Aquaphobia

Chapter 10

[WALKER MURPHY]

Even before I say the word 'boating,' Scott's face already displays some horror. I'm not really sure if I should add this or not, but when he gets scared, he gets mad-UGLY! I don't mean to be rude because I'm not exactly the most attractive guy myself. It's just that when Scott gets confused or scared, his face gets physically flustered and it isn't a pretty sight to see. To be a hundred percent honest, Scott Voorhees himself isn't exactly a pretty sight to see at all. I'm just a tad less pale than him, and my brown eyes don't match my skin. At least his seafoam green eyes compliment his ginger-red hair.

Between the three of us, it doesn't take a rocket-scientist to know that Ian Fischer is the most attractive, or just the only attractive one at all. He's got that whole 'tall dark and handsome' thing going on, and he makes us look like a bunch of run-down clodhoppers. Once again, I'd hate to be cocky or rude, but I think that I make Scott look like a clodhopper even without Ian.

Back to our subject of boating, Scott's face shows just as much fear as when we told him we were going fishing. Honestly, I have the feeling it's just a fear that will come and go. We know that he's scared of water, but we don't necessarily know he's scared of being over water. It doesn't really make much sense, but when you're in a boat, there's no way you'll be in water unless your boat capsizes. I've been steering boats since I was like 10 years old, so the chances of us capsizing are next to nothing.

"You told me we weren't going into the water! You lied to me!" Scott shouts, seeming suddenly angry.

"We're not! I promised you, didn't I? Who would I be to break a promise?" I ask back, not tolerating his impatience.

"Then what are we going 'boating' for?! Boating means in the water rowing far away with no connection to land whatsoever! I simply won't do it!"

"Yes, but you won't be touching any water, just as we said," Ian responds.

Scott stops yelling and his expression changes from angry to silent.

"What happens if the boat flips over?" he asks.

"Walker and I have been boating since before we even knew how to fish. We've only once ever capsized, and we were 8 years old. Not to mention we were using a wooden rowboat we'd built ourselves. Today, we're using Mr. Murphy's state-of-the-art Whitehall Rowboat!" Ian cheers.

I notice for a second that Scott looks troubled. This time though, it's a completely different troubled. He doesn't so much look as scared anymore, but more or less deep in thought. I notice this expression come to him as soon as Ian says the name 'Mr. Murphy.' It's almost as if the mention of my father's name has some kind of relevance to Scott's life, which I know it doesn't.

Along with this unknowledgable troubled look, he also looks a tad-bit confused, most likely because he doesn't know what a Whitehall Rowboat is.

"You're going to have to trust us, Scott. Ian and I swear that if anything happens to the boat, we'll be sure to dunk you in the water head first!" I shout.

"No no no!" Ian cuts in before Scott can even blink his eyes. "Ignore that, Scott! There will be nothing of the sort or anything even close! He meant to say we'll not let even a toe of yours touch the water."

Ian gives me a dirty look and punches me in the arm. It kind of hurts because he's a rather strong guy. He's not ripped or anything like that, it's simply that his height and weight match up with his muscle. You have someone like that and then there's Scott and me, who can barely even fit into an XXS Men's Blazer. Of course you have your other side of the spectrum with someone ripped like Matthew Cayuk, who probably beats up innocent animals and children alike for pure fun.