Free Underwater

Chapter 4 A Very Stupid Idea

    So this is the chapter I started to change Haru's personality a bit, just to warn you. Enjoy dear reader!
    Amaya left school and hopped on the train to her neighborhood. With one hand she held onto a cold metal hand bar and with the other she took out her phone and began frantically texting. Haru I need your help meet me by the beach in an hour.
    Almost instantly her phone buzzed. She left the train along with a dozen other people and began reading. Why? Asked Haru.
    Amaya stopped near the cement stairway leading to her house and sighed. Of course Haru would ask questions before agreeing to help. I can almost hear his irritated tone. I have an idea to save the swim club.
    Really? What is it?
    I'm going to have to compete. Amaya waited but there was no answer, she was beginning to worry he thought she was stupid until her phone buzzed.
    WHAT!
I know I know, hence why I need your help. I begging. Amaya folded her hands not processing Haru couldn't see her.
See you in an hour Answered Haru. Amaya thought for a moment, something was off, then it hit her.
    Why do you have your phone on you? She asked remembering what Makoto had said about Haru never answering his phone.
    Makoto is making me keep it on me because of the leg.
    Amaya laughed she could almost see Haru sighing.
Amaya smiled and closed her purple phone. She opened her front door and was greeted by her mother.
"Hi sweetie how you feeling?" Kylee asked as she sat down her book onto the green couch.
Instantly, guilt stabbed Amaya in the gut, there was no way she could tell her mother what she was planning. "Really good." She faked a smile. "I'm going out with a friend so don't wait up for me." Amaya ran up the stairs before her mother could ask any question.
~~~

       Haru closed his silver phone and starred blankly at it. Is she an idiot? This is the stupidest idea I've ever heard. Sighing, he dialed Makoto's number.
    Makoto answered on the first ring. "Haru? What is it? Is everything okay?" Makoto nearly shouted into the phone, much like a concerned mother all he needed was a pink apron.
    "I'm fine man, listen I won't be able to hang tonight sorry." Haru scratched his head  awkwardly.
    "Don't worry about it." Chuckled Makoto. With that they said their good byes and hung up the phone. Tossing his phone on the table he hobbled out of his house and towards the beach.
~~~
    Amaya stood on a dock focusing on her breathing as she stared at the ocean. Her blonde hair was braided up, and she wore her old blue half swim shirt and blue competitive swim shorts.
    "Hey!" Haru called from behind her. He wore a black sweat shirt with green sleeves and a pair of blue jeans. He looked her up and down. She is so damn pretty! "So you're really going to do this?"
Amaya swallowed hard. "Yep." She said shortly.
Haru sighed. He sat down and unvelcrode his leg from his cast. He stood up and began to strip revealing his black and purple swim pants.
"What are you doing!" Amaya squeaked. As she turned away, her face turning fire truck red.
"I'm going swimming." Haru stated unconcerned as he waded into the water.
"But the doctor said..." Amaya began to point out, but Haru interrupted her.
"I'm just going to stand on there chest deep near the end of the dock. Relax. Now come on." Haru gestured toward him as if he were teaching a child. He looked adorable with a grin on his face that should had been on Nagisa.
Amaya willed herself to swim out to Haru but her feet wouldn't move. Come on, I can do this, Haru is right there. She tried to tell herself, but again, there was no movement.
Haru could see the hesitation in Amaya's entire body, her knees were locked, and her arms were crossed around her chest. He knew it was going to take a lot more than will power to get her in the water.
"Amaya how well would you say we know each other?" Haru asked as he stood in the water looking back at Amaya.
"Not that well." Amaya raised her eyebrow, she had know idea where Haru was going with this, everyone knew Haru didn't do small talk.
"Right so it's safe to say we are only acquaintances at this point. Alright let's see." Haru held his chin deep in thought. "Okay, my favorite food in Mackerel, My favorite movie is Dolphin Tail, I hate scrambled eggs, I've been swimming since I was five and my best friends are Makoto, Rene, Nagisa and Rae. Alright your turn."
What the hell? Amaya was so confused but she didn't argue. "Umm... my favorite food is Chicken Alfrato,  My favorite movie is Beauty And The Beast, I love ball room dancing, I've been swimming since I was seven, and my best friends were Rene and Sosuke. Why are we doing this?" Amaya dropped her arms and tilted her head, trying to understand what very stupid idea Haru had.
    "Cool we're friends now. Now." Haru clapped his hands together. "Would a friend let you drown?" Haru asked like he already knew the answer but wanted to hear it anyways.
    "No?" Amaya answered still very confused.
    "What was that?" Haru held his hand to his ear.
    "No!" Amaya shouted.
    "Alright then, get into the water, it doesn't bite." Haru demanded.
    Amaya took a deep breath and took her position on the dock. She bent down and grabbed the edge of the wood and cringed at the tightness in her legs. Note to self regain flexibility. "I'm going to swim to the buoy and back that's about 100 meters. Time me?" Amaya took deep breaths and looked at Haru.
    "Sure." Haru nodded. He wouldn't admit it, but he was as nervous as she was. God I hope this works.
    Amaya counted to three out loud so Haru would know when to start counting. When she hit three she dove into the water. She felt a familiar panic begin to surface as her breathing shallowed, but she shoved it down and forced herself to breath like a normal person, her team needed her and she wasn't about to fail them. She kicked hard and as her face broke the surface she plunged ahead toward the white and orange buoy. She turned and stretched her arms and legs as far as they could go, as she calmed she left her face down longer until she tapped a beam of the dock and lifted her head, taking one large breath as she broke the surface. She was breathing hard, partly from exhaustion, and mostly from adrenaline.
    "How'd I do?" She asked between breaths.
    "Does it matter? You did it!" Haru grinned as he walked up to her.
    The reality hit Amaya like a sledge hammer. "Oh my god you're right! I did it!" Amaya squealed loudly and though her arms around Haru. "Thank you."
    "You're welcome." Haru pulled back and looked Amaya in the eye, they starred at each other as they become closer. Haru quickly stepped back. "I should probably get my cast back on." He made his way to shore.
    "Ya good idea." Amaya commented as she walked to shore as well. Stupid stupid stupid! Amaya mentally hit herself. She smiled to herself, regionals here I come.

How'd I do on this chapter? I feel like it sucks.