Saving Elliot ©2015 Sydney Wray

Chapter 6~Insecure nine-year old.

I watched Hailey bite her pen, studying the sheet of paper in front of her which contained my impending 'experiences.' The Shack was especially packed today; the summer granted free time to almost everyone that hung around The Shack.

"Aren't you hungry?" I asked, pulling out my wallet.

Hailey finally looked up, her eyes slightly widening at the grasped fifty in my hand. "No, thanks."

As if on cue, her stomach faintly growled. But she ignored it, going back to scribbling.

I frowned, slowly sitting up and starting to the counter, where I spotted Jaxx.

Jaxx grinned, leaning on the counter. "How's it goin' Prim?"

I nodded, planning on holding minimal conversation as possible.  "Good. Can I get a hamburger, and fries please?"

Jaxx raised an eyebrow, scanning me. "Never thought you'd eat that-"

"It's for Hailey." I finished.

Jaxx nodded, yelling the order to a cook near her, than returned her gaze to me with a quirky grin. "So? How's it going?"

"With what, exactly?" I asked, willing the cooks to prepare the hamburger faster.

"Hailey." She said as if it was obvious. "What base have you gotten to yet?"

My eyes widened, and I nearly choked on my own saliva. "Excuse me?"

"Sorry-" she paused, "Too personal?"

"Most definitely." I gasped, sighing in relief as Hailey's plate was slid across the counter.

I handed Jaxx the fifty dollar bill, and watched her reach to the register.

I held up a hand. "Keep the change."

"That's a forty five dollar tip."

I shrugged, not caring and starting back to Hailey.

I handed her the plate and her eyes widened hungrily at it.

"I knew you were hungry." I said.

Hailey struggled for words. "I'm really fine. You eat it."

I shrugged, biting back a smile as I watched her eyes scan me cut half the hamburger, and take a huge, juicy bite. If I hadn't been teasing her, I would've sighed in contempt. I hadn't had a hamburger in over four years.

"Mm." I mumbled, chewing and plucking a fry to pop in my mouth. "Mm, mm, mm."

She watched me with hungry eyes, blinking.

"Oh, you want half of this?" I asked as if it was a sudden epiphany she was hungry.

A knowing smile suddenly spread across her face. "You're a jerk, you know that?"

I shrugged with a laugh, putting down my half and sliding the plate to her. She quickly picked up the other half, and took a big bite.

"Can I see the-"'I started, before she slipped it over to me.

I picked it up, read the second one, and looked up. "You can't be serious."

[***]

"It's going to be fun, trust me!" She said, grabbing my arm up the incline of the rocky cliff.

"If I had a dime for every time you said that.." I muttered.

"Cliff diving is really fun."

"I'm sure it is." I said quickly. "I promise you, I'll take your word for it."

She gave me a look, before returning her attention to climbing up the cliff.

Within moments, we stood at the top of a very tall cliff overlooking the Californian ocean. The light breeze from the high elevation tousled my combed hair.

I gulped, peeking over the cliff. "Dear God."

Hailey grinned, and pulled off her throw-over in one swift motion. Underneath revealed a sexy white bikini, which appeared stark against her tan skin tone.

I forced my eyes not to linger over her body, while I peeled of my button down shirt, revealing a water shirt and swim shorts.

She glanced at me after undoing her hair, and started to laugh. "You can't be serious."

I looked at her innocently. "What?"

"Are you an insecure nine year old?" She asked, referring to my shirt I presumed.

"I don't want to get sunburned." I defended.

She shook her head, chuckling and lookout out over the blue water.

I bit my lip, looking down at my chest covered in a green skin-tight shirt. Forcing to close my eyes so I couldn't even see myself doing what I was about to do, I pulled it quickly over my head and threw it to the ground. The wind prickled my skin, but it felt surprisingly good to be exposed.

I took a breath, tensing my chest and going up behind her. "Ready?"

"Yeah, I think so-" she stopped, a small gasp filling her unfinished words as her eyes lingered on my chest than up to my face.

I raised an eyebrow, silently thinking I was too fat to be seen anywhere and wondering why she was looking at me like that, when she shyly stuck a piece of hair behind her ear and swallowed before looking up into my eyes.

I held her gaze for a split second, before I looked away nervously. I was inches from her face, to defend myself.

"Um, so, we have to jump more to the left be safe." She said.

"Safe?" I repeated, nervous.

"It's fine. Everyone cliff dives here." She assured me, then pointed to the distance at the neighboring cliff, which was noticeably taller. "See? Look at them."

I followed her finger, and watched a big group of people jump one at a time; their screams held and traveled through the air.

"Okay, ready?" She called, and I was shocked to see she was preparing to jump.

"We're not jumping together?"

"We can, if you want. We're going to back up, run and jump far out. Okay?" Hailey instructed, without actually looking at me--just excitedly at the water.

I gulped, and nodded while backing up with Hailey.

I was surprised as she grasped my hand, squeezing it like she was reassuring me.

I squeezed it back, enjoying her hand in mine, and gave her a half-smile.

"One." She started.

"Two." I said so low, I barely heard myself. Nervous tension climbed through my stomach.

"Three!" She yelled in triumph, and without thinking, my legs sprinted forward with her. If I thought about it, my brain would force my legs to stop.

We both reach the edge at the same time, and I forced myself to keep my attention on Hailey as we jumped far out.

Wind rushed at my face, blowing my hair in odd angles. Wind whooshed in my ears, combined with Hailey's happy screaming.

Without thinking, I was too screaming. Before plunging into the water, I heard her vibrant laughter. Our hands lost eachother as we plunged, and I kept my eyes open as I stared at the new sinking environment around me. I couldn't help but relax in the newfound freedom, and silence that surrounded me.

Bubbles enveloped me as I surged downwards into the dark blue, while I left my body lifeless for a couple beats, before my burning lungs reminded me of my need for oxygen.

I kicked my legs hard, the water happily pushing me upwards towards the surface again. Pressure in my ears slowly left up as I returned to the surface, and broke it with a gulp of air.

I flicked my head, water spewing in angles as I pushed my hair back from my forehead

Hailey was there too, looking at me with a smile. "I told you it was amazing."

"Can we go  again?"