JOEL’S POV
Oh hell, Damien is already walking towards me? He walked with horse like speed and handed me a piece of paper.
“What’s this?” I turned it around and noticed it was an invitation. I was surprised, “What the hell Damien? Why are you inviting me to the pool when you hate me.” He smiled,
“It’s a declaration of war. I invited Abigail too. If you’re too close to her you know what will happen.” I handed it back to him,
“I don’t want it, take it back.”
“You sure? I mean something might happen when I turn my back…you never know what might happen.” I grew increasing frustrated and snatched the invitation from his hand,
“Fine have it your way. I’ll go.” He laughed,
“Great, it’s right after school at four. Don’t be late.” I silently cursed under my breath. He always has a trick up his sleeve; just because he’s rich he can get away with anything.
ABIGAIL’S POV
I woke up from my daze during homeroom as Damien lightly tapped my head,
“Good morning sunshine.” I blushed from embarrassment,
“Oh, I fell asleep? Wow haha…” It must be because I didn’t sleep well last night. he laughed,
“It’s all good I just wanted to make an anouncement and make sure everyone heard it.” He winked, “Including you.” He clapped his hands a couple times to make everyone stop their conversations.
“Hey everyone, my dad just opened an indoor pool to the public and I can have it all for this class if any of you are interested.” Many people raised their hands and agreed.
“Sounds like fun.” I said. Damien brightened up by my comment,
“I somehow thought you would say that.” Damien continues now looking at the rest of his classmates, “Well, I’ll have the pool by tomorrow so anyone who wants to go take this pass.” He handed out many passes and slipped one in my hands.
“Please come, this is a sort of an apology to a couple days ago. I feel really bad about being nasty to Joel so I’m inviting him too.” I looked up surprised and smiled,
“Ok, I’ll go.”
Once I got home I rummaged through my dresser trying to find my bathing suit from last year. Hopefully it still fits…I scrambled a little further and found my old striped one. I guess this one will work. I quickly put it on and looked in the mirror. Hm, I wonder if this is ok? I turned in a complete circle and looked at it up and down. Good no holes. I put on my heavier clothes on top of it and checked the time, 3:00 eh I still have time. I called mom but I only got to her voice mail.
“Hey, I really miss you mom. I hope you come home for Christmas we always spend it together so don’t forget! And… how is work?” I laughed, “Well I always know that you’re doing your best so you should be fine wherever you are. Love you mom.” I hung up the phone and walked to the door. I guess it doesn’t really matter if I’m there a little early…I could try to learn how to swim some before everyone comes. I grabbed my bag and walked down the stairs towards the bus stop. The bus eventually came around and opened the door. I smiled at the familiar face,
“Hey there, I remember you from a couple weeks ago. How’s your boyfriend?” I blushed,
“He isn’t really my boyfriend but he’s alright. I’m by myself today.”
“Oh, I’m kinda disappointed to hear that, you guys are really cute.” He laughed. I smiled,
“Thanks.” I walked and sat into the first seat.
“So are you always the bus driver around here?” I asked. He chuckled,
“Most the time I am. My schedule is kinda hectic so someone else fills in for me sometimes.”
“Wow, what else do you do?”
“I really enjoy art, I’m not much of an artist but I’m practicing painting at home. I also try and take care of the family. My wife stays home but she needs a break every once in a while you know?” I laughed,
“Yeah and that’s really cool mister…?”
“Mr. Young but you can call me Larry.”
“Okay Larry.” The bus stopped at the aquarium bus stop. I got off the bus and waved to Larry.
“See you Larry.” He smiled and closed the bus doors. I headed off towards the gym, which was just three blocks away from the aquarium. While I was walking I found the pet shop Joel and I were at just couple weeks ago. I saw the same clerk and laughed. I can still remember his ridiculous voice when he shooed us out. I found the gym without any problems and checked my phone. 3:30. I sighed, that’s not that much time left but it’s better than nothing I guess. I used my pass to get in and put all of my clothes in a locker. I turned the pass around and saw Damien’s number. Guess I better text him I’m already here so he won’t worry.
The water was freezing when I hopped in the shallow end but I gradually got used to it and got closer to the deep end. I really hated the deep end; I was always scared to swim over there since I needed to hold onto the end of the pool all the time. If I ever let go, it was over. I gulped as I did my practice exercises in the shallow end, trying to kick my feet and push myself forward in the water. Let’s just say, it’s a good thing I was tall enough to tall enough to get most of my body above water.
Most of our classmates started to show up now and only a few left to come. I sat on the steps in the shallow end braiding my hair as Damien sat right next to me,
“Wow, you look great.” I practically fell where I sat,
“Jesus, you scared me.” He laughed,
“You sure are skittish you know that?” I slapped him,
“It’s all because of people like you idiot.” He smiled mischievously,
“So, you wanna go swimming with me? We could play some water basketball over there.” I snorted,
“You know I’m terrible at sports why are you pointing it out?” he got up and started to pull my hands to get me into the water. I let him as he went go grab the ball. I looked around and shaggy black hair caught my eye. I grinned and waved at him and he half-heartedly waved back looking like his indifferent self. I stopped smiling. Why is he like that? Is it because he can’t swim just like me? Damien threw the ball towards me and splashed water in my face,
“Stay awake during the game.” He chuckled. I grabbed the ball and jumped as high as I could and threw the ball towards the basket and I got it in the first try. My mouth practically dropped to the ground.
