Chapter 5 - the pools

The radiant sun scorched and blared it's heat and light, high in the sky. Perfect for this day, I thought.
Our plans had worked well, with a few extras coming along to enjoy the relief from the heat. Children squawked and screamed, parents yelled and scolded, teenagers laughing and jesting amongst the constant splashing of water. The stench of chlorine was present in the hot air and so far, me, Aaron, Jack, Olivia and Maddy were there, waiting for Lisa, Mark and Dave. And Sarah.
The heat heated up the concrete like a pan, scorching my feet.
'***-' I snapped, Aaron looking at me questioningly.
'What's the problem?'
'Step on the concrete.' I dared him. And he did.
He stood there for a few seconds, testing the grounds heat. '...You're a whiny little bitch, this isn't even hot. It's warm, buuuaaAHHH!' He hopped back onto the grass quickly, stamping his feet. 'I see then...' he confessed.
'Any of you's want something to eat?' Jack held his wallet suggestively, approaching us.
'Nah, I'm good.' I thanked him.
'Your money, don't waste it on me, man.' Aaron replied.
Jack grunted and strode off to the snack stall across the complex.
'A bit of weed and I would have eaten something. I would have had to.' I remarked.
'We should'a come high man...' he replied, a saddened look in his eyes.
I smirked at him. 'Should have thought about that earlier, faggot,' I joked.
Our group had dumped our gear under a cluster of trees on one side of the cluster of pools, the entrance and food stalls on the other end. Me and Aaron made our way over to the group sitting under the shade, various foods unpacked around the grass, not yet eaten, saved for later. Swimming made you hungry.
As Aaron and I sat down, Jack returned with hot chips. He's gone ahead anyway and bought a cup of hot fries and sauce, accounting for everyone anyway. He was like that, thinking of others even if they said they didn't want something.
A chorus of appreciation ran through the group and Mark appeared with Lisa, hands linked, boyfriend and girlfriend. Something tugged lightly at my heart, like yearning.
'Hey guys,' Marks light voice greeted us. They sat down and got their towels and accessories ready.
Aaron and I sat for a while, biding time. We mostly made idle remarks on course work, individual progress and interests, the sort of small talk boys have. Gradually getting bored, we picked at the grass while Dave arrived loudly as per usual, making his arrival known to just about half the people the whole grass area.
Aaron looked at me and I returned the look, knowing of our growing mutual boredom.
After a time of staring at the sky and our surroundings, he spoke up. 'Should we just get in man? Sarah should be here soon anyway.'
I thought for a second. As much as I wanted to greet her and show her to our area, everyone else would be here to greet her if it was just me and Aaron that weren't there.
'Yeah, why not.' I replied standing up.
The middle pool - out of the five that were there - was best suited for us, being the deepest. There was the toddlers water-area, two children's shallow pools and the deep one in the middle and a giant spa off to the other side. It was quite a big local pool complex.
'I'm going in the deep end. It's hot as ***, this end's the coldest and my decision's made.' Aaron declared, stepping onto the ledge. As we came to the edge, I looked around, wondering where Sarah was. It had been at least three quarters of an hour now since she was supposed to be here and I missed her energy and passion.
I saw her.
Our eyes met, Sarah clearly having been looking at me first, and she beamed her brightest smile.
My insides tumbled and tripped within me as I saw her in a bikini, skin soft as a child's, pose elegant as a deer.
My heart soared even higher at the sight of what might have been victory! Around her waist, much to my astonishment, a small layer of fat wrapped itself around her waistline, ever so slightly deepening her naval and giving it a happy jig to the step. At the sight of me, she jumped into a gleeful skip, her small pouch of fat flickering in its frenzied movement, her boobs jumping - up, down, up, down. Mesmerizing.
As she drew new me, she didn't run into me and embrace me in a warm hug, but instead she slowed down to more of a walk a bit too soon, probably having caught me staring at her midriff and growing self conscious, but her smile and radiance remained as full as ever.
'John!' she approached me and stood before me, eyes smiling.
'Hey!' I replied, my smile probably wider than I realized.
'It worked out then, huh? It's the perfect day for it, just like I predicted! It's great to see everyone before we all retreat back to our courses.'
'Yep', I replied, unsure of how to respond normally in front of her delicacy, 'it sure is. We were all waiting for you to arrive before we got in. We are all over there under that tree.' I pointed.
'I see. I can also see you didn't wait to get in.' She looked at me meaningfully.
'Sorry', I grimaced.
'Hah! Don't be sorry you goof!' She slapped me on the arm playfully, sticking her wet tongue out. She looked over to our group and back to me. 'Well, I'm going to get ready. See you in the pool in a bit!'
She walked off, flared hips swaying, ass-cheeks bobbing gently. Her liveliness wasn't fake, no. It was not acted. It wasn't a facade - it was genuine happiness and care, coming from the very core of her being.
Aaron turned his head to me and eyed me speculatively. 'Someone has the eye for you!' He poked me on the arm gently.
I drew a breath and turned to him. 'I don't think so. Damien wouldn't have that.'
'What he doesn't know won't hurt him. She knows that. Plus', he said, turning to nod at her where she was being greeted by everyone, 'she ain't bad looking. And that's an understatement.'
I must have blushed, 'True.' Was all I could manage.
'Dick-head, you can do better than that. Let's hear how much you like her. I see you eyeing her haha.'
'Whatever, faggot,' I joked. (None of us were really gay) - it had just become a jest of a name to call each other over time. 'Just get in the pool. The others will be around in a second.'
Aaron gave in to the temptation of water himself, and dove head-first into the pool.
I hated going straight in without warming up first. Despite the commonplace anticipation of cold water, I did it anyway and the cool hold of water engulfed all of me.
I surfaced and shook the water from my hair, rubbing the chlorine from my eyes.
'That's not so bad now was it?' Aaron asked, aware of my reluctancy to water.
I scoffed and idled around in the water a bit, feeling the cool depths of the pool hold me and sooth me, drifting me around weightlessly. It really wasn't so bad - he was right, it WAS very soothing. I guess I'd just been winding myself up really tight about Sarah these past few months, like snake around a rat, but all I was doing was giving myself cramps from the tightness. But, who could blame me? As much as I was aware that I was rambling to myself about her and tripping over my ass at her presence, I could not deflect or deny the yearning I had for her. She was so over-looked and disregarded by others. Like Damien. The name should have only been poison to her. Pity and love washed over me for her as I thought of how much more she should be able to feel like the profoundly amazing, memorizing, beautiful girl she was, inside and out, and all around.
I drifted as I let my thoughts wonder over her like a child, lost and without guidance, stumbling to find a hold.
And there she was again, approaching with the rest of the group. Her dark, straight hair falling in streams, fanning off her shoulders, framing her features in a dark mane of elegance.
I eyed her stomach, slightly round in its form, shimmering slightly to the beat of the foot-fall, naval deepened in shadow. There was no bulge over her panty line yet, but there was definitely a layer of fat, just waiting to be developed into a full-fledged gut, unblemished and perfect as silk to the touch of my awaiting love.