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#Post#: 587--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Natatorium
By: Mascii Date: May 28, 2013, 5:59 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Yukito Ramsey
“Do you still feel up to finishing the lesson?” They both tried
to offer each other a little smile. Neither smile was genuine,
but at least it was something other than painful stabs to his
chest. He saw on her face a rough attempt at being accepting and
brushing the evening's awkwardness aside. But he didn't want to
leave now, he wanted to stay with her a little longer. They had
already come this far, right? He was here with her, he had taken
off the layers of protection at her slight insistence, and now
they'd had to pay for his lack of consistency. But he could try
to fix it now. He could be strong enough for both of them.
"Okay, so, we are in the shallow end. We can try treading now...
You'll have to lift off your feel and kick like we practiced on
the wall. And move your arms like this...." Erin showed him the
simple motion. "You're in the shallow end, so nothing bad can
happen if you mess up. And, if you want, I could hold your hand
and be, like, a flotation device... but you totally don't have
to do that part if you don't want to," she was quick to add.
Yukito nodded, falling back into quiet gestures and movements as
he followed her instructions. He made the motions in the slow,
smooth way that she had, but it wasn't enough to keep him
afloat, so he ended up pumping his arms much quicker than she
had shown him. He didn't take her hand at first, mostly because
he was focusing on kicking and treading. And it didn't work too
well, but he was trying. Water could be kind of torturous. It
liked to bob him up to the top so that he felt like he was doing
something right, but then in the next moment he would have to
inhale a face-full of chlorinated water. He spluttered again,
feeling that embarrassing heat coming to his face again, and
stepping out into the water that was a little deeper, hoping the
challenge would make something instinctive click for him. He was
beyond determined now to succeed. He tried again, lifting his
feet reluctantly from the pool floor and kicking hard, quickly
dropping back towards the water. Before he could dunk under,
however, his hand desperately reached out to his side, flailing
until they found Erin's. As soon as he had her small hand
gripped in his own, he used her as a sort of anchor, holding
himself much more steadily until he figured out what he was
supposed to do. In the process he had probably drank
approximately half the pool, but he was beginning to figure it
out. But somehow, Yukito felt like he couldn't congratulate
himself on his efforts yet. His expression was drawn into one of
intense concentration, and he couldn't find it in himself to
look over at Erin. All he could do was try his best, whatever
that was, and hope.
His hand still clutching hers like a lifeline, he felt like he
was depending on her too much. Perhaps he could never swim if he
didn't let go of her, but for a short moment, he didn't want to
think about that, just weakly treading water as he held onto her
hand. It was very childish of him, but he was afraid of letting
go. He hated going under the water, of the sensation of knowing
that he couldn't breathe even if he tried. How could she find it
enjoyable, he wondered? Maybe he should just give up.
Yukito slipped his hand from hers, his thoughts racing past in
all of a few seconds. No, don't be so stupid. It's just
swimming. Little kids can do it. He gave the treading another
shot, now that he had an idea of the sort of rhythm required. He
still dipped to the surface multiple times, freaking him out
each time it happened, but he was doing better, he thought.
Now if only he could not die...
#Post#: 589--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Natatorium
By: GGJ5 Date: May 28, 2013, 11:07 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Erin Spenser
After modeling what Yukito would need to do to tread, Erin held
out her hand in the water, in case he needed it. Really, she
hoped he would, but.... after what all just happened, she
doubted it. Still, giving a chance was better than not.
He didn't take it. Instead, he let himself flail and bob and
speed up his arms too fast. He looked... ridiculous. How did a
person mess up treading in water? Erin wondered. Then, he kept
at it, letting himself get dunked over and over somehow.
"Yukito, you can take my hand to help you float," she called to
him. "Yukito!" Her voice came out sterner, much to Erin's own
surprise. "You can take my hand," she repeated. Really, she
wanted to just grab his hand already and make him at least learn
to tread. But part of her thought that could be a really really
bad idea. Finally, though, after one too many dunks, he took it.
He took it, and Erin's hand instantly locked onto his, and
finally, he could breathe a bit.
