Page 91 of Wallflower

"I think we should keep going at least a little longer," Dare said. "Until we're sure Coach is convinced."

I nodded, lost in his eyes. "Sounds like a good idea."

Suddenly, Hermione barked and started sprinting across the street. I was so caught off guard that my normally docile dog had made a run for it that I didn't react quickly enough to grab her leash. A moment later, I was bounding after her.

"Hermione!" I yelled desperately. "Please girl! Stop!"

I realized her goal within seconds. There was a community pool on the other side of the road that I hadn't noticed before. Though it was closed to the public at this time, it looked like the gate was wide open.

Oh my God.

"Hermione, no!"

"Viola, slow down," Dare said from behind me. "She'll be okay."

"No, she won't," I said back. "Don't you see that pool? She's going to jump in!"

"So?" he laughed. "It's hot. Maybe she needs to cool off."

I shook my head and kept running.

"Hermione! Please girl, come back!"

Dare just didn't get it. We didn't give the dogs at the shelter swimming lessons. This could all end in tragedy. There was too much of that already in the world. I refused to let my girl be one of the fallen.

Hermione rounded the gate and was inside before I could stop her. With a bounding leap, she jumped into the pool.

"No!"

In the next second, I'd jumped in after her.

There was only one problem with my plan, I realized as my body hit the water.

After flailing and gasping, I began to sink like a stone. In my haste to save Hermione, I'd forgotten a very important fact.

I didn't know how to swim either.

Oh no, I thought as my head went under the water, cutting off my air. I tried to kick up or use my arms, but nothing seemed to help. Dark spots started circling above me, but I kept struggling, thoughts of my wonderful girl running through my head. Oh poor, Hermione.

A pair of strong arms banded around my waist.

The next thing I knew my head broke the water's surface, and I could breathe again.

"What were you thinking?" Dare yelled as he tugged both of us to the side of the pool.

"Don't worry about me," I sputtered. "Save Hermione!"

I could feel him shaking his head. "She's fine," he said as he brought me to the edge where I could hold on.

"But she can't swim," I gasped, still trying to gain my breath back.

"No, that's you." Dare tilted his head. "Turns out Hermione's an excellent swimmer."

I looked to the side and saw Hermione happily dog paddling, going round and round. It was her I'd seen as I went under, I thought. The little black spots—or spot. It had been Hermione living her best doggie life.

"Oh," I said with relief. "I'm so glad she's okay."

"And what about you?"

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