Kitten Scratch:

Simone’s Notes:

Limerence involves intrusive thinking about the limerent object; acute longing for reciprocation; some fleeting and transient relief from unrequited limerence through vivid imagining of action by the limerent object that means reciprocation; and fear of rejection and unsettling shyness in the limerent object's presence. As well, the feelings of limerance are intensified through adversity, obstacles, or distance, and the person may have acute sensitivity to any act, thought, or condition that can be interpreted favorably, and an extraordinary ability to devise, fabricate, or invent "reasonable" explanations for why neutral actions are a sign of hidden passion in the limerent object. A person experiencing limerance has a general intensity of feeling that leaves other concerns in the background, and in their thoughts, they tend to remarkably emphasize what is admirable in the limerent object and to avoid any negative or problematic attributes.

Every morning, Paul Walker rode his bike over to the Activity Center. He walked inside. The boy was on the swim team at his school. He got his practice in the center’s pool. That was Paul’s alone time. He could be free in his head when he was in the water. None of Steven’s clumsy mistakes. No chores, no worrying about Yasmine and Malachi. It was just him, the water, and his thoughts. But on the morning of Halloween, Paul would have a new distraction on his mind.

Paul came out to the pool and dove in at the deep end. The cool water greeted him really fast. He came back up for air. The boy was chattering when he did so. He took in a deep breath. Paul moved around in the water some to help him warm up some. The coach had taught him to do so. “Okay,” the boy thought. “Try not to think about the cold and focus on your English assignment.” So, Paul began looking around the whole pool area. The light blues and whites were dominant along with the pool rules and the Sharks logo for the gym. None of which he found so inspiring. English was supposed to be an easy class for him. It had been until this point. Then, the teacher whips out this assignment. Go to your favorite place, pick out an object, and write a poem about it. Easy right? Not for Paul! He was in his favorite place, but everything was bland.

Then, Paul looked and saw something that caught his eyes. A girl was walking into the pool area. She had her long blonde-brown hair back into a tight ponytail. She was a cute little thing. Healthy slim figure and curves when part of the deal. Her body was decorated in a yellow and black one piece swimsuit. Paul couldn’t take his eyes off of her. There was something so familiar about her…

Then, Paul recognized her within seconds. His eyes grew big in surprise. Paul blinked hard many times to see if he was dreaming or not. She was real! The girl was real!!!

“Kira?” Paul asked aloud. The girl looked up when she heard her name being called. She looked and saw him. She was surprised as well.

“Paul?” Kira asked. There was a long pause. Both teens became overjoyed. Paul and Kira had crushes on each other when they were kids. They met at this very pool in the Activity Center. Ever since then, they had become deep crushes, close pals, and little swimming buddies. Their parents were all good friends with each other. Life was very good when they all lived in Central together. But then one day, Kira and her father just up and left for no reason at all. Nobody could explain why. The girl and her father just up and left in the night without any warning. Days later, Steven and the rest of the North troops were transferred up to the North and all was forgotten about why the Robinsons left in the first place. But now, here they were back together again. Kira hurried over to the pool and dove in with her childhood crush. She shivered once the cold hit her lovely pale skin.

“Oh that’s cold!” she called aloud. Paul smirked at her in an evil way. He splashed her like a little child. Kira squealed aloud.

“Hey!” she yelled. Then she splashed him back. The good old splash face followed close behind. After three minutes, Kira and Paul were all wet and panting. They smiled at each other warmly.

“You haven’t changed one bit!” Kira said to Paul. Her crush blushed at her.

“Uh… well…” he said. “That’s just how I am, I guess…” Kira smiled at him warmly. A sweet and rosy paused passed between the blooming couple.

“So,” Paul spoke up. “What are you doing back in Central again?”

“My dad’s troops got transferred back here,” she replied. Then Kira hugged her crush close to her wet slender body. Paul instantly blushed again. He hugged her back. Kira looked up at him sweetly.

“”How are your parents?” she asked.

“Dad’s divorced,” Paul replied.

“Oh,” his girl said. “Sorry to hear that.” Paul shrugged.

“That’s okay,” he said. “He got remarried a few moments ago.”

“Oh really?” Kira asked.

“Yeah,” her boy said. “Her name is Yasmine and she has a five year old son named Malachi. She and dad are even having a baby together soon.”

“That’s good!” Kira chirped. She snuggled close to her man’s chest. Paul blushed again at first. Then, he lightly ran his finger through her long ponytail.

“I missed you so much,” Kira whispered to him.

“I know,” Paul said back.

“Stay with me forever!” she pleaded. Paul smiled to himself softly.

“Okay,” he agreed. Then, the boy turned his girl’s face to him and gently kissed her on the lips. Kira was mildly surprised by this gesture. That told her that he had fallen back in love with her all over again. She kissed him back in reply. That kiss lasted for about a minute before they parted. Paul grinned at her in excitement like he did when they were younger.

“Want to race?” he asked her. Kira had a grin up to her ears.

“Sure!” she called. Then, they moved to the edge of the pool. The new young couple prepared to swim for the race just like the old days.

“Ready,” Paul said.

“Set,” Kira replied.

“GO!!!” the young couple yelled out. Then, they both took off swimming. As they swam, Paul quickly found his inspiration for his school work. Within seconds, he had the words ready to write down on paper.

Cold waters splashing below

All expecting to be another typical day

Nothing to draw from

But then, she comes back

She’s all grown up to sixteen years just like me

But, she’s just as beautiful as the day we parted

Now, here we are reunited in the cold water I love so much

Swimming just like the old days

I am in love with her all over again

By eight o’clock after five or six races, Paul climbed out of the pool and dried off. Kira looked up in the water at him pouting.

“Aww,” she said. “You’re leaving, already?”

“We have school, remember?” he asked. Kira thought about that for a second. Then, she laughed aloud nervously. *Sweat drop on Kira’s head*

“Oh that’s right!” she called out. Then, she laughed again. Paul extended his hand out to her.

“Here,” he said to her kindly. “Let me help you out.” Kira gave him her hand and he pulled her out of the water. She stood before him all dripping wet. Paul handed his girl her towel.

“Here you are,” he said. Kira smiled as she took it.

“Thanks,” she said. Then, the girl dried herself off. Paul watched her with a smile on his face. “She is so cute!” he thought happily. Kira finished up drying herself and tied the towel around her waist. The girl looked like a lovely island goddess right here. She smiled at Paul warmly.

“Same time tomorrow?” she asked. Paul smiled back at her.

“Sure!” he called in bliss. Kira kissed him again on the lips. Her new boyfriend kissed her back. Then they left the pool area hand in hand. Young love had rediscovered itself again.