"Hey, you're doing better!" Erin observed. And he really was, as
long as he was holding on to her. But then he decided to let go
again, and Erin got a sudden, dreadful notion that she'd
triggered something again. For a moment, that dread took over as
she watched Yukito begin to struggle again in the water. But it
wasn't quite as crazy as the first round of treading attempts,
so... "You're still doing better," she commented, "But I think
you still need an anchor for now... and if it's okay, my hand is
probably the best anchor you've got here." She sent him an
encouraging smile, hoping she was wording things so that he felt
safe to hold her hand, and not pressured.
#Post#: 598--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Natatorium
By: Mascii Date: May 30, 2013, 4:18 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Yukito Ramsey
"Yukito, you can take my hand to help you float," she called to
him. He could barely make her voice out, water gushing into his
ears as he flailed miserably. "Yukito!" she said again, now in a
much firmer tone that he could not easily brush off. "You can
take my hand," she repeated. But I wanted to be able to do it on
my own... At last, he had to admit defeat, and he reached out
with wide, frantic gestures through the blur of the water and
found her hand. The instant their palms touched, he felt her
firm hold lock down on him, silently supporting him from the
sideline. He was anchored, then, able to hold himself up out of
the water enough to breathe as long as he clutched to her hand
like a frightened child.
"Hey, you're doing better!" Erin observed. Yukito felt she was
just being encouraging, since she saw him so obviously
frustrated. He refused to let out a single word of protest or
complaint, however. He didn't want to wallow in self-pity or to
whine. He wanted to succeed at this, to at least get a P for a
Passing Grade. And he couldn't do that while using her as a
crutch. Yukito released her hand, stubbornly fighting the water
with more civilized movements now, bobbing up and down much more
calmly than he had before.
"You're still doing better," she commented, "But I think you
still need an anchor for now... and if it's okay, my hand is
probably the best anchor you've got here." He looked up into her
face, risking a break in his concentration but unable to say
anything to her. Erin was sending him an encouraging smile, and
he looked down and continued to tread the water as best as he
could, alternating between working on his own and silently
reaching out to demand that she hold onto him for support. They
continued in this way for several long minutes, until Yukito
felt that he had had enough. His legs ached from constantly
kicking, and he was still feeling some of the residual nausea
from earlier that evening. Plus, the quieter the pool was, the
louder his thoughts became. And he didn't want to fall back into
his memories with Erin right there, focused on instructing him.
"I guess I'm done," he said, standing up. The air felt strangely
cold compared to the water, and Yukito shivered, droplets of
water falling away from him, trails of chlorinated water
dripping off his soaked hair and down his back and neck. He
turned to Erin, realizing how disappointed he had sounded, and
offered her a little forced smile. "For today, I mean.."
#Post#: 605--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Natatorium
By: GGJ5 Date: May 30, 2013, 11:28 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Erin Spenser
"You're still doing better," she commented honestly as Yukito
pressed on in his efforts, "But I think you still need an anchor
for now... and if it's okay, my hand is probably the best anchor
you've got here." She kept her hand out towards him, and he took
it, at least for a while. And just like she'd thought would
happen, Yukito did better when he was holding onto her. But he'd
randomly let go and start struggling again, and it was getting
to be frustrating. Why wouldn't he just stay with her hand until
he got it and was ready to let go? Unless that bothered him,
too... maybe he could only hold her hand for a little bit....
The thought made Erin sad.
Not too much later, Yukito stopped. "I guess I'm done," he said,
standing up.
"What, why?" Her expression dropped suddenly. It was because of
what she'd done, wasn't it? He didn't like swimming because
she'd done that. He'd never--
"For today, I mean.."
Erin looked up at his face and saw the small smile on it. Her
own face laxed into a slightly embarrassed smile. "Oh... okay.
We can do another lesson later! And I promise I won't, you know,
do that thing. Okay?" She lifted up her hand to show that her
fingers were crossed in a promise sign. "Hey, I'll-- I'll go get
your clothes for you, okay?" Without waiting to hear his
response, Erin pulled herself up and out of the side of the
pool. She took off on the tiled floor to the other end where
their clothes lay in piles, her soaked feet sending her slipping
to the floor. Erin landed in a fast and heavy crash, letting out
a surprised squeal that echoed off the empty natatorium walls.
"Ouch....!"
