Thicker than Water

Chapter Three

"Rose, get in this damn water," Victor shouted at me.  I shook my head rapidly in reply to his pleas.  It was a warm day with few clouds to block the sun.  I sat on a dark navy blue towel under the umbrella that protected my fair skin as I watched Victor try to get me into the crystal clear water.  A stack of shells we had found along the shore now rested beside me in my bag.  But Victor didn't give up.  He was in the water scavenging for more and more shells even though we already had plenty.  He looked like a hyper child as he splashed around in the water searching for those shells.  Whatever had been bothering him last night had completely flown out the window now.  That was the only reason I was enjoying this so much.  If Victor was happy, I was able to be happy (minus the forever growing guilt).

My extra large thin white t shirt that I was borrowing from Victor covered my deep purple swimsuit.  I had taken the liberty to twist my hair up into a clip, but still several stubborn stands and my bangs dangled around my face and neck.  The warmth that had managed to seep through the umbrella from the sun warmed me.  The beach wasn't as crowded as you'd think it would be either, but there was still people.  So whenever Victor tried something funny I couldn't help but get embarrassed and push him away.

"Please, come in, Rogue," Victor pleaded.  I shook my head no and he scrunched up his face in displeasure.  "Get in the water," he commanded.  When I didn't answer he added, "I'm not going to bite."  I rolled my eyes and put my sunglasses on.  "Fine, I lied.  I might bite, but it won't be very hard.  Don't make me come get you.  Just get in this water," he said and began to wade out of water holding his new additions for our shell collection.  My muscles began to tighten from the idea of him dragging me in.  Once he made it to me, he stood over me ominously with his arms folded.  "You aren't coming in, are you?"

I shook my head honestly, but soon regretted it.  He shook his head just the same and his wet wet hair flung water on me.  I squeaked and scrambled to my feet from the shock.  He grinned at me in victory and I glared at him.  "That's better.  Now, you have to get in," he told me and took my hand.  I lowered my weight and prepared to fight back if he began to drag me or pick me up.  But, he didn't even try.  "If you don't want to swim, we could go back to the hotel room."

The expression on his face made my stomach churn.  "Are you trying to blackmail me or something," I accused with my eyes squinted at his face.  His grin answered my question.  "You're so cruel," I sighed and pulled my clip out of my hair then shook out the curls.  "I'm coming in."

He nodded in approval and took my hand.  "There's a whole bunch of shells towards that rock over there," he tells me and points tho a large rock about ten feet away from us in the water.  He tugged me to the water and the cooling of the waves soothed my nervousness.  I relieved a sigh and sat on the shore.  "You just wanna sit?"  Victor shrugs and sits beside me.  The sun was high over our heads still, but with the mountain being at our back (on the other side of Nora) the sun would be gone in a few hours time.  Already, the orange was beginning to show as an early stage of the sunset.

Beside me, Victor watched out across the water like I was.  His eyes looked sadder now.  Then his hand reached out and took mine.  I couldn't refuse his touch so I simply complied.  "Rogue, remember when I said I had something to tell you?"  I nodded at him.  His hand released mine and touch my chin, then turned me to face him directly.  "Well, I've got to ask you something."

My panic began to rise and I glanced around for any watching eyes.  Luckily, no one was even around anymore.  When my eyes went back to Victor, he said, "Don't freak out, okay?"  I nodded, but truthfully I was panicking inside.  He took a deep breath then said slowly, "I've been meaning to tell you this for a while.  But, here it goes.  I love you, Rose.  I have for quite a long time now.  At first, I figured it was just because you were so hard to convince to go out with me, but once you did and those feelings didn't go away I realized the truth.  I have loved you for exactly two years, nine months and four days.  And, I need to know, do you love me too?"