H2O (Open)

[Reira]

Splash
Splash

Reira sat on the edge of the pool with nothing but her feet in the water. A white towel was wrapped around her body, so that it was completely covered. She didn't know why the heck she was here. It was a pool. Reira + water = Drown. A long sigh escaped her lips. She knew perfectly well why she was here.

Her mother was a award winning surfer. Samara was well known in Hawaii for her impervious surfing skills. Of course her mother loved everything about the water and that was why Reira was here. She missed her mother...and if she grew an affinity for loving water, perhaps it would make her feel closer to her mother.

Pfft..yeah right! This is stupid..I can't even swim that well. I should just get the heck out of here! But that would be giving up, I hate giving up...ugh..

Splash
Splash

The pool itself was rather nice, she concluded. It was big, much bigger then any other pool she had ever visited (which was rare) There was a hotub behind her, towards the deep end there was a diving board, and a rope swing.

Sighing, she said to herself quietly. "God forbid the day I ever swim in the deep end."

[Darien]

Darien ran and dove expertly into the deep end of the pool, hardly more than a splash escaping the water as his body sliced into it with professionalism. He broke the surface, his black hair, now sopping wet, shining in the light that hung above them. He went to the wall, and began swimming from end to end of the pool, five times in a row, before stopping for a regular breather at the deep end. He looked over to the girl whose feet were in the water, giving a small grin.

"You getting in?" He asked politely.

He wondered briefly if maybe she couldn't swim, since it looked to him like she had no intention of getting wet any time soon. But if you didn't want to get wet, why come to the pool in the first place, right? He wondered if she would tell him if she didn't want to swim, or if she would just play it off like she was going to get in later. Ether way didn't much matter to him. Not unless she actually couldn't swim, in which case he would offer his assistance, such as it was.

[Reira]

"You getting in?"

Reira blinked, snapping out of her chain of thought as she realized the question was directed at her. Well of course it would be directed at her, she was the only one not in the water after all. She had noticed the boy before. He occupied himself doing laps across the pool and he looked to be an exceptional swimmer.

"Um well...I'll get in..maybe..I'm just not the strongest swimmer that's all."

More like a pathetic swimmer. Well maybe she was being a little too hard on herself. She could doggie paddle...if that counted for anything. If only she was more like her mother, being a pro surfer must be interesting.

I'm not that pathetic..swimming can't be that hard!

She let her towel slip off her body, revealing a black bikini, and immediately after pushed herself into the water. If she didn't do it quick, she would've had time to change her mind. Reira was seated in the middle of the pool, so the water easily went over her head. A little uneasy, she clung to the wall, looking very pathetic indeed.

Typical..very typical..and a boy is watching me too..ugh

[Darien]

Darien smiled as she got into the pool, clinging to the side like it was her only lifeline. It was actually rather cute, and, instead of waiting for her to get embarrassed or something, swam over to her and clutched the side right beside her. He had a grin on his face, then pushed a little off the wall so he was a foot or so away from it and treaded water. He turned the grin into a serious face, then spoke.

"Here, watch me. Watch how i alternate my arms and kick my feet, turning my head and breathing to the right and left as i raise each arm."

He took off slowly, swimming well, but also exaggerating his movements so the girl could get a good look at what he did and how he did it. He swam to the other bank and back, then stopped beside her, taking a few easy breaths to regain any he may have lost. He went to his stomach and spoke out of the water.

"Look, see how i lift my arms and push through the water by alternating them? The water you push as you do that will keep your body in motion so you don't have to worry about suddenly stopping or going under. And while you use your arms to push yourself, kick with your feet, that way you'll have a little extra speed." He came back up so he was beside her.

"If you want, i can swim closely with you, and help you if you start to flail. And don't be embarassed, everyone has to learn sometime" He smiled again, hopeful at the possibility of a new friend.

[Reira]

Reira hid her cheeks under the water, until only her eyes were visible. As soon as she saw the grin on his face, her cheeks immediately went red in embarassment, he obviously knew that she sucked at swimming.

"Alright show me," she said with a slight smile, her wave of embarassment over for the moment.

