The Lifeguard

Chapter 4

"Here you go," smiles Jace as he pulls out a chair for me. I thanked him while he sat on his chair. "Let's eat?" he says. I nodded and we began our breakfast.

Olivia approached us. "Mr. Anderson wants the both of you to be ready in 30 minutes. The kids will be arriving soon and he wants you two to be there."

Jace thanked her, and we continued eating. While we were eating, I did not bother starting a conversation with Jace, however he did. He started our conversation about the event. He was very excited. He said he never attended a charity event before because he's always working for his father, who does not have time to give back to others. I told him that all along I viewed my father like his father, someone who does not care about others. Turns out he does care about other people, just not his own blood.

After breakfast, I got ready for the event. I dressed up and headed downstairs to welcome the kids. As I was walking to the lobby, I spotted Connor talking to the other guy on the lifeguard tower yesterday. He looked back at me, smiling but I looked away. The kids arrived and the event started. Each two volunteers and employees gets their small groups with them. The other groups already went on their way, and others headed on different activities. When everyone left the lobby, I followed everyone to the beach. There are different activities such as scavenger hunt, sand castle building, surfing lesson, beach volleyball, water sports, and many more. My father seems to be enjoying the little kids company. I've never seen him this happy before.

"You okay?" I felt someone standing beside me. I looked on my right, it was Connor.

"I'm okay," I answered.

Jace approached us. "There you are," he says. He pulled my hand before I could even say anything. As we were walking away, Connor was watching us. Jace and I started playing with the little kids, while Connor went back to his group to help the other kids. They were at the surfing lesson, while Jace and I are building sand castles with the others.

Hours passed, and the day with the orphanage kids continued. After lunch, they continued with their activities. Others went swimming, while the others played volleyball. Everyone seems to be having fun. I've never seen alot of kids before. I remember when I was a kid I used to think that I was adopted. Only because my parents never had time for me and my sister. I thought they don't love us, and they just adopted us because they had no choice. Dinner came, and everyone dressed up. The smile on the kids' faces are so bright. Meanwhile, the girls were excited to wear dresses, and boys were wearing suits. My father hosted an exclusive dinner in the restaurant. He gave acknowlegde to everyone who helped, and who came. He gave thanks to the wonderful kids, and the orphanage itself. When the event finished, the kids took off.

"Goodnight," smiled Jace.

I faked my smile. "Goodnight." Jace smiled again before leaving. When I turned around, I saw Connor watching me. "Connor," I swallowed to clear my throat.

"You seem to be getting along with each other," he says as he approach me.

I rose my eyebrows. "I guess." I started walking my way outside.

Connor followed me. "I noticed. He seems to like you. I saw him staring at you earlier, and the way he looks at you makes me think that he is interested."

"Really? He's nice," I mocked. "I'm kidding. He's just a friend." Connor glared at me. I continued smiling for a while until it turned into a frown.

"What's wrong?" Connor asked.

"Nothing."

"What is it?"

I sat down on the sand, and he did too. "How could he do that to others?" I whined. "How could he spend time with other kids, but not with me? He never gave me his time nor his attention. He never enjoyed my company. He never smiled at me like that. We never had a bond. But how could he create a bond with them but not his own daughters?" I buried my head on my knees. "I grew up without them by my side. They never acknowledge me as their daughter. All they've done is make me feel unwanted, and unloved. Seeing him like that makes me hate myself. I don't know what's wrong with me, why can't they love me?" I felt tears coming down my face. I couldn't help it. "Why can't they?" I cried.

Connor wrapped his hands around me, trying to comfort me. "You're still lucky. You have your parents with you. I don't."

I wiped my tears, and waited for him to continue. "What happened?" I asked.

"They died in a car accident," he explained.

"I'm sorry."

Connor smiled. "It's alright. I was only six when it happened. It's fine."

When I looked at Connor, he was about to say something, but he didn't continue. I stood up and wiped my tears. I removed my dress, exposing my two piece underneath.

"What are you doing?" asked Connor, confused.

"Going for a swim," I answered with a grin on my face. "I'm upset. I need to swim. Aren't you joining me?"

He glared at me. "You never swam in the ocean, let alone swimming in the dark. And aren't you terrified of the ocean?"

"It's time to face my fears." I pulled him with me as I headed to the beach. I let go of his hand. He didn't join me. "Your loss," I yelled at him, as he watches me.

As soon as the water touched my foot, the day I drowned in the ocean flashed back before my eyes. I had second thoughts about going in. However after a while I managed to swim in the ocean, but still terrified. I took a glance at Connor who is still watching me from the shore. Seconds after, I felt my body slowing down. The fear was taking control of me. I was scared, but I didn't swim back. "Connor!" I yelled. When he heard me, he began swimming on my direction. When he was close, he wrapped his hands around me pulling me to the surface.

"You're crazy," he tells me. "Why would you do that? You scared me."

I smiled widely. "You're a lifeguard. I knew you'd save me," I tell him while my hands are still wrapped around him. He gazed at me. Passionately, I kissed him.