Deal Breakers

Swim Lessons

Peter left every morning at 7 AM for a run, he'd come back around 10 AM to shower and grab a snack. I had 2 hours every day for the next 4 days to try to learn how to swim. Would I be the next Phelps, no, could I learn more than the doggy paddle, I was hopeful. Chase didn't take much convincing, when I knocked on his cabin door he was grinning from ear to ear. "I knew you'd come around."

I didn't love hiding it from Peter, but he's been in such a grumpy mood and I know he and Chase don't get along as well lately. I don't want to add more stress to his already overwhelmed schedule. Chase did agree that we could keep our swim lessons to ourselves for now.

"Why are we not telling brother dearest?" He asked with a smirk. I looked back at him, scowling.

"You know, he's acting all monopoly crazy,"  I said as if that was reason enough to lie to his brother. Chase bit the inside of his cheek, regretting his decision to follow me into the woods perhaps

We were walking behind the cabins, making our way to the lake for our first swim lesson. I brought a one-piece luckily, solid navy blue. Nothing fancy, just how I liked my swimwear. Chase had on light blue swim trunks and a white T-shirt, he'd grabbed two towels from his cabin which was slung over his shoulder. He oozed confidence as we strode through the woods, the crunching of twigs and leaves louder than usual. Maybe because I feel nervous, or self-conscious. I am after all putting my life in his hands, his very capable hands.

When we got to the clearing and the lake was in view, it was beautiful. The water was still, the warm sun shimmering down onto the water, reflecting onto the trees. The smell of the grass and water was a mixture that was dancing around in my nose. "Wow, I think it's gotten more beautiful," I say in awe, taking it all in like it was my first time seeing it. I stop just a few feet from the water, kicking off my flip-flops.

Chase didn't respond, when I turned around to look at him he had this dreamy look in his eyes. I wondered if he was looking at the lake with the same admiration, or if he was lost in some thought... a part of me wished he was looking at me with those eyes. I pushed that part of me deep down; where it belongs.

"It was always this beautiful." He looked from me to the lake before adding, "Come on,  time to drown!" Chase clapped his hands together, and a hearty chuckle burst from his pink lips.

My mouth opened with a shriek. "Excuse me, I thought you said you'd give me the whole door!"

Chase's lips curled inward, "I guess we'll see."

Even though he was basically threatening that he may let me drown in this lake, a part of me knew he wouldn't. There was this invisible string that had kept us together in some way. All these years apart my heart stood strong in belief that if I found myself floating down into the darkest depths of this lake, Chase would save me. Maybe I'm delusional, maybe he wouldn't save me, but I'm willing to take the leap and find out.

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"Layla, stop being a baby and get in the water!" Chase shouted trying to pry me off him.

"You're literally trying to drown me!" I shouted back while clinging to Chase's chest, my legs wrapped around his waist.

I changed my mind, I didn't want to swim around in the scary lake without a life vest. As I refused and fought Chase, he tried to pull me off with no luck. My legs and butt were in the water, but that's all that would be getting in this lake of death today.

Chase rolled his eyes before throwing his hands up in frustration. I hold on tighter, not budging. His hair is damp from my frantic splashing, darker in color now and hanging in his eyes. I became very aware of how close we were, my legs around his back, arms around his neck, and faces inches apart. His lips curled into an ardent smile. A ping of fear went through me, nothing good could come from that smile. I unhooked my legs from his body, letting them drop and splash into the water below, my arms fell from his neck at the same time and before I knew it, I was chest-deep in lake water. "Fine," I said with a huff.