Is This Smart? (Under editing and revising)

Chapter 10

I'm being shaken. From this dark world, I can hear my name begin called over and over again. I manage to clear away some of the darkness and open my eyes. Above me I see a blue, cloudless sky. A face leans over me. Jordan. I give him a weak smile. Jordan's face breaks into a smile as bright as the sun. Then, Maggie also leans over into my view. Her face is still red and wet. I can hear that she is still sobbing. She sits back on her heels and, eventually, stands and walks away.

Weakly, I try to ask, "Jordan? What happened? Why am I soaked?"

Then, his bright sunshine smile instantly vanishes, "You-- you don't remember?"

"No, Jordan. I'm sorry. Why?" I answer honestly.

Then, he sadly replies, "Well, that's a longish story. Let's wait till your other friends come back, then I'll tell you. But, how are you feeling? Are you still cold?"

"Yeah, I can't feel my toes still. And, my neck feels bruised or something." I tell him.

Without saying anything else, he slides his jacket off and wraps it around my feet. Then, he tries to massage some warmth back into them. His jacket is mostly dry. Maybe he laid it out in the sun before I woke up.

"Jordan?" I ask.

"Yes, Chels?" He answers sweetly.

I sigh, then continue, "Aren't you cold? Your T-shirt is still wet and you gave me your jacket."

Then he replies, in a somewhat harsher tone, "Chelsea. Do not worry about me. I'm fine, as long as you are okay."

Sighing again, I lift my arms to stretch them. I let them fall back down. One lands on my stomach and the other near my neck. Something is missing. But I can't quite put my finger on... My necklace!

I gasp and silently tears slip down the side of my face. Jordan notices and rushes to my side, his smile disappearing, "Hey, hey. It's okay, you're okay. Calm down. I'm not leaving you. What's wrong?"

I choke out a sad sounding answer, "My-- my necklace. It's gone." No matter how hard I try, I can't keep the tears from spilling over my eyelids. A scary choaking sound bursts out, while I'm coughing, trying to catch a breath.

Again, he calmly answers, "Hey, hey. Look at me. It's okay. It will be okay. That doesn't matter to me. You're safe, aren't you? That's all the really does matter to me. I'll get you another necklace, I promise. Do you believe me?"

I sniffle in another sob, "Yes, Jordan! You know, I'll always believe you. Thanks for everything. You legit saved my life!"

With his smile returning, he laughs, "Now, there's the Chelsea I know and love!"

"Can I sit up now?" I ask patiently.

But, he refuses me this one thing, "No, could you just lay down till, at least, your friends come back?"

"Sure." I smile back. "And, Jordan? One more thing, can you make sure Maggie's okay? Please?"

Then, he finishes with a nod, stands and goes to find Maggie.

I lay on the grassy beach, on the opposite side the lake from the dock and gaze up at the bright blue sky. I must have dozed off because I'm woke up again, but not by Jordan. Not by anyone, in fact. Just a muffled sound. Footsteps? Or the rustling of leaves begin blown, kicked, and stepped on? I'm not sure. I push myself up onto my elbows to get a good look around. Two people are sitting on the ground near the edge of the lake.

Somewhere in my befuddled mind I remember that Jennifer and Ann went off into the woods, while Maggie, Jordan and I hung out. I think.

"That must be who is making that noise, maybe? I mean, who else could it be?" I think to myself.