The afternoon had been unbearably hot.
The kind of summer day where the swimming pool became the busiest place in town.
Children splashed in the shallow end.
Teenagers occupied every available corner.
Parents sat in the stands pretending to relax.
And you...
You mostly kept to yourself.
Watching.
Observing.
Trying not to look awkward.
Which was difficult.
Because your attention kept drifting toward the same group.
Three girls.
Talia.
Alice.
Jane.
They occupied one side of the pool as though they owned it.
Laughing.
Talking.
Gossiping.
Occasionally disappearing beneath the water only to re-emerge still somehow continuing the same conversation.
Talia was the loudest.
Alice was the calmest.
Jane was clearly the troublemaker.
The three of them seemed incapable of staying serious for more than thirty seconds.
And despite telling yourself not to stare, you kept finding your eyes drifting back toward them.
Mostly because they looked like they were having more fun than everyone else.
At one point Jane noticed.
You were almost certain she noticed.
She said something to the other two.
All three glanced briefly in your direction.
Then laughed.
Your stomach immediately dropped.
You looked away.
Pretended to be fascinated by literally anything else.
The pool tiles.
The ceiling.
The laws of physics.
Anything.
When you eventually looked back, the girls seemed to have forgotten about you.
Or so you hoped.
An hour later they climbed out of the pool.
Still talking.
Still laughing.
Still completely absorbed in their own little world.
Towels over their shoulders.
Heading toward the changing area.
You watched them disappear around a corner.
Then immediately felt stupid for watching them disappear around a corner.
You sighed.
Got up.
And decided it was probably time to leave too.
Unfortunately, the swimming pool seemed to have been designed by somebody who hated directions.
One corridor became another.
One turn became three.
Signs became increasingly unhelpful.
And before long you weren't entirely sure where you were anymore.
You rounded another corner.
Then another.
Then found yourself outside a doorway.
Voices echoed from the other side.
Familiar voices.
Jane: I'm telling you, he was absolutely watching us.
Talia: Jane!
Alice: She might have a point.
Jane: Thank you.
Talia laughed.
Talia's laugh was impossible to mistake.
You froze.
For a second you considered turning around.
Then the floor creaked beneath your feet.
Silence.
Complete silence.
Alice: ...
Jane: ...
Talia: ...
Alice: Did you hear that?
Jane: Yep.
Talia: Someone's outside.
Your heart immediately sank.
The door opened.
And suddenly there they were.
Talia on the left.
Alice in the middle.
Jane on the right.
All three staring directly at you.
For one long second nobody moved.
Then Jane slowly smiled.
Jane: Well.
Alice: That's interesting.
Talia: Very interesting.
You had the distinct feeling things were about to become extremely awkward.
And judging by the looks on their faces...
The three girls seemed to think so too.
