I shield my eyes from the bright sun. Its strong rays are beating down on me, making my skin sizzle.
"Boy is it starting to get hot."
Adrian looks at me and smiles. "That is why we are going for a refreshing swim."
I tug at the strap of my bathing suit which is digging into my poor shoulders. "This bathing suit is killing me though."
Now Adrian is smirking, a mischievous glint in his evergreen eyes. "You can always go skinnydipping."
It's hard to keep the blush away from my cheeks. "I'll pass on that offer."
He smiles, taking hold of my hand. Sweaty palm on sweaty palm. "Jump on the count of three?"
Gulping, I nod. Together we walk up to the edge, Pickensville Creek looking up at us. Daring us to make the dive.
"1-2-3."
We take a big leap, air rushing toward us, and then the water crashing all around. I come up gasping for air right before Adrian pops up beside me, grinning from ear to ear. The intensity in his eyes causes me to shiver.
Before I know it, his warm hands are lifting me up. Releasing a squeal, I quickly grab ahold of him, not letting him drop me. 2 arms wrapped around 1 neck.
"Don't worry, I won't drop you." His hand moves to push some wet strands out of my eyes. I stare back at him, my heart pounding.
Electricity pulls us closer together, lips lingering. "Are we allowed to kiss," I whisper, "or do we have to focus?"
His lips curl up on the sides into a glorious smile. "I think it's ok if we kiss."
"Then what are we waiting f..."
He silences me, lips crashing together. My fingers dig into his scalp as his hands grip my bare legs, burning my skin. I am ablaze.
He tastes like saltwater, but I don't care. Love overcomes all. My heart is ready to burst into red rose petals.
Unwrapping my arms from around his neck, I kick back, moving myself to shallower water. Now I can stand too. With a flirtatious smile plastered onto my face, I beckon him over with my finger. Slowly he walks toward me. Such a tease.
Finally, he stands before me and I take a step forward, hands pressed to his chest. His heart gives a little leap which makes me smile. It's good to know what effect I have on him. Because he definitely already knows that all of him drives me crazy.
He murmurs my name as I begin to kiss a trail from his chest to his neck. Tasting him. While my hands skim over his abs. Feeling him. His strong body shudders from my touch and once again he begins to murmur my name over and over again. A song. A praise.
Now I'm gazing into his eyes, hoping he can see the love reflecting off mine. "Shelby," he breathes, his long fingers tracing a line up my spine.
"Yes." I melt into him.
"I love you. Never forget that, ok?"
My eyes begin to well up with tears. "How could I ever forget?" I then kiss him softly. "I love you so, so, so much."
He wipes away a lone tear that managed to escape and roll down my cheek. "I know."
I give him a lazy smile. "Race you back to shore?"
"Oh, it's on."
A few minutes later at the same time, Adrian and I collapse where we left our clothes, chests heaving. I lean my head on his and wrapped up in each other's arms we sit under the sun.
I don't know how many minutes pass before my phone starts to buzz. With dry hands, I pull it out of my backpack and check to see who the text is from.
"Shoots, I got to go." I'm already standing up and slipping on my denim shorts and tank.
"Why? What's wrong?" Adrian questions, while stepping into his own clothes. Jeans and a peach-colored t-shirt.
"Nothing. My mom just wants me home to help prepare dinner."
"Ok then. Let's go."
Smiling he takes my hand in his and as 1 we head back to civilization.
***
"How was your day?" Mom asks.
I push around the peas and carrots on my plate. I hate peas and carrots. "Really nice. Adrian and I went swimming down by the creek."
"That sounds like fun." She smiles but then frowns when she notices the uneaten peas and carrots on my plate. "Peas and carrots are good for you. Carrots help strengthen your eyesight."
"But they taste awful."
"I agree." Josh pipes up, green slimy peas smashed between his teeth. "These are gross."
I smile at him, glad that he's on my side.
