The Path of Roses 🥀

Chapter 3: The Meeting & Late Night Kisses

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Saturday, May 29th, 2004 (The Next Day)

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CHAPTER THREE

In case you're wondering what I'd been doing this whole time, I've been in the bathroom, taking a cold bath to help me relax.

The past twenty four hours have been so insane that I can't believe any of this is actually happening. I didn't think that it would turn out this way. The only evidence I have are the pages I wrote in my journal the moment I came home.

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Dear Younger Me,                                                                                   (Yesterday, May 28th, 2004)

For the longest time, I never believed that life was on my side. Especially since on Friday when Tess Morgan stole my skateboard. But something changed. Something truly amazing.

After an eternity of Mal trying to convince me to do her crazyass dare, I got out of the pool to walk toward the high diving board. 

I tried to remain calm as I climbed up the ladder to reach the diving board, but with every step I took, the worries and doubts spiked.

"This is the worst idea ever!"

"Oh God, why did I agree to this?"

"I'm gonna be a terrible kisser, I just know it!"

"Why do I have to be such a loser?"

"David is gonna hate me for this."

Before I knew it, I reached the top. Everyone knows that when you're at a tall height, you should never look down, but since I'm such an idiot, I looked down.

"It looks higher than before," I mumbled nervously.

I saw Mal chatting with David near the lounge chairs. She looked in my direction and gave me a big thumbs up. I returned the favor along with a fake smile.

"What the hell was I thinking? I can't do this, I can't do this." I muttered.

My cowardly self was about to climb back down, but then I stopped myself.

"Would you stop thinking like a wimp? We've been through much worse! This should be a walk in the park for us!" I said.

"But what if David doesn't-"

"If you don't do this, you'll be a loser crying in your room, regretting that you wimped out and torture yourself by wondering what could have happened." I snapped to myself. "

If you don't want to be a loser for the rest of your life then kiss David like there's no tomorrow!"

I took a deep breath. 

I refuse to be a loser.

And just like that, I jumped.

The rush on the way down felt very exhilarating as I felt the wind competing against my fall. When I hit the water, my body sank all the way to the bottom of the twenty feet deep pool.

A hidden talent of mine is that I can hold my breath for a long time. My record is at least four minutes. It was at least two minutes later when I heard Mal's booming voice from underwater.