She watched his form intently, as he moved his arms and legs alternitivly while his head turned from left to right to breath. She remembered people swimming like this, the actual name for it eluded her memory however, but it looked easy enough. Then again she reminded herself of a famous saying 'Easier said then done.'

"I think I know how to do it, but it would probably be a very good idea if you swam beside me," she said to him when he came back to be beside her. She was very glad he was here, she could never learn by herself that was for sure.

"I'm Reira by the way and thanks for trying to help me out," she said with a small smile.

Now was better then never she told herself, as she kicked her body from the safety of the pool wall. Her goal was the other wall. It wasn't that far...but it was far for her. Reira tried her best to copy the movements of the boy with a tad bit of difficulty. She felt like she was being swallowed by the water and she began to panick.

Ack! What now! I'm getting tired and I doubt I'm anywhere near the other wall....oh right! I remember my mother telling me if I ever got tired swimming to turn and swim on my back.

Arm and legs flailing wildly, Reira turned her body to float on her back, not realling knowing if the boy helped her or not..or if he was even anywhere near her. At least now she wasn't panicky anymore as she catched her breath.

[Austin]

Austin made his way to the pool having had a chance to get away. He hadn't seen Michelle in quite some time and since his two friends were her and the water, he decided to go with the water. Austin entered the pool area to see two kids already there, a boy and a girl. Austin didn't want to distract them so he kept his distance and went to the deep end and climbed up the diving board. He thought he'd jump in since it had been awhile.

Ok! It's been awhile since I dived. Man I can't remember how to get perfect form, but it's ok, I can make it look like perfect from when I land..... it's cheating but so what? Austin thought to himself as he stepped to the edge of the diving board. He took one good jump up and down on the board getting the motion and force that he needed, then took the jump up, forward, and downward, his hands in front of him (or more accurately below him) he went into the water, deciding only to use a little of his Qi. There would be very little splash if any, afterall, he wanted to preserve his Qi while getting a good work out.

He hit the bottom of the pool and stayed there for a second. He took in the peace, he took in the tranquility and the solitude. He took in everything, and then he realized he would need air eventually, and raised to the top to get a breath.

"I missed doing that...." He said to himself, hoping the acoustics of the room didn't carry his voice. He was shy with people he didn't know, but when it came between him and swimming, forget about it.

[Riley]

OOC: I don't even know why Riley is here, he's a ghost, since when do ghosts swim? But whatever.

Riley walked through the wall, entering into the pool area, as the sunlight shone through the window behind, reflecting off the water, and shining right through him. His hands in his jeans pockethe walked up to the edge of the pool, looking around, and spotting two guys whom he didn't recognize, and one girl, who he recognized. " Reira..." he said quietly, as he headed over the other side of the pool, the direction that Reira was currently swimming towards. He kept pace with her as she swam, though her expression clearly stated she was getting tired.

If anything happened to her and neither guys helped her, Riley would make them pay dearly. If all else failed, he could possess either one of their bodies and help her out. He reached the other side of the pool first and sat down on the edge, his legs curled up. He didn't really want to go into the water, besides, who ever heard of a ghost swimming? He grinned as Reira came closer, when she was close enough, he spoke. " Having fun? Your face says eitherwise." he joked. " You might want to use a kickboard next time. Of course, that's just me." he said, shrugging his shoulders casually and shaking his head, grinning at her again.

" And before you ask, don't ask me to come into the water, I'm not exactly dressed for it." he said, indicating at his clothes. " I'm more of the type to watch, though I will say, you look pretty good in a bikini." he laughed, she couldn't get him wet anyways, the water would just go right through him, and besides, she'd look pretty ridiculous splashing at nothing. He wrapped his arms around his legs, and continued watching her, think of him as an...guardian spirit of sorts.

[Reira]

"Having fun? Your face says otherwise. You might want to use a kickboard next time. Of course, that's just me." As soon as Reira heard that familiar voice, she lost her focus swimming on her back, and flailed her arms about, once again, swimming on her stomach. Luckily for her, she was close enough to the wall to grab onto it and take a proper, secure, rest.

