Is This Smart? (Under editing and revising)

Chapter 9

The cabin! But how is that possible? We are extremely far away from Washington and those strange, mysterious woods. We're in a different country for crying out loud! But just as I decide to question her about, my moment has ended.

"Hey, sorry for the wait. Again." She says breathlessly.

Four pairs of eyes just stare her down, occasionally blinking. Ann, Maggie and myself must suspect that she is hiding something. But, I can tell, she definitely is. It's always been like my superpower. Whenever someone is lying or hiding something, I can tell.

"If you guys don't mind, I'd like to go on this really neat looking trail I spotted on my way back there. You guys can go ahead with the boat ride; I don't want to be a burden and make you come with me." She continues, trying to break the awkward silence.

I know what she is going to do. No matter how hard I try, I can't keep her from going. Going to investigate the cabin. So, I just burst out, "But, are you sure, Jennifer?"

Unsurprisingly, she just brushes me off, "Yeah, it's no problem. I'm just going to take some quick pictures then I'll come straight back to wait for you guys. Promise."

Just like I thought she would do. She is playing the stubborn card on me. And this time, it's working.

"I know; but you really shouldn't go alone." I suggest, using yet another useless tactic that won't work. That won't keep her from going away from our group.

"I'll go with you!" A little voice hidden in the back says. Ann. Of course, she would.

Then, Maggie asks, "Are you sure?"

"Yeah! I'm completely fine with it. Hand me my pop, will you?" She says confidently.

Then, in that soft, deep, velvety voice, Jordan completes the conversation with, "Okay, well, you guys have fun then, taking pictures or whatever."

This forces a small giggle from me. I try as hard as I can but, it's to strong, I couldn't contain it! Jennifer shoots me a look, which I can't decipher, from across the small gap, which keeps getting smaller with every passing second, between us.

This is when his voice starts up again, "Who wants to row first?"

"Not me!" Maggie shouts as she backs away at a quickly alarming pace.

Then, being the wonderful gentleman he is, Jordan reassures her, "Don't worry; this boat has an engine. We are in the 21st century, aren't we?"

The last thing I see before the boat starts up, is Jennifer and Ann skipping down the dock, arm in arm. The last thing I hear is their constant laughing. The last thing I feel is the same feeling that I haven't been able to shake since our last vacation. Fear and the feeling that something is about to go completely wrong.

~Later~

The scenery is beautiful. The trees are on fire. Leaves of many colors litter the forest floor surrounding the small lake. It is beautiful. But, the one thing that makes it that much better is that I'm here with my best friend. Well, two of them.

Jordan is sitting, tall and proud, in the captain's seat of our small motorboat. The bench we sat on earlier is set right behind him, this is where I'm laid out, basking in the warm sun light.

Across from me is Maggie. She doesn't look 100% happy right now and I can help but feel as if 95% of it is because of me and Jordan. Recently, I've been so much more into him and she might think that he's going to replace her. Or maybe she doesn't like him. Or maybe she is just jealous. But, right now, she seems as if she is enjoying the open lake. Slightly.

I turn back to Jordan and begin examining him. The way the sunlight reflect off his deeply tanned skin. How the sunlight sparkles in his blue eyes. Then, I notice that his eyes almost nearly a match the color of the lake water. All of a sudden, he looks down at me. He caught me. But, he doesn't say anything. He just smiles down at me and continues driving the boat. Less than two minutes later he turns again, but this time he asks me a question, "Hey, Chelsea?"

Startled, I sit up and reply somewhat cautiously, "Uhh, yeah? What's up?"

"Oh, nothing, nothing. Umm, do you want to drive? It's just like a car. Come here I'll show you." Then, he stands up and pats the seat. I stand and hurry over to the chair. I sit down; then Jordan leans over and begins to show me the controls. After a five minute lesson, I turn the key, and grip the throttle. But, my hand doesn't move. I breath in and out slowly. I'm always nervous to try new things, because what if I break something, or don't like it. Or, better yet, what if I just fail completely. I feel a hand rubbing the top of my hand, which is gripped so tightly around the throttle my buckles are white.

I look up and Jordan's face is smiling at me once again, "Chelsea. Calm down. It's fine. I'll help you. I promise, I won't let you crash. I'll stay right here beside you. Always."

Letting out another breath, I push forward on the handle and our water vehicle begins to move. Jordan puts his hand on top of mine. His other hand is on my shoulder. I smile as the boat slowly excelerates. I smile at Jordan and he backs off, but never leaves my side. As I get used to controlling the boat, Jordan pulls out his phone. I look back at Maggie, and give her the biggest smile I can.

Jordan looks up and shout, "Chelsea! Look out!"

I whip my head around so fast my my neck cracks and my vision goes out. The last thing I know Jordan has lifted me off the chair and laid me on the ground. That's when the boat slams into something and come to a jolting stop. And, finally, I black out.

~Later (again)~

I wake to the feeling of cold water surrounding me. My head tries to move so I can look around but my neck is in a homemade brace of sorts. A floatations device is strapped around my waist and I'm floating in a freezing lake. A large hand is clamped around my wrist and a voice is calling to me.

No, not me. It's calling to Maggie. This is when the panic begins to set in. The voice is a male, and it's trying to coax a sobbing Maggie into the freezing water. Eventually, she gives in: just as my legs go numb.

Then, the hand that is gripping me lets go a little a positions me over its owners back. Jordan. I know he's helping me, but why are we in the water?

Then, I whisper into his ear, "Jordan. What's going on?" I don't get an answer, except the constant sobs of Maggie behind me.

I'm being carried on Jordan's back and Maggie is literally beginning dragged by him. The water is flowing around me, seeping every warm cell from my body. I just give into the darkness again. Another blackout, what a surprise.