#Post#: 607--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Natatorium
By: Mascii Date: May 31, 2013, 3:58 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Yukito Ramsey
"I guess I'm done," he said, standing up.
"What, why?" Yukito was surprised at how quickly her face fell,
like he had just informed her that they would never see each
other again, or that he was planning on murdering a puppy in
some obscure way.
Yukito leaned a little bit down toward her, a small smile on his
face as he tried to be reassuring. "For today, I mean.." He
watched her glance up, close enough now to see that little
droplets of water had formed on the thickest of her dark
eyelashes. A slightly embarrassed smile seemed to twitch its way
across her lips as she came to the realization of what he had
actually meant.
"Oh... okay. We can do another lesson later! And I promise I
won't, you know, do that thing. Okay?" She gestured, fingers
crossed for a promise.
He gave a little nod, his smile warming a little as he stood
there and watched her. She really did try her best at anything
she did, and Yukito was envious of her, when it came down t it.
He was envious of the courage she had to be herself, no matter
what the situation. He wished he had half of her courage. "Hey,
I'll-- I'll go get your clothes for you, okay?"
"Oh...that's okay, I-" Erin was already leaving him, rushing to
the side of the pool. Yukito watched her rise out of the water
and up onto the side of the pool, lifting in a smooth, casual
movement that proved that she had done it a hundred times at
least. In such an action, Yukito was given a sudden reminder of
the type of swimsuit she had chosen to wear that night, and his
face flushed as he hurriedly looked away, his heart skipping a
beat and his hands suddenly feeling weightless and shaky.
But despite himself, he glanced back up toward her, watching her
rush off across the tiled floor. Yukito's heart leapt up through
his throat and upward into the roof as he watched her slip on
her wet feet, falling roughly to the ground with a squeal that
rang heavily in his ears. "Ouch....!"
By the time she had the chance to cry out, Yukito was already
pulling himself out of the pool and rushing toward her, calling
out, "Are you alright?!" His voice was laced with fear and an
overdose of concern, as he knelt down at her side. Yukito took a
look at her leg, then looked up into her face. "M-may I?" After
a moment, he reached down and placed both his hands around each
of her ankles in turn, trailing his fingers across the bones
there all the way up to her knees, just in case. He tried to be
gentle as possible, pressing with hesitation in order to gauge a
reaction from her, meanwhile holding his breath the entire time.
There were some small marks that were more like discolorations
where she had made contact with the tile, but everything felt as
a leg should feel. Yukito breathed a silent sigh of relief. "It
doesn't seem to be broken...but you probably bruised it up real
bad. I think your right ankle is sprained." He didn't say it
aloud, but the tone of his voice suggested it - didn't she know
better than to run in a pool area? Seriously.
"I don't think you should walk on it right away, but we can't
just sit here..." He glanced away for a moment, his lips pursed
together in thought. The temperature had already been getting
cooler outside, and since she was already so wet, she would
probably get sick. With a solemn expression, he suddenly turned
to meet her eyes squarely. "Stay here." Yukito made a gesture
for her not to get up from her spot, and he quickly collected up
his own clothing and the back brace, shoving them into the
over-large bag, slipping his sandals back on. He grabbed her
discarded crochet top and shorts, handing them to her with a
blush so that she could put them back on. He also dropped his
jacket next to her, adding a quiet, "Here." As soon as the
clothing left his hands, he began to fiddle with the bag around
his shoulder, positioning it so it would be the most comfortable
for his next attempt at being useful to Erin.
"I am going to have to prove it to you, it seems..." he said
quietly, still not looking directly at her. "That I can carry
you princess-style." He wondered if she remembered the 'contest'
that he and Reese had playfully participated in, joking around
about who would be more suited to 'carry Erin princess-style to
safety in the event of a zombie apocalypse'. It sounded really
ridiculous afterward, but he had remembered it. And she wasn't
going to argue with him - it just wasn't a good idea to have her
walk on a sprained ankle. Inwardly, he was too nervous to come
up with an argument for her, but he could fight back with
silence. With a determination to his expression, he positioned
himself next to her, slowly slipping his hands beneath her knees
and behind her back. He had to be careful not to slip on the
floor himself, but once he was standing with her in his arms, he
was set. She actually wasn't as heavy as he would have thought
she'd be. Not to say she was as light as a feather, but he felt
oddly comfortable, holding her in his arms. After a few seconds,
something happened Yukito couldn't stop - he smiled, a genuine,
happy smile that reached from ear to ear. It hurt to do it, but
he couldn't stop. There was something about the fact that he had
been able to do something right, had been able to do something
for her in return. He couldn't escape that exhilaration, and if
she had needed him to, he would carry her just like that all
night.