"I don't suppose you have a kickboard handy, do you, Riley, my dear friend," she said with a joking grin. Of course she was speaking particularly quietly so that no one would hear her talking to him but herself. The boy that offered to teach her how to swim was still treading water, but soon enough he would be beide her once agian. And she didn't think the other boy could hear her either, he was too busily occupied with the diving board.

"And before you ask, don't ask me to come into the water, I'm not exactly dressed for it." he said, indicating at his clothes. "I'm more of the type to watch, though I will say, you look pretty good in a bikini."

"Wha.. Ack," she said, wrapping her arms around her chest area. She wasn't used to showing this much skin, not to mention showing this much skin in a black bikini. Hugging herself was a bad idea, because she soon felt her body begin to sink into the water. To her reluctance, she once again gripped the side of the wall, very self conscious with a small embarassed blush on her face.

"I'd ought to pull you into the water for that one. Don't forget that if I really wanted to, I can feel you physically just like any other person. So maybe I should knock you one in that head of yours," she said with a grin, obviously kidding. "I guess its time to stop talking to you. Too bad we couldn't speak to eachother in our minds, that way I wouldn't look like a freak talking to nothing but air when around other people."

Not that she didn't was to talk to Riley. It was just the fact that if other people saw her..well it would be hard to try to explain that she was talking to a spirit. Even harder for people to beleive she wasn't crazy. She watched her swimming teacher approaching her at a face pace, smiling once last time at Riley, she turned away from him to greet her makeshift swim instructor.

[Riley]

As soon as he had spoken, he saw Reira lose her focus and flail around for dear life. Luckily, she was close enough to the wall, so she grabbed on and hung off the edge. As soon as she was rested, she then spoke to him, quietly though."I don't suppose you have a kickboard handy, do you, Riley, my dear friend?" Riley grinned, and sighed sadly. " I'm afraid I don't, not unless you want me to make one float over." he replied. He grinned when he saw her reaction to his compliment, "Wha.. Ack."

He began to laugh as she wrapped her arms around her, in doing so, she lost her grip on the edge, but quickly grabbed on again. " Calm down, I'm not going to stare, so you can relax." he said, still laughing. "I'd ought to pull you into the water for that one. Don't forget that if I really wanted to, I can feel you physically just like any other person. So maybe I should knock you one in that head of yours."

His grin turned into a smirk, " I'm hurt, really," he said, his hand over his heart, " But I forgive you anyways." He looked up and saw the guy that had been teaching swim over, and he knew his time with her was up. "I guess its time to stop talking to you. Too bad we couldn't speak to eachother in our minds, that way I wouldn't look like a freak talking to nothing but air when around other people."

He nodded, sad but true. " Not unless you want me possessing someone, then we could talk without you looking like you've gone nuts." Riley said, as he watched her swim off, but not before smiling at him once more. He smiled contently, he really was happy just watching.

[Austin]

Ok they aren't paying too much attention to me... that's good. That means I should be able to do this without getting caught..... Austin thought to himself as he submerged in the water all the way to the bottom of the deep end, setting himself down on the surface, his back against the wall of the pool. He began bringing air bubbles down to himself. If they noticed anything, it would be that the water would have dents in it, which would turn into air bubbles, which would then sink down. From that far off they probably wouldn't be able to make out the fact that somebody was at the bottom of the deep end.

So far I have a friend who is psychic, who trusts me, and I trust her. Now all I have to manage is for one of my friends not to be killed for once in my life. As long as I can do that, we'll be solid. Now.... are these people trustworthy? Maybe I could make friends with them.... one's an extremely pretty girl wearing very little... I don't think I'd have the courage to remain conscious around her.... the other boy possibly. He seems nice enough. But everybody is here for a reason.... unless they are like me....

Austin meditated further, bringing down air bubbles, and occasionally opening his eyes under the water. He liked the peace he had at the bottom of the pool, and it was also very good training for his Qi abilities. He knew all the different things he could do with them in any situation, which gave him so much more power then he really had physically.

[Darien]

Well now, this was interesting.

