16 Feet Under

Chapter 1/Sophie's pov

Sophie's point of view:

present day:

My therapist can kiss my ass

Who the hell tells a girl with a huge rational fear of drowning to join the school swimming team? Yeah bright idea! I am standing on the edge of the pool while my body is frozen in a parallactic state. Come on Sophie, just step a little bit closer ready...

1

2

3

Go

I did not move.

The school swimming team has just gone into the shower room but as I did not even get into the pissing pool it is safe to say I do not need a shower anytime soon.

"Are you going to get into the water anytime soon?" a deep voice booms from behind me. SHIT I slowly turn my petite body engulfed in a red bikini around to face the unnamed voice. I can barely make out the colour of his eyes. Emerald green I think, and a mop of light brown hair sticks to his forehead. Jesus Christ. My lips part in realization. That is. No. That's Ben Smith aka my ex-childhood best friend aka he has not even acknowledged me in at least two years. His defiantly green eyes pierce straight through me as they sway up down my body and now to a tomato red face.

"I was just leaving." I suddenly announce trying to convince myself that I am OK. He shifts his body towards mine, so I now have a full view of his face, not that I need to re jog my memory of it since I was deprived. This is what he always does, he swallows me all up only to spit me out again. I glance back at his face. Yep. He is definitely still looking at me. "Wait not happening." I exclaim while a small smile tugs at his down turned lips "I was here first you can go." I stand my ground with sudden found confidence.

"See that would work if it weren't my private swim practice hired time. Wouldn't it?" he says proudly, almost smiles at his own question but the sharp gaze he casts down onto me removes the idea of a smile. Ugh of all people we must be the ones to double book the pool!

"Well, that would be if I hadn't already hired the pool privately. Wouldn't it?" I state mockingly emphasizing the last part. I watch as confusion draws in his brows until annoyance blazes in his deep eyes.

"For fuck's sake!" he almost burst as the rage practically illuminates him like a Christmas tree. He lowers himself until he is sat on the other side on the edge of the pool. The crystal blue colours brighten his face like a constellation illuminates the sky. His muscular tattooed legs dipping in and out of the large indoor pool. Veins protrude out of his hand while he grips the edge of the pool. You should see him, his eyebrows drawn deep in thought lost in his own world and problem I suppose, for as long as I remember, he has always been that way. "Why are you even here? you don't even like swimming." He questions searching my eyes as if he would find the answer there. Ben taught me a long time ago to hide emotion in our eyes. It makes us vulnerable. He has not had it easy. Last I heard he came home drunk a few nights ago and scared the living daylight out of his parents. Not that I ask, my mother feels the need to fill me in on his life everyday as she is besties with his mum Linda. They are also our next-door Neighbours our windows literally face each other. Talk about awkwardness!

"Don't act like you know me, Ben." I spit as his eyes hardened at this exclamation. He's killing me in some brutal way in his mind. I watch a sudden sadness mix with anger paint over his face only to be masked seconds later and bottled back up. Something never changes.

"Oh, so you do remember my name then Sophie!" He spits venom laced with each syllable as his gaze pierces straight through me. I wince. Well, I did bring that one on myself anyway.

Ben Smith: 1 point

Sophie may: 0 points

With a halt and no reply from my end he quickly steals a sharp glance my way and abruptly stands up from the water and storms to the shower room. I gather up my clothes passing on the shower and slip my jumper and baggy jeans on. The outfit swamps my figure and does really nothing for me, but I blend in. No-one besides my twin sister, her boyfriend Finn , Clay and a crowd of unknown faces (who only acknowledge us for the parties we throw at the end of the day to them, it's just free beer) notices me and their pity is quite enough. I've learnt to hate pity.

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The wooden front door opens with a creak, the small almost humbling sound is soon drowned out with my twin sister Maya's sudden muffled screams. And suddenly I am awake again. I rush up the stairs stopping abruptly as her words slice like daggers.

"Well then we're done!" she screams until that scream becomes a quiet sob. I pause. Again. They have never been done before. Sure, they practically break up every week when their insecurities come to play but it's never been this bad. I catch a peep of Finn's face through the slit in the door where it attaches to the frame. He looks distraught and devastated even. People's emotions are a funny thing, some are great at masking them, others are an open book. I was led to believe that it is what you have experienced in life that determines how well you can hide emotion but that is a load of shit. You could have the best home life in the universe but still feel a void.

"Baby!" Finn pleads, his voice powered with emotion. He pulls his eyes from the floor until they reach her pretty baby blue eyes again he pulls his hands out to reach for her. Hold her. I guess I miss that part of love even when a person's gone, they will always be with you but I've never felt so alone. I slip away from the door and trail up the staircase to my room opposite giving my sister and Finn their privacy as I switch off my mind and lose myself in my real home romance novels. Call it cheesy, you do it too! I pull the paper back off my shelf and smell the fresh scent that bounces off the pages. We all read romance novels but none of us ever feel loved. It's around 1 o'clock I put my book down and allow myself to drift off to sleep with images of the young boy with the yellow raincoat next door who used to pick me flowers. Ben.

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The fresh breeze hits my face as my smile swamps it. Noah pulls my body to him. His touch sends electric symbols all through my body. It is after hours at the beach we really should not do this, but we were young and in love rules do not apply to us. The water is warm, bouncing against the summer sun. He lifts me up in the air and my eyes never leave him. Oh god how I love his eyes. the deep brown that has witnessed so many good memories with me. These have been some of the best years of my life. "Always us Sofia." he whispers against my right ear

We dance until the sun wishes us a good night and are greeted with the moon. The water turns the water cold on my skin. waves pick up at a fast speed separating us. Where is he going? Come back? A thick wave traps me under it, locking me in the aqua colour. Bubbles ripple out as a scream project from my mouth Noah. I cannot see him! Where is he?

Noah

come

back

please

I am abruptly awoken from my night terror as two small arms grips on me for life. I peel open my tier-soaked eyes as I search my surroundings. One bed. Two bookshelves. A desk. My room. My mum's worried eyes pour into my face "Breathe" she insists "Darling you need to breathe for me, okay?" Once I catch my breath and insist, I do not need to use my inhaler, she hugs me. No clings to me one more time and then leaves. It is just darkness after that.