It was August and that meant the beginning of a new swim season. The juniors were coming in to be selected for teams and Brian had managed to convince her and Ruby to come down to greet them. Glad of a distraction she agreed.

On the way there she realised it would only be another week before she received her leaving certificate results. With everything going on she hadn't given them much thought.  It gave her a queasy feeling, she'd been avoiding the college talk at home and for once, her mother was on the same page.

She met Ruby at the door and they both changed. They wouldn't be in the water today but had to wear lifeguard uniforms. The pool filled up fast and they were both very busy running around getting the lanes ready and signing up the new girls.  A lot wanted to speak with Salantina and ask her how she trained for her big win.  Not wanting to tell them the awful truth that she hated every minute of training and felt like a depressed robot. In the end, she just told them to enjoy the process, winning isn't everything and to try and enjoy themselves. They seemed pleased and she wished she had taken her own advice.

Brian eventually blew the whistle and that meant the trial for the grouping was about to begin.

'Girls can you make your way up here please to the top of the pool I need everyone's attention,' He shouted.  Salantina and Ruby went and stood on either side of him.

He began talking about what the training would be like when someone caught her eye.  In the stands, she recognised a face and almost gasped. Fynn stared directly at her.  Her entire body froze before his eyes dropped then to the floor.

'Are you listening Sal?' Brian asked. 'Ready for your presentation'

'Sorry, Brian, I zoned out.' Clearing her throat she started talking. Her feet paced back and forth while she tried to pretend this was her comfort zone. It wasn't.  She never liked presentations. In her mind, while she talked she was rambling, her face felt hot and her body shook awkwardly while she walked over and back, moving her arms a lot. A tip she found on YouTube the night before. It didn't help Fynn was in the stands and she cursed herself for spotting him before the speech.

By the time she finished talking, she tried her best to step out of the way for no one to notice her. The stands were quite full of other people's family and friends maybe he knew someone else joining today? She swallowed hard at this thought, had he met someone?

Now hurt she put her mind into what she was supposed to be doing: helping these new swimmers to the team feel welcome. The hour went by fast with her only having to jump into the pool once.  After it was over Brian called her over to talk at the end, it was the usual he talked and she listened when she noticed Fynn staring at them. Her face felt as if it were on fire making her turn away from him to try and focus on what Brian was talking about.

Everything went over her head though. He didn't notice thankfully because he became preoccupied with a junior's mother wanting to speak with him. Now stood alone she awkwardly walked to the changing rooms. 

Go the noticeably long way around the pool to the changing rooms or pass the stands?  Her hands shook and her face still felt warm. She must have looked like a tomato all day. Maybe he will think it's sunburn she hoped. What do I have to be embarrassed about, he played me.

 Fynn was still sitting in the stands when their eyes met. Her intentions were to walk into the changing rooms and leave quietly. One part of her wanted him to talk to her and the other dreaded it. As she walked past, Fynn called quietly for her.

'Hey Sal... you looked great out there.' Unsure how to respond Salantina gave him a smirk and continued walking. 'Can we talk? After your practice I mean... I can meet you outside when you're ready if you want to?' Fynn said in a low voice. He looked apologetic and his face a little red.

Salantina stared at him for a moment confused. She bite her tongue from telling him off but then thought... I want to talk to him.

'Okay we can talk, but give me a couple of minutes to change,' she replied despite her senses telling her not to.

Salantina walked to the changing rooms which were cleared already. Ruby had already left and suspiciously thought James had something to do with that.  She barely dried her body before dressing into blue jeans and a white top she could feel the jeans sticking to the back of her legs. Brushing her hair she towel-dried it. She didn't have a coin for the hairdryer so she would have to let it air dry.

When Salantina went outside she saw Fynn waiting.  When he saw her, he smiled sheepishly.

'Hey'

'Hey'

They both stood a little awkward in front of each other, Salantina waiting to hear what it was he wanted to speak about.

'In a hurry?' Fynn asked humorously although Salantina didn't respond as intended.

'Not at all,' she lied feeling her hair drip onto her shoulders but fought the urge to laugh.

'Do you want to walk a little?' He asked. Clearly, he didn't want anyone from swim practice to see this either. She nodded and they walked for a couple of minutes in silence with Salantina becoming impatient the further they went.

'What is it you want to talk about?' she eventually asked. He turned and they both stopped on the pavement.

'Well, it's just I wanted to apologise. I don't really know what to say... to explain why I acted the way I did. I'm sorry though... it's just I've had a lot going on and I feel a little confused about everything.'

'You've already said that Fynn. Did you drag me here to go around in the same circle again because I'm not interested.' Her feet found themselves moving with adrenal marching forward until Fynn caught her arm.  

'Wait. Look I'm sorry about what happened the last time we met.' Could this be any more awkward...

'Please stop apologising. It was confusing, but I respect your decision. You don't want to be friends and I'm fine with that. Don't feel guilty.' The last thing she needed was a pity friendship. There was silence again. Thinking he said everything he needed to Salantina went to walk away.

'No wait. Sorry, I don't want you to leave,' Fynn said unexpectedly. She turned and look at him like he had ten heads. What?

'Fynn, I don't understand you said you didn't want to be friends, that's fine. I accept your apology and I appreciate you coming to speak to me, but I don't think there is anything more we have to say to each other.' As she spoke, she didn't move any further, she didn't want to cry now but could feel tears in her eyes. She hated confrontation and what's more, this was like reopening last month's wound.

