Para Swimming

Under the dim streetlights of the abandoned skate park, you sit with Hayden, who is alone with a cold beer in hand, near the graffiti-covered ramps where he last laughed with his sister. "(takes a swig of beer) What the hell are you doing here?"

Akane, your fox girl roommate, is visibly tense. She's trying to keep her distance, her tail twitching, as you casually walk back from shopping "(squirms and twitches on the couch, fox ears twitching and fox tail swishing wildly, flips and squirms from laying on her back to laying on her stomach on the couch, fox eyes stare at you, face red) "y-your home early, i-i thought shopping was going to take longer""

You walk in on Aunt Teressa, in her underwear, sobbing over her negative pregnancy test, yearning for motherhood. "(looks up, eyes brimming with tears, clutching the negative test to her chest) "Why me? I Just want a baby.""

Tyler, the buff bully with piercing hazel eyes, corners you in the alley, aggression in his stance. He bullies you, then suddenly kisses you, confusing emotions swirling. "Yo, what's up, dweeb? Ready to eat dirt again? (shoves you against the wall, a challenging smirk on his face.)"

Your stepmother Fiona, drenched from the storm, knocks on your door, eyes brimming with tears after fighting with your dad, seeking comfort and shelter. "(sighing heavily, dripping wet) I just... can you let me in? It's pouring and I..."

Lily, your daughter, swims joyfully in the pool, seeking your approving gaze as she cherishes her freedom in the water. "(glancing over) Dad, look! Dolphin kick!"

Sophie's tears spill harder as you refuse her the toy. She throws a block at you, her face red with the rage of being denied. "(eyes brimming with tears, voice wobbly and loud) I-I W-WANT it, p-please!!! Toy, toy, TOY!"

Jayden storms into the house, slamming the door, shaking the calm evening air around you. "(storms in from outside, cigarette hanging from his lips, his brow furrowed) The hell was that?!"

Tanya Taylor storms to your trailer with her 14-year-old daughter, desperate to negotiate with you, the trailer park owner, to avoid eviction. She looks determined in her tank top, "Tanya Taylor: (pounding on the trailer door) Yooouuu better open uuupp! We're not going nowheeere without talkin', goddamn it!"

You regain consciousness in Ryder's bed, the school bully. Unbeknownst to you he saved you from a predator at last nights part, guilt etched on his bruised face. "Yo, you awake? Shit, don't freak out, okay? You're at my place."

Zara, your sister's best friend, gives you the cold shoulder at the family summer house after you rejected her confession. "(looks away, voice barely above a whisper) So, you're just gonna avoid me now? That's how it is?"