You!

Drowning in Sorrow

"Come meet my friends,"

Lucy eagerly agreed to meet Luke's friends, I couldn't help but feel a sense of scepticism. Just a few hours ago, he had warned me to stay away from him and his crew. Now, he was extending an invitation for us to join them. It all seemed too good to be true.

I took the cup from Lucy, trying to play it cool despite my instincts telling me that something fishy was going on. We followed Luke through the crowded party, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were walking into a trap.

Luke led us to a group of people who were laughing and chatting animatedly. They all turned to look at us as we approached, and I couldn't help but notice the mischievous glint in their eyes. This was definitely not what I had expected.

"Hey guys, meet Leah and?"

"Lucy," she whispered.

"Lucy," Luke announced, gesturing towards us with a grin. "They're cool, don't worry."

I exchanged a wary glance with Lucy, silently communicating our shared sense of unease.

Before I could voice my concerns, Lucy spoke up enthusiastically. "Nice to meet you all!"

The girls were chattering away, their perfect teeth gleaming as they played with her hair and handed her more alcohol. I initially declined a drink, but after a while, I couldn't resist and joined in. I mean, what harm could it do, right?

One of the blonde girls, with a fake smile plastered on her face, turned to me and said, "So Leah, Luke said you're from Virginia. Don't you miss it there? You must have had lots of friends." Her tone was more condescending than curious as if she were trying to confirm that I was indeed a nerdy loner.

Well, news flash to that Barbie doll. I did have friends!

"Uhm, yes I do, and I'll be going back in four months after graduation," I replied, trying to sound nonchalant. Luke shot me a glare, clearly surprised by my response. Great, now he'll probably tell my mother all about it.

"Well let's first see if she will survive the four months." all the girls chuckled away.

Pfft! I wonder if they know how ridiculous they sound.

"Hey Leah, I'm Luke's best friend. Jason," the handsome boy said, sticking out his hand to greet me. I couldn't help but notice how his smile seemed to light up the room, and his eyes sparkle with devilishness.

I shook his hand, trying to keep my cool although I was melting under his gaze. He may not have been as muscular as Luke, but there was something about him that made me want to sit in front of a fan just to cool off.

"Let's play beer pong!" Jason's words echoed through the room. Beer pong? Me? I could barely throw a ball straight, let alone land it in a tiny cup of beer. But before I could protest, the girls had already dragged me over to the table, their eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Come on, it'll be fun!" Sarah, I think her name is, exclaimed, handing me a ping pong ball with a mischievous grin. I hesitated, looking at the row of red cups filled with beer in front of me. This was not how I had envisioned my Saturday night going.

As the game began, I quickly realized that my fears were not unfounded. My first throw missed the mark completely, landing on the floor with a sad thud. The girls erupted into laughter, causing me to blush with embarrassment.

But as the game went on, something unexpected happened. With each failed throw, the tension in the room dissipated, replaced by a sense of camaraderie and laughter. Even though I was terrible at beer pong, I found myself enjoying the game in a way I hadn't expected.

By the time the last cup was sunk, I was covered in beer and feeling slightly buzzed, but also strangely exhilarated. Who knew that a game of beer pong could be so much fun, even for someone as uncoordinated as me?

As we cheered and high-fived each other, I couldn't help but laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. Maybe beer pong wasn't so bad after all, and maybe I was paranoid for nothing. They all seemed so nice! And who knows, maybe next time I'll actually make a shot. But for now, I was content to revel in the hilarity of my failed attempts and the unexpected joy that came from embracing the chaos of the moment.

"And now for the main event," Jason's voice boomed over the crowd. I looked around to see what he meant, but before I could realise, a group of boys grabbed me and lifted me off the ground, their rough hands sending a wave of panic through me.

I struggled as they carried me towards the pool, my heart racing in fear. I knew what was coming. As they threw me into the water, I felt the cold shock envelop me, swallowing me whole.

I thrashed and kicked, desperate to stay above the surface. But each time I resurfaced, I was met with the mocking laughter of Luke's friends. The weight of their taunts pressed down on me, suffocating me with shame and embarrassment.

But it wasn't just their laughter that haunted me. It was the memories that flooded my mind as I fought to stay afloat. The image of my father, his image disappearing beneath the waves, flashed before my eyes. The pain of losing him, of not being able to save him, clawed at my heart.

I struggled to keep my head above water, the echoes of that fateful day echoed in my ears. The guilt and sorrow threatened to consume me, dragging me deeper into the depths of sadness.

surrounded by the cruel laughter of everyone, I realized that the true weight I carried was not the fear of drowning, but the burden of my past. The pool may have been filled with water, but it was the memories that drowned me.

I sank to the bottom of the murky water, the weight of my heartache pulling me down with each passing moment, I felt as though I was being consumed by the darkness that surrounded me. The pain of loss and misery had taken its toll on me, leaving me feeling numb and empty inside.

Just as I felt my last breath escaping me, a strong hand grabbed hold of me and pulled me back to the surface. Gasping for air, I looked around and saw the concerned faces staring back at me, their voices a distant echo in my ears. But it was Luke's eyes that captured my attention, his gaze filled with hostility as he stood at a distance, unable to approach me.