Moments In Time

Chapter 11: Flashback

Hawaii, 2013

"Kacey, come on!" Harry called out from the water.

The group was on a yacht, having fun together as they enjoyed some time off together. They were in between tour legs, and were due for rehearsals the next day. Kacey, Zayn, and Liam were enjoying the sun on the top decks, when Harry and Louis had decided to jump into the water from the deck below. Niall was right behind them, and now all three of them were trying to get Kacey to do the same, despite knowing she was afraid of heights.

"You lot leave her alone!" Liam called down to them. "You already convinced Niall, and now you're going for the girl. You lot have no shame."

"It's a killer rush, though!" Louis yelled back. "Zayn won't do it since he's too chickenshit to swim."

"At least I won't drown," Zayn muttered, causing Kacey to snort.

"And you're too mature to be corrupted, Liam," Louis continued. "Kacey is the only hope we have to prove that the majority of our band aren't fucking pansies."

Kacey looked down at the water below, biting her lip. Zayn's eyes widened as he realized what she was doing.

"You're not really considering it?" he asked incredulously. Liam's eyes widened as he heard Zayn's question.

"I mean, yeah, kinda?" Kacey replied. "I've never tried it...and it does look like fun."

Liam rolled his eyes.

"You're afraid of heights," he said. "You don't have to prove shit to anyone."

"We need to face our fears sometime, right?" Kacey asked. "And I'm not proving anything except that I'm bored and want to feel something different."

"Your mother would murder us if you got hurt," Zayn said, looking at Liam, hoping he'd back him up.

Liam considered it, looking down at the water then back at Kacey.

"Just be careful," he warned.

Zayn shot a fearful glance Liam's way; he'd been so sure Liam would talk her out of it. Zayn couldn't find a logical reason for her not to other than he didn't want her getting hurt, so, helpless, he watched as she pulled her shirt off to show the black bikini top underneath.

"Whoohooo!" Zayn heard Harry yell. "Kacey Owens is doing it!"

Kacey took a deep breath and went for a running start, but right at the edge her foot slipped, and she fell off the boat before the jump with a painful yell.

"KACEY!" Zayn yelled, running to the edge as Kacey disappeared beneath the water. Liam was right behind him, fear in his eyes as well.

Without even thinking, Zayn jumped off into the water after her. He opened his eyes under the water, ignoring the stinging of the salt, and found her instantly. She was eerily still, the impact of the water must have knocked her out. He grabbed her arm and pulled her to the surface. He and Harry swam with her to the yacht, where one of the crew members was waiting to pull them aboard. The man pushed all the guys aside and performed CPR on Kacey, and they all breathed in relief when they heard her coughing.

After her coughing had subsided, the crew member wrapped a blanket around her.

"Thanks," she whispered hoarsely as he checked her ankle, which was definitely swollen.

"Don't thank me," he said, pointing to Zayn. "He jumped right in after you fell. This ankle is probably broken, we need to get back to shore and get you to a doctor."

Kacey looked at Zayn in disbelief.

"I thought you couldn't swim," she said, admiration in her voice.