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“Julie! C’mon! Sammy and Flynn are here! Let’s go!” Carlos yells up the stairs to his sister from the front hall.
“I’m coming, I’m coming!” Julie yells from her room, rushing around and hurriedly stuffing everything she needs for a day at the pool into a tote bag. She slips the bag over her shoulder and snags her sunglasses from her dresser and heads for the stairs just as she hears Flynn yell up even louder than Carlos had.
“C’mon Jules! You gotta hustle if we want any chance of getting one of the good sun loungers!”
“No need to yell Flynnie, I’m right here.” Julie says with a fond eye roll as she descends the stairs.
“Well then let's get moving girl!” Flynn says, spinning her brand new car keys around her finger, a grin on her face. Julie chuckles and hops off the bottom step, slipping into her flip flops.
“Papí, Carlos and I are heading to the pool with Flynn and Sammy!” Julie calls in the direction of her dad’s office. Ray pops his head out of his office with a smile.
“You Niños have fun. Keep an eye on your brother and be back in time for dinner, sí? Your mom should be home by 5:00.” Julie smiles and walks over to press a kiss to her dad’s cheek.
“Of course Papí! See you later! Love you!”
“Love you too Mija.” Ray says with a smile before heading back into his office.
“Okay people, let’s move!” Flynn says, corralling Julie and their younger brothers out the door and towards the car. Carlos and Sammy race each other to the car while Flynn loops her arm through Julie’s and they walk at a normal pace towards the car. “You ready to get your sun on Jules?”
Julie grins. “So ready! This summer is going to be the best, what with you having your license now and being able to drive us wherever we want whenever we want!”
Flynn grins and elbows Julie. “You know we could have two drivers if you would hurry up and get your license too, Jules! I mean is driving really that scary?”
Julie huffs. “We live in LA Flynnie! The drivers here are terrifying! I’ll get my license when I feel good and ready.” Flynn rolls her eyes good naturedly as the two girls separate to climb in the car. Carlos and Sammy are already buckled into the back seat, talking a mile a minute about all the things they’re going to do this summer. Moments later they are on the road and heading towards the local country club, the Hollywood Pool Club or HPC for short, the kids’ favorite place to spend their time during the summer vacation.
~~~***~~~
A short drive later Flynn is pulling into the parking lot of the HPC. She parks the car and they all clamber out, the boys immediately hightailing it for the front doors of the clubhouse. A minute later the girls meet them inside by the front desk.
There they are greeted by a tall, tan, older teen with a bright smile and long brown hair pulled back in a low, loose bun, a few strands hanging freely around his face. His name is Willie, or so says the gold embroidery on his purple polo shirt, right underneath the HPC logo.
“Hey guys! My name is Willie, welcome to the Hollywood Pool Club!” He says cheerfully. “May I see your membership cards please?” Julie and Flynn each pull out their family’s membership cards, handing them over to Willie so he can scan them and check them in. “Alright, you guys are all set, enjoy!” Willie says with a grin, handing the cards back to the girls. They thank him politely and herd the boys towards the pool deck.
Flynn eyes the pool deck critically before leading their little group over to three open sun loungers, one for each of the girls to sit on and one for the boys to leave their stuff on. The boys kick their shoes off and rip their shirts off, ready to dash towards the pool, but Julie and Flynn stop them.
“Hold it right there you two!” Flynn calls.
“You know the rules, sunscreen first!” Julie adds, pulling a can of spray on sunscreen out of her tote bag. The two boys grumble, but obediently allow the girls to spray them down. “Okay, there you go.” Julie says once she finishes Carlos’s sunscreen. “You remember the pool rules?”
“No running on the pool deck, stay where you can see me, and don’t go deeper than where I can touch the bottom of the pool.” Carlos recites. “Can we go play now?”
Julie chuckles and ruffles Carlos’s hair. “Yeah okay, you two have fun.” She says with a smile. With their brothers taken care of, Julie and Flynn settle back on their sun loungers, ready to relax and soak up some rays.
~~~***~~~
Over the course of the day Flynn watches who is on the lifeguard stand through the various shifts. She wants to know who their “eye candy” is for the summer, or so she tells Julie who shakes her head and rolls her eyes fondly at her best friend. She’s pretty sure Flynn’s interest in the lifeguard rotation actually has more to do with a certain blond haired lifeguard who takes the stand mid morning. Carrie Wilson, Julie and Flynn’s other best friend since childhood, lead singer of Dirty Candi, daughter of famous rockstar Trevor Wilson, and Flynn’s long-standing secret crush, though it’s no secret to Julie.
