The sound of children's laughter echoed off the walls, excitement swirled and splashes of water sounded every second. This is a reasonably safe environment. Looking across the swimming pool, I spot a life guard, six feet in the air, wearing a red tank top, pair of shorts and flipflops. This was a reasonable safe environment.

Thick black lines marked the lanes of the pool, whilst the harsh contrasting white of the diving board seemed to grow out of the ground and tower into the air.

Children ventured up to the first diving board, whilst teens and adults scaled the stairs to reach the higher board. Once in a while, a child would go up there, showing off to their friends that they will jump. A few did, but some came back down and laughed it off before jumping on the lower board. 

This is the second time I've came here, stood at the edge of the pool and watched, whilst others around me enjoyed the water. I wish I could too, but fear had crawled its way up from my stomach and the heavy breathing that had started told me that I was only a few minutes of having to leave. 

The last time this happened, I sat in the changing rooms, ignoring all the stares and frowns of people as I heaved at the air mid panic attack. Nobody intervened, nobody approached me to ask if I was okay, because it was clear that I wasn't. Panic attacks is something that people just don't know how to deal with, and why? Because it's all mental, until it becomes physical.

From looking at me, you could think that my trembling was from the cool air, that the shifting on my feet was eagerness to hit the water and the abnormal breathing was me getting myself worked up. Not that I was ready to flee the pool area. 

Maybe I should stop, go back to the changing rooms before anyone notices?
Yes. Yes that is what I am going to do.

My feet turn on the damp floor, ready to take me back to the changing rooms, when the stubborn part of me speaks up and demands that I stay put. 

Come on. I can do this!
Just sit down and put your feet in, that is all you have to do today.

"What is it?" A voice asks making me look over to see a guy swimming towards the edge of the pool. 

I watch with ease as he pulls himself up and twists so that he is sat on the edge. I know he is talking to me, because a pair of brown eyes are locked onto me. 

"Sorry?" I ask. 

"What is it that you're afraid of? I've been doing lengths and you haven't moved an inch." He says. I feel embarrassment creep up my cheeks, flushing them with pink.   "I'm not trying to embarrass you, I just want to know if I can help?"

I give him a small smile. "That's kind, but no thank you. I'm just leaving in fact." I answer gesturing to the changing rooms. 

"Really?" He asks looking in the direction that I point. "You're not even gonna try and get in?"

"I-.."

"You're afraid of the water?" He guesses.

"S-something like that... I have to go." I add making myself move away from the pool and towards the changing rooms. All whilst kicking myself, because who needs a bigger critic when your own mind has turned against you.

"I'll teach you how to swim." He says making me stop. Turning, I look at him and the water. "Come on, I don't bite. I just hate to see someone go through something and not be able to help. How long you been having panic attacks?"

"W-What?" 

He smiles, knowingly, exposing a set of perfect white teeth that's framed by a pair of lips and a trimmed beard. Not many people can work a beard, but he is wearing it like a second skin and it makes him look hot. 

"I used to get them. This helps, working out too. So? How long you been getting them?"

"A while." I admit.

"How many times have you walked away from the pool like this?"

"Why so many questions?" I throw back. 

He shrugs, "Curious, I guess."

I watch as he rubs at the tattoo on his arm, its of a tree, only it's roots and branches are all twisted. A thick black border frames the tree making the ink stand out on his skin. 

"What's with the tree?" I ask. 

"Why so many questions?" He asks me back, causing a smile creeps onto my face. "There's a smile." He nods, showing his own grin before adding "Now, stop trying to bolt out of here."

I move a little closer before sitting down on the damp tiles and hugging my knees, watching the water from a distance. 

"What's your name?" He asks.

"Elle."

"Hi, Elle, I'm Nick." He smiles holding out his hand.

I push mine out and shake his before retracting it back, because a stupid voice told me that he might drag me in.

"Want to come for a swim?" He asks dropping back into the water.

"I..." I trail off again.

"I can teach you how to swim, it's daunting at first but once you start.."

"I used to swim." I tell him, watching as he rakes his brown hair back.

"So you can swim. That's good. Which means you're afraid of the water. Did something happen?"

My body tenses up at the memory. "I- I'm not sure that I can, anymore."

He nods in understanding. "Well I'm at your service. Come to the steps and we can take it bit by bit."

I look over to the steps, wondering why I hadn't tried that way. I frown and notice that he is slowly making his way over whilst keeping an eye on me. Clambering up, I edge my way around the pool, watching how easily he can swim, until I reach the steps. 

