Warm Rain

Chapter 14 - Tree Swing

The sound of the humming coming from the boat's engine brought me joy. I've missed being on the water. At home, I'd always be on boats. My dad owns a small boat tour business, he had the one boat that he took people out on and he would drive up the coast to a secluded beach and back again. I always loved helping him take the boat out. Sometimes he'd take it out just me and him. I miss those days. A boat on the lake is different though. It's less rocky, very serene, and calming. I could almost fall asleep.

We pass by tree after tree, after tree.
Stella and I stood up and moved to the front of the boat. We have our very own Titanic moment as I stand behind her and she quotes the movie. We came out to an opening, beautiful and vast. I recognized it and remembered... looking to the side of the boat I saw the patch of grass Logan and I was sitting on exactly one week ago. I felt a rush of flutters wave over me again just thinking about it.

God. I remember how good it felt being caved in by him, his skin so close to mine... stop it. Just stop thinking about it.

I eyed him from the side.

God, he's hot. And all he's doing is sitting there, leaning on the wheel with a bottle in his hand, looking out into the distance, so dreamy... omg stop Laney!

I closed my eyes and turned away. I want a good day today. Stop thinking with your vagina!
The boat went out into the opening. There's a cliff face and to the left is a rope swing attached to a tall tree. Eventually, we stopped.

"Alright." Logan said. "this is as close to the banking as I can get ya'. If you want to reach the rope swing or jump the cliff you'll have to swim."

"Jump the cliff?" I stressed.

"What's wrong Laney you scared?" Kai said, he stood with his hands on his hips. "I'll show you how it's done shall I?" He jumped in the dark water and sped through the lake towards the cliff.

"I really hope he falls on his face." I joked.

"Laney.." Stella smirked.

"I'm joking." I insisted.

"Are you though?"

He started scrambling up the rocks till he reached the top. "Woooo!" He yelled as he leaped off the edge. He rushed through the air, speeding downwards making a huge splash as he hit the water. We watched as the water made slow waves toward us. His head broke through the surface of the water and he shook his head.

"Fuck yeah!" He yelled out.

"Shall we go for it?" Nick said to Caden. Caden nodded his head excitedly and they smiled at each other. They both quickly jumped in and raced to the cliff.

"Coming Laney?" Stella asked.

"I think I'll stick to the rope swing for now," I said.

"Cool I'll come with you," she said.

The water was so much darker here. Not that I hadn't been in a lake before, I was just so much more used to clear seawater. Even the deeper water at sea was a little bit see-through.

I'm not scared of the water, I'm just scared of... what's in it and not being able to see what's in it.

"Come on Laney we'll jump in together," Stella said.

I held her hand and we jumped. The water was a cool temperature, a slight shock to my skin. We both swam to the tree and took turns swinging from the rope. I watched Stella climb up.

"Ready?" She yelled.

"Are you?" I giggled. She screamed as she lifted her feet up and splashed in the water. I laughed as she came back up and pulled at her bikini.

"It's gone right up my ass." She screeched. I was howling, laughing.

"Your turn" She yelled.

I grabbed the rope and climbed up the little hill till the rope was taught. It's a bit higher than I expected. I was freaking myself out and getting too over excited Ok, shit. Here I go.

"Aaaahh" I screeched as I flew through the air. I let go as I swung to the top and dropped down. I plunged down into the water, it was deeper than I expected. When I reached the surface I struggled to swim as I was laughing so much.

"Wh-h-y is th-th-is so funny!" I squealed.

"I don't know?" Stella laughed. We were laughing at anything the other person did at this point.

"Hey," Stella said. "I'm going up the cliff now you coming?"

Nah... I can't. I could see myself being airlifted out of here. The helicopter was flying over the lake in my mind.

"Nope," I said.

"Come on." She urged.

I can't, I love a thrill, but heights... no way.

"Nah I'm fine just gonna get some sun."

She jumped in the water and swam away to the cliffs.
Okay so now I'm here alone. I sat for a while really wishing I was up there with them. Nick threw himself off and Caden followed. Stella after being up there for ages finally took the plunge. I'd go up but I know I'd freak out and I don't want that to happen.

I decided to swim back in the water. I'm a strong swimmer, I enjoy it. I eyed a little rocky area I could sit at so I swam towards it and i- OH MY GOD... what is that?! what just touched my leg?!

"Holy fuck" I screeched. "Something huge just touched my leg!"