Chapter 03

There it was. After about five minutes of wondering around, we found the pool. It was fairly large considering the size of the mansion itself. We had to descend a flight of stairs to get to it. Og was a product of his generation, and he made it abundantly clear. An underground heated pool was pretty bad-ass.

"Duuuuuuude! This place is crazy!" Art3mis was in awe. I can't blame her, because it was. The décor was basic. A few chairs and tables were scattered about the room. The wall next to the door had plastic stands that held towels and various bits of swimming gear. There were goggles, ear plugs, nose plugs, even rubber flippers. Every little thing you might need for swimming was accounted for. Then it hit me.

"Umm, Arty. We have a small issue." It was kinda funny.

"Whats up? You have another surprise you'd like to share with the class?" She assumed it was personal.

I cleared my throat and spoke again. "In all of our excitement about our pool revelations." I made sure to point at Arty when I said "our." "We forgot about bathing suits. What are we gonna swim in, Arty?"

This caused Art3mis to pause, then the sly grin crept up. She moved closer and looked me dead in the eye. "Looks like we go naked then." Arty said in a low semi erotic tone. Then she winked at me.

All kinds of alarms rung in my head. I already had crazy emotions surrounding Art3mis. I often fantasized about being romantic with Arty. Up until this moment I hadn't realized it was a very likely reality. A part of me wanted to strip right then and there. But the teenage anti-social, Oasis addicted, pale, super shy me wasn't having it. Then Art3mis started laughing.

"Oh come on Wade. You really didn't think I was serious? Arty giggled. "I swear you got even whiter. Didn't think that was possible." She poked me a little in the arm. I feign offense. "Wooow, you know you're not exactly tan, right?" I take her arm and hold it against mine for comparison. "You know what? I think you're just a bit whiter than me." I take a step back, puffing myself up, ready to gloat. Then the unexpected happened.

The infamous 'they' always tell you to keep your guard up. Especially around a pool. My ego quickly dropped once I was fully submersed in water. Art3mis had actually pushed me in. I oriented myself and stood up. This was a new sensation. Being wet and fully clothed felt weird. Luckily it wasn't deep. The water only came up to my waist. I make my way to the nearest ladder. The whole time this was happening, Arty was doubled over in a fit of laughter, clearly enjoying herself. I would've been mad. Except that it was sort of funny, and it was Art3mis.

Arty stops laughing long enough for me to pull myself up the ladder. That doesn't last long though. She starts laughing all while trying to talk to me. "Y-y-you look like a-a wet-t RAT!" She shouted the last part at me. Unable to hold herself together. I was tempted to throw her in. But I was uncomfortable and wet. My revenge would come. It really was a dish best served cold.

Several moments passed until Art3mis stopped laughing. She grabbed a couple towels and threw them at me. I wrap one around my shoulders and waist, in attempt to save my dignity. Arty took pity on me and gave me a kiss. "Thanks for being a good sport." She tugged my hand and we were walking back up the stairs, presumably to my room for a change of clothes. Fortunately I wasn't dripping water everywhere. That would've been an awkward conversation with Og.

We walk to my room in silence, except for the giggle or two from Arty. Its cliché at this point but Art3mis' laugh made me melt. Did she know what effect her laugh had on me? Did I do things that she loved? Similar questions popped into my head.

The warm pool water ceased to be warm a few minutes ago. I was shivering a bit and only getting colder. Art3mis, ever so vigilant, picked up on this. "Oh I'm so sorry, Z. I shouldn't have pushed you in. It was spur of the moment, and I thought it would be funny, you were making fun of me, you were just standing right there..." Art3mis was rambling. It was cute. I could probably drag this out for a while but I wouldn't let the girl suffer. Arty continued to ramble until she stopped, red in the face and covering it. "Ugh, I'm such a flibbertigibbet!" Now she was annoyed with herself. Our first encounter was similar, so nothing I haven't heard before.

My skin was getting colder but I was in "boyfriend" mode now. I stand close to Arty and grab her hands. Her face was down so I couldn't see it. In my calmest voice I speak. "You are are not a flibbertigibbet. You are an extremely passionate woman, Sam. I'm very very lucky to know you. Please don't feel bad for being yourself, because that's the person I fell in love with. Never change, Arty." I kiss the top of her head, then she hugs me tightly, not caring about getting her clothes wet. All of a sudden I wasn't cold anymore. Art3mis' hug had warmed me to the core. I bet she felt the same.

"I don't deserve you, Wade. You really are a mystical creature. No one else in the whole world is as kind as you are. Thank you for not flaking out. I know I would If I saw me." Art3mis was crying now. She clearly had self esteem issues. I knew she did but I wouldn't let that detour me. Sam was the most beautiful person to me. Body and soul. I had to let her know that.

"I get it, Arty. My whole life I thought that no one cared about me. I was alone Sam. I thought I would die without someone to grieve over me. That I would just wither away and be forgotten. People can be so shallow. Its disgusting how people treat others just because they don't have the perfect flawless body. But its actually our flaws that make us unique. I love everything about you, Sam. I know its tough to hear, but you shouldn't hide. We hid in the Oasis and I'm tired of hiding. I want to be with you. I want you to be happy and I want it to be me that does that." I was actually proud of myself. I managed to confess some more feelings without looking like an idiot. But would it work?

Yeah, I know. It's been several months since the last update. I actually wrote this and never uploaded it. I consider it incomplete, but the movie made me love these two characters again. So I felt like sharing.

Many thanks to everyone that favorited and commented on AFK. All of you were gentle reminders not to give up.

I'll see you soon.