“Oh, damn Abigail I thought you were terrible at basketball.” He shrugged, “Dumb luck I guess.”
“Wait, pass it here again let me try a couple more times.” He passed it to me and I tossed the ball into the hoop again without any help. I tried from a few different angles and got it in the same way. I laughed, feeling so full of victory,
“Looks like I found my calling.” Damien gave my a thumbs up
“Great job. Now it’s MY turn to show off, follow me.” He lead my to the diving board, “Wait right here you’ll have a great view.” He set me really close to the deep end that it made me incredibly nervous. I tried really hard to hide it and he didn’t even notice me shaking. Damien waited in the line while I started to stare at Joel again. I really wanted to talk to him, but I don’t want to ruin Damien’s mood. I’ll talk to him later on afterwards then. It was Damien’s turn now and he was testing the board when all of a sudden I was flailing in the deep end, not knowing how to swim I was hopeless. My vision started to blur and my kicking grew weaker and weaker. I felt strong arms around me, and then the cold concrete on my back.
“Don’t you dare quit Abby.”
“Joel?” I croaked, “Joel?” I felt someone pushing their hands on my chest,
“Breathe dammit!” I started to breathe but my vision was still blurry. I started to cry,
“Joel, I’m so scared.” Once my vision came back to me it was Damien over me trying to check my pulse and breathing. He sighed when he was done,
“You really scared me you know that? You should have told me you couldn’t swim then I wouldn’t have forced you like that.” He hugged me tightly but it felt wrong, very wrong. I pushed away a little trying to look around. I couldn’t even see a trace of Joel and I could’ve sworn it was Joel who saved me from the water and helped me breathe again. Damien sighed,
“If your looking for Joel he left a little after I saved you from the water. He didn’t even come over to check if you were ok. What an asshole.” I couldn’t even believe it Joel isn’t even like that. He would’ve at least made sure I was ok…
“I agree, I saw him leave like that too.” A classmate said.
“If you don’t believe me,” said Damien, “Then ask any of these classmates here. He did just leave.” Many of them nodded and looked in the direction of the exit angrily. My heart dropped to my stomach with disappointment.
“It’s alright he’s only an idiot to begin with, he doesn’t know how to treat anyone with respect.”
JOEL’S POV
I suddenly grew nervous once Abby got close to the water at the deep end, for some reason it gave me bad vibes since a group a girls are way too close to her. Out of that group I picked out Sharon, and she meant trouble. I got up and walked a little closer making sure I got a good view of Abby and then it happened, Sharon pushed her into the water while she was distracted by Damien. The second I saw her trying to swim with difficulty I quickly ran towards the pool and dived into the water next to her. She was sinking way to fast and she lost all of her fight against the water. I swam as quickly as I could and grabbed her under her arms pulling her up with me. I lifted her on the concrete floor and checked her pulse. She wasn’t breathing and I was panicking like a maniac. I started to do CPR we learned in health class not to long ago,
“Don’t you dare quit Abby.” I heard her moan my name quietly a couple times as I finally managed to get her to breathe. I got pushed into the water, and I was twice as angry,
“What are you trying to do?” I yelled, “I’m helping her, she needs to breathe and get her pulse back to normal!”
“Joel…” Abby moaned weakly. “Joel I’m so scared.” I went to grab her hand but Damien smacked it away, “Get out now unless you want her to suffer. You just aimed your gun towards the wrong person.”
“No. I’m not just going to leave while Abby is suffering. That will not happen.” Damien growled,
“You don’t remember about Caitlyn? What happened to her huh?” I swore,
“Let it go it was in the past. I didn’t do anything it was all her.” Damien pushed me backwards,
“Oh, yes it was, you want to make my life miserable to the point that I can never get a girlfriend, you’re always stealing them away from me. Whenever I’m interested in someone new they always run to you and leave me in the dark.” He spit “And you know what? I’m tired of lingering in your shadow. It’s about time I made you suffer a little bit.” I pushed Damien back,
“Keep her out of this is isn’t any of her business if you want to hurt someone hurt me.” I offered my face, “right here. Do it.” Damien hesitated, “Wow, are you that much of a coward?” Damien hissed and punched my face so hard I fell off balance and fell on my butt hard. I put my hand to my cheek,
“There, now keep her out of this. You can hurt me all you want just don’t go after a girl that that shouldn’t even be involved in a man’s fight.” Damien smiled,
“You have one chance Joel before she suffers. If you keep away I won’t hurt her got it? Now leave before I call security.” I grabbed my towel and went to the men’s locker room. I kicked the locker with brute force. At least he won’t hurt her but it’s going to be hell to stay away.