Ashbourne's Powers

Chapter 4

*Jay's POV*

I was tossing and turning in bed for a long time. I just couldn't believe what she told me. I didn't think that people could be so absolutely heartless.

I finally dozed off at the late hours of the night.

*Dylin's POV*

Today was Friday. Which meant the worst day at school. Today, in gym, we all have to go in the pool. Well, everyone except me. It is not only the most boring class due to me not being able to do anything, but the most tormenting. Not only am I afraid of the water, but everyone looks at me strange and says rude and degrading things because I don't go swimming.

I try to ignore that fact, and get dressed. I put on a pink t-shirt, blue shorts, and black shoes. I do my hair and get ready, and then grab my bag and tip-toe past my parents bedroom, knowing their sleeping. I head to school to face the unknowingly awful day to come.

Most of the day goes by fine, and then there's 6th period. I walk into the gym, and as usual sit on the bench. I put my headphones in, as the coach lets me do, and quietly listen to music. What I don't see is two guys coming up behind me. All of a sudden I am grabbed by under my arms and by my ankles.

My phone drops along with my headphones, and I shout, "Hey, what are you DOING?!  Put me down!" I kick and scream, but it's no use. They're asshole football players and Ash's personal jocks. I scream as they bring me to the edge of the pool. "Wait! No no no NO! I can't go in the water! No! STOP!" My cries turn into shrill words as they tease me, swaying me back and forth. Tears are streaming down my face now, and I see everyone with their phones out. Everything seems lightning fast as I kick and scream. Finally, they stop swaying me.

I think they're done, but they're not. They sway me one final time, and then I feel them let me go. I scream as I plummet into the water with a loud splash. I struggle underneath the water, and try and hold my breath. I don't know up from down and frantically try to kick to get to the surface. But I can't figure out how, and my mind goes to my parents, my life, everything. I am going to die not even remembering the last time I got to see my mom in the same room as me. I am never going to feel her calming embrace, or feel her kiss my forehead when I'm sick. I'm never going to hear the way she hums as she walks down the hall in the morning as she's going to take a shower. I'm never going to see her again. My mind fills with these thoughts and I get too overwhelmed. I finally let my breath out. My lungs fill with water and I don't know what to do. I'm going to end up drowning.

*Jay's POV*

I get changed and go out into the gym, and walk over to one of my teammates. I'm about to say hi when I hear screaming from behind me.

I turn around to find  that two guys are holding Dylin next to the pool, swaying her around. She is kicking and screaming, but no one is doing anything. "Shit!" I say to myself. I drop the towel I was holding and bolt across the poolside, almost slipping twice. By the time I get to the other side, however, I hear a loud splash. I rush over, screaming at the two guys. "What the hell is your problem?!" I scream. I push through the crowd and dive into the water, seeing her struggling. I grab her arm, and pull her towards me.

I bring her to the surface, and grab onto the edge of the pool. I go to the steps, carrying her out. She is spitting up water, clinging onto me. I sit her down on the bench, and rub her back as she is bent over, coughing and shaking. I stand up when she stops, hands balled into fists.

"I should kill you right now!" I shout at the two guys. My coach stops me, and backs me up. "Okay. Stop, Jay. I get why your upset, but let me take care of this. Just... just get her out of here." He said, motioning to Dylin. I sigh in frustration, but go over to Dylin. I don't even ask if she wants me to pick her up, I just do. She puts one arm around my neck, and the other under my arm. I can feel her heart is beating fast as she clings onto me. She puts her face in the crook of my neck, and starts shaking profusely. I can feel her face getting hot, and I know she's crying. I carry her to the nurse's office, and she sits in a chair for a while.

"Um, do you have any clothes for her to change into?" I ask quietly to the nurse as Dylin finally stops crying. She regretfully shakes her head. "No. Not much. I might have something in the room over there, but that's it. Sorry." She says. I nod, and walk over to where she pointed, and all I found was a pair of shorts that might fit her. Then I have an idea. I walk out of the room, over to Dylin, and say, "Hey. I'll be right back, okay? I'm gonna go get our things." She nods, her eyes clouded over in thought, and red from the chlorine.

I leave the nurse's office and go back to the pool. I notice her things are not there, and I go to Coach Merritt's office. When he sees me, he stands up from his desk, his face wrinkled in worry.

"Hey Jay. Is she okay?" He asks. "Yea, she's fine. I just came to get her stuff." I say to him. He goes to the shelf across the office an hands me her bag, and her phone. "Here you go, Jay. That's everything." He states. I take it, and get ready to leave when he calls my name. I poke my head back in and he says, "I didn't know you knew Dylin. Im.. I'm happy that she has someone. She doesn't really have that from what I've seen around school and in here. It's nice to know she has someone like you." I says, a smile forming on his face.

He clearly worries for her, as do probably most of her teachers, because of everything with her situation. "Thanks Coach." I start to walkout again, when I stop, and poke my head in again. "Hey, coach, you don't mind if I don't come to practice after school today, do you?" I ask. He has a smirk on his face as he asks why. "Well, her mom works all day. She doesn't get home until late at night. I, I just want her to be okay, that's all." I reply. He nods. "Sure. Your always at practice, you can afford to miss one." He says. I walk away, and go to the locker room to get my stuff. I grab my bag, and change into my shirt and pants. Then I walk back to the nurse's office.

I put her stuff in the chair next to her, and give her the shorts I got from the room, and give her my hoodie. She looks at me, smiling, and goes to the bathroom to change. She comes out in the clothes. "Thanks." She says, looking up at me. I smile, and we head out of school.