Hairy
By: Aysia C.
Tags: Short Story, Fiction, Short Fiction, Stories

The pool was packed. Tons of Emma’s friends were everywhere enjoying each other’s company. And Louise was among them, with the same brooding look she had on her face earlier. Not bothering to move from her spot, she had sat in the hot sun all day. The sweatpants she wore now were stuck to her legs with sweat as the sun beat down on her.

“Hey Louise, you coming in? The water’s great!” Emma called from the pool, cocktail in hand.

“No I’m alright!” was the reply. But she wasn’t alright. She never felt alright when she was hairy. She shifted in her seat, and the bristles of her legs pricked her sweats.

The sun seemed to taunt her, to shine only on her, daring her to strip into her bathing suit to reveal the stubble on her legs and under her arms.

“I need some relief.” She said to no one and began walking to the pool bathroom. The warm tile was slimy underneath her feet, and for a moment, she regretted not wearing flip flops more than she did not shaving.

She tiptoed over to the sink and turned the handle for cold water. Splashing some of the water on her face, she lavishes in the cool feeling.

She looked up to find her own brown eyes looking back at her. “You’re an unprepared mess,” she said.

“Hey, I thought you were supposed to say positive affirmations to yourself in the mirror.” A girl, to whom the voice belonged appeared in the mirror next to Louise.

“Sorry,” Louise said bashfully, realizing she had been blocking the sink.

“Hey, no worries.” The girl washed and dried off her hands before turning to Louise. “Hi, I’m Jan.” She extended her hand to Louise, and Louise caught a glimpse of what looks like thistles growing from underneath her arms. Jan knew she’s staring, but didn’t retract her arm.

“Yeah I don’t shave,” she said. “If my boyfriend doesn’t have to why should I am I right?” The joke didn’t quite reach Louise.

Louise snapped out of her trance and shook her hand quickly. “I’m so sorry — I didn’t mean to — ”

“No, no it’s alright.” She gave Louise a look over. “Have you been in the water yet? Oh my gosh, you must be burning up! C’mon.”

She grabbed Louise by the hand and pulled her out of the bathroom and to the edge of the pool. Once there, Jan strutted onto the diving board, brandishing her hairy arms and legs, now more noticeable in the sunlight. The hairs glistened and glimmered.

“After me,” she said with a wink. She dove in, allowing the hair under her armpits to be fully on display. She re-emerged from the water and waves Louise in.

At first, Louise hesitated. Then she took off her sweatpants and headed for the diving board. Gingerly, she stepped on it. She suddenly felt exposed. Everyone must have been be staring at her. She started to —

“Treat it like a catwalk!” Jan yelled from the pool. “Catwalk! Catwalk! Catwalk!”

Suddenly everyone was staring at her.

“Oh gosh,” she thought.

Suddenly other people started joining in on the chant. “Catwalk! Catwalk!”

“Go on, Louise! You got this!” Emma called from her right.

“I got this.”

Louise gave a small strut, laughing at herself the whole way, then dove into the pool. She resurfaced to chants and hoots and people going up to the board for their own runway walk.

“Ah, sweet relief,” she thought.

She was hairy. She knew it. Everyone knew it. But she didn’t care.