His eyes had caught the male as he entered the pool, and while he watched to see what he was doing, he lost track of reira trying to swim to the other side. She made it, though barely, and began to move her lips slightly as though trying to be extra quiet. He swam over to her, smiling as he did so. He reached her quickly, then treaded water next to her, looking over the area she had been talking to.

"Taken to talking with walls, Are we?" He said playfully. He had no idea that there was a ghost near him, nor would he even think of such a thing. He indicated back the way she had come.

"Nice bit, there. Ive seen better, but Ive also seen worse." He stopped grinning. "Next time, alternate slower, and in tune and repetition. Make the strokes smoother, let your hands sort of flatten, like an oar, and push the water with them." He treaded away from her a ways. "Here, cmon, ill help you this time." Once she began trying to swim, he would reach under her, placing his hand on her flat stomach to help her stay above water. It wasn't anything past that, and he didn't even think about it as he did so.

Once she started trying again, he would correct her along the way, refining her technique as he helped her stay a float. It didn't take much strength, since the water helped him with that, and she was light to begin with. Once they reached the other side, they would head back again, his hand on her stomach until they reached halfway, in which case he would keep it under water as though he were still holding her, but wouldn't be touching her body, that way her mind would let her body do the work.

[Reira]

(ooc: I'm just going to assume Reira knows Dariens's name. Seeing as how she told him her name and it would make it easier for me to post useing 'Darien' instead of the boy lol)

Reira just rolled her eyes at Riley's last comment. Her spirit friend seemed very witty today, only encourageing her own wittiness to emerge. Of course her witty lille mood didn't last very long as it was soon shattered when she heard Darien. "Talking with walls, Are we?" She didn't see him approach her and was a somewhat startled when he surfaced beside. Luckily for her, she held back a cringe.

Oh no..don't tell me he heard me! Um..an excuse..gotta make up a good excuse.

"Ahaha..yeah..the wall listened with sincere sympathy as I conplained about how utterly hopeless I am at swimming. Not to mention how bad my form is," she said jokingly. A person could mutter to themselves in dissapointment right? She made sure not to look over at Riley's direction again for the time being.

After she had fully recovered, she listened carefully as Darien explained what she had done wrong, and what she could try better. She nodded at him, as he moved away from her, encouraging her to swim. Once again she kicked herself off the wall and began..this time with more confidence then before. The confidence boost came from his hand on her stomach, letting her know that she wouldn't be drowning.

She thought she was fairing pretty well. There were the odd mistakes now and then that Darien corrected along the way. They made it to the other wall and as soon as she touched it, she took a small breather and continued to swim back again, but this time as soon as she hit center, she felt Darien's hand leave her stomach. She knew he was nearby, but that immediate safety she felt left momentarily. Almost losing control, she quickly righted herself and made it back to the wall.

"Wow..swimming takes a lot more out of you then I would have thought!" she said with a small laugh, clinging to the wall. Her eyes examined the pool and the length of that she just swam. Good thing no one was really here to witness it. Only Riley, Darien and that other boy...come to think of it where was that other boy. Wasn't he one the diving board last? ...where is he now?

"Hey, did you happen to see the other boy leave? Because I haven't seen him resurface for a while..do you think?" This question was directed to both Riley and Darien.

[Darien]

Darien smiled.

"Its a lot of work, but you did well. Keep practicing and youll have it down before you know it." Good. He made a new friend. A new friend who brought up an interesting point. What DID happen to that boy from earlier? He looked around, then back at Reira. He shrugged.

"I have no clue what happened to him"

He wondered why she had that look in her eye, like she knew something he didnt. He leaned up against the edge of the pool, a questioning from coming over his face.

"Sorry, but i was wondering, is something wrong? You seem like you know something and your not filling me in" He smiled politly. "Not that you have to tell me anything, im more or less...curious, so to speak." He wanted to know what had happened to that boy, but he was more intrigued by the girls obvious display of knowledge.

He continued leaning against the pool embankment, waiting for a reply.

OOC(( lol, the name was to be given at the end of Dariens stay. Sort of like "OH! ive got to give her my name!" But its no big deal. Also, my apologies for the current crap that is this post.))

