"Ember."
My eyes fluttered open, finding myself being blinded by a bright light. I moved my hand to shield my eyes, finding an IV attached to my arm.
I adjusted my vision, lifting my head to look around. Pain shot throughout my body, my head falling back as I whimpered in pain.
Family members surrounded me, crying and telling me that they're glad I had woken up. My head started to spin, the voices and faces causing my anxiety to sky rocket.
I hadn't been awake since the crash, so everything felt unreal and scary. I was confused, not even remembering coming to a hospital.
I tried to speak, my voice coming out as hoarse and weak. Relatives and friends from my tennis team continued talking, moving closer and touching me.
I began to breathe heavy, trying to yell for everyone to go away. I felt tears drip down my face, curving down my chin.
And before I knew it I was unconscious.
"Ember."
I sat up fast, looking around in fear.
"Ember, shhh, calm down." Cole grabbed my arms, pulling me into a hug.
I sighed, wiping some sweat drops off my forehead. "Where are we?"
"You're in my old room." Cole smiled, getting up off of where we were sat on the bed, turning on the bedroom light.
The sound of silence filled the air as I looked around the dark blue room. It was empty, besides the bed.
"I'll be downstairs okay? Take as much time as you need." Cole walked out of the room, leaving me to myself.
I shivered as a breeze flew in through the ajar window, the sheers blowing as it did. I scooted up off the bed, walking to Coles window and pushing it down with force.
I gasped as I saw the backyard, shocked by the size of it. There was a large pool, lit up by lights and surrounded by furniture. I was in awe of the landscaping, the hedges being trimmed into shapes.
My thoughts of the backyard escaped me as I saw the darkness of the sky, remembering the incident at the airport.
I ran to the bag sat in the corner of the dim room, digging in it. I pulled out my phone, clicking it on.
Over my wallpaper, of Cole and I, read a time of twelve AM. We had arrived really early in the day, so that meant I had been out for awhile.
I stood up straight, walking over to the door. I stopped, placing my ear to the door, hearing nothing but the sound of the heat.
I slowly creaked open the door, walking down the dark hallway. The carpet tickled my bare feet as I made my way down the stairs.
"Cole?" I whispered. No answer.
I walked towards a glass door that lead to the yard, finding myself having a strange urge to explore.
I slid it open quietly, stepping out onto the patio and shutting the door. I immediately shivered. My tank top and shorts, that I had mysteriously been changed into, not doing me much good.
The cold cement felt good on my feet as I walked towards the pool. I leaned over, looking at my reflection in the ominous water.
"Boo."
I screamed at the sudden voice, jumping in fear. The feeling of cold water chilled me before I could even process I had fallen into the pool.
I opened my eyes, water at every angle. I immediately kicked my legs and arms, taking a huge breathe of air as I reached the top.
Once my vision and hearing focused, I had found Cole laying beside the pool. His laughter filled the nights silence, causing me to slightly smile.
"Cole!" I yelled, pretending to be angry he scared me.
He sat up, calming himself down before speaking. "You're too easy."
"At least help me out." I giggled, swimming towards the edge.
He reached his hand out for me to take,
But before he could process what was going on, I yanked it as hard as I could.
Cole fell into the water, causing a giant splash. I put my hands in front of my face and turned my head to avoid the water, finding myself laughing as hard as Cole was.
His head broke through the water, shaking the water off of his brown locks. "You're gonna get it."
"We'll see about that." I paddled to the shallow end of the pool, Cole on my trail as he swam after me.
He grabbed my waist, us both in fits of laughter as we stood in the water that was now up to his waist.
And then there it was, the moment in the field.
Memories of my dress blowing in the breeze and his hands on my waist came to mind.
The moonlight reflected off of the water, the sound of the water making little swishes filling the comfortable silence.
And just like it was in the field, I wanted nothing more than for his lips to be on mine.
Coles eyes flicked to my lips and my nerves accelerated. The fingers he had on my waist tingled the skin as I thought that he might want to kiss me too.
His eyes flicked back to mine and I stared at him in awe, screaming in my mind for him to just lean forward.
Cole began to lean in, as if reading my thoughts, his eyes closing as he got closer to my lips. I leaned in too, my eyes fluttering shut.
Before our lips could touch, we were cut off by the sound of a woman's voice. "Cole? Ember? Get out of that pool before you catch a cold!"
Coles hands left my body, our cheeks both tinted red as we faced each other. Cole's head turned to his mother. "Coming now, mom."
He looked at me as if he was apologizing, without actually saying anything, and I nodded in return to signal it was alright.
We stepped out of the water, our sopping clothes sticking to our bodies. Cole's mother quickly ran inside to grab towels, Cole and I turning to each other.
"Forget that happened?" Cole spoke silently, my heart sinking at his words.
"Oh–uh– yeah. Of course." I smiled, nodding my head fakely.
I didn't want to forget. Unlike in the field, the memory of wanting Cole didn't fade. It broke me that Cole didn't feel the same way.
Maybe it was for the best.