Mom sighs. "It's useless. My kids like only junk food and never touch the healthy stuff." She turns to Dad. "Donald?"
Dad is busy finishing up his couscous. "Mhm."
"Why didn't you touch your peas and carrots?"
He looks down at his plate as if noticing the peas and carrots for the first time. It seems like he only had his eyes on the couscous and burgers. The fattening stuff...
"They've gone cold," he states.
"I can rewarm them," Mom says.
Dad can't hide the disgust on his face. "Um, they're not really my taste."
Mom sighs once more. "I give up. From now on you guys are going to make a list of the healthy foods you like so we can add it to our dinner menus."
"Sounds like a good plan." Dad gives her a thumbs up and she smiles, a smile that I believe is just for him.
I look the other way to see Josh making gagging faces at me. I shake my head at him and he sticks his tongue out at me. My eyes roll at him.
Once I finish my burger, I begin to help clean up by placing the dirty dishes in the dishwasher. I then head upstairs to my bedroom in desperate need of a shower. Since the second I walked through the door earlier Mom put me right to work---never giving me the chance to wash off the creek.
The warm water revives me, washing away all the grime that was sticking to my body. I feel clean. I feel fresh.
I change into my PJs and climb into bed, laptop in my hands. Propping the laptop on a pillow, I go into Disney+ and begin to scroll through my options. I settle on an old classic- Tarzan.
Tonight, I am going to sit back and relax. Everything is just dandy.
***
Of course, the second I close my eyes, everything comes crashing down.
I find myself standing before Grandma's door, hand raised to knock. No, no, no this can't be happening. I struggle to pull my hand back and walk away, but I seem to not be the one in control. I knock loudly and the door swings open revealing a dark, endless hallway.
Don't go in.
My feet step over the threshold and darkness envelopes me.
"Shelby, is that you?"
A light flickers and for a brief moment, I see her face. Pale as a ghost. And then burnt to toast. I try to run, but can't. It looks like my feet are glued to the floor.
"Oh sweety, don't be afraid." Cold hands grasp at me and I scream. "Shhh." Now those cold hands are stroking my hair, icicles growing along my scalp.
"Get off of me," I gasp, pushing at her.
Finally, those freezing cold hands release me and with all the energy that I can muster, I begin to run blindly.
"Shelby baby." Her voice is everywhere. "Why are you running?"
"Go away," I shout, running harder.
Hands keep on reaching for me, fingers running along my arms.
"Shelby, Shelby, Shelby," they call, their voices lifeless.
I run, and run, and run. And then stumble over something. I come tumbling to the ground hard, my hands out before me to ease the blow.
"Gotcha." Cold lips tickle my ear.
"Grandma," I choke. "Please don't do this. I'm sorry. It-it was an accident. You know that I love you..."
"Yes, sweetheart, I do know. But someone needs to make up for their evil deeds."
"But I did no evil. It was a mistake."
I can feel her icy breath caressing my cheek. "Was it though?"
Her accusation gets me to falter.
"Yes," she whispers, cold fingers gripping my arms. "Yes, you see you are guilty."
I shake my head. "No, you are wrong." My voice trembles. "I am not guilty, because I did nothing wrong. The fire was an accident." I'm then pushing her off of me and getting to my feet. Towering over her. "Grandma, you know that I loved you and would never have caused you any harm. It was all an accident."
She seethes at me, teeth bared. "Run, girl, run," is all she says.
So I do.
***
I awake with a start, the dream hanging over my head. I whimper, pulling the blanket over my face, hiding me from view.
Why do these nightmares always have to end badly? Why couldn't Grandma just accept my apology? Why am I always running?
Why am I always guilty?
Inhale- exhale- inhale- exhale... I steady my breathing. Or at least I try to.
I've only been asleep for an hour or 2. I still have the whole night ahead of me. But I'm too afraid to go back to sleep.
Pulling my laptop out, I go back into Disney+ and search for Tarzan 2.
A moment later, I press play.