Fall in love in a weekwe get by

We were dropped off on a beach with white coral sand. There were almost no people here, and I already created a swimsuit for myself without fear.

–Are you a good swimmer? – asked Dougal.

– I won’t outrun the shark, but I’ll try to you.

And we started racing. Dougal swam the classic crawl, with powerful jerks, and it was indeed difficult to keep up with him. And when did you learn?! Armchair scientist!

When he allowed himself to be caught up, I was breathing heavily, like a driven horse, and the beach was visible in the distance as a narrow white stripe. I had forgotten that in Charlotte’s body I could simply go to the bottom. And it’s good that I forgot, otherwise Dougal would probably have had to catch me. Legs too long. Hands that have probably never lifted anything heavier in their life than a pencil… or a mirror… And also these… tits. And patlas. I wonder if Charlotte even knew how to swim? a very timely question, yes. Time to take a break!

– You are needed for the national team! – I exhaled, floundering in the water that suddenly seemed dangerous. – To the Olympic Games. Do you have the ?Olympic Games?

– Were in bearded antiquity. In Greece. But if Kels does condescend to you, you will not swim quite so well. Lots of unforgettable thrills in icy water. And an ancient creature neighing, literally and figuratively, instead of fans.

I lay on my back, the ocean held me gently, rocking on the gentle waves. The sun was setting towards the horizon, casting a sparkling, blinding path onto the water. My hair became completely wet, my head was pulled down, under the water, and I had to strain my neck. She turned over and slowly swam towards the shore. Tomorrow all the muscles, unaccustomed to such loads, will ache like hell. And to hell with them, let them hurt. I will also teach this doll body to be human.

I climbed ashore and collapsed on the hot sand. Dougal lay down next to him with his hands behind his head.

The surf was noisy, and we were lying on the sand and talking. About magic, the academy, our Olympic Games… Even about why I was so drawn to Sydney. Now, after our conversation with the “interim results”, the reason seemed stupid. I said so, for some reason feeling guilty. But Dougal looked in such a way that it became clear that he knew this even without my revelations. Well, yes, probably also from Sabella. And I couldn't even blame her for blurting out my personal secrets. She told me a lot of personal things about Dougal too. And about her story with Maskelyne, although it was not easy for her. And if she conveyed something about me to Dougal, it would probably be something that would help him see me the same way I saw him. She knows her son. And, as Ghost Bear rightly noted, a very wise woman.

And Dougal said:

– It’s not so important why the dream was born. What is more important is whether it will come true or not.

He was right, of course. I looked at the sun that had almost set into the ocean and asked:

– Action films or melodramas?

“I don’t look,” he shrugged. – I don’t read novels either. A pointless waste of time.

“Mr. Holmes,” I snorted. – Interesting, would you like science fiction? Do you have one?

– If it cannot be brought to life at least in laboratory conditions, it is unlikely. As for you…” he turned around. – Perhaps melodramas, perhaps sometimes comedies. Right?

– Melodramas – yes. Depends on the mood. Comedies – only if they are not stupid. All science fiction, without reference to laboratory conditions, and non-scientific fantasy too,” I smiled and spread my hands. – More detectives, but very selectively. Sherlock Holmes is my favorite. Is he in your world?

– Sir Arthur? There was one.

– I would like to compare. Suddenly he wrote something new… that is, different. What a gift that would be! – ? after all, it’s probably different, the world is with magic, this cannot but influence the investigations. Maybe I'll read it some more. All collected works. – Now you? Owl or lark? Or an invigorating potion – and the whole day is yours?

– Depends on the case. If it's interesting, I can be both. But I have not yet invented a permanent invigorating elixir. None of them are ideal and require adequate sleep between doses. I'm working on it though. It makes me angry that there is always not enough time.

“Exactly,” I agreed. I suddenly didn’t want to ask anything else. I scooped up the sand and opened my palm. – Like that.

– As a child, I had a different dream. Not about the island. I dreamed that one day I would find a way to stop time. In a month, a week or a day. But I couldn’t decide what this day should be like, because each of them is interesting in some way. How to choose? I never thought that one day the answer would find me on its own and there would be nothing to choose from.

Breathless. I turned away. Said:

– And no day can be made endless. Science is powerless, and so is magic. It's a pity. Let's go somewhere. It seems to me that the beach has exhausted itself. It will become too sad here now.