Surf's Up?

Life Saver... Literally

Ellis' POV

I decided to surf by myself that day. I headed a little ways down from where we usually surf. I texted

Reese and Cara saying I wasn’t going to at all but that wasn’t possible. I couldn’t go a day without

surfing. So, I headed about a mile down, where, if they saw me, they wouldn’t recognize me. The water

was a little too calm; I just sat there on my board waiting. I turned to the shore and was about to swim in

when a huge wave hit me from behind. I was close enough in that the wave pulled me under and into

the current. I tried not to panic, this had happened to many times to count. The current kept me under

and I couldn’t get myself out. This situation, it was too similar that I almost blacked out. Then, I felt

something pull me out. I felt the sand against my back but I couldn’t open my eyes. I slightly felt

something on my lips, and then it disappeared. Ow, I felt something on my chest. Then the lips and

then… ugh. I coughed up a bunch of water and opened my eyes.

Steele was staring at me intently. He sighed and sat back on his knees. I blinked a couple of times

before I heard him speak. “You freaking idiot. You freaking idiot. What in Muhammad’s name were you

thinking?” I looked at him confused. “What are you talking about?” My voice came out a little scratchier

than usual. He shook his head. “First, you’re welcome for saving your life. Second, didn’t you see the

double red flags?” I thought about what he just said. He saved my life… which meant the thing I felt on

my lips… oh. I looked to the nearest flagpole and saw the red flags. I felt the heat come to my cheeks.

Wow, I didn’t even look. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Steele was still staring at me so I asked, “How did

you…?” He sighed. “Cara and Reese realized too late that the red flags were out. They texted you

back, saying not to surf but you must have already gotten in the water because you didn’t answer.

When you didn’t respond, they freaked. So, we came looking for you. They went one way, I went

another. Luckily, I’m a smart swimmer, so I was able to get you out.” He shook his head again. An

extreme case of déja vu came to mind. I thought about that. “This feels really familiar.” Steele looked at

me quickly. “What are you talking about.” I looked at him. “When I was really young, like 8, I went into

the water not knowing about the current. I would have drowned if not for…” My jaw dropped. “We have

met before! I knew it. I knew I had seen you before!” Steele didn’t look surprised, but he asked, “What

are you talking about?” Exasperated, I explained. “You know what I’m talking about. I was 8, I almost

drowned, but this boy my age managed to get me out because he knew what to do when there was a

current. That was you. I remember now. When I met you, I knew I had seen you before!” Steele looked

at me with mingled remembrance and curiosity. “You just now remembered this?” I nodded. Something