"You often use that nickname," I persist, and he chuckles. "I'm not attempting to belittle you," he reassures me, his hand on my hip causing my thoughts to cloud. I sneak a quick glance at him, and despite the darkness, his green eyes are captivating. "Even though I'm aware you don't hold me in high regard, I appreciate everything you've done," I mumble, and he shakes his head. "Julianna, if I didn't like you, I wouldn't have gone to such lengths," he admits, and my eyes widen. "I understand I haven't done much to make you happy since you moved in. I just struggle with people," he confesses, sounding somewhat upset. "I know it's not a valid excuse, but there's something I want you to know." "Alright," I say slowly, and he nods. "I'm aware people may have told you that I hop from one girl to another, using them, and that I'm a promiscuous man who sleeps around," he begins in a hushed tone, and I sigh. "That's not true," he asserts in a whisper, and I blink in surprise. "What about

I hadn't really known how to approach Kent since Saturday. What happened had a more significant impact on me than I had anticipated. We had been on the verge of kissing, but I had never felt that way around guys before. It was an entirely new sensation. Nonetheless, it was better to leave it unspoken. I needed to move forward and put it behind me. I should attempt to normalize my interactions with Kent, but not just yet. As we walked home, I found myself at a loss for words. "You're awfully quiet," he remarked, and I simply shrugged, feeling somewhat apprehensive. "It's been a long day, and the humidity at the pool makes me want to crawl into bed," I replied in a hushed tone. "You didn't have to walk me home." "I thought it was the right thing to do," he reasoned. Late at night, he always offered to accompany me home, which was thoughtful. "You always seem to be there to walk me home," I chuckled. Upon arriving home, I swung the door open, kicked off my shoes, and tossed my ID o

When Brendon returns, I feel anxious but try to recall what I know. "I'm Julianna, Lauren. Can I assist you?" She nods weakly. "Is there an Epi-pen in this room?" She gasps, and I glance at the group of kids she's with, who are standing nearby. The other lifeguards had already ushered everyone else back to the changing room. Who among them would know where Lauren's Epi-pen was? As I raise my voice, one of the girls steps forward with wide eyes, asking, "Does she have an Epi-pen?" "I-I didn't know Lauren had this condition," she murmurs softly, her eyes on the verge of tears. "Alright, calm down. This is not your fault," I reassure her. "Could you please check her locker?" She quickly nods and hurries away, leaving me feeling anxious. Lauren is struggling to breathe, her face reddening and purpling. "I'm here," Brendon says as he approaches. "Is there anything I can do to help?" "Is there an Epi-pen in here?" I inquire, but he shakes his head as if uncertain. "I'm not sure," he

I could have easily drifted off to sleep there because I felt incredibly at ease with him. Surprisingly, after the events of today, I expected Kent to drive me up the wall, but he turned out to be kind. I hadn't noticed it before, but there was a softer side to him that had never been apparent until tonight, especially. When I felt ready, he released me, and I shook my head before heading back to my room. After taking off my pinnie, I grabbed some warm clothes to change into and then made my way to the bathroom. I undressed in the shower, letting the warm water wash away the chlorine. I tried to act as though nothing had happened, but my efforts were futile. The sadness crept in while I was in the shower, so I turned up the heat in an attempt to drown it out. After drying off and getting dressed, I left the bathroom wearing cozy socks, a long-sleeved shirt, and sweatpants. I was surprised at how late it had become, but I had arrived home after seven, spent an hour talking to Kent, a

I relish the scent of Kent's T-shirt and his room as I drift off to sleep. How close we are, and how he opens up to me. I wish he could be like this all the time. I don't usually get this warm when I sleep, but I wake up feeling sweaty. I attempt to open my eyes and discover that I'm still snuggled up with Kent, who's holding me tightly. I'm still quite tired. I didn't sleep at all last night until I came here, and after that rescue mission, I'm physically exhausted. I steal a glance at him, and I notice that he's wide awake, gazing up at the ceiling. However, as soon as he senses me moving, he looks back at me. "Hey, Julianna," he whispers, causing my stomach to flutter. My favorite version of him is Morning Kent, with tousled hair, the beginnings of a beard, and kind eyes. He looks more like the boy next door than a mean person. "Hi," I reply quietly. We both wait for one of us to make a move, but neither of us does. Right now, it's just the two of us, and it makes me happy.