Author's Note:

A brand new story! Yay! This story was actually inspired by one of mailiflower's drawings on DeviantART. You should check her out; her drawings are awesome! i also have a deviantART by the name of JazzieMarieTV. Hope you enjoy this story. Thanx for reading ~Jazzie

Lives In Peril

A Tragic Stephano Fanfic by MochaIceCream

Chapter One: A Need For Swimming Lessons

A new month has begun. Lifeguards were to return to their jobs as pools and beaches reopened for summer. The sun was shining, the waters were warm, and today was a great day for a trip to the recreational center pool in Henderson, Nevada.

Taryn's POV:

"Maya, let's go already! It's 12:00!"

Maya Redwood was my best friend, but she was always so slow when coming to going somewhere.

"Hold on a second! I need to go the bathroom!"

I let out a big sigh and plop down on the couch. Why she was so slow and unprepared, I don't know. I hear the toilet flush and I get up again. The bathroom door opens.

"Okay, I'm ready."

I grab the towels and sunscreen and head outside.

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The hot sun burns my eyes through my sunglasses, and a wet hand touches my shoulder.

"You should really get swimming lesson Taryn. Then you could hang out with the rest of us." Maya says.

I shake my head.

"I don't need swimming lessons Maya. I'm fine with tanning."

She cocks her head to the side and raises her eyebrows.

"Oh really, because there's a really cute lifeguard over there who'll probably teach you." She points over to the lifeguard.

I take my sunglasses off and squint my eyes to avoid the sun getting in my eyes. He was really cute, I mean, he had a stunning gold tan, long bronze hair tied back into a ponytail, and shiny bronze eyes. His colors were almost statue-like.

"He is kinda cute."

"I'm sure he'll teach you, or you can fake drown."

"Um, Maya, I will be drowning."

"Even better! C'mon, let's go."

She leads me through the crowd of children just dying to jump in the water, which wasn't allowed. Maya sits down on the pavement next to the lifeguard and slides in. She takes my hand.

"C'mon, you can do this. It's easy."

I look back at the lifeguard, who was watching us.

"I don't know if I can do this, I mean, what if I really do drown?"

"You won't, trust me."

"Oh, you know I can't trust you anymore. Remember what happened to our science project?"

"I don't wanna talk about that. Anyways, this is a totally different situation."

She pulls me in and the water rises to my chin.

"Oh my god!" I yell.

I turn around and pull myself back onto the pavement.

"Maya! What was that for?"

She laughs.

"Not funny!" I pout.

"I thought it was pretty funny."

I look back, and the lifeguard is smiling and giggling. He said that didn't he? He jumps down form the tall chair. He was slightly taller than me, but he didn't look like he was in his 30's yet.

"I'm Stephano. Who are you two?"

"I'm Maya!" Maya quickly says.

"I'm Taryn." I say, not as jumpy as Maya said it.

"Have you ever not swam before Taryn?"

I give him a questioning look.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm still learning better English. I'm originally from France."

"Well that makes more sense." Maya mutters.

Her friend taps her on the shoulder and she chases after him.

"No, I've never really been swimming before."

"But you're like 17? Aren't you?"

"19." I correct him.

He nods.

"I can offer you private lessons if you want. I'll be your teacher."

I think about it for a minute, and then decide on my final answer.

"Sure, I'll do it."

"Cool! Okay, so they're $7 a day and it provides a teacher, me of course," he stops to pose. "A private indoor pool, and an entrance ticket. Good deal right?'

"Yeah, so when can we start?"

"How about next Wednesday at 12:30?"

"Sounds great."