Justin had just started his first week in college where he was living in the freshmen dorm and enjoying his freedom for the first time. But his schedule had been so busy that he didn't have a chance to spend time making new friends, and it would be another week before he would even think about it.

Before college, Justin had done some experimenting in the shower at home when he was alone. First, it was just light sportswear, then different outfits like jeans, polo shirts, hoodies and rain clothes. He always made sure that they were the kind of clothing that wouldn't be ruined by water.

College Showers

Now, in college, he was a little more free to try different things. He had even brought along some of his old "good clothes", which were now a size too small on him, to try out in the showers or the college pool.

After sports he always showered in his kit to give it a good rinse, like many other students. This was common practice in this college which promoted sports a lot. They even had a drying room next to the showers.

During his third week, some of his college friends who were renting a house, invited him over for the weekend. He knew of their house and that it had a pool, so he jumped at the chance.

Shopping for Pool Party Outfit

That week, Justin decided to get some shopping in. At a nearby mall he went into one of the department stores and straight to the clothing department. Going through the different outfits, he kept thinking about the upcoming weekend. He was looking a one particular polo shirt and he must have been thinking out loud, wondering how that would looked soaking wet.

"On you, fantastic," came a response. Justin quickly swung around to see a man about his age wearing a store name tag.

"Excuse me?" Justin said.

"I heard you wondering what that would look like on you soaking wet. I think it would look fantastic."

"I didn't know anyone was listening," Justin replied sheepishly, embarrassed that he had been found out.

"I'm sorry," he quickly apologized. "I didn't mean to embarrass you. I was about to ask you if you needed any help when you made that comment." The man extended a hand and added, "I'm Nick."

Justin shook his hand and introduced himself.

"Is there anything in particular you're looking for?"

"I'm just looking for an outfit for a party this weekend."

"Formal or casual?"

"Casual."

Before he asked his next question, he looked around to see if anyone might be in earshot. Then he did ask, in a quieter voice: "Wet or dry?" The tone in his voice told him that this was a serious question and that my secret, although obviously out, was safe with him.

"Well," Justin began, "I was hoping to get wet, but I'd hate explaining myself to the others there."

Nick thought for a moment before responding, "I have an idea." With that, he guided him over to the sporting goods department and over to a rack of clothes.

"You own a bike?" he asked. Justin nodded, replying that freshmen didn't get much in the way of parking spaces on campus. Nick sized him up, reached into the rack, and pulled out a Spandex biking outfit. It consisted of long black bib tights, the ones that go over the shoulders, and a long sleeved blue jersey.

"Now, I don't recommend Spandex to everyone," he cautioned with a wry grin, "but I think this would definitely work on you."

He handed him the outfit and Justin examined it. Although elastic, the material was thick. He was more used to clothes that were loose rather than cling to him. "Spandex?" Justin asked.

"Don't knock it until you try it," he said. "Think about it: This is common sporting equipment and no one is going to question you about getting wet in this." At that point, another shop assistant was calling him and he had to leave. Justin looked at the outfit one more time, then convinced himself to buy it.

Pool Party Day

Saturday morning, Justin donned his biking gear and rode over to his friend's house. As usual, everyone was around the pool listening to music, drinking beer, and getting a tan. One of them commented that he should have brought along a swimsuit. Justin quickly made up an excuse, saying that he couldn't find anything that he liked.

Someone else recommended that he could just go in wearing his biking outfit. Justin was floored that he had been "invited" to swim in what he was wearing. He casually responded, "Alright then," and wasted no time in diving in. He didn't even take the blue jersey off.

There wasn't the drag that he had expected when swimming in clothes. In fact, it felt like he was wearing a regular swimsuit. And there was another surprise when he surfaced. The Spandex, as porous as it was, held quite a bit of water. As soon as he broke the surface, for a few seconds, the sheen the water created was incredible. It was almost like a glassy surface.

He noticed that he had caught the attention of all the guests at the pool. They were trying to be cool about it and were failing miserably. One of the boys mentioned how good it looked and that he would have to try it sometime. Justin made a mental note to thank Nick for the suggestion.

"Hey, anyone home?" a voice called out.

"We're back here," one of the boys called back and ran off to meet the new guest. Justin found a lounge chair and decided to dry off a little before going back in. It wasn't long before that boy came back with his guest and brought him over to the pool.

"Justin, I want you to meet someone I ran into just yesterday," he said. Raising his sunglasses, Justin looked up at the newcomer.

It was Nick.

As they were being introduced, one of the guys chided Nick over the way he seemed to take an interest in Justin's wet outfit.

"Can you blame me?" he replied. "I think it looks fantastic!"