LINGER (vampire l.h.)

she looks so delicious

ON AN AVERAGE DAY, you would find the young Valentina Winters at home with a book in hand, listening to the latest album by The Neighbourhood through her ear-buds, but on this rare occasion she had decided to be little spontaneous and socialize.

Her senior class was having an optional field trip on a ferry to have an 'on water' class.

And although she would rather be snuggled up in her bed reading the latest book in her collection, she decided that this trip would be one of the last ones she'd have with her classmates because of it being her last year in high school.

Valentina wasn't a complete introvert though, I can assure you of that, she had friends and such but yet she preferred being on her own. She wasn't shy either, she was actually quite average, I suppose, she did as she was told but at the same time, was very independent.

"Isn't this great," Valentina's friend, Rayne happily sighs with the oh-so-typical grin pressed against her lips, Valentina could not recall a time when Rayne hadn't had a smile on her face for more than five minutes. But that was what Valentina most valued of Rayne, her ability to see the good through all the cruelty in the world.

Valentina gives a small nod, as they lean over the edge to look at the clear water below the ferry.

Beside Rayne was their other friend, Kaelynn who was pretty much mouth-screwing her boyfriend, seen as their mouth's seemed to not leave the others, despite the need to breathe.

Valentina grinned watching them while shaking her head, Kaelynn and her boyfriend, James had always been like that, no matter where they were, no matter who they were with. But Valentina didn't mind, she only cared for Kaelynn's happiness. And if Kaelynn found happiness in practically fornicating all the time, then so be it.

The sun was shining brightly in sky, making the trip seem even more glorious.

Valentina comes back to her senses as she is pulled away from the edge of the ferry by Rayne who drags them both down the stairs of the rather huge ship and into the inside part of the ferry, where the teachers were giving demonstrations that the children were supposed to follow but Valentina could care less, she thought of this trip as a vacation, not something she would learn from.

She goes over to the refreshment table and grabs a bottle of water, popping off the cap and sipping on the bottle before cocking her head to the side, meeting the eyes of one of her classmates, she recognized him as Luke Hemmings.

Valentina would be completely lying if she'd say she didn't find Luke the least bit attractive because indeed he was. With his cute little lip ring, that he just had to play with between his teeth all the time. And those bright blue eyes, that seemed to become even brighter each day.

Valentina gave a soft smile and sent him a small wave before turning back to water, taking another gracious sip.

"Enjoying the trip so far, Val?" She hears a voice say as she whips around, finding Luke Hemmings once again right behind her, their faces only inches apart.

Valentina backs up a step, wasn't he just across the room a second ago? She wonders to herself before sending another soft smile in Luke's direction.

"It's alright," She speaks softly as Luke slowly nods, smiling down at the girl as she continued casually sipping at her water.

She was a tad bit confused though, Luke had ceased to show her attention until this moment, I mean they would have rare casual conversations but that was usually in class, not out of the classroom. She wasn't complaining, it was just... odd.

"It's getting kind of crowded down here, you wanna go back up?" Luke asks her, watching closely as she plays with a long strand of hair.

She looks up at him and meets his eyes again, he's just being nice, Valentina, why not? She smiles again before agreeing with him, making her descent back up to the top of the ship, back outside where the skies were now grey and the wind was blowing harshly, knocking Valentina off her feet and into Luke's arms.

He placed her back on her feet, although she didn't stay on them for long, the ship moving about furiously.

She turned to Luke, "We have to go back downstairs!" She shouts, hoping he would hear her over the roaring wind as the boat does a rough turn, causing both Luke and Valentina to fall to the ground.

"What?!" Luke shouts back at her trying to get back on his feet.

Before she could repeat herself, they both heard an ear-piercing scream.

Valentina jumps in fright, recognizing the scream.

"Kaelynn!" Valentina screams in fright as she slowly crawls in the direction of the scream, feeling a rough grip on her ankle, she turns her head around to find Luke holding her.

"Don't leave! You'll get hurt!" He shouts to her.

Valentina looked at the boy with tears in her eyes, "She's my friend!" She screamed, pulling her leg out of Luke's grasp and searching for Kaelynn, avoiding the other students and teachers, sliding all about the boat.

"Valentina!" She hears a shout, turning and seeing her friend hurrying to her and hugging her close as she began to sob. "It's James! He fell over the edge! No one was helping us!" She lets out as I hold her tight as the ferry shifts all about. Large and heavy waves crashing against the ferry, pushing it further away from shore, some water coming onto the top of the ferry.

The wind suddenly became so forceful, both girls were blown against the edge of the ferry, another wave hitting them as rain begins falling forcefully from the sky.

Another wave crashed against the ship, causing Kaelynn to leave Valentina's grasp and abruptly fall over the edge, screaming as she caught herself, Valentina quickly coming to her side and holding her hand so her friend wouldn't fall.

"Valentina, don't let go!" Kaelynn shouts through her cries.

Valentina shakes her head, "I won't!" She assures her as the waves hit the boat quicker and more forcefully.

"Valentina! I'm slipping!" Kaelynn screams.

Valentina holds her with everything she has as a large wave crashes onto that side of the ferry, so strong it carries both girls off the ferry and into its roaring waters, separating them.

Valentina lets out a scream as she has trouble keeping her body afloat.

Her body suddenly going limp as she begins to sink into the waters.

She screams again going unheard as her body begins to slowly shut down, her eyes closing, everything going black.

But before she had fully blacked out, she vaguely remembered the feeling of an arm slipping around her waist and bringing her to shore.

...