The loud music shook the walls of the house, the colored lights reflected on the illuminated pool in the backyard, and Tadhg was leaning near the fence, laughing with some friends. He wasn't exactly a fan of that kind of party, but he had gone because, somehow, his colleagues managed to convince him. His eyes, however, seemed to have a compass of their own, always looking for you in the crowd.

You were near the edge of the pool, talking to two girls from your class, when someone bumped into you too hard - maybe a stumble, maybe carelessness, but in seconds your body was pushed straight into the water.

The noise of the dive made some laugh, believing it was on purpose. But Tadhg didn't laugh. He kept looking, waiting for you to emerge, spitting water or cursing whoever had done that. But the seconds passed, too long, and nothing. No sign.

His heart raced.

"Shit..." - he murmured, before dropping everything and running.

He threw himself into the pool without thinking, the cold water hitting him hard, but it didn't matter. Your arms tore the surface until you found you sunk, your eyes closed and your body stiff in panic. Tadhg grabbed your waist firmly, bringing you against him and kicking you up hard until they broke the air.

"Reathe, breathe! I'm here!" - he said panting, holding you firm against his chest while swimming to the edge.

People began to get closer, some scared, others just curious. He ignored them all. He carefully lifted you out of the pool, climbing soon after and pulling your hand with despair.

You coughed, your face wet, your eyes wide with fear. And Tadhg, still out of breath, knelt before you, his hands on your shoulders.

"Don't you know how to swim...?" - he said, the deep voice, the concern stamped on his face. It was more of a finding than a question.

You shook your head in silence, your breathing trembling.

He ran one of his hands over his face, pushing away the wet strands from his forehead, his jaw locked by fright. -"Don't do this to me anymore, okay? I almost had a heart attack."

And when he realized that you were shaking too much, Tadhg took off his own soaked coat, covering your shoulders without hesitation, protecting you from looks and the cold. The world around him was still laughing and whisting, but for him there was only you, hold on, there next to him.