This handsome stranger, who has introduced himself as Nick, rises slowly out the water. He is lean and muscular, there is definitely a high level of fitness with this guy and that's not including the abs I can see. Nick walks up the steps until he is stood in front of me, his height makes me feel smaller as I look up at him. 

"Hi, again."

"Hi." I answer. 

"So we gonna do this a step at a time. I'm going to ask you some questions as well, okay?" He says.

I nod.

"Right..." He nods to himself, looking down to see my legs trembling. "We can stop at any time. I mean that okay?"

I give him another nod. Because I've no longer got words. 

Flashing me a smile that I am sure would make all the women swoon, Nick begins. "What's your favourite colour?"

"I have two. Can I have two?" I ask him. 

"You can have two." 

"Okay. They are orange and blue."

"Orange and blue." He repeats. 

"But not together. Cause that's odd."

"Orange and blue but not together." He says taking my hand.

"Y-yep." I squeak.

"Why orange?" He questions.

"B-Because it's bright and there is many variations of orange, I also like pumpkins. Halloween is my favourite.."

He smiles "And blue?"

"I grew up in the countryside, there was a lot of blue skies, it's relaxing, especially when you're on a bench swing with nothing to do all day."

"Sounds amazing." He says stepping forward. My heart lunges as the water touches my feet, I feel my hand squeeze his but instead of squeezing back, his thumb soothes over my knuckles.

"What is your favourite season?"

"Fall."

"Because of the orange leaves?" He guesses looking at me with a smile.

"Yes. That's the main reason."

"Fall is my favourite time too. Look at that, we have something in common besides panic attacks."

I laugh gently "Guess we do."

The twenty question distracts me, until the water touches my thighs where I freeze and pull on Nicks hand.

"Woah, woah, woah." He says gently turning in the water to take my other hand. "I got you."

"I can't do this."

"Of course you can." He answers. "You're half way there. You're in the water, Elle."

"Which is exactly why I need to stop! Please!" I beg.

His eyes flash with understanding. "We can stop here, but we are not getting out straight away, okay?"

I nod, letting go of one of his hands to grab the rail going into the pool. 

"You're shaking like a leaf." He says moving to my side.

"I can't help it. God I wish I could." I sigh.

"Want a minute to yourself?"

I shake my head and squeeze his hand a little. "Please don't disappear, I'm sorry. I know I am a pain."

"You're not and don't worry, I'm not going anywhere."

I don't know how long passes, but eventually, I loosen the death grip on the rail and take his other hand. "Slowly."

"Of course. There is a slight dip here, so don't panic when you can't feel the step instantly. I am right here, you won't go under."

I nod and inch my way along with him. "So you got kids?" I ask. 

"What makes you ask that?"

"You're extremely patient." I answer.

He laughs gently "I got two little girls. I'm divorced."

"That's cute, and I'm sorry about the divorce."

Nick shrugs. "Some things just weren't meant to be. We had been together for many years, it was a happy marriage and I got two beautiful daughters out of it."

"Can I ask what happened?"

"Of course. It's my fault. I work away, we grew apart. I couldn't see it at first, for years even. But it was slowly making itself evident. We began arguing and for the sake of our daughters, neither of us wanted them to see us arguing so we separated."

"That was a very kind thing to do." I tell him. "Some parents don't do that.."

"We tried, hell we went to counselling and mediation but it wasn't going to work. We were two different people now. It was the best thing to do... What about you? Are you married?"

" Recently single.."

"What happened?"

I look at the water as it hits my waist. "The guy thought conquering your fear, you had to be thrown in the deep end."

Nick stops and looks at me. "No..."

"Yeah. We were at a party, he was showing off to his friends and threw me in. I almost drown. He was single, very fast, if it wasn't for his friends, I'd be sleeping with fishes right now."

"What an asshole." He says. 

"I called him a lot more colourful names than that. Believe me."

"I bet you did. Here comes the dip." He says. 

I watch the water move from his waist to his chest, my feet try to dig in but they fail and I step off the edge. But before I can dip down too far, Nick's hand leaves mine and an arm secures around my waist, leaving me to grab his shoulders. 

"Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit." I chant as he moves away from the sides completely.

"I got you."

"Please don't drop me. Please don't drop me." I panic looking around us.

"I wouldn't dream of it." He says solemnly. "Try to relax a little, you're going stiff and it's going to be harder to swim if you're stiff as a board."

"I don't want to swim anymore." I tell him, tightening my grip on him. 

