fat." I said, smirking.
"Nooo, but getting more muscle doesn't usually hurt, right? I mean look at what its done for me."
"Can't argue with that."
After swimming, she showed me some of her techniques, mainly how to ambush unsuspecting prey from the cover of water. But after awhile it didn't seemed like it was getting tiresome.
After we were done, we sat by the poolside, watching others.
After awhile though, she proposed something to me.
"Well, I think I'm done with swimming, I saw a couple of sun chairs."
"Sounds good." I said.
After we claimed our chairs, we laid there, eyes closed, taking in the sun after swimming in the cold water.
Seeing is how not much else was going on, I had an idea.
Sitting up, I asker her a question.
"So."
"Hm?" She hummed.
"If you had to pick a favorite drink from the bar, what one would you go with?"
Noticing a smirk form, she then asked.
"Any reason why your asking this?"
"Just curious." I asked.
Her smile never left as she answered.
"Oh, I would have to go with the Lemon Ginger Prosecco."
"Hm, nice choice. I'll be back."
"Dare I ask where your going?"
"Oh you'll see." I said before leaving for the bar.
Once I made my way to the bar, thankfully none of the three guys from earlier were there, I bought the drink she said, and made my way back to her.
Only to have my heart drop into my stomach.
It wasn't the lion, but the wolf that asked me to move earlier.
He way laying on his side, chatting her up.
I noticed her close her eyes and listened to him as he kept talking.
Damnit...play it cool, losing your cool isn't going to help anything.
There was room on the opposite side of her. Just walk up and hand her the drink.
As I walked towards her, he was still talking her ear off. Making gestures.
Which didn't make sense...her eyes were closed...
When I got close enough, he stopped and looked at me.
"Oh, its you." He said.
"Hey." I said in a flat tone.
"Can you do me a solid? Trying to talk here."
I knelt down at the other side of the pool chair. Thankfully she opened her eyes and looked at me.
"Brought this for you, Lemon Ginger Prosecco." I said.
"Oh, thank you, how sweet of you."
Soon after this, she looked towards the wolf and said to him.
"Can you please move? I do believe he was there first."
A surge of relief overcame me, cancelling out any worries I had.
The wolf just stared at me for a good minute, before getting up and walking away.
When he was far enough away, I looked at her taking a sip of her drink.
"Well? Get on the chair before someone else takes it."
"Oh, uh right." I said before getting up and laying back down.
More silence passed, she took a few sips of her drink before setting it down next to the chair.
"Worried?" She asked.
"No?"
"You totally were." She pried. The smirk returning to her face.
"Ok, a little."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Ok, I was." I admitted.
"Hm, well he wasn't my type anyway, talked too much." She revealed.
"So you like the type who doesn't talk too much?" I asked.
"Hm, no. The problem was he seemed like the type to talk more than listen."
"Oh."
"And based on your lessons on sneak attacks, I'd say your more of a listener."
"Hm." I hummed.
We took in the sun for a good while, she had finished her drink awhile ago. More people left, and it didn't seem to crowded anymore.
This day was a lot better than I had hoped for. It was amazing.
Sadly, all good things come to an end.
"Well, I'm afraid I'm going to have to go. Got life outside of the pool and all that."
"Oh. Well um, ok. It was nice meeting you. I had a lot of fun today." I said.
She sat up.
"Yeah, I did too."
She looked like she was thinking. After which she told me something.
"I got an idea, meet me in the parking lot."
Oh? What's this?
"A-alright." I said.
We both got up from our seats and exited the pool, cleaned up and put our clothes we arrived in.
I got to admit, I was nervous. What did she have in store?
When I spotted her waving, I walked over to her.
She had her phone out, and asked me to get out mine.
We exchanged phone numbers.
You would think that would be it, but no. Something else happened.
She gestured for me to come closer, to lean I think.
So I did that.
And...well, she booped her snoot against mine.
We stayed like this for about eight to ten seconds.
To say my heart racing was an understatement.
I didn't question why, but she simply turned and walked off, but not before saying.
"Cya around. Till next time."
And that was it.
I hadn't realized it, but my tail was swaying slightly.
Quickly after I realized this, I got into my car. A million things going through my mind.
Questions.
What ifs.
And more.
One thing is for sure though.
This trip to the pool, was definitely one to remember.
[The End]