Forever and Always

twenty

I didn't miss anymore days of school last week, which helped a lot. All of my teachers have been super nice about letting me hand in late work but I need to start doing it on time.

"Okay everyone, today we are going over how you would correctly research and write a scholarly article." My journalism teacher starts talking.

If I'm being honest, he is completely tuned out. It's Friday and my last class of the day. I have good news to tell my friends after this class and i know they'll be just as happy as me.

The rest of the period goes by like a flash, mostly due to my not listening, and i speed walk myself to the dock, where my friends are sitting.

"Everyone, I have news. We are able to leave early for Washington! My dad didn't know Monarch let us out earlier than schools in Spokane, but now he does. So we can leave as early as the 12th!"

Bo smiled widely, Elena hugged me, and Raygan took a large bite of her banana. Atlas was just staring at me but he's a man of few words.

"So get ready to go there because we leave in 22 days,"

I sit down with them, the dock creaking under my weight.

"Truth or dare, Attie?" Elena turns to Atlas. Apparently they were playing truth or dare before I got here.

"Truth,"

"Do you pee in pools?" Elena questioned, raising one eyebrow in suspicion.

"Yes, truth or dare Bo?"

"Dare, I like to live on the edge."

"I dare you to eat a leaf," Atlas commanded.

Bo grabbed a leaf from the dock and ate it, gagging a tad but ate it. "Truth or dare, Elliot?"

"Dare,"

"Strip and jump in the lake,"

"What? It's fucking freezing!"

"It's only like 50 out, you're fine. Do it." He demanded.

I stood up with my mouth agape. I don't exactly know how to seductively strip but I tried my best. First, removing my shoes and socks, then my skirt and the spandex under, and then my crewneck sweatshirt. I'm getting hypothermia for sure.

Raygan and Bo cheer me on when I start walking down the dock. Elena tells me to get out fast and that I can borrow the blanket she's sitting on as a towel. I can feel Atlas just staring at me, again.

I reach the end of the dock, tell myself that I won't die, and then jump. The cold water closes me in and I feel the iciness of it burning my skin. I'm honestly surprised it isn't frozen over with how cold it feels.

I push myself up with my feet and gasp out for air once I reach the surface. Swimming as fast as possible to the beach and Elena wraps me in the blanket once I get there.

"I'm going to my dorm," I say to everyone and then grab my things and leave. It was so cold. I felt like I was a dead man swimming in there.

"Elliot, wait. I'm coming with," I could hear Atlas from behind me, gathering his books and bag.

I stop and wait for him to catch up, which doesn't take long at all.

"We can get in the shower once we get back," I hear him say once he's only a few feet from me.

"We? How about just me?"

"Dammit, I was really hoping to get some, Ellie."

I snort out a laugh. He called me Ellie. It was nice coming from him honestly. But I like it more when he calls me Ariadne.