Author’s Notes: First in a whole bunch of one shots. (Like Angelic Hooligan’s Well Duh and Rae1’s Fates story: go check those out if you haven’t already, they’re absolutely great XD) This one’s cute and sappy and altogether fluffy. Nyhe … I’ll put up another one when I can… But the other stories still take priority. Don’t expect these one shots to have sequels, or be over 2000 words at the longest, because chances are, they probably won’t be

Read, enjoy, and please review!!

Ja ne!

He cast a longing glance to where the captain of the waterpolo team was swimming laps easily, almost lazily; completely unable to make himself look away from the other boy and totally unwilling to even try.

Todd sighed softly and went back to eyeing the ladder up to the lowest diving board, trying to gather his courage so he would be able to jump in, and maybe even impress… Him.

He was jolted rudely out of a semi formed fantasy where he was pressed up against the side of the pool wall with Him, as two harsh hands shoved him forward mercilessly.

“Toddy-boy! We haven’t seen you get up there yet!”

The exclamation wasn’t anymore playful than it was kind, regardless of the grin on the face of the other teenager, and Todd froze and paled against his will. A moment later, the blood flooded back into his cheeks with a vengeance as he noticed that he was being stared at by the other two occupants of the swimming hall.

Even Him.

Todd cursed himself for coming with even the vague impression of impressing Him. He could barely swim, and if that was the only way to catch the attention he so desperately wanted, it was a suicidal way of doing it.

Eyes so pale that it was obvious even from this distance, watching the confrontation… Todd thought he could almost see the scorn. He swallowed back the urge to cry hopelessly.

“I… I was just… I can’t…” Todd stammered, lowering his ashamed and terrified gaze to the floor.

Daniel grinned evilly. “Aw, is poor widdle Toddy-boy scawed?”

“I’m not,” murmured Todd, wishing he could sound more sure of himself, the desire merging with the nearly overwhelming need to be swallowed up by the floor. He could still feel gray eyes burning into the side of his head, where the captain had stopped swimming and was leaning on the edge of the pool.

“Then are you going up or not?” Daniel suggested haughtily. “You should do the high one. I here it’s great for daredevils like you.”

“I-I can’t. I’m sick. I’m not supposed to –“

Daniel rode over him easily. “I knew you were too scared!” he crowed triumphantly.

Todd felt his cheeks, impossibly, heat up more than they had been. He honestly hadn’t thought it possible, or he’d have tried to hide it with his hand or something, but it was too late now. It was plainly obvious to the other two. “I –“ he started, his voice trembling ever so slightly.

“Knock it off, Dan. Leave him alone.”

Time froze, and Todd stared with widened eyes at his crush, who was climbing out of the pool, his gray eyes calm and scanning the two of them in front of him.

For a moment there was something in his eyes as they flickered over Todd, but Todd instantly dismissed it, knowing he was only putting into the gray eyes what he most wanted to see there.

Todd could only stare at the floor in profound embarrassment after that.

Daniel, however, smirked. “I’m not making him go up or anything. I’m just expressing my belief that his scared shitless. I’m supposed to express myself more my teachers say.”

Before He could say anything to reprimand Daniel again, Todd shook his head and walked toward the ladder, going straight past the one he had originally been aiming for. It wasn’t like a jump from a meter and a half above the water was going to impress anyone…

But Todd only wanted His attention.

He glanced over at the other two teenagers before starting the climb up to the highest diving board, ignoring the fleeting hope that there had been worry in the pale gray eyes.

One rung at a time, one foot higher as he climbed, keeping his eyes firmly focused on the ladder directly in front of him, Todd declined the urge to look down. He closed his eyes a little more. He hated heights.

Once he had finally made it to the top, Todd refused to look down with an intensity that would have surprised himself, had he not known this old fear of his. He chose to stare directly across the pool hall, at the windows on the opposite wall on level with him instead of down at the water. If he looked down now, he’d feel nauseous, and what a good impression that would give to the only one he cared about down there.

Down… there…

He was scared. He didn’t want to do this. Todd almost looked down, but caught himself instead with a gasp, hugging himself impulsively, nervously. It was for a good cause… If he could only see those gray eyes look at him with something else other than the contempt he knew had to be there… It would be worth it.

He’d sell his soul for that.

He couldn’t bear the thought of having derision follow him forever, especially from those eyes…

Todd closed his eyes shut and stepped off the board.

He kept his eyes shut as he fell, the feeling of leaving his stomach far behind him making him gasp out most of the air he had, whereupon he remembered with a panicked clarity the substance he was going to be landed in. Todd managed a gurgled whimper of absolute terror as he landed in the pool, too scared to close his mouth, too panicked to remember not to breathe.

His first shocked gasp for air was blocked and obstructed by the water that got sucked in instead.

Todd’s first reaction was t at least try and get to the side of the pool before he drowned, but the water had gone straight to his lungs and he was too busy choking and coughing to move his arms the right way. The edges of his vision started to fade into a hazy black mist.

The next thing Todd knew was that he was lying flat on his back, the ground beneath his limp body rough with the ridges built in for grip, and wet. There was also a stinging sensation on his cheek, and that was enough to make Todd open his eyes blearily, at which point he froze again.

Staring down at him, gray eyes darkened slightly with what looked like concern – impossible! – was the man of his dreams.

“Are you all right?” The soft murmur made Todd’s heart clench. “You’ve been out of it for a few minutes. Daniel’s gone to call an ambulance.”

“What –“ faltered Todd, caught up in pale, molten silver, wondering if his heart would pound itself to pieces. Wondering if He could hear it too. “What happened?”

“You swallowed a lot of water,” the other boy told him quietly. “I got you out as quick as I could and did CPR on you while Daniel went to call 911.”

“Oh…” Todd mumbled, wanting to kick himself; first for almost drowning in the first place and making a complete and utter fool of himself, and second for being unconscious while those hands and lips had touched him. “Sorry…”

Todd got a considering smile in return, making him feel that the painful apology had been given ample reward.

“I don’t mind,” the other boy told him. He tilted his head slightly. “I don’t know what I would have done if…”

There was something in the tone of that whispered comment that made Todd look sharply at the object of his affections, searching the beloved, almost neutral face and the adored, still concerned gray eyes diligently, looking for hints of what he frantically wished wasn’t just in his imagination.

After a few silent minutes, eyes locked, Todd closed his eyes in defeat, trying to still his trembling, and striving to slow his racing heart.

And then he stepped off, hoping that maybe it wasn’t a shot in the dark. Maybe this dive wouldn’t be so hard to fall…

“I don’t know how to do CPR,” Todd blurted out, suddenly opening his eyes. “Can you teach me, in case something ever happens –“

“To me?”

“Yes,” Todd admitted slowly, suddenly too shy to make eye contact. Oh he wished… how he wished that…

There was a deep breath. “Tilt your face up. And close your eyes. You’re unconscious, remember?”

Todd obeyed breathlessly.

And when Blake’s tongue pushed it’s way into his mouth, all thoughts of CPR left Todd’s head, no matter how false they had been in the first place.

Yes, Todd decided, tentatively putting his hands on Blake’s bare back as the other boy deepened the kiss. I might like that diving board from now on.

Although he was never going to try that particular jump again.

But at least his last metaphorical dive had been successful.