Efflorescence (ON HOLD DO NOT READ YET)

VII - Drowning In The Depths Of Fear

SURPRISINGLY, my fury from yesterday's fight and my irritation to Serphina is finally gone. I am quite recovered. But I still don't want to see Nathaniel. I don't want him to get on my nerves again but the climate today might. Because it's raining, as always. After having breakfast at the dinning hall with my study group minus Ivy, I changed into my gym clothes for P.E. class and headed to the gym.

"Ms. Nightingale, why are you wearing your gym clothes?" a physically fit light blonde lady in her 30's said. Everyone turned to me. And I realized the ladies were in their swimsuits and the guys were in their swimming trunks. "I'm Ms. Juniper Foxe, your p.e. teacher by the way. So again, why are you wearing your gym clothes?"

"Uh, because it's gym class?" I replied and everyone laughed except Ms. Foxe.

"Very funny. Please wear your swimsuit." 

"But I have no-" before I could finish my sentence, Joletta burst into the gym carrying something silver. She handed it to me. Turns out it was a two-piece bathing suit! Oh the horror! I am truly not comfortable wearing these kinds of clothes. "No no no no no no." 

"Juniper, it is my fault, I forgot to tell her that you're having swimming on your class." Joletta defended me. Great. Swimming class while there's cold weather. I noticed Georgianna, Ivy, Cara, Myles, William and unfortunately, Nathaniel was there too. Wow, we have the same schedule for gym class. Just great. 

"Thank you Joletta, you can now be dismissed. Nina, please wear it, immediately." Ms. Foxe ordered. Unwillingly, I rushed to the bathroom inside the gym and changed into the silver bathing suit. I examined myself in the mirror; the bathing suit complimented my body. I hurried back to the class. All eyes were on me, gawking except Ivy and Nathaniel. I am so embarrassed. 

"Hottie-hot-hottie Nina!" Georgianna exclaimed. She looked much hotter in her vintage peach bathing suit. Cara was also sexy in her green one piece bathing suit. And of course, Ivy in her royal blue bathing suit that is hotter than Hell. I catched William staring at me, and winked. I bet Ivy saw that, she was giving me her devilish glare again. Damn.

"Follow me, class." We followed Ms. Foxe into a large room with a olympic sized swimming pool.  Then I remembered that I can't swim. I wanted to tell her but she just might say that that's why we're in swimming class to learn how to swim. But I just really can't. I feel my legs wobble. I glanced at Nathaniel, he was looking at me, worried. I don't understand this man. He's so unpredictable.

Someone tapped my shoulder, it was William, smirking at me. 

"Well, well, well, you're one fiesty feline." He said.

"What? What do you mean?" 

William laughed. "The Nathaniel Thorne scene, that was awesome!" He laughed again. "You are so one of a kind, Nina." 

I blushed. His eyes were so blue. So beautiful. "Th..thanks...I guess." I smiled shyly then kissed my cheek. "William!" My cheeks burned more when he gave me his sexy smirk again. Then I realized everyone saw what he did; Ivy's navy blue eyes glaring on me and Nathaniel's dark stare shown again like he was about to combust. 

"All right Mr. Franchot, you got your chance, now everybody fall in line please!" Ms. Foxe called out. 

Before I could follow William to the line, I felt someone at my back, hands on me, then pushed down to the deep swimming pool. It all happened so fast. Before I knew, I was under the water, unable to breathe, unable to swim. Drowning. 

I can't breathe

I can't breathe

I am going to die...

I saw a pair of familiar emerald eyes swimming closer to me. 

Nathaniel. 

He took me by his muscled arms and carried me up. 

Random panicked voices fluttered around me. But I couldn't talk. I feel so weak wrapped around the arms of Nathaniel and my head placed on his warm chest. I can hear his heart beating so fast. His emerald eyes trained on me filled with worry and guilt. His face...oh his face...is breathtaking. "God damn it Nina! Please tell me you're okay." He whispered, beautiful swooning velvet voice. 

"Oh my god! Is she still breathing!" it was Phoebe.

"Who pushed her!?" William's voice.

"Nina! Nina! Can you hear me?" Georgianna and Ms. Foxe.

"I knew who pushed her!" everyone paused to hear out Myles, "Ivy pushed her. I saw her." 

Ivy froze. I could see her breathing fast. Angry, guilty and pained and so is William. Why? Why would she do this? How did she knew that I couldn't swim? Was it because I was trembling when I saw the pool? But why? 

I gasped. 

William kissed my cheek. She must have been so jealous about it.

"Ivy, I'm-so-sorry." I said trying to catch my breath. 

"No! Nina. Don't say sorry to her! What she did was wrong!" William said furiously. 

"IT'S ALL YOUR FUCKING FAULT!" Ivy shouted to William and stormed out of the gym carrying her robe. It left William totally wrecked and pained. 

"Why didn't you stop her?!" William asked Ms. Foxe. She led out a sigh. "You both are giving me a headache. Let her cool out, the Headmistress will deal with her later." Ms. Foxe turned to Nathaniel. "Mr. Thorne, please take her to Joletta."

"No." it was Georgianna. "We will. Myles will carry Nina." 

"No, I can walk."

"Don't be stupid, Nina." Nathaniel stopped me. 

"Thank you, Nathaniel, for saving me. But I can walk." 

"Let her do what she wants." Georgianna snapped at Nathaniel. They glared at each other, and somehow, I think I heard them growl under their breaths. 

                                                                      {♥†∞}