C'est la vie!

Chapter 20🥀

"Raine?"

Aiden! The co-star and main character in my 50-shades-of-grey type of dream from last night and probably more nights to come.

"How long would it take you to freshen up?" he whined under tone, making sure not to disturb the others since it was past midnight.

I scanned his face. "You don't look like you've had any sleep."

"I told you, I can't sleep."

"So, you had to ruin mine?"

"You told me it was okay for me to disturb you," he stopped in his tracks to examine me. "You look like you had enough sleep."

I chuckled as we finally began to walk on the shores of the beach, only a number of people around. "What's up? You wanted us to talk."

"Yeah Raine", he kicked some sand. "I wanted to take you somewhere."

"Like? Where" I swallowed the part where I wanted to ask if it was like a date because, what if it wasn't then... I'd be such a clown.

"Just... somewhere. An important place. At least to me. I mean it is important to only me. Not really a big deal. Just... we're being open now right?"

I smiled.

"So, I just want to show you more about me."

"And that's not because I asked you, but because you want to?"

"Of course!"

I nodded.

"It's slightly far. Not so far but just slightly far okay?"

"Okay."

"And you may not like it so, don't create an expecta-"

"-Aiden stop! I want to come!" I assured him.

He smiled this time. "Thanks. It actually means a lot to me."

We stepped closer to the water.

"Have you ever swum at night?"

I shook my head at his question. He moved further into the water and stretched his hands for me to reach.

Uh no.

"Trust me," he added and I nodded my head hesitantly. He got closer to me and I jumped unto his back.

Heat began to rush up in me and I giggled excitedly even though some part of me was fretting.

He moved more steps into the water, causing me to get even more scared. "Don't drop me," I warned and I could hear the pride in his laughter.

"I'm serious, don't drop me!"

"Relax, Raine" he chuckled still getting deeper, so that the water level was now almost above his knees.

"Alright!" I admitted defeat, "I'm dropping myself."

"Raine, don't-" but before he could finish his sentence, I had already jumped off his back.
Instead of landing feet on ground, my whole body dropped into the water that immediately wavered over my head.

Spontaneously, my body gasped out of fright, taking in so much water inside my nostrils and mouth. My eyes tightened whiles I fought.

Aiden carried me out to my relief and helped me lay on the shore. I tried catching my breath while coughing out some water and heaving for all the air I had lost within that two seconds.

"Aiden", I felt tears prick the sides of my eyes while I pressed his body even closer to my skin for extra comfort.

It took me quite a long time before I could zone out of the moment. And although my body felt slightly numb, I snapped back.