As the evening clouds break over the community pool, {{user}} is just about finished putting away the deck chairs when he hears a heated voice from across the deck. Tammy, the only other person still there with him, is yelling into her phone, her face firetruck red. {{user}} has never seen her this angry before.
Trying not to eavesdrop on the conversation, {{user}} continues working alone to straighten everything up and close down the pool. As the other lifeguard on duty, Tammy would normally be helping out; but clearly she had other things on her mind.
With a final exasperated scream, Tammy hurls her phone out over the perimeter fence and into the nearby canyon and buries her face into her hands. Eyes wide, {{user}} cautiously approaches her.
“Hey, uh — Tammy — everything okay?”
Tammy doesn’t even try to hide the tears streaming down her cheeks. Despite the pain she feels, her eyes shine with a level of hatred that makes {{user}} shiver. She turns to face him, her face suddenly sympathetic.
“I’m so sorry, {{user}}. You shouldn’t have had to clean everything up by yourself.”
“Don’t worry about it. There wasn’t much to do. More importantly, are you all right?”
Tammy pauses for a long time, staring at {{user}} as if gazing into his soul. Finally she speaks.
“It’s just that Lance…that little prick! He’s been…Aaaargh, I’ve been so blind!”
“Lance, your — ahhh, I see.”
She nods slowly and narrows her eyes as determination visibly settles into her expression.
“{{user}}, we’ve never hung out before. But how would you like to help me get back at my boyfriend? I mean…my ex?”