Save ourselves- One Direction

Roxanne

When Avery returned later without Liam and Daisy, I knew our plan had worked. We all felt incredibly relieved that two of us were already safe. However, we also realized that we were now in for an even more difficult time. Of course, Hempton would try to get us first.

Therefore, there was no time to lose and we had to continue with the next part of the plan. On short notice, we had made a different decision about the raft. Since we hadn't found a suitable place to assemble it in peace, Liam and Daisy would take it over and Ed would then hide it in the boathouse the same evening we fled so that we could take it with us straight away.

The next escape attempt would start in the next two to five days, depending on what was coming up. Therefore, that same evening we decided to choose the next two boys who would go with Linda.

This time we all stood around the four remaining boys, who were now supposed to throw the dice to see who would accompany Linda.

In the first round, Zayn won with a 10. He was the first to go on the canoe trip. In the second round, Harry rolled a 6, Niall rolled a 5 and Louis rolled an 8. That decided the next three candidates.

Although I didn't say it out loud, I was a little relieved that Niall would still be staying as he still had to give me swimming lessons.

I wasn't one who liked to thank others profusely, but I was glad that Daisy, Liam and Niall hadn't asked any more questions when it came to why I'd never learnt to swim. And I was even more grateful when they agreed to teach me to swim without hesitation.

Actually, we had all expected Hempton to show up at our house after two hours at the latest and demand an explanation, but nothing happened that day.

While the news spread throughout the camp that two teenagers had actually managed to escape, we all sat around the fire for a while. There was a strange but somehow peaceful silence between us. I don't think anyone could quite believe that we had actually come this far. Up to this point, both Plan A and Plan B were working. If it went well, we could continue to carry out Plan A and smuggle out the next three. If it didn't go well, it was also enough if Daisy and Liam were free. We then just had to get the evidence to them about Ed and wait for the police to arrive. Hopefully we wouldn't need that plan.

Finally, Niall stood up. He looked towards me.

"Roxy, are you coming? We should go practice again."

"Okay," I said neutrally, getting up as well and following him towards the tents.

I changed into Daisy's swimming costume and waited for Niall at the shore. I was still uncomfortable in this outfit, but I knew that learning to swim fully clothed would be much harder and more uncomfortable.

When Niall walked towards me a short while later wearing only Bermuda shorts, I eyed his torso for a moment. Niall wasn't a mannequin from a fashion catalogue, but he was good looking, I had to give him that. Not that I was really keen on getting too close to anyone at the moment, but when he had held me in the water yesterday, it had been kind of nice.

At first I had been panicked at having to completely surrender control to someone else and rely on Niall not to let me drown. But Daisy had been right, which was why I had dared to do it after all. And Niall hadn't let me down. He'd only touched me very lightly and hadn't let me fall. And after the first few minutes, where it had been unfamiliar and strange, I had actually been able to relax.

Relaxation, trust. A feeling that felt very strange to me. Maybe because I hadn't done it for years. I had been let down by so many people that I guess I eventually forgot.

But in the water, something I had even been very afraid of, it had somehow come strangely easy to me. Because as soon as your head is on the water and your ears slide under the water, it's as if the world around you is switched off. You don't hear anything anymore, the water swallows every sound and suddenly you are in your very own world and feel almost weightless.