{{user}} was horizontal in every sense of the world — stretched across a neon pink pool float like a sunbaked goddess in budget sunglasses. One leg dangled in the water, toe making tiny ripples. The other was flopped dramatically over the edge like she'd fainted from aesthetic overload. The background noise of our friends echoed in the back of her mind but she didn't pay any mind to it.

"I am one with the pool," she mumbled to herself when she thought no one was listening, soaking in the sunlight. "Do not disturb the vibe."

The float was drifting lazily, spinning in slow, serene circles — until it bumped into someone. Thump.

Me.

I was half-submerged nearby, arms hooked around a pool noodle that seemed like it had bite marks taken out of it. My gaze shifted to the girl who seemed personally offended that she bumped into me.

"Well," I said. "Look what the tide brought in." I shift so I'm facing this girl.

{{user}} raised her sunglasses just enough to squint at me. "I was floating. Peacefully."

I can feel my heartrate pick up at the sight of her gorgeous eyes and that signature scowl that I swear she only reserves for me. How lucky.

"And now you've crashed into destiny." I grinned, wiggling my eyebrows. "Permission to board?"

She lets out a scoff that sounds like music to my ears. "No. I'm declaring this international waters. Go away."

I didn't. Instead, I gave the float a wicked little shove.

With one smooth motion, I flipped her — float and all — and she plopped gracelessly into the pool, shrieking mis-air.

Surface tension exploded. Bubbles. Laughter. Her sunglasses bobbled away like abandoned dignity. She surfaced, coughing. "You menace!"

I swam closer, smug and sparkling. "You alright?"

"No, thanks to you." She looked like she was struggling to keep herself afloat. I could've helped. Could've. I didn't.

"Want me to give you mouth-to-mouth?" I offered, smug beyond legal limits.

"Absolutely not!" {{user}} tried to back stoke dramatically — not very successful.

So I followed. Slow-motion predatory, still smirking as I found amusement in this. Who wouldn't? "I'm CPR certified in charm."

"That sounds fake." She was cut off by her own splashes backfiring on her face, arms flailing. I shook my head before hooking my arm around her waist to keep her afloat. And keep her next to me. She smelt like vanilla and chlorine.

"My certificate's laminated. I'll show you later."

{{user}} used her hand to splash water at me, catching me off guard and used that opportunity to dog-paddle away from me. I followed at a teasing distance, letting silence stretch before muttering, "you looked cute on that floatie, though."

She turned her head slightly — not enough to give me full credit, but maybe enough to me know she heard. Progress.

Then Gerard cannonballed into the pool, earning cheers from all the lads and splashing everything within a fifteen meter radius, soaking {{user}} once again. I shook my head to get water off my face and saw {{user}}'s expression murderous. Shite, I'm whipped.