6

Matthew finished his freshman year with a grin plastered across his face. It went much, much better than he could ever have anticipated. He had even taken a day off from work, to take Kat to the pool. They always went on dates on Sundays, and the previous one she had asked to go swimming, since the weather was fair and the sun shone warmly.

Matthew lounged on the chair, ready to take some driver's Ed classes over the summer. He schedule stayed the same, but instead of school he would be on the road. He couldn't wait to take Kat wherever he pleased. She was the fabled school sweetheart that would last forever. He could feel it in his bone marrow, vibrating like a can of angry bees.

He applied a copious amount of sunscreen and watched Kat swim leisurely through the nearly vacant pool. A few kids splashed around in the corner, but most other teenagers were at parties or at the mall, or on vacation if they were lucky enough.

Kat stopped at the edge of the pool, her hair darkened by the water and sticking to her face. She giggled.

"Matthew, come in already."

"Can't, the sunscreen says not to go in right away."

"You aren't that light-skinned."

"You'd be surprised." He blew her a kiss. She reached up and 'caught' it.

"Come in already," Kat whined. Eventually Matthew agreed. He slid into the water, wary of the sun's sting. Kat grabbed onto his shoulder and wrapped her legs around his waist. He swan along, carrying her, and trying not to look as though she was weighing him down. He felt slightly embarrassed of his lack of muscle. He could feel her body pressed to his and felt a stirring in his stomach. It was strange. Besides his accidental glance at her cleavage, he had never really felt anything about her body. Her personality and beauty and simply her for her was all he looked towards. He was constantly jeered at for that.

Though, the girls all developed crushes on him. Whether it was because his acne had cleared up or he was with Katrina, he couldn't tell.

But now, with the silky water flowing between them and her warm body against his, he felt a sudden, nasty urge. He tried to shake it off by talking with Kat.

"So, how do you plan to spend your summer?"

She thought about it, playing with his hair, and not helping his situation.

"I'm not taking driver's Ed until next year, but I think I will hang around friends, read, be with you… Has your work load lightened?"

"No."

"Oh of course not," she didn't say it unkindly.

"I'm sorry,"

"No need," she kissed his neck. He nearly jerked away. "I still haven't met your brother."

Maybe the truth would take his mind off of the fire in his loins.

"Um, Kat, about him…"

She grinned.

He saw it in her reflection, glimmering in the sunlit pool.

"Kat?"

"Yes?"

"Why are you grinning like you know something?"

"I'm just happy you're finally coming clean."

"Why should I? You obviously already know!" As he had planned, the fire was extinguished and replaced by a forbidding iceberg in his chest.

"I don't know anything. I'm waiting for you to explain yourself."

"Well, Kat, Alfred, my brother, he's in jail."

"What?" Kat let go of him, bobbing back slightly. The water came up to her neck. Her eyes flooded with tears.

"Why are you sad, Kat?" He frowned.

"G-go on."

"Um, well, he's in jail because he accidentally hurt somebody, but I don't think he really did it. I think he was falsely accused. Anyway, he left me alone and now I have to work a bunch of jobs to keep up with the rent. Even if it is a shabby place…"

"Then how are you planning to take driving classes? To pay for them, I mean." She reached for his hand but he twitched away.

"That's what the legal letter said, the one you found some time ago. It gave me a little bit of money and some help. That's all. I had to push and shove for it, though."

She nodded, sinking lower into the pool, so her lips were below.

"Kat?"

Tears slid down her cheeks and into the pool water.

"Don't cry, Kat."

"I can't help it. I'm sending you all the money I have."

"Don't! We've been over this, Kat."

"Mat…"

He kissed her forehead. "Come on, let's not let this ruin our fun." He held her hands and pulled her through the water.