He couldn't resist turning to look into Erin's face, still
fighting to keep that smile away but failing at it. And his arms
were full, so he couldn't hide, either. Yukito blinked a couple
of times, then told her, "See? It's okay." The three words tried
to encapsulate all the things he wanted to say to her, but was
too afraid or too shy to actually verbalize. See? I can be
helpful sometimes, Erin. I just need the chance. Please don't be
afraid of me, Erin. I've been told too often that I'm
intimidating, that I seem closed off to everyone. I'm scared,
but I will try my hardest, until I can't try anymore. I'm
scared, but I can still hold you...just not all the time. I'm
scared, but I will get better. He was positive she could hear
his heart pumping wildly out of his bare chest as he held her up
against it, and his hands trembled slightly whenever he took
note of where he held her, but he refused to stop. He would
carry her all the way home, or as far as his strength held up.
Yukito pushed open the door with his shoulder, taking care to
watch Erin's head and feet so that they didn't strike against
the door frame, stepping out into the cool night air.
It had become darker out, and he resisted a shiver, but she
didn't live that far from the school, so he was sure it would be
fine until he got there. In the mean time, there was something
he had been wondering. "When did you first learn to swim, Erin?"
#Post#: 614--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Natatorium
By: GGJ5 Date: May 31, 2013, 9:13 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Erin Spenser
"Ouch....!" Erin hit the ground fast and hard. Really, her pride
was hurting more than anything. She'd been so eager to help him
out and make him feel more comfortable, she'd pulled the stupid
move of running by the pool, a rule that had been drilled into
her head since she could barely walk.
"Are you alright?!" She heard Yukito's frantic splashings in
the water and his wet feet on the darkened tile. Erin couldn't
help but laugh a little at his sudden worry. "Yeah, I'm fine,
Yukito! I just tripped." Ignoring the soreness she felt from the
fall, Erin shifted to get up on her feet again, then winced,
sitting back down. "Oww..."
Yukito seemed to think it was the end of the world that she
fell, and he'd rushed over to her side, timidly hovering over
her feet. "M-may I?"
Erin gave him a nod, trying her best not to smile, because he
might feel like she was making fun of him. She wouldn't have
been, of course, it was definitely more cute than anything else.
After a moment, he reached down and placed both his hands around
each of her ankles in turn, gently pressing a bit here and there
on her legs. At that, it was really hard not to smile... after
all, the person she liked more than anyone else was touching her
legs.... Well, she couldn't really smile when he was pressing on
the part right by her right ankle. She winced then, pulling her
leg back a bit instinctively. "It hurts there!" she told him in
a pout. "Don't press on that spot anymore..."
"It doesn't seem to be broken...but you probably bruised it up
real bad. I think your right ankle is sprained."
"Oh, awesome," Erin replied sarcastically. "Good way to end the,
uh, lesson, right?" She offered him an apologetic smile. Then,
she observed, "I think it's swelling already..."
"I don't think you should walk on it right away, but we can't
just sit here..."
"I could probably hop on one foot for a while..." It was a
genuine suggestion, but Yukito didn't seem interested in that
one.
"Stay here.," Yukito told her, motioning for her not to move.
She did, watching him gather up their things and walk back to
hand hers to her. "Here."
Erin slipped the crochet top on easily, but the shorts were
trickier without being able to stand on both feet. She had to
wiggle around a little awkwardly, putting all the weight on her
left foot until she got the shorts on all the way. It was really
awkward, and even though Yukito was looking away, she still felt
a little embarrassed. At least he didn't actually see...
"I am going to have to prove it to you, it seems..." Yukito said
quietly, making Erin give a little, "Huh?"
"That I can carry you princess-style," he finished, making Erin
smile broadly. She didn't think he'd really meant it, with that
silly 'contest' about carrying her away during an apocalypse.