Later in the afternoon Flynn pokes Julie in the shoulder. “Jules!” She hisses. “You know that group of senior boys who are in a band with Carrie’s cousin? Sunset Swerve or whatever?”
“It’s Sunset Curve!” Julie quickly corrects, her face flushing when Flynn sends her a knowing smirk.
“Right them.” Flynn says, smirking even more at Julie’s blush. “Well, don’t look now, but I’m pretty sure their lead singer, you know, the sleeveless wonder? Pretty sure he just took the main lifeguard stand.” Julie lets out a squeak and pulls her sun hat lower over her face and shoves her sunglasses on for good measure.
“Luke?! Are you sure?” She whispers frantically.
Flynn smirks. She knows all about Julie’s crush on the singer and guitarist. Ever since the winter showcase last school year when Sunset Curve had performed in front of the whole school at the end of the first semester, Julie had fallen hard for the band’s charismatic frontman.
“Pretty sure Jules. I think I’d recognize those biceps anywhere.” Flynn says, enjoying watching Julie squirm. Julie peeks over at the lifeguard stand and lets out another squeak. Sure enough, sitting up there is Luke Patterson, wearing a white and red lifeguard t-shirt that has clearly been hand-cut into a tank top. The arm holes are so big that it really doesn’t leave much to the imagination.
“Oh my god! It is him! Flynn!” Julie whines, sinking lower on her sun lounger.
Flynn chuckles. “Yep and it looks like their bouncy bassist, you know the one who could rival the Energizer Bunny on stage, what’s his name?”
“Reggie?” Julie supplies.
Flynn nods. “Right, him, looks like he’s Mr. Biceps’ co-lifeguard. Hmm I wonder if the whole boy band is working here this summer?” She shoots Julie a teasing grin and wiggles her eyebrows. “That would be quite convenient for you Jules, maybe you could finally talk to Mr. Biceps.”
Julie shoots a glare at Flynn, though there’s no real heat behind it. She reaches into her tote bag and pulls out the book she brought with her, determined to hide behind the pages for the duration of Luke’s shift on the lifeguard stand.
“Jules!” Flynn sighs. You can’t keep hiding behind books forever! You gotta get out there! In the real world!”
“I can and I will.” Julie says stubbornly as she opens her book, poking her tongue out at Flynn playfully before turning back to her book. Flynn lets out a sigh and rolls onto her stomach, stretching out on the sun lounger.
“Alright girl, you do you. I’m gonna work on my tan. If I doze off, don’t let me lay on this side longer than 30 minutes.” Flynn mumbles, laying her head down and closing her eyes.
“M’kay Flynnie.” Julie hums, already happily engrossed in her book. For about twenty minutes she allows herself to completely immerse herself in the world of her book, even managing to forget about a certain shaggy haired guitarist sitting up on the lifeguard stand.
~~~***~~~
Julie is pulled back to reality by a commotion over by the pool. There is lots of splashing and shouting, followed by the piercing sound of the lifeguard whistle. Julie looks up just in time to see Luke whipping off his tank top and diving into the pool. She cranes her neck, trying to see what’s going on. Next to her, Flynn rolls over and sits up.
“What’s going on?” She asks, squinting in the direction of the commotion, shielding her eyes with one hand. Julie shrugs, still craning her neck and trying to see what’s happening.
“Not sure. I just saw Luke dive into the pool.”
Flynn grins and wiggles her eyebrows. “Ooo, you get to watch Lifeguard McDreamy in action Jules, how exciting!” Julie rolls her eyes at her bestie before finally catching a glimpse of what’s going through the crowd that has gathered near the pool.
“Oh my god!” She cries, jumping to her feet. “It’s Carlos!” She tells Flynn hurriedly before dashing towards the edge of the pool. She elbows her way through the crowd that Reggie is trying his best to disperse.
“Okay, back up people, nothing to see here, move along now!” He calls shooing people away. Julie finally manages to push her way to the front of the grumbling crowd that is slowly starting to dissipate, Flynn right on her heels.
“I’m sorry ladies, I’m going to have to ask you to kindly back up.” Reggie says, holding his hands up when he sees them approaching.
“But that’s my little brother!” Julie says frantically, pointing behind Reggie to where Luke is guiding a shaken and spluttering Carlos over to the side of the pool, Carlos clinging to the lifeguard floaty, and Luke propelling them through the water with strong kicks. Reggie's eyes go wide in realization.
“Oh! Sorry! Don’t worry, we’ll have him out in a second, he’ll be okay, just wait right here.” He quickly reassures Julie before turning to help Luke get Carlos out of the pool. He crouches down by the edge of the pool where Luke is talking softly to Carlos.
