Narrative Essay On Lifeguards

Every summer has a story. Summer love got the best of me in 2015. Fresh out of junior year I was going back to work at the Scott County Park Pool, starting my second year as a lifeguard. It is the perfect job for any high schooler; a lot of hours, plenty of sun, all the money you could dream of, and a summer packed with fun. I was excited about the new lifeguards because once you have worked with the same people ten hours a day for three months, you learn more than you probably want to know about that person but you gain lifelong friends. 2015 brought a surprising and unforgettable new group of guards.
Tim was the name of the of one of the new lifeguards, to be blunt, he's not someone you could look at just once in your life. He has very light hazel eyes, surrounded by the longest eyelashes I have seen on a guy. Light brown curly hair sat upon his head and a little scruffy beard covered his chin. He is a couple years older than I am but I have seen him before, I knew of him but I never thought I would know him the way I do today.
I am an outgoing person, so is Tim, so instantly we became close. Laughed together, hung out together, we could basically tell each other anything. Things

started to get serious, and then I backed out. I don’t have a reason for why, but if you asked I would have said, ¨It’s the age difference¨ or ¨We are co-workers¨. Though those were true they were not, by any means, grounds to make the ignorant mistake I made. I cut him off, I ignored him, I made it seem like he didn’t exist to me. At the time I thought it was the right thing to do, and that I'm saving myself because feelings don’t actually exist and things like this don’t actually work out. Boy was I wrong. Despite the hardcore rejection I was sending Tim’s way, he did not for a second give up. Everyday he was right there beside me, not forcing me to acknowledge him, just being a friend and making me smile. Compliments did come, I forced myself not to blush, I rolled my eyes, and muttered the ungrateful ¨thank you¨.
After a long day at work all the lifeguards were clocking out, I was frustrated and without a ride home. Tim of course being the gentlemen he is, offered. I didn’t really have that much of a choice, so I accepted since it was only a few minute drive back to my house. I got in, a little flustered, and buckled up. Driving out of the parking lot Tim looked at me, smiled and said, ¨I have a surprise for you.¨
A little anxious now, I didn’t say a word. Feelings of confusion and nervousness grew stronger each turn he made that was NOT toward my house. I finally asked ¨Where are we going?¨
Again he smiled and repeated, ¨I have a surprise for you.¨
He started slowing down on an empty road and he eased into a turn that brought us straight into some trees.

At this point I had to expect anything, the amount of anxiousness over flowed me, and I was getting rather jumpy. However, when we made it through that narrow path through the trees, it opened up into a large clearing a small parking lot with pretty rocks around it, overlooking a serene pond. The best part was right above that pond. It was 8:23 on a late summer evening, the orange and yellow colors swirled around clouds in the sky, and then glistened in the reflection from the pond. The setting sun was easy on the eyes. In awe I realized I haven’t spoken since we arrived and I was bearing a slight smile on my amazed face. Snapping out of it, I begged him to take me

home.
¨I’m not taking you home until you tell me how you feel about us.¨ He said sternly with almost an evil smirk on his face. Now I was in a predicament because unlike most girls I don’t freely or even enjoy sharing my feelings with people. I sat there stubbornly waiting it out because he had to take me home at some point. A few minutes passed and I really tried to put into words my situation but stopping unsuccessfully before I could finish each stammering sentence. He waited patiently for an answer I thought I was never going to give. It got dark and he began driving me home. Thinking I was in the clear, I remained silent looking out the window of the passenger side. I should have known it was another trick, I did not reach my house, he continued to drive around town waiting for me to say something. Getting frustrated I started listing off reasons why it was a bad idea to get involved with him, because it was easier to say than what I really felt. He retorted each time with a simple fix to every petty problem I argued. I continued and my voice got louder until it was almost a yell. We were at a stop sign, and I wasn’t actually mad but I continued to rant when I was abruptly stopped by his lips on mine. Instantly I became quiet and he continued to drive as if nothing happened. ¨Do you have anything you would like to say now?¨
The only words that I could think of bulged in my head so I reluctantly gave in and said to him, ¨The longer it takes me to tell you how I feel, the more time I get to spend with you.¨ Not much more than a smile was exchanged between us and I was taken home. Even though no discussion was made about what to do next, we both knew that from then on it whatever it was, it would be done together.
Like I had guessed we soon started going on dates, actual dates. Not the ones you think of though, a little untraditional but a lot more adventurous. We went caving, deep into small muddy caves. I was caked with dirt, and breathing hard from all the climbing and in that moment, inside the cave he decided that this muddy girl with messed up hair and athletic clothes was the girl he wanted to be his girlfriend. And she still is.