She switches to the backstroke after ten laps. Ten more and she rolls over again; breaststroke. She has waterproof headphones and an audiobook going.
"You have to watch out staring at people in the locker room, Sahde, what if they think you're hitting on them and then explain to you they don't date greys and then you hang out and then you propose a ridiculous tripartite arrangement."
"I confess it has exceeded my initially conservative expectations."
"Yes but I trust we're awesome enough. And the two of you should have a date without me, too, probably."
"Do you suppose? People do vee, it doesn't have to be a triangle. I mean, as long as spring comes on time, you know. - I'm not opposed, just wasn't particularly assuming."
"I swear you're the same during winter as most people during spring." Looks at Pelape again. "I'm not opposed, either, you seem really swell."
"Okay, we can schedule something, but with the full awareness there will be no need to call the whole thing off if we are better off not actually trying to date."
Giggle. "I can bring a plus one to the Oddball Blogs panel in two weeks, who wants the slot? Utota Malain will be there talking about vintage furniture, I'd have to look up everybody else."
"Heck yeah I'll be able to brag at the uni about going to the panel with the Pelape Milath."
"As opposed to some other Pelape Milath - Pelape's a common name but Milath is not, I've never needed an adjective."
"There are probably a hundred Ohan Elamikes, but I will not be fooled by imitators."
"I am so fortunate. Imagine if I only had the second-smartest one."
"You would spend all your time wondering what poor choices you must've made to land so close to and yet so far from the top."
"Thank you for saving me from this fate, O Smartest Ohan Elamike."