“Hey, you’re okay man, you can touch here, see?” He says in a gentle tone, standing up to demonstrate. “This is my friend Reggie, he’s a lifeguard too. He’s gonna help you climb out, okay?” Reggie gives Carlos a friendly smile.
“Hey little man, let’s get you outta there, yeah?” Reggie says before reaching down and hauling a sniffling Carlos out of the pool. Once Carlos is settled safely on the pool deck Julie rushes forward.
“Oh my god Carlos! Are you okay? What happened?” She asks frantically looking between him and the two lifeguards. Carlos lets out a cough and sniffles, clutching at his forearm. Reggie rubs his back soothingly. Luke smiles up at Julie from where he’s standing in the pool still.
“The kid’s gonna be okay, umm…?” He trails off looking at Julie questioningly.
“Julie.” She quickly says, pushing her sun hat back and removing her sunglasses. “I’m Julie, Carlos’s older sister.” There is a brief flash of recognition on Luke’s face before he focuses back on the situation.
“Well Julie, Carlos is going to be just fine.” Luke says with a reassuring smile. Julie tries very hard to focus on what he’s saying and not on the fact that he has the most perfect smile she’s ever seen.
“He and his friends were playing Marco Polo and Carlos here accidentally went a little too far the wrong direction. His arm got tangled in the buoy rope and he slipped into some deeper water than I think he was ready for. Probably scared himself a little and swallowed some pool water, but other than that, no real harm done.” Julie lets out a small sigh of relief.
“Gracias a Dios.” She murmurs softly. “Thank you, thank you so much for helping him.” She tells Luke gratefully. Luke shoots her what can only be described as a charming grin.
“Happy to be of service, just doing my job.” He says with a wink. Julie can’t help but giggle and smile back. They get caught up smiling at each other until they’re interrupted by someone next to them clearing their throat.
“Okay! Little dude’s just fine, but I’m gonna take him over to first aid so they can take a look at these scrapes on his arm from the rope, if that’s okay with you, Julie, was it?” Reggie says, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he glances between her and Luke.
Julie quickly tears her eyes away from Luke, her face hot, and decidedly not from the LA summer sun. She focuses her attention back on Carlos, who has calmed down some and seems to have taken a shine to Reggie.
“Right! Yes! Of course! That’s a good idea!” She blurts, hoping she doesn’t sound as flustered as she feels. Reggie just shoots her a grin before turning to Luke.
“Hey dude, Carrie and Kayla will be out in a minute for their shift, you good to hold down the fort while I take little dude here to see Bobbers over at first aid?” Luke nods and waves a hand.
“Yeah I’m good Reg, go ahead.” Luke says with a wave of his hand before pulling himself up and out of the pool in one fluid motion before shaking his head like a dog, sending droplets of water flying everywhere.
Flynn and Reggie both make noises of protest, but Julie hardly notices. She’s a little too distracted by the sight of Luke’s very much shirtless upper body, water streaming down his well defined arm, chest, and stomach muscles.
Luke reaches up to push his dripping hair out of his face, shooting Julie a cheeky grin and a flirty wink when he notices her staring before turning and grabbing his lifeguard floaty and heading back over to the lifeguard stand, a bit of swagger to his walk, every bit the confident, charismatic frontman.
Flynn grins when she sees Julie gazing after the guitarist turned lifeguard. She gives Julie a playful nudge with her elbow.
“Take a picture Jules, it’ll last longer.” She teases. Julie whips her head around to look at Flynn, her eyes wide.
“Flynnie!” She hisses, embarrassed at being caught staring. Flynn laughs, hooking her arm through Julie’s and leading her after Reggie and Carlos towards the first aid station.
“Hey I’m proud of you Jules! You actually talked to the sleeveless wonder! That’s progress!” Flynn says teasingly. Julie rolls her eyes at her best friend, her cheeks warming.
~~~***~~~
A few moments later Reggie leads them into the little hut where the first aid station resides. Carlos has settled a little, calmed by Reggie’s easy, cheerful chatter, but he’s still clutching at his arm which is a bit scraped up with some mild rope burn.
“Okay little dude, here we are!” Reggie says with a grin. “Let me introduce you to one of my very best friends! This is Bobby and he’s an excellent medic! He’s patched me up plenty of times, isn’t that right Bobbers?” Bobby gives Reggie a fond smile, rolling his eyes good naturedly.
“Yes, unfortunately I’ve had to bandage and patch you up more times than I care to count Reg.” Bobby says with a shake of his head. Reggie turns back to Carlos with a grin.
