Is This for Real

Chapter 11

TORI'S POV

  "TORI?!" Justin yelled, shocked, as he saw me. "What are you doing here?!"

  "I um I just wanted to come down to the beach and swim," I replied.

  "Did you see all that?" Caitlin asked.

  "Yeah," I replied while looking down.

  "Please don't tell anyone. Only Ryan, Chaz, and my brother know about this," she quickly added.

  "I swear I won't," I promised while taking off my blue tank top and white shorts, revealing my purple polka dot bikini that I had gotten when I went shopping with Pattie.

  "So you wanted to go swimming, eh?" Justin asked with a smirk.

  "Yeah. But-" before I could finish my answer he picked me up, threw me over his shoulder, and ran into the water.

  "Hold your breath!" And before I knew it Justin was holding me under the clear, ocean water. When I said I wanted to go for a swim, I meant that I wanted to wade in the shallow part of the water. I never wanted to put my head under or anything, it brought back too many memories.

~Flashback~

  "Okay kids. Line up at the diving boards." I was eight and was taking swimming lessons. I already knew the basic strokes: freestyle, butterfly, and backstroke. Now the instructor wanted us to jump off of the diving board at the deep end of the pool.

  I was last. I jumped in and my mind went blank. I couldn't remember anything I'd learned! My legs were like lead and I was running out of air. I put my hand up, but it was too late. I was almost to the bottom of the pool, ten feet down.

  Just when I thought I was going to drown, I felt a pair of hands around my waist. I looked up and saw a girl. She was the lifeguard and she quickly swam up to the surface just in time. I was gasping for air, but I was lucky that I didn't need CPR. From that moment on, my head never went below water unless I was taking a shower.

~End of flashback~

  I started flailing my arms and trying to move my legs. They were moving! I should be up to the surface by now. Something was pulling me, an under tow? Do they have under tows in oceans? I thought for a second. Yes they do. I felt my lungs burning telling me that I was running out of oxygen. Then I heard someone yell my name. And that was the last thing I remember.

JUSTIN'S POV

  "Tori!" I yelled. No answer. She's been under water for, I think about three minutes. I dove under and saw her lying on the ocean floor, unmoving. Uh oh.

  I swam to her, grabbed her waist and pulled her to the shore. "Tori! Tori! Can you hear me?" I yelled. Still no answer. I felt her pulse. Slow, but her heart was still beating. It got slower with every beat, though. "Caitlin! Call 