Chloe arrives safely at the pool, parks her car, gets out, grabs her things, and locks the door. She puts her stuff in a locker. She rinses off in the customary shower. This is because it is a policy at the public pool to do so before you enter the swimming area itself. She pulls off her cover-up to reveal a nice yellow two-piece suit with bees on it. She also has yellow sandals to match. She removes the sandals. She goes back to the locker, opens it with her combination, places the sandals and coverup inside. She pulls out her sunblock and applies some to her skin. She puts it back up, closes the locker, and bolts the lock once more.

         She jumps into the deep end of the pool and splashes around. She does not notice the cute guy who checks her out.  She also has no idea that Nathaniel sees her too and blushes.

          Nathaniel is already at the pool. He smiles when he sees Chloe enter the pool. He notices the cute yet modest swimsuit she wears. He sees some other dude as he glances at her. He scowls at the stranger. He does not want someone else to notice her. He does not know why, but he does not. 

          Chloe swims!  She gets quite a few laps in actually!  She does not pay any attention to the eyes that follow her around that seem to notice her every movement!  She does notice the fight that happens when Nathaniel sees the stranger attempt to lay a hand on her.  She just enjoys her exercise and hopes things go well for Wendy and her dear brother, Alan.  She figures my brother deserves his own happiness.  

          The lifeguard comes over and has to break the two guys apart!  He sends the thug who came into the pool area outside the gate with this warning,  "Get out and stay out!"   Then, he closes the gate behind him and locks it.  He decides to keep an eye on the swimmers in case the crook should show up again!

            Nathaniel breathes a sigh of relief!  At least this way he does not have to deal with the competition from that guy anymore. Wait, what?  He shakes his head in denial that he feels anything more than friendship for Chloe.  

             Chloe gets out to take a break. She dries off, replies with the sunscreen, and sits down on a chair.  She feels something poke her arm!  She tries not to scream from the pain. She looks at the area and sees a welp.  She knows this means a bee or something with a stinger in it must have gotten her.  To think, she got stung while at the pool!  She tries not to panic!  

              Nathaniel sees the look of distress that comes across her face.  He examines her arm and sees the red mark.  He leaves, but back with a bag of ice, Advil, and a Benadryl.  

            "Here, Chlo!"  Nathaniel says.

             "Thanks!"  Chloe says as she takes the items from him. She puts the ice over the hurt area.  She pops two Benadryl, and three Advil into her mouth. She looks around for a drink and realizes she has none.

            Nathaniel hands her a canteen.  Chloe takes it and drinks the liquid inside. She discovers it is lemonade and not water as she thought. She swallows it despite her dislike for lemons or anything sour.  She laughs.

            "What?  Chlo, what is it?"  Nathaniel asks in confusion.  He wonders what is it about her laugh that makes him feel all fuzzy inside.  He smiles.

              "Oh, it just that it is lemonade!" Chloe retorts.

               "Yeah, so?"  Nathaniel says.

                 "So, I hate lemonade!"  Chloe says.

                "Oh, so that is why you made this adorable face then is it?"  Nathaniel remarks as he shows her the photo he took of her while she drank it.

                 "Oh, haha, very funny!"  Choe says.  She realizes this is probably the first time she has spoken to him with very little stuttering.   

                 "I think I will save it as my background photo!"  Nathaniel says.  He hits the save as Background picture immediately.

                 "Oh, you would not dare! "  Chloe mocks him.

                   "Oh, yeah!  I would too! See!"  Nathaniel says.  He sticks his tongue out at her as she looks at the back screen on his phone. 

                  Chloe sees the text from, Alan and almost jumps out of the skin!  She is so happy to see what it does!  Yes, she thinks at last my ship is real!  Ha, take that Nellie!  Nah, Nah!

                Nathaniel notices her sudden change in behavior and wonders, what brought that on all of a  sudden.  He sneaks a peek of her shoulder to see.

                 "Tsk, tsk, he sure moves on fast!"  Nathaniel says.

               "Nathaniel you take that back!  Do not talk about him that way!"   Chloe says.  She pretends to show shock at the response he gives.

                "Oh, come on goose!  You do not mean to tell me you had not thought the same thing! "  Nathaniel remarks.

                "Well, maybe, but still I am happy for him!  I mean this could be the start to Wendy and Alan 4 life!"   Chole says with much enthusiasm for a woman just stung by a bee only moments before now.

               Nathaniel shakes his head.  He does not know what he was thinking!  There is no way that he could ever uh, or could he?   He looks at Chloe in confusion once more.  He supposes there is only one way to find out.  He dares not to do it yet.  For that matter, he is not sure he ever shall!

             Chloe sits down on the bottom of Nathaniel's chair.  Soon she falls asleep.  The effects of the Benadryl must have taken place now to cause her to be this sleepy and tired.  

              Nathaniel pulls her up closer to him.  He places her head on his chest.  He blushes at his own actions but does not care who stares.  He might as well spend time with her!  He wraps a dry towel over her and whispers, "Sleep well, my sleeping beauty!"  He gently kisses her hair then sighs.  He continues to glance at her until he ends up with a nap himself.

            The lifeguard sees them and smiles.  He thinks, well those two sure are cozy!  He thinks it a nice change since most couples just fight and end up with hurt feelings, and tears shed.  This one however appears to be just fine he concludes.

          Little does he know they are not even a couple.  

  Chapter 4 was edited on March 4, 2021

              to be continued in Chapter 5  Beat it Will Ya?