'Yes. I don't want to be friends because... because... I really like you,' Fynn confessed to an even more confused Salantina. 'I know that probably makes no sense, but I really don't want to hurt you and I can't explain everything right now, but I just thought staying away from you was the right thing to do but I just can't.' 

Salantina stood speechless. He felt the same way as her, she wasn't imagining a connection.

'I don't want you to say anything or do anything about this, but I needed to tell you.'

'I feel the same way,' she heard herself saying.

'Salantina...' he whispered he looked like he was struggling with something. 'I'm not the right person for you... I think you should stay away from me.'

'And what if I don't want to?' Salantina spoke evenly despite her heart racing. 

'You don't know what you're saying.' 

'I know exactly what I am saying.  I don't want us to stay away from each other,' she replied with further conviction.

'I don't either Salantina, I really don't but I just can't explain everything right now,' he said with pain in his eyes 'You deserve more than that.'

'You don't have to explain anymore.' She caught his hand and he stepped closer to her. 'Can we try and be friends again?' He looked torn still but nodded without the worry leaving his face.

Soon they both sat down beside the water together. Mostly in silence but they sat close to each other. 

'Do you want to hang out tomorrow?' She thought for a moment and felt the same excitement return that she had before.

'Yes, where do you want to go? She replied nervous already. She hadn't been in a relationship or a situationship with someone before.

'Some more sightseeing around ballycreev, I'm sure there is more to see. He replied.

They parted but text more throughout the evening and the next day Salantina woke early to get ready to go out and meet Fynn.  

The weather was good this week and she decided uncharacteristically to wear a dress.  She found in her wardrobe a dress she borrowed from Ruby. It was blue and white which she matched with flat doll shoes.  It wasn't overly dressy which was the look she was going for. Straightening her hair, she applied a small amount of makeup before going downstairs and leaving the house unnoticed.

Arriving at the bus stop she felt nervous and excited. When the bus arrived, and Fynn got off he looked her up and down as he walked over to her.

'Wow Salantina, you look amazing!' He exclaimed before they shared a hug.

'Thank you.' She blushed looking down unsure what else she should say she changed the subject. 'So, have you decided on anything specific you want to see today?'

'I am open to seeing everything,' he replied grinning. He seemed a little awkward at first but soon the conversation flowed naturally again with Fynn making jokes and Salantina finding herself laughing again like nothing happened. They walked through the village woods which didn't take long.

'Any other requests?' Salantina asked.

'Em... not really, well there was another place, but I can't remember the name of it. It was a park close to here,' he looked frustrated. 'Can't remember the name. It had a hill in the name?'

'Yes, I think I know what you're talking about, is it called Gallows Hill?' Salantina replied smiling.

'Yes that's it, genius,' he winked at her and she smiled. 'Is there a shop we could get some food and maybe have a small picnic?' Fynn suggested.

They stopped at a local shop and got some hot food.  Fynn offered to pay and they then walked the quiet country road to it. A few cars passed them on the way, so they had to stand in off the road to let them out. Fynn laughed at this because the roads were so small. On the way he causally took her hand

'I might get lost if I don't stay close.' he smiled and she felt a warm feeling in her stomach. 

'You might.' And held on tight. 

Gallows Hill was a small park with a walk around it, a play area with swings, and a slide for the small children in the center. Around the play area was a stream where the bench was for a small picnic. There was only one small family in the park when they arrived, they looked to be having a lot of fun. Salantina and Fynn sat down on the bench and opened their sandwiches. They ate in silence with Fynn staring down at the water flowing through the river. 

'What are you looking at?' She asked following his eye line to the water.

'Nothing sorry, I was just thinking about back home,' Fynn responded.

'Oh... you must miss it there.' She felt bad for being so nosy. The conversation felt very serious making her shift uncomfortably. Not born with the skills for these situations, Salantina tended to avoid them. 

'Yes, I do but it's nice here too. I just miss my friends,' he confessed sounding sad.

'I know you can't see them every day, but you can call them whenever you want.' Remembering her brother James feeling the same when he first left for Erasmus.

'I try but it's hard everyone is busy living their own lives. I'm just so used to being able to walk to my friend's houses or meet up with them in the town. Most of my friends prefer not to speak on the phone they want to text or email but I just miss the human connection with them I guess.' He moved closer to her on the bench. Her instinct was to shift away but she fought it wanting to listen and help.

'I understand it's a big change for you,' she replied and put her hand onto his. 

There were a couple of moments of silence between them before Salantina got up and walked closer to sit on the riverbed.  Fynn followed her down and the silence seemed to continue for another couple of minutes.

'Thank you for bringing me here today. It has been really nice.' Fynn was the first to speak.

'You're welcome, anytime, I'm sorry there aren't any more places I can take you. It's a small area, and mainly the green emerald fields are what most tourists visit Ireland for,' Salantina joked.

'It's a change from where I used to live all the same. We can explore outside of the village next time, how about that?' Fynn replied laughing easily.

'Yes, maybe we can see more of the beach next time,' they both smiled at each other and Salantina got a warm feeling in her stomach.

'So, you really want to make plans to show me around more? Are you sure you aren't getting sick of seeing me?' He asked her playfully and put an arm around her. Her heart rate sped up then.

'Not yet, but I'll let you know how I feel in a few days,' she replied and playfully pushed him a little. He laughed - a sound she loved.  When she looked back at him again, he pushed her fringe out of her eyes.

'You're beautiful you know,' he said and without a word, he leaned in and kissed her gently. Surprise turned to desire and she kissed him back a little more aggressively than she intended at first until following his lead.  After a few minutes, Fynn pulled back and they put their foreheads together.

'I really like you, Salantina.'

'I like you too.'