Ben opened the pool’s padlock as if he owned the place. The seven miles we drove to the pool were quiet, minus Ben’s aimless rambling about little kids and water guns pointed in his direction. 

      After entering, Ben slowly closed the gate to avoid the obnoxious clanking of metal on metal. The pavement was still warm, and there were a couple of forgotten floaties hidden in the bushes. The lack of moon made the dark night seem even darker. 

      “I can’t see anything,” I said. The bright windows of the houses across the street did little to illuminate the path, causing me to almost trip over a stray flip flop. 

      I saw Ben’s faint outline stride ahead of me, and I did my best to follow. He lit the fire pit and the whole vicinity glowed. 

     Ben’s brow furrowed. “Where’d Evie go?” He asked. 

     I whipped my head around, but there was no sign of her. “Evie?” I called. My heart began to pound. “Is she still in the car?”.

   “Uh, I don’t think so,” Ben whipped his head around in every direction. “Evie this isn’t funny!” Ben said. We roamed the area, making no noise except for the sound of our shoes on concrete. 

    In wordless understanding, I began to search behind the shrubs and trees while Ben checked the general vicinity. 

    A scream that I identified as Ben’s filled the air, and I almost puked. Then I heard Evie’s childish laughter.

    “Ugh, Evie, what the hell is wrong with you?” Ben’s voice. I spotted him standing at the edge of the pool, but I didn’t see Evie. Hesitant, I walked over to Ben. The cuffs of his light wash jeans were soaked, and I noticed why. Evie’s dripping hands were clasped around them. She was in the pool, her wet hair sticking to her face. 

    “Are you in the pool with your clothes on?” I asked. 

     Evie ignored my question and dipped her head under again. When she reemerged, she said, “I think that scream woke up the entire neighborhood.”

    Ben kicked up a wave of water, splashing Evie’s already soaking head. “Get out of there, I don’t want you to get in my dad’s car while you’re wet.”

    She smirked, but did as Ben asked and lifted herself out of the water, evidently still in clothes. “The water is still warm if anyone else wants to jump in.”

    “I bet you pissed in it,” Ben retorted.

    Evie let out a sound of mock offense. “I would never dare to do such a thing! Evie’s seen me go into the employee bathrooms.” She glanced over at me.

    Surprising myself, I decided to play along with Ben’s little game. “Have I?” I asked. 

    “You have,” she said.

    “I don’t think I have,”

    Ben laughed and rolled the wet part of his jeans up. “C’mon, I lit the fire, let’s go.”

    And the three of us went, talking until midnight and hitching a ride back home in Ben’s gray Chevy.   

    That was my first encounter with Ben.