"Yukito, I'm not broken, you said so yourself!" Despite her
words, Erin really hoped he'd actually reach down and carry
her.... She doubted he would, though.
Much to her surprise, Yukito reached down, slowly slipping his
hands beneath her knees and behind her back. She felt herself
lifted up off the ground, and instinctively linked her arms
around Yukito's shoulders. Part of her tensed up a bit, feeling
higher up than she should be and sure she was going to fall
down. But once she didn't feel herself shifting or slipping when
he walked, she felt her muscles relax just a little bit.
"See? It's okay." She looked up to see Yukito's face, one that
was split into a smile. It was a smile more genuine and free
than she remembered seeing on him in a long time, and it made
Erin's heart bubble up in glee. Did holding her like this really
make him so happy? Did her simply being there and needing some
help really make him feel that good?
She grinned back. "I know... thank you." If she hadn't
experienced what she had earlier, Erin would have lifted up her
head to give him a kiss. Instead, she let herself rest on his
shoulder as he carried her. Like a princess.
After a few minutes, Yukito's voice spoke in the night air,
"When did you first learn to swim, Erin?"
"Hmm... my dad read studies that said kids could learn to swim
even before they could walk, because of how they grew in the
womb or something, you know? And so they put me in swimming
lessons when I was really, really little... like, around one
year old. But that was just stuff like how to float and all...
but once I was three or four I took real swimming lessons, like
how to do all the different styles and strokes. And I've done
some kind of swimming thing all my life since then!"
Erin wanted to ask him about when he started playing music, but
she knew he probably couldn't remember. Probably not good to ask
that...
#Post#: 644--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Natatorium
By: Mascii Date: June 1, 2013, 3:58 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Yukito Ramsey
"I am going to have to prove it to you, it seems..." Yukito said
quietly, making Erin give a confused little, "Huh?"
"That I can carry you princess-style," he finished. Erin looked
up at him with a broad smile, making him believe that she
remembered their little contest game.
"Yukito, I'm not broken, you said so yourself!" But he didn't
like to argue with her. He leaned down and slowly picked her up,
having to be extra careful not to slip. At first she felt
nervous in his arms, and he was amazed by how he could actually
feel that in the tenseness of her muscles, in the way her arms
flew around his neck to keep a hold in case she started to slip.
But once she was situated in his arms, he felt much more
comfortable holding her, and she began to lax.
"See? It's okay." He couldn't help the smile on his face, as
ridiculous as he was sure he looked. Erin looked up at him, a
smile blossoming on her own face.
"I know... thank you." There was something about her face that
reminded him of when she'd been watching the movie with him
those weeks ago, on their unofficial 'date'. There was something
about her face that made him want to kiss her again. No, you
can't do that, Yukito. When her head fell onto his shoulder,
something hot crackled in his chest, making him take a deep
inhale and release it slowly. Her cheek against the skin of his
shoulder felt like they were sharing something even more
intimate than their shy kisses on his couch. It meant so much
more than her words of thanks to him. He lifted his face up from
watching hers, his lips still creeping through the workings of a
blissful smile.
He started walking her home, the cool air making goosebumps on
his bare arms. It was way past dark by now, but she didn't live
far. He thought back over their lesson, and how natural Erin
seemed when she was in the water, and he was a bit (or very)
jealous of her ability. "When did you first learn to swim,
Erin?"
"Hmm... my dad read studies that said kids could learn to swim
even before they could walk, because of how they grew in the
womb or something, you know? And so they put me in swimming
lessons when I was really, really little... like, around one
year old. But that was just stuff like how to float and all...
but once I was three or four I took real swimming lessons, like
how to do all the different styles and strokes. And I've done
some kind of swimming thing all my life since then!"
Yukito pursed his lips in thought. He couldn't imagine a mere
one year old really learning how to float, or anything like
that. "Wow.." he mumbled, a little disappointed with himself. He
must have looked very ridiculous to her, a 17 year old flailing
in the water with less skill than she'd had before she could
form a sentence. "I can't imagine...I don't know what the
situation was, but I wish I would have learned before...it makes
it difficult.." He knew several times Reese had invited him to
go to the beach, and he would say no to avoid the awkwardness,
being unable to get in the water and uncomfortable with the
unwritten dress code.