[Riley]

"Taken to talking with walls, are we?" Riley, upon hearing that, literally went pale, crap, did the guy hear Reira talk to him, after she had taken great lengths not to make it look like she had gone nuts? Reira however, quickly made an excuse as to why she had been mumbling." Ahaha..yeah..the wall listened with sincere sympathy as I complained about how utterly hopeless I am at swimming. Not to mention how bad my form is." Sighing with relief, Riley stood up, and looked around, come to think of it, where was the other guy that had come into the pool?

Riley, unlike Reira or the other guy who was helping her learn to swim, had the luxury of hovering high above in the air, and to his utter amazement, saw the boy that Reira was asking about, he was...at the bottom of the pool? Okay then, guess the guy wanted to meditate without any interruptions or something like that? Riley floated back down and reached the edge of the pool just as Reira touched the wall. "Wow..swimming takes a lot more out of you then I would have thought!"

Riley grinned at her comment, " Yeah, but it sure gives you a workout." He knew Reira couldn't answer him, not with Darien nearby. "It's a lot of work, but you did well. Keep practicing and you'll have it down before you know it." Too true. Everything takes practice, and although you may not like the repetition, it'll be worth it in the long run. " Yeah, so keep going, you can do it." Riley encouraged her, folding his arms and smiling at her.

"Hey, did you happen to see the other boy leave? Because I haven't seen him resurface for a while..do you think?" He heard Darien answer, but he, unlike him knew the answer. "I have no clue what happened to him" Riley couldn't help but smile slightly before answering. " He didn't leave, he's actually closer to you than you think. Take a look below you, and you'll see what I mean." Riley answered, as he sat on the pool edge again, and pointed downwards, right below Reira. As he pointed down at the bottom, he heard Darien ask her something.

"Sorry, but I was wondering, is something wrong? You seem like you know something and you're not filling me in. Not that you have to tell me anything, I'm more or less...curious, so to speak." Riley immediately locked gazes with Reira, except he had to bend down so that Reira didn't look like she was staring at the wall. " What're you going to do? He can't see or hear me, so what do we do now?"

[Reira]

Reira smiled inwardly at all of Riley's comments. She was definately looking forward to talking to him freely afterwards. It was like a tradition now. Riley and her talked almost everyday, it would be weird to go a day without their conversations. Also she was very happy that Darien and her were now friends.

"Hey, did you happen to see the other boy leave? Because I haven't seen him resurface for a while..do you think?" She asked the two of them, with a little bit of concern.

"I have no clue what happened to him" answered Darien.
Her gaze fell upon Riley to see if he knew the answer. It was only the slightest movment, she didn't think Darien would notice.
"He didn't leave, he's actually closer to you than you think. Take a look below you, and you'll see what I mean."

Looking in the direction that Riley was pointing, her mouth almost dropped, when she saw the other boy sitting at the bottom of the pool..contently at that. How could a person do that! Obviously she was still getting used to the people at this school, with their peculiar powers.

How?
Is he alright?

Before she could tell Darien about Riley's discovery he had said to her. "Sorry, but I was wondering, is something wrong? You seem like you know something and you're not filling me in. Not that you have to tell me anything, I'm more or less...curious, so to speak." Reira's spirits fell. Darien was more observant then she thought. Well maybe she just sucked at hiding the fact she was talking to Riley. It was probably the second guess. Riley had bent his body so that his face was directly infront of hers, his transparency made it easy for her to see Darien as well. It looked as if she was still lookied at Darien. "What're you going to do? He can't see or hear me, so what do we do now?"

Sighing, she figured it was time to fess up. "There is nothing wrong Darien. It's just that..there is more people here then you think." She then swam away from the wall, so that Riley's face was no longer infront of hers. "First of all, the boy I was asking about is sitting at the bottom of the deep end!," she said pointing at him. "And second of all. My friend Riley is here..you can't see him because he is a Spirit...but he is actually right behind me."

Reira gave Darien a small embarassed smile. "If you can believe that I can see, talk, hear, and touch spirits, then you won't think I'm crazy." She then made her way back to the wall beside Riley, as she was getting tired of swimming on the spot. Turning to Riley she said "Riley, do you maybe want to prove to Darien that you are here?"