Let's Go Swimming!

The water was still cold, but I was getting used to it. I lowered my shivering chest into the water, allowing myself to grow more comfortable. It took a little longer than I had expected, but Helen was right next to me, doing the exact same thing. The little bit of macho I did possess was not going to let me give up before she did.

I tried a small breaststroke, which helped somewhat. At least my muscles generated a little heat as I did so. I moved again, propelling myself through the water with casual strokes. It got easier after a bit, the crisp water an interesting contrast to the warm air. I broke into a full freestyle, moving to where the water was deeper.

I ducked my head, and took a few strokes toward the bottom. I kept my eyes open, the blurry vista of the rocks and sand a study in light green. For a moment, my gaze lingered on a shining copper coin that lay untouched by the algae. I swam along, before pushing off and breaking back into the bright light of the late morning.

I looked back to see Helen also swimming, her lithe body cutting through the water with ease. She was a vision of athletic grace, as she pulled up next to me, treading water, her hair wet and slicked.

"That'll wake you up." She grinned.

"Hell yeah." I returned her expression, and then glanced about. "Meet you over behind the big rock?" I nodded my head towards a large boulder I had seen earlier.

Helen didn't reply, merely taking her elegant strokes towards the rock. I followed after her, and soon we were once again in shallow water. I noted that from where we stood, chest deep in the shallows, we were out of sight of the others. The chill water swirled around us as we moved closer together.

"Got something in mind?" Helen asked, a suspicious expression on her face.

I kissed her. Her body was chilled, but felt warm in my arms as I pulled her into an embrace, and I was pleased when she didn't pull away, but rather kissed back, pressing herself back at me. My hand came up to rub along the back of her neck.

She stepped back after a moment, and turned to look to the left and the right. An amused smile came across her face.

"Ok, Still good. Normally I'd put on some music at this point." She nodded, stepping so that she was again close to me. "All we need now is a Cinderella album."

"I try. But uhm... Cinderella?" I smiled back at her, glad to see her happy. At that moment, the fact that she was happy seemed the most important thing in the world.

"Shhh... My secret vice. I like eighties hair bands..." She snickered, "I swear I thought that Tom Kiefer was a chick when I first heard them..."

I couldn't help myself, and broke into a quiet chuckle which she eagerly joined. It wasn't a horrible confession, just something I never would have pegged her for. The fact that she was sharing it with me was sweet. There was no other word for it, a sweet and romantic trust.

Helen ducked down, so that everything but her head was immersed in the pond. She looked up at me, and I too lowered myself into the water, steeling myself against the chill.

"Want to do a few laps?" She offered, looking towards the opposite shore.

"I'm not in the best shape." I admitted, looking at where she had indicated.

"Two laps then." She countered. "Ready?"

With a swift move she pushed off the bottom of the water and swam through the water with her long powerful forward pulls. I followed her, not nearly as proficient, but competently enough to avoid making a TOTAL ass of myself.

I was barely able to keep up with her on the first crossing of the pond, and on the second, she left me far behind. When I finally stood up again back where we had started, she feigned a yawn, having been standing for almost a full minute.

"You win." I huffed, pulling a small clump of algae out of my hair.

"Wasn't a contest." She grinned, "I think that would be nice to get moving a bit."

"Well, I'm officially freezing." I joked, jerking my thumb in the direction of the beach.