Love On The Beach

Chapter 4

Zayn

Well…
She was nice…
Interesting girl. Looked very flustered. That was probably my fault.
What was I thinking?!
Calling a girl I literally just met BEAUTIFUL?!
I can be very stupid sometimes…
I walk towards my car, thinking about that girl. She was very nice. Aria was her name, I believe. 
I wonder if I’ll see her again…
Hey. I’m Zayn.
Yes, Zayn.
I’m 16, turning 17 in February. I am a high school junior at Del Norte High School in Crescent City, CA. I’m a christian. So’s my sister. My dad is too, but he rarely comes to church anymore. I have brown curly hair, tan skin, and brown eyes. I love playing the violin, playing basketball and track, and I work at Walmart Monday through Thursday after school.
I have a best bud named Aaron. He’s the absolute best. We do everything together. He has a friend named Cassandra. I’m pretty sure they dated once. It didn’t work out for them.
I live with my dad and my sister, Macy. My mom left after dad and her got a divorce. Good thing too. She was a jerk mother. She hated me and my sister for no reason, like she didn’t even want us in the first place. She always treated us badly and had us do everything while dad was gone in the Army. Once he came back, he stood up for us and snapped at her and told her to leave us alone. They got into a fight. Next thing I know, she slapped him, packed her bags, and left. Our house was so much happier after that. We had a good life, good school, and… I had a girlfriend.
Elise.
Man, was she something. The most beautiful girl I've ever met. Beautiful blonde, emerald green eyes, an amazing smile, and so much more. She was my everything. We have been best friends since 5th grade. Once we got into middle school, we started liking each other. Then, in freshman year of high school, I asked her to be my girlfriend. She said yes, of course. Best relationship of my life. We dated for 1 ½ years. Could’ve been longer.
Then the incident happened.
I gave her surf lessons at the beach all the time, because she wanted to learn so she could surf with me. One day, at our Pebble Beach, we went out into the ocean, and I let her surf on her own. She was getting really good, I thought she could handle it. She goes off on her own, and I watch her. I look away for one second, and she’s gone. Nowhere to be seen. I start freaking out and calling her name. No response. I start diving into the water to search for her. I finally found her, struggling to swim. She sees me, and she looks so sad. She tries to say something underwater, then goes still. I swim towards her and drag her back towards the surface. I swim back to the shore and start doing CPR on her. After a few tries, lifeguards crowd me and take over. When they can’t get her back, they take her to the hospital.
But I knew it was too late.
I spent 30 minutes at the hospital, then the doctors came out of the room she was in, and confirmed she was dead.
Anger, depression, sadness, and hurt filled me.
She was gone.
The girl I loved was gone.
And I always blame myself.
I should've stayed with her.
I should've kept a better watch.
I could’ve saved her.
But I didn’t.
Ever since, I haven’t loved anyone. Not a single person. I flirt, like with Aria, but I’ve never loved anyone since then. I couldn't bear going through that again. I couldn’t live with myself. The only people that know about Elise are my family, Aaron, and Cassandra. No one else. And I’ll probably keep it that way.
I walk to my car and hop in. I start it and start driving my way home.
When I get home, I get inside my house. “Dad! Macy! I’m home!”
I look in the living room and see my dad asleep on the couch, with beer cans and snacks. My sister is in the kitchen, cooking dinner.
“Hey Zayn! How was the library?” she says.
“Pretty good. Met this girl there. She needed help with getting a book. I, uh, may have flirted with her a little bit.”
She laughs. “Of course you did. Was she flustered?”
“Yes she was. She was as red as an apple.”
“Ha! That’s funny. Well, go wash up. Dinner will be ready soon.”
I nod and walk towards our bathroom. I need to also get ready for school. Monday is my first day. Maybe that girl is at my school.
I hope Aria is at my school.