Night Sky Read Free

a Pepsi would be great.” How
old is she? And is she inviting herself to my house? And why am I
worried about this?
    “I have Pepsi.”
    “Then yes, I’d love to come swimming with
you…” She pauses narrowing her eyes. “What’s your name? I can’t
believe I didn’t even ask.”
    “Jameson.”
    She laughs again, showing
me a big smile of white teeth. “So, like, do people call you James,
for short ?”
    “Nope, just Jay.” I’m still in shock that
I’m about to take this girl back to my house for a swim.
    “Well, just Jay, I’m Sky.” I realize that
her voice is quiet, smooth, even though it’s filled with
tease.
    “Sky? Really?” I must sound like a
prick.
    “My mom is…into her native roots. So yeah,
Sky.”
    “I kinda like it. Did you
grow up on a reservation and everything?” Did that save me?
    “I’m half Tlingit, from Alaska. We have
corporations, not reservations.”
    “Oh.” I’m lost and feel like an idiot.
    “But I grew up in a small village. Does that
make you feel better?” She punches me softly on the shoulder.
    “Definitely.” I look her straight in the
eye. I don’t know if it makes me feel better or not. I feel like
she’s one step ahead of me as I try to keep up.
    “Are you gonna drive me to your house, offer
me a Pepsi and get me into your pool?” Again, her voice is still
full of tease.
    This is crazy. I think we’re totally
flirting, and I’m keeping up…or I will be soon.
    I laugh, filled with
nerves and excitement as I hit the gas. Maybe my night won’t be so bad after all.
    ***
    I step out of the house in my swim shorts,
with a Pepsi in each hand and towels under my arm.
    “Thanks.” She’s checking me out. “So…” She gestures with her hand from my head to my feet.
“You look totally comfortable in front of a stranger, almost
completely naked.”
    “I’m on the swim team.” And I’m not totally
comfortable; I’m just used to being uncomfortable.
    “At your high school, huh?” She lets out a
sigh.
    “I’m a senior.” Will she just take off? Will
she think I’m too young?
    “Hmm…” She pops her Pepsi, and takes a few
sips.
    I’m not sure what to do with myself. This
whole situation feels a little unreal. The backyard is still the
same. Large stone patio, scattered lawn furniture, long in-ground
pool for laps…and then there’s Sky.
    “Well, let’s swim.” She
stands up, slides her denim skirt off and two of what now looks
like three tank tops. Her hair is past her shoulder
blades… and she’s standing in my backyard
in panties and a barely-there shirt . She
walks in light, almost gliding steps and jumps into the water
without hesitation.
    And because I’m a bit of a show-off, I wait
until her head emerges before doing a leaping dive. The warm water
hits my skin and immediately dissolves some of the surface
tension.
    “Nice. You put me to shame.” She laughs as I
come up for air.
    “Do you have a pool?” I ask, trying not to
dwell on the compliment.
    She stretches on her back, floating, looking
up.
    “Funny story, actually.”
She continues to stare at the sky. “My grandparents do have a pool, but they
don’t want to pay for the water or to maintain it so…”
    “So you have a pool in the backyard that’s
sitting empty?”
    “Pretty much.” She stands up while staying
low in the water.
    “That sucks.”
    “You said it.”
    And now I want to ask her if she wants to
come swimming again. But I chicken out.
    “So, are we going to get together again?” A
corner of her mouth pulls up. “Or, have I scared you away
forever?”
    “You haven’t scared me away.” Standing in my
pool, in my backyard with a girl who looks like…I don’t know
what…but she’s gorgeous, and she’s wearing barely anything. It’s
kind of erotic or something. Exciting. Different.
    “Here’s all I need from
you, Jay.” She moves closer to me in the pool …wearing next to nothing.
    My heart sprints. “What’s
that?” Does my voice