Trouble In Paradise

Chapter 17: The Walking Dead

Chad's POV

The first thing my friends did was tackle me. It was a breathtaking experience (pun intended) as they squeezed my lungs. Any tighter and I probably would have broken a lung.
"Ow." I groaned.
"Oh, we're sorry mate." Maxwell said happily.
"How are you alive?" Jessica asked. "We thought the ocean took your life."
"It almost did." I said, grimacing from the memory. "Well, take a seat. This'll take a while."

"As you know, I was busy drowning. The doctors here said that I haven't taken in enough water that my lungs wouldn't work. As I drifted towards the sea, I saw a massive wave that submerged me underwater. The impact was so strong, it knocked me out and left me unconscious. The next thing I knew, I was in some hospital, wearing this blue outfit."

"The doctors told me I am a very lucky boy. They worked on me for the past two days. Even though I was fine after the first day, they wanted to make sure that I was ready to go."

"It was all very hush hush. Joshua was..........concerned that if word broke out that I could've died, few people would want to come to his little paradise."

Both Maxwell and Jessica were in awe. "They should have at least told us." Maxwell said.
"Listen, I know you're upset-" I started.
"You don't know how I feel! These past two days were f*****g hell without you. I thought you were dead....." Maxwell's eyes were becoming wet now.

"It's okay." I whispered as I hugged him. "I'm here now. That's all that matters, alright?"
"Alright." He sniffed.

Man, did my death hit Max that hard? All three of us were silent, other than Maxwell blowing his nose in the bathroom. I decided to maybe do an activity to comfort my wonderful friends. "So what do you guys wanna do today?" I said loudly so that Maxwell can hear.

"It's a bit too late to do anything." Maxwell replied loudly. "Though the schedule says that there is paintball tomorrow."

Am I dreaming?

"Paintball?!" I squealed.
"Yes, Chad. There is." Jessica smiled.
I forgot how beautiful that smile is.
"Do you like paintball?" I said loudly
"Chad! You don't need to shout in my face." Jessica said loudly in my face.
"Sorry." I smirked. "So what did you guys do while I was gone?"
"Cry our eyeballs out." Maxwell said.

"But..... I'm a nobody. Why would you cry for me?" I said.
"Are you kidding?" Jessica said. "You are our friend! Of course we'd cry for you if you died."

Wow. This a bit much. A new feeling for me. Being cared. I felt.........warm? I don't know. All I know that it was a good feeling that made me smile.....