Page 58 of Absorbed

After pulling into her shaded spot in The Plunge parking lot at 7:55, Stacey adjusted the rearview mirror to look at herself.She ran her fingers through her choppy pixie cut, sweeping her long bangs across her forehead so they hung onto her right cheek. Her eyes were rimmed with thick, black waterproof mascara and her eyebrows were perfectly plucked into thin high arches. She applied another coat of dark lip gloss, then fluffed her hair up in the back, and grabbed her case of CDs.

Coach Bob was flipping the lights on. When he saw Stacey he did his signature “wow” whistle, the same one he offered when reading impressive sports highlights in the newspaper. “New ‘do?”

Stacey smirked and nodded. “Mind if I put on music?” She held up herTragic KingdomCD.

“Go for it.” Bob gave a thumbs up. “You’re the early bird today. What’s your first pick?”

“Clean the deck?”

“It’s all yours. Mark said you had a rough time with the drain in the bathroom Saturday.”

Stacey scrunched her nose. “Yeah, thankfully he helped clear it. That was really gross.”

“And you had your first save?”

She shrugged.

“Good job, Chapman.” He put his hand up for a high five. “I guess we’ll have to keep you around.”

Stacey tapped her palm against Bob’s, then pushed play on the stereo. She picked up the bucket and trash-grabber and followed him outside. Bob went to the equipment room. No Doubt’s “Excuse Me Mr.” put a pep in Stacey’s step as she headed for the bleachers.

The guard shack door banged open. Jessie carried anti-bacterial powder into the boys’ restroom. His face was stern and his head was pulled back like he was annoyed. Melissa came out of the guard shack, equally irritated as she yanked the hose into the girls’ bathroom.

Stacey made her way around the deck, taking her time to collect every loose gum wrapper and empty pixie straw, then hosed it off while doing her best to ignore them both.

An hour later, humming along to “Happy Now,” Stacey added goggles and a toddler-sized T-shirt to the lost and found box in front of the guard shack.

Jessie and Melissa stomped out of their bathrooms to the left and right, coming straight at her. Stacey backed against the window, out of their way. The heavy industrial doors slammed behind them in unison. Jessie reached for the hose in Melissa’s hand. She dropped it at his feet. The trigger hit the ground and squirted water on his shirt.

“Frigid bitch,” Jessie muttered.

“Dumb prick.” Melissa put her hands on her hips and swung her long, sleek hair over her shoulder.

“What’s up, Stace?” Jessie asked, picking up the hose and flashing his smile at her. “I like your haircut. You look so…differentsince Friday. It’s kinda hot.”

Stacey crossed her arms, glaring at him.

“You, too? What the… Did Melissa say something to you?”

“What makes you think I said anything?” Melissa asked. “Stacey’s smart enough to know you’re a hit-it-and-quit-it dickhead without my help.”

Stacey leaned her head back and shook her head.

“Stacey, it’s not like that!” Jessie touched her elbow.

Stacey pulled her arm away. “Don’t touch me. Don’t ever touch me again.”

“What the fuck?” He threw up his hands. “You’re both nuts.”

Bob stepped out from the chemical room on the far side of the pool. Pointing down into the deep end, he shouted across the water. “One of you needs to clean this drain ASAP. The other two, get up in the towers. We open in three minutes.” He turned back to the loud pumps and valves behind him.

“I’ve got the drain,” Melissa said. “Jessie’s not good with anything too deep.”

“Shut up, Melissa.” Jessie stormed toward the deep-end tower.

Melissa walked away, crossing one foot in front of another as if she were on a catwalk. She lifted her right middle finger over her shoulder and sang along with Gwen Stefani’s high-pitched chorus.

“All by yourself.”

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