New Beginnings

Chapter 31 : At the pool again

Chapter 31

Jeff POV

My legs started shaking as I walked closer to the pool. I was terrified.

Alex's uncle was sitting in a chair near the edge of the pool. He was going to supervise everything, and help me learn to swim.

"Alright, you guys. Get in the pool," he said.

Alex and Sebastian jumped in the pool. I took the stairs into it.

"Come on, Jeff. We have to go into the deep end," Alex said, grabbing my hand.

I let her pull me forwards until the water was up to my shoulders. Then I wouldn't go any further.

"Jeffy, come on."

"No."

Sebastian grabbed my other hand, and they both pulled me deeper. They took me to the other end of the pool, which was 10 feet deep.

I clung to the edge, terrified. But I was trying my best not to cry.

"I want to get out!"

"Jeff, you have to learn how to swim first," Alex said, running her hand down my back.

"N-no!"

"Yes. Come on. I'll show you. And Sebastian and I will help you."

I sighed, but didn't protest anymore.

Alex showed me the motions. I kept trying, but I'd just start sinking, and then her and Sebastian would have to help me get back to the edge again. They hadn't let my head go under, and I was really grateful for that.

I was beginning to get really tired and cold. They kept making me try again, but I was so tired, and I was doing worse than I was before.

"Alright, I have an idea. Teach him how to float," Alex's uncle said.

Alex took my hand, and brought me back to the shallow end.

"Ok, Jeffy. You need to lay on your back. Sebastian and I won't let you go under. We've got you, ok?" Alex asked.

I nodded a little. Alex had me lay down on top of the water. But before I could stretch out, I'd keep feeling like I was going to go under, and I would freak out, and stand up.

"Jeff, come on. Relax. I promise we won't let you go under," Alex said.

"After this, can we please be done? I'm cold," I said, shivering.

"If you can float, we can be done for today," her uncle said.

I nodded.

"Ok. Lay down. We've got you."

I laid down on their hands, trying to remain calm.

"Ok, good. Now we're going to remove our hands, and let you float on your own, ok?"

I shook my head no.

"Jeff, we won't let you go under, I promise. Just stay still."

I felt their hands leave my back. But I didn't go under, which really surprised me.

"Good, Jeff."

Alex helped me stand up again.

"C-can I g-get out n-now?" I asked, shivering.

"Yes."

I got out of the pool, and wrapped a towel around myself. I was so cold!

"Good job, Jeff," Alex said, hugging me.

"I don't like it."

"I know you don't. But you did a good job anyways."

We walked back up to our dorms. We invited Sebastian to come over and hang out after he changed.

"How was swimming?" Nick asked when we came through the door.

"Fine, no thanks to you," Alex said, obviously annoyed.

"Look. I just don't want to be around Sebastian."

"Well he's coming over in like 5 minutes to come hang out."

"Then I'm going over to Trent and David's."

"Fine."

Nick grabbed his stuff, and left.

Alex let me change first. I put on my warmest pjs. I was still really cold.

While Alex was changing, Sebastian came over. He was in sweatpants and a sweatshirt. And he came over, and sat down next to me.

"Hey," he said, flopping down.

"Hey."

Alex came out, and sat down between us.

"What do you guys want to do?" Alex asked.

"Um... I was actually wondering if I could talk to you guys," Sebastian said, looking down at the floor.

"Sure. What's up?" Alex asked.

"It's just that... Well... I know Jeff has depression. And I do too. I guess I just don't really know how to deal with it, and I was wondering what Jeff did, and what you did to help him."

"He cut himself!" I said, sitting up straighter.

"Is that true?" Alex asked.

Sebastian nodded, and his cheeks turned bright red. He pulled up his sleeves, showing his cuts to Alex. Alex sighed.

"Well... When Jeff wants to cut, I tell him to talk it out instead of hurting himself. So we usually just talk about his feelings and stuff. And if he has any problems, I try to help him solve them. I think the biggest thing is that I just try to keep him calm, and keep away the irrational thoughts. He gets so caught up in his head sometimes, and I want to avoid that. He's pretty sensitive too, which doesn't help him, but yeah. We talk it out."

Sebastian sighed. Something's bothering him. I can tell.

"Is there anything you need to talk about?" Alex asked.

"Um... Yeah, actually..."