"I wanted to go to the water park with everyone last year..." he
said suddenly, unable to keep the regret out of his voice. Last
summer a group of people had decided to go to the water park a
few hours away, making a huge party out of it. He had had to lie
to them and say he had some projects to finish up for English
class in order to make it easier to turn them down. Even though
Reese reassured him that they could play in plenty of water that
didn't require swimming, he still wanted to avoid the sort of
situation where his friends would have to compromise their fun
for his sake.
#Post#: 645--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Natatorium
By: GGJ5 Date: June 1, 2013, 4:20 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Erin Spenser
He asked about how she learned to swim, which Erin eagerly
rambled about for a little while. It felt kind of cool, feeling
herself carried to the rhythm of his steps. It was like she was
learning his walk, and her breathing fell into rhythm with his
steps. For that moment, even though she knew it was silly and
that it wasn't true... she felt really special to him.
"I can't imagine...I don't know what the situation was, but I
wish I would have learned before...it makes it difficult.."
"You think you might've needed to know how to swim before?" Erin
asked, trying to fill in the blanks he left. "Hm... probably. I
wish I could've helped you before, then." Then she smiled,
trying to keep his spirits up as much as possible. "But that's
why you have me now! We can make up for all of that, because
it's never to late to start learning! Right?"
"I wanted to go to the water park with everyone last year..."
Yukito said, sounding really serious. It sank her spirits just a
bit... because he obviously wanted to be a part of those kinds
of things, with water and swimming and all, but he genuinely was
too scared. It was keeping him from doing things he might love,
and that was so, so heartbreaking to her.
"It was really fun," Erin said, "But it won't be the only time
we ever do that. I mean, we can practice more in the pool here
first, and then when you got practice, you can go with me next
time!" She sent him a hopeful smile, hoping herself that she
wasn't being too forward. Yukito was so easy to scare off, it
seemed....
They were getting really close to her house now. "Are you gonna
carry me all the way inside?" she asked, unable to keep back a
little giggle.
#Post#: 647--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Natatorium
By: Mascii Date: June 1, 2013, 6:31 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[B]Yukito Ramsey[/b]
"I can't imagine...I don't know what the situation was, but I
wish I would have learned before...it makes it difficult.."
"You think you might've needed to know how to swim before?" Erin
asked, sounding curious.
"Mmm.. I don't know," he mumbled half-coherently, a bit ashamed
at his inability to answer such simple questions about himself.
"Hm... probably. I wish I could've helped you before, then. But
that's why you have me now! We can make up for all of that,
because it's never to late to start learning! Right?" She
sounded so chipper and optimistic, trying to encourage him
despite all the trouble he caused her constantly. Making her
keep the secret he'd discovered about Hal... making her witness
his freak out earlier... all sorts of things, both big and
small.
"I wanted to go to the water park with everyone last year..."
Yukito said, unable to keep his voice as optimistic as she
sounded. He had felt so cut off from everyone, especially since
they had seemed to enjoy themselves to much. Did they know what
it felt like to hear them talking about the fun they'd had? It
was petty and childish, but he couldn't help but get by waves of
jealousy, irritated with himself that he couldn't muster up the
courage to join yet.
"It was really fun," Erin said, "But it won't be the only time
we ever do that. I mean, we can practice more in the pool here
first, and then when you got practice, you can go with me next
time!" She beamed up at him, and he wanted to smile back, but
he could only nod, a small lump in the back of his throat. Erin
really never gave up people for a second, did she?
"I would like that," he said. His words never carried the
sincerity or feeling which he intended behind them, and it was
frustrating. I really hope that happens, even if I'm scared. I
like that you still want to be with me, even after I've shown
you all of these sides of me that I hate to show. Somehow, Erin,
you push right past all my defenses, as easily as pulling off a
shirt, and you think nothing of it. But it means a world to me.
They were nearly to her house, he could see it in the distance.
The streetlamps buzzed and whined above their heads, and he
shifted his hold on her just a little bit. He wouldn't admit
that his arms were really starting to tire, even if he was
already worn out from having to work out that morning, a full
day of school, and then the swimming tonight. "Are you gonna
carry me all the way inside?" she asked, giggling
uncontrollably.
