“Loosen up you’ll do fine you’ll see.” Lena gave me one of her smiles of support. While I silently pleaded to God that by some miracle the fire alarm would go off or maybe my head would get decapitated, either one would be preferable at the moment; but it didn’t look like I was going to be seeing either of those things happen to me . . . unfortunately. I looked around the swimming pool area seeing many small groups of High schoolers lounging around the pool. “I’m not sure I want to see whether I do good or not. There actually are reasons why I don’t take the swimming class.” I said. “Oh really it had nothing to do with trying not to drool over the y boy bodies.” I swear sometimes I want to cut off her lips so she can’t smirk at me anymore. “Funny, very funny. Now here is the catch I almost, almost have forgotten that I have to climb up to the high diving board and almost fall to my real death not because of your sarcasm—” “Your babbling and don’t worry even if you fall Jenny Mr. Caruthers knows you can’t swim and are terrified of the water so he’ll be prepared.” Why me? Is all I ever want to know where the hell is a lightning bolt when you need one? One Mississippi . . . Two Mississippi . . . Three Mississippi— “Terrance Sarajanas!” Mr. Caruthers is already in the S’s; guess what that means! I’m next. “You did tell Mr. Caruthers that you can’t swim right?” Her expression turned suddenly grim. “It might have come up at some point I don’t know.” Seeing right between the lines. She frowned. “What is wrong with you?! You need to tell him now! It's not like it's hard.” “Lena, Jenny! Omigawwwwwd! You won’t believe—” Michelle began but was cut off abruptly by Mr. Caruthers as she barreled into Lena. Who knew I could love someone so much in that moment yet be so devastated. “Jennifer-Quach!” Mr. Caruthers shouted. I quickly left Lena and Michelle grabbing onto the ladder leading up to the high dive. Firmly gripped I climbed up trying not to look down as I climbed to my death. “Jenny! Wai—” Lena yelled after me. I stopped dead in my tracks. “Miss Lena is there something you’d like to say or need help with. Lena hesitated before answering. “No Sir.” And that was the end of that. I turned back to start climbing my hands already sweaty as I repositioned my grip. Well let’s hope I don’t fall to my death before I reach the high board. When I reached the top it took all of my strength not to vomit. I slowly inched myself across the board as it flexed beneath me. Shakily, I steadied and balanced myself on the flimsy board—as I took big gulping breaths of chlorine to calm myself and let the words of the poem I had prepared flow through my mind.

Love is cunning

Love is Decieful Flowers for the fool who finds comfort in Love For Love is cuinnng 

I jumped up and down and was sure to keep my balance as I stopped. Now I get to walk back across the board! Yippee. I refused to look down as my fear came washing back drowning out the applause of everyone. “Well done Miss Quach!” I turned to walk back to the ladder but I was stuck there’s no way in hell I could turn without being terrified of falling. Oh Great. “Is something wrong Jennifer?” “She’s terrified of water and she can’t swim.” Lena called out. But before I could react (figures) I fell onto my stomach, my adrenaline suddenly kicking in forcing me to wrap my arms around the board in an awkward position. Did I mention I screamed? I shrieked in fear while my cheek was flat against the board as it was flexing down toward the water. “Jenny!” I clung to the board for dear life feeling myself start to slip. That’s when I hear my savior’s voice. “Jenny, don’t panic take deep breaths.” I immediately obeyed him not missing the Korean accent. “Okay now reposition yourself and slide your knees out of the way and re-grip the side of the board.” I slowly cautiously did so where I was finally able to look at the boy. I glimpsed at him with strained eyes his skin was a fair white with brown hair. He looked very familiar but I was to scared to scan his face through my brain. “Okay now gently and slowly wriggle yourself up.” I did so. “Now I’m gonna meet you half-way.” He started walking on the board and it bent even more. “No! Please don’t I’m scared!” “It’s okay you’ll be fine.” He walked towards me and suddenly there were strong arms on my arms hauling me up. I immediately out of fear leaped to his arms. As soon as we were back at the platform I went limp in relief in his arms. But as soon as I returned my eyes to his face my stomach quenched in humiliation, horror, and embarrassment hold on I’ve got a list. Now knowing why his face looked so familiar now that I think of it his voice was also familiar that face and Korean accent belonged to Lee Taemin. Member of SHINee one of the hottest boy bands alive at the moment; Taemin also being my favorite of them all. Taped and hanging on my walls at home were plenty of posters of him. Already trembling in fear, he smiles one of his famous dazzling smiles at me and I almost melt. “Jenny!” Michelle and Lena ran to me in a panic as soon as we got down the ladder. Taemin let me go making sure I was still intact. It couldn’t have been any worse because my day could only get better from here on out. I chewed on my lip. “Girl I could shake you so bad right now.” She smiled at me, but I was already shaking bad enough on my own. “A-hem, Mr. Lee thank you.” Mr. Caruthers stood awkwardly to the side. As I whispered a thanks to Taemin. “Thanks.” He smiled his dazzling smile at me as I ran to the girls’ locker room so no one could see or hear my trembling sobs of terror. No one could know how really terrified and humiliated I was in that moment as I counted Mississippi’s to myself.