“See! You’re in excellent hands little dude. Bobby’s gonna take good care of you.” He says, patting Carlos’s shoulder.
“Let’s take a look at your arm Bud, shall we?” Bobby says, to Carlos, his deep voice low and soothing. “Here, come sit.” He gestures to a stool next to a small table. Carlos sits down and gingerly lays his arm on the table.
While Bobby gently cleans Carlos’s arm, applies some antiseptic cream and wraps it up in a bandage, Reggie chatters animatedly with Carlos, keeping him calm and distracted. They talk about everything and anything. The best pizza toppings, the cutest dog breeds, the merits of rap vs. country music, and the coolest Star Wars characters. Before Carlos has even realized it, Bobby has finished bandaging his arm.
“There you are my man, all set.” Bobby says with a small soft smile. He’s enjoyed listening to Reggie chatter with the kid. He did such a good job keeping him engaged and distracted, plus he always enjoys listening to Reggie talk, no matter what it is he’s talking about.
Carlos looks over at his arm in surprise. He’d been so distracted talking to Reggie that he hadn’t even felt anything while Bobby was cleaning and bandaging his arm, let alone realized he was done.
“Oh! Wow, thanks Bobby! Reggie was right, you really are good, I didn’t feel a thing!” Carlos says, grinning up at Bobby.
“No problem kid.” Bobby says with a small smile. “You were a great patient. You take care now.” Carlos grins and hops off the stool. Julie smiles gratefully at Bobby and Reggie.
“Thank you both for taking care of my brother.” Reggie grins and gives Carlos a fist bump.
“No problem! He’s one cool little dude!” He says which makes Carlos beam up at the older boy.
Bobby gives her a small smile and shrugs.
“Just doing our jobs. Hey, uh, you’re Julie right? You’re friends with my cousin, Carrie?” He asks. Julie nods.
“Yep. That’s me. You live with Carrie and her dad right?” She responds.
“Yeah… My parents travel a lot for work. Like a lot. So Uncle Trevor lets me live with him and Carrie.” Bobby says with a shrug. He doesn’t say anything else. After a moment of slightly awkward silence Julie rocks back on her heels and clears her throat.
“Alright. Well, we’re gonna get going now, thanks again.” Julie says. “C’mon Los, we should be getting home, it’ll be dinner time soon.” Carlos sighs.
“Okay. Bye Bobby! Bye Reggie!”
“Bye little dude! See you around!” Reggie replies with a grin as Bobby raises a hand in farewell.
Julie turns and leads Carlos out of the first aid hut. Outside they find Flynn and Sammy waiting for them. Flynn hands Julie her tote bag.
“Figured you guys would be ready to head home.” Julie shoots her a grateful smile.
“Yeah we are, thanks Flynn.”
Together the four of them head for the exit, the two boys walking just ahead of their sisters, Carlos showing off his bandage to Sammy. Flynn slings an arm around Julie’s shoulders.
“Well that was a pretty exciting start to our summer, huh Jules?” Julie blows out a breath and leans into Flynn’s side.
“I’ll say.” She mutters. Flynn gives her a squeeze and mischievous grin on her face.
“And someone took a big step today! You finally talked to your dreamy guitar boy! That’s huge Jules! You’ve been crushing on him for like half a year! That’s even longer than your crush on Nickie-poo!” She teases
“Shhh! Flynn!” Julie hisses, glancing around like Luke might be somewhere within earshot.
“I’m just saying Jules! This summer could be your chance!” Flynn counters. “There was definitely a vibe between the two of you, a connection! I saw it with my own eyes!” Julie rolls her eyes in response.
“Yeah okay Flynnie.” She says with a disbelieving chuckle. Together they head towards the HPC exit. Just before they get there though, who should step out of staff locker rooms but Luke himself.
“Oh hey!” He says with a grin when he sees them. “You guys heading out for the day?” Julie freezes staring at him until Flynn elbows her and jolts her back to reality.
“Uh, yeah, yes, we are. Home time! Time to go home! That’s what we’re doing, where we’re going, right Flynn?” She rambles, cringing internally. Luke chuckles in amusement.
“Well alright then, I won’t keep you. Have a good night!” He says grinning right at Julie. “Hopefully I’ll see you around plenty this summer.” He adds with a wink before turning and walking away, humming to himself, a slight bounce to his step. Julie stares after him, her cheeks flushed and her heart racing. Was Luke just… flirting… with her?! From next to her Flynn snickers.
“Okay, c’mon Miss Heart Eyes, let’s get you home.” Julie follows after her in a daze. This is going to be a very interesting summer indeed.