Yukito gave a smirk at that, "I can carry you to the door, at
the very least." His smile began to fade into a look that was a
little worried. "Do you think you need me to?" He would hate to
run into her father, but if her ankle was still sore enough for
her to ask for help, then he would give it to her, of course.
Even if seeing Dr. Spenser while carrying her daughter, and
himself still shivering and wearing only swimming trunks...it
didn't seem like a scene that would bode well for either of them
at all. He carefully made his was up the front steps in front of
her door, pausing before setting her down as carefully as if she
was glass. Once she was out of his arms, he felt the awkwardness
wash back like a tsunami, and he lifted one hand up in a sort of
half-wave with a nervous smile ticking at the edge of his lips.
"Erm...well, thank you again for helping me out." He went to
tuck his hands into his pockets, but found none, so he brushed
his wet bangs out of his eyes. "I...I hope your ankle feels
better...sorry about that.."
#Post#: 651--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Natatorium
By: GGJ5 Date: June 1, 2013, 10:35 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Erin Spenser
"But it won't be the only time we ever do that," Erin told him
reassuringly. He obviously felt bad about not being able to
really join in. "I mean, we can practice more in the pool here
first, and then when you got practice, you can go with me next
time!" She looked up at him with a grin, hoping she'd helped
him feel a little better.
Yukito just gave her a little nod. He was almost impossible to
read.... and she already felt like she was awful at reading
people in general. "I would like that."
"I mean, only whenever you want to, okay?" Erin amended. She
didn't want him to feel pressured to do something fun. At least,
not that.
They were pretty close to her home now. She could see the house
number on the door from her nest in his arms. The realization
that he'd really walked with her in his arms all the way from
the natatorium to her house, and that she'd gotten to feel him
breathing against her and warm against her made her suddenly
bubble over in giggles. "Are you gonna carry me all the way
inside?" Erin didn't know-- he might. She'd never expected him
to even pick her up like this, so... he could do all kinds of
things she wouldn't expect. The idea of them somehow coming in,
and a wet Yukito carrying her with a swelling and bruised ankle,
and then running into her parents... it could be either really
hilarious or really embarrassing... or both. Probably both.
Yukito smirked. He had a really, really cute smile when he
smiled like that. If she thought it wouldn't scare him off,
she'd kiss that smirk on his face. But she didn't want to risk
it... Yukito's voice broke her from her daydream. "I can carry
you to the door, at the very least."
She gave a little laugh at that. "Whatever..."
"Do you think you need me to?"
Erin made a little face at that. "No, I don't think so. I mean,
I'll just be standing at the door. I can stand on one foot." Her
face brightened up at a memory. "Once in third grade I stood on
one foot for like ten minutes! I think that's the longest I was
still ever..." After blurting it out, Erin regretted it... who
cared about a dumb memory like that? Who even remembered things
like that? Oh, well... too late now.
Once at the doorstep, Erin felt herself being shifted and gently
lowered. Of course, she followed along, letting her locked hands
around him separate, and instead she reached to balance herself
on the doorframe. She pulled out the spare key from where it was
hidden outside and began to unlock the door. Meanwhile, Erin
kept looking back at Yukito. Had he really just done that for
her? It was so sweet....
He gave her an odd, half-hearted wave. Maybe he was regretting
doing that... maybe she'd made him nervous by being so close.
She waved back, anyway, once the door was opened. "Erm...well,
thank you again for helping me out." He moved his hand to brush
the hair from his eyes. "I...I hope your ankle feels
better...sorry about that.."
"I like swimming with you," she told him simply, unable to stop
smiling even though part of her was sure he hadn't enjoyed it
and wouldn't be asking for another lesson again. But she'd think
about that later. She just wanted to enjoy the feeling of being
carried by him and swimming with him and listening to him for
just a little while longer.
"And you didn't do anything to be sorry for. I was the stupid
one for running on wet tile. I mean, let's be honest." She gave
him her own smirk, before giving another quick wave. "See you
later, Yukito. Thank you." And she made herself go inside before
her parents came out to see why their front door was hanging
open in the night air.
Erin is finished at the Natatorium!
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