Deep End

Scarlett tells Sam that Victoria was injured during practice. Sam wants to know how this makes Scarlett feel. Scarlett says she’s worried about Victoria but isn’t personally afraid of the dangers of diving (96). However, she can’t answer Sam’s question about what she is afraid of.

Scarlett, Zach, and Lukas meet up to work on their project. During the meeting, Lukas grabs Scarlett’s ankle under the table and holds onto her. She tries dismissing fantasies about sex with Lukas to focus. Toward the end of the meeting, Zach asks Scarlett about her relationship status. Afterward, Lukas remarks on the exchange, insisting Scarlett can’t tell when someone is interested in her.

At practice one morning, Scarlett prepares to do an inward dive. Once she hits the water, she realizes she did a back tuck instead of an inward. Coach Sima calls Scarlett into his office and reveals that Victoria is out for the season; he wants Scarlett to replace Victoria as Pen’s synchro (synchronized diving) partner. Overwhelmed, Scarlett tears up.

Scarlett feels exhausted after taking the MCAT but attends Bree and Bella’s birthday party anyway. On the way, Pen reassures Scarlett about her MCAT results and reveals that Lukas took it last year and scored “in the ninety-ninth percentile” (109). She also reveals that she’s started seeing her former TA, Theo.

Scarlett feels uncomfortable at the party. She’s never been very social and isn’t used to crowds. She makes eye contact with Lukas across the room and excuses herself to a sunroom upstairs to get some space. She checks her email, discouraged when she sees a message from her German professor about getting extra help. Lukas appears. They chat about the MCAT and school. Then Lukas asks how she felt about his email and if she wants to have sex. They discuss how they feel about BDSM and Scarlett shares her hesitations. Lukas promises to drop the issue if she says no but promises to meet her anywhere at any time if she’s interested. When she doesn’t say anything, he leaves. Back downstairs, Scarlett notices Lukas across the room again. She realizes she does want to be with him and texts him asking when and where he wants to meet.

Scarlett doesn’t hear from Lukas for 24 hours. She runs into him after Monday morning practice. He gives her a folded piece of paper. She blushes when she discovers it’s “a list of the filthiest things two people can do to each other” (126). He tells her they should each fill out their own list of things they like and want to try and exchange them. They walk across campus together, the topic shifting to their research project.

That afternoon, Scarlett and Pen have their first synchro practice. Coach Sima is displeased with their performance, but the friends laugh and joke to diffuse the tension.

Two days later, Scarlett finishes her list. She and Lukas meet up at the library to exchange them. When Lukas sees hers, he grabs her and pushes her against the wall, and they kiss passionately.

Scarlett gets swept up in the kiss. Lukas tells her that he wants everything she wants. However, he doesn’t get to show her his list before he has to go to a swim meeting. He leaves it with her, making her promise she’ll read it before they meet up again. Scarlett agrees but shares her concerns about starting a sexual relationship before telling Pen. Lukas insists he’ll talk to her. That night, Scarlett reads Lukas’s list in bed.

After practice, Scarlett gets a text from Penelope saying they have to talk. Scarlett is nervous, convinced Penelope will hate her if she starts seeing Lukas. Instead, Penelope tells Scarlett she knew she and Lukas would be sexually compatible. She also shares more about her relationship with Theo. The friends laugh and joke.

Scarlett has lunch with Pen and works on homework. She’s still struggling with German but feels more confident after meeting with her professor. Later, she goes to the lab to work on her project. Lukas shows up and they chat about their conversations with Pen. The topic shifts to Lukas’s family. He shows her pictures of his brothers and explains his relationship with his dad. Then they talk about their lists and their reasons for liking BDSM. Lukas makes sure she feels comfortable, and Scarlett says she wants him to be in control. He tells her to perform oral sex on him, which Scarlett does. After he orgasms, Lukas touches Scarlett too, insisting they leave the lab and go to his place instead.

Scarlett and Lukas discuss their research project while walking across campus. Lukas is impressed by how knowledgeable Scarlett is. The topic shifts to their past relationships. Scarlett is surprised by how little Lukas knows about diving given his relationship with Pen. Lukas is surprised to hear that Josh broke up with Scarlett.