Between You & Me - By Marisa Calin Page 0,48

off his jacket, kicks off his shoes, and jumps in. When I hear him hit the water, I take a breath and swim back into the tank.

We meet under water. He smiles, his skin pale in the blue light, his white shirt clinging. It feels like slow motion. He reaches for me, puts his arms under mine, and pulls me up. We burst through the surface of the water.

Lily gasps for air, spluttering. Bobby rolls her up and onto the side of the pool, and climbs out beside her. Kneeling down, he wipes her wet hair away from her face. She opens her eyes and everyone crowds forward but Bobby puts up his hands.

BOBBY

Give her some space!

LILY

Bobby?

After a few moments, people start to retreat inside and there is quiet. Lily slowly props herself up on her elbows. She puts her hand to her head. Bobby, still dripping, smiles at her.

BOBBY

When I said I’d have you home by midnight, I pictured you alive.

She reaches for him and wraps her arms around his neck, still struggling to clear her throat.

LILY

Let’s go home.

A few lights inside the house go off. The glistening surface of the water lies still. Bobby puts his jacket around her shoulders and picks her up. Blackout.

DRESSING ROOM. FIVE MINUTES LATER.

Wet hair, clothes clinging to me, I stand in front of Mia. She reaches out and hugs me even though I’m soaking. I am very much me again. I hope I’ll remember exactly how this feels when it’s over. She holds my shoulders and puts me at arm’s length, patches of damp left across her chest and arms.

MIA

You were brilliant. Even better than I could have hoped.

There’s a knock at the door and it’s you. There are voices beyond you but you squeeze through and close it behind you. Your smile is intense.

YOU

Phy!

That’s all, just “Phy,” and it’s better than a million words. You hug me. With you, I forget that my clothes are still wet. You’re the first to step away and we’re still smiling when I notice Mia moving toward the door. I turn to tell her to stay but she gives me a final nod of approval and, with a farewell wave, I watch her go. Mom appears in her place. She looks at me with new pride in her eyes. See you at home, my star, she says as she leaves. Cara’s face is the next to appear.

CARA

F-ing genius! You can be in my movie any day.

She sends me a kiss and you follow her out. Elated, I change out of my wet clothes. I have this sense of achievement that I’ve never had before. I’m warm and dry—except for my hair, eyes still pink and hazy from the mixture of water and makeup—when you reappear. You’re sitting by the mirror, talking about the effect the swimming-pool scene had, and behind you again is Mia. She beckons me to her.

MIA

I want to show you something.

I swing on my coat and follow her backstage. She pulls the curtain open a crack. There at the edge of the stage is a crowd of fifth graders, craning to see into the pool. “How did she do it?” “She held her breath.” “I could do it.” Pleased, I draw back through the curtain and Mia smiles. She tugs my coat around me in the dim light and begins to button it, saying something about staying warm with my hair wet but I’m watching her hands and I don’t fully hear.

MIA

Are you ready to head out? Shall we walk?

You appear from the dressing room and I gesture for you to follow us. You shake your head.

YOU

Go ahead. I’ll see you later.

I falter but Mia has already started toward the foyer so I skip to catch up.

THEATER COURTYARD. SOON AFTER.

Together in the darkness, Mia and I cross toward the main school building. It’s a fresh clear night but I don’t feel the cold. My heart is warm. Time spent in darkness feels like a dream, like it might not have happened at all. Mia pulls her coat tighter around her, the silhouette I can recognize a mile away. She’s leaving at the end of the semester. I wonder how clearly I’ll be able to picture her face when she’s gone. Tonight, the feeling doesn’t fill me with concern. Something has changed this evening and right now I can’t tell if it’s resignation or if I’m just not scared to think of a world without Mia anymore. We cut through school and head