Poolside

Poolside By J.M. Snyder Perched in the lifeguard’s chair high above the college’s Olympic-sized swimming pool, Kevin Chase stared across the water and kept an eye on the students splashing below. He’d grown used to the summery smell of chlorine and raucous shouts that echoed off the tiled walls. Now only an hour from the end of his shift, he held his whistle in his fist and twirled its lanyard around and around his hand, first one way, then the other. Only an hour, and then he’d close the pool and have the place to himself. Sure, he had practice tomorrow with the rest of the swim team, but he savored the opportunity to get in a few extra laps with no one else in his way. The gym doors squeaked open and boyish laughter drifted in as a handful of young men pushed each other into the pool room. Tell me that isn’t… Kevin lifted his sunglasses to get a better look. s**t. Danny Santos. Suddenly he wondered how suspicious it would be if he dived off the chair to hide in the water below. Danny. Here. Tonight. Why?