Drowing

Chapter 5

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I've been at the beach for 10 minutes and Niall still hasn't arrived. Maybe he's not coming? But why? Jerk. I pulled of my shorts and top and put them in my bag, I rolled out my towel on the warm, golden sand and lay down and for the first time in a long time I simply relaxed.

The sound of the waves were the most soothing sound to me. I must have fallen asleep because when I got up to go swimming the tide had come in. the waves had died down so surfing was out of the question... But it was perfect for cliff jumping!!

I got up to put on my wetsuit and fold away my towel. When I got I saw Niall sitting on the far end of the beach on an old towel beside the steps leading to the cliffs. I started making my way over. He was in his swimming trunks but he hadn't gone in the water, not as far as I could tell.

"Hey!" I said making him jump a bit.

"Oh hi," he said quietly. I sat down beside him, he was looking out longingly at the sea. The sun was starting to set painting the sky the most vivid shades of reds, oranges and pinks.

"It's so big." he said almost like a question.

"Yeah, it's huge. Why did you not meet me I waited for 10 minutes?"

"Yeah.. Sorry about that."

"It's okay. I'm going jumping want to come with me? If you think the view is nice here it's amazing up on the cliffs!"

"Umm?" he said unsurely, almost scared. "Okay. Yeah sure!" he spoke more confidently this time.

"Okay then!" I said leading the way.

When we reached the top I went straight to edge to make sure there was nothing in the was in the way, or anything that I could hurt myself on. (Look before you leap is something my dad always told me.) It was all clear. I took a few steps back so I could get a running start, but before I could start running I felt a strong hand grasp my forearm stopping me from going any further.

"Heather! What are you doing!?" he asked the worry and slight anger in his voice was hard to ignore.

"Jumping? Whatcha think!?" I asked confused. When I asked him if he wanted to go jumping I thought I made it quite clear? Did I not?

"What why? Why do you want to commit suicide?!? I thought I was invited to watch a sunset! Not be witness to your death!" he spat angrily. His once gentle and quiet voice was now loud and powerful, and his soft eyes were now cold and worried.

"I don't think you understa-"

"I don't need to understand!!" he cut me off. "If you need help I'll help you! Just please don't jump! Please!" he pleaded with me.

"NIALL!" I shouted over him trying to get him to shut up so I could explain that I was NOT about to commit suicide.

"WHAT?!" he shouted. His eyes welling up.

"I'm not committing suicide!" I said softly as I tried to pry his grip away from my arms. I'll probably have bruises where his fingers dug in to my skin.

He looked down at my arm where I was desperately trying to loosen his iron grip. Once he noticed this he quickly pulled his arm away.

"Oh." he said shyly backing away from me slightly. "I'm really sorry, I didn't realise."

"That's okay. Have you never been cliff jumping?" I asked in disbelief.

"No? I come from a landlocked city and the only time someone jumps off something it's to commit.. well.."

"Well would you like to try it?" I asked.

"No thank you. I'll just watch."

"Okay! You sure?"

"Sure."

"Okay. Stand back." I said shooing him away with my hands. He chuckled lightly at this. I took a step back and ran. When I no longer felt earth beneath my bare feet I close my eyes took a slow deep breath and let myself free fall. I slowly brought my arms up above my head and started dipping my head slightly forwards so I was almost vertical but not quite. My hands were the first thing to touch the water and soon gravity pulled the rest of my body under the cool, soothing, salty water. I stayed under the water for a while, just swimming. I swam out from the cliff, I came up when I felt the need to breath. When I did come up I swiped my hair out of my face and turned back around to face the cliff. I saw Niall looking worryingly at where I entered the water. I had swam out about 20ft from the cliff.

"Niall!" I shouted waving my arm to try to catch his attention. he looked up with a confused expression. when he eventually spotted me his worried expression had turned into an impressed smirk. I simply smile and shrugged.

"Meet me at the beach and bring my towel." I called out to him trying to be heard over the sound of the waves.

He simply gave a thumbs up and started making his way back down the steps that lead to the beach.