Chapter 3: Swimming with a naked girl.

“We don’t need to fight,” replies Paulo. “There’s time for that soon enough. I intend to enjoy my swim and then go to bed. I suggest you do the same. Or can’t you sleep? You wouldn’t be the first contestant to be nervous and suffer sleepless nights before the Argonaut.”

“I’m not nervous,” I say defiantly, mostly for my own benefit. “I just can’t get used to sleeping on a soft bed.”

“Yeah, whatever,” he replies dismissively. “Well, in that case, you can race me to the other end of the pool and back.”

“Why?” I ask.

“Because it’s fun and I don’t often get the chance to swim with a naked girl. Are you normally so argumentative?”

“I’m not naked. And I’m not arguing. I’m being ... um ... curious.”

“Ha! You may as well be naked for all that is hidden by that flimsy thing you are wearing. You have a nice body. You shouldn’t be afraid to let people see it.”

Paulo’s comments immediately cause me to feel awkward. He’s a rival and ex-military, so he’s a serious threat to my chances during the Argonaut. But my traitorous body would be happy to yield to his desires. I mustn’t let him see how much his comment has disturbed me, so I move into position for the race that he wants.

“Are you ready? Go!” I call as I launch myself off in the direction of the far end.

“Hey! Cheat!” he calls before taking off after me.

I’ve never tried swimming in a race, but I soon see Paulo’s point. It is fun. I’m almost reach the far end before Paulo manages to draw close to me. He’s a strong swimmer but doesn’t have the elegant style that my father drummed into me. We turn only seconds apart and I try to increase my speed on the return leg. Half way down the pool I realise that Paulo’s strength is starting to tell, and that I’m struggling to keep my lead. Moments later we are level and I draw on my last reserves to regain the lead. We reach the end of the pool neck and neck. I don’t think either of us can tell who touched the end first.

We are both breathing heavily as we climb out of the pool and collapse on the floor. It is only then that I realise that we are virtually touching. I’m lying next to naked young man. That’s something I’ve only ever done in my wildest fantasies. My limited sexual experiences to date have involved remarkably little nudity. Fortunately Paulo seems too preoccupied in regaining his breath to notice my discomfort. I should move away before he recovers, but something inside me makes me stay where I am.

“Is that the best your settlement’s wonderful training regime can teach you?” I say.

“Swimming isn’t an essential skill, even in the military. The Argonaut tests rarely require the need to swim beyond having sufficient skill to avoid drowning. Where did you learn to swim like that? I didn’t think there would be much call for swimming in the industrial settlements.”

“There isn’t, but my parents always hoped I would gain a permit to work in the city. It’s impossible to know what skills might be required if I land a job in the city. I suppose my father thought it useful for me to learn to swim well.”