"Yes you do. Otherwise you wouldn't own a bathing costume." He answers turning us in the water. "Now I'm going to get our shoulders under, okay? It will help keep us warm."

"There's no need for that."

"Your jaw is chattering away on it's own."

"I can stop that." I tell him and clamp my mouth together, making him chuckle.

"But you can't answer any more of questions and I want to know more." 

"Why?" I whisper looking around us to make sure no idiot drags us under. 

"Because you seem like a nice woman, and I want to know if you'd like to go for a drink some time?" 

My eyes move off the water and to him. "Like a date?"

"Of course."

"Really? After all this?" I ask him.

"Especially after all this. You kicking your legs?" He asks. I tighten my knees making him chuckle "You've turned into a koala bear on me."

"So as far as introductions go, I've got my legs wrapped around you and you're holding my life in the palm of your hands." I laugh slightly.

"First time for everything. You're doing great by the way." He tells me. 

"Am I? Or are you just being kind?"

"I'm being honest." He tells me. "So where did this fear start?"

I pinch my lips together in wonder of what he will think. 

"You don't have to tell me, I don't mean to pry."

"I was in a car." I tell him, causing his brown eyes to lock with mine. "There was an accident. A drunk driver hit me off the road into a river, an off duty officer managed to pull me out. I don't remember much, apart from the water filling the car and screaming for help."

"Jesus." Nick frowns. "And then the asshole ex does that."

I nod. "Yep. That didn't help."

"I'm not surprised. Well for your reassurance, I'm not going to throw you in or leave you here, so unfortunately you're stuck with me, and that means learning to swim. So koala yourself around onto my back and I'll get some lengths in with you on me."

"Are you serious?" I ask.

"It will be a hell of a work out for me. Your body will be weightless, but there will be some resistance, I need the resistance."

"In swimming or my attitude?" I joke. 

He laughs "We can do both. When we get near the shallow ends, I'll turn and hold onto you whilst you swim the rest. Got it?"

"Okay.. So on your back?"

"Yeah, loosen your knees and I'll turn."

I do as he says and grasp the back of his shoulders. With a final check, Nick sets off, like a dolphin in the water, whilst I hold onto his back, being the resistance he needs.

As promised, he turns when we get close to the shallow end, grasping onto my waist, he encourages me to kick and guides me along. "That's it! Keep going! Keep going! Well done!" He cheers. 

I grin stupidly to myself and move onto his back. "Onwards Aquaman!" I call making him laugh before he swims back down the pool. 

I don't know how long we spend in the pool doing this, but by the time we give up, the pool is almost empty and my legs are like jelly for a complete different reason. Nick picks me up and sets me on the side before hopping up himself. 

"You did amazing." He grins.

"I had a good teacher."

"I don't know about that."

"You were brilliant. Thank you."

He nudges me with his shoulder playfully "You're welcome. Now how about we get out of here. I'd like take you out for dinner. I'm starving."

"I can do food. But wait-"

"Like a date, yes." He laughs.

"Then yes, I accept your offer of a date."

"Great, because I need lots of food and I can't order half a menu without having someone else at the table." He says seriously making me laugh. 

He jumps up and pulls me onto my feet. "Meet you in reception."

"You betcha." I answer as we part ways at the changing rooms.

I shower and change, before using the pool blow dryer to take most of the water out of my hair. When I finally leave the changing rooms, I'm intercepted by the lifeguard who has seen me come and go countless times. 

"You did great out there today Elle. Well done." He says before slipping into the canteen area. 

I find Nick waiting at the reception desk writing something down before giving it to a woman who is blushing furiously. I approach and watch as she gushes at him about a show before rushing off. 

"What show?" I ask making him turn. 

His smile falters slightly "Oh hell, I didn't want you to find out yet."
"Find out what?" I ask. 

"I um.. I'm a paranormal investigator."

"Really?" I ask intrigued.

"And I'm also on TV." He admits.

I gasp. "That's what you meant when you said you work away." 

"Yeah..."

"Hm.. Cool. So can we get food now?" I ask making his brows raise.

"Is that it? No hundred questions about the show and who I know?"

I shake my head "Nope. But you can tell me about some of the ghostly experiences you've had, whilst I inhale burgers and fries."

He moans "That sounds amazing."

"It does, doesn't it? Let's go before I end up at a vending machine."

We leave the swimming centre together and as promised, spend the rest of the afternoon in a diner, consuming too many calories whilst Nick tells me all about his ghostly goings on.

As far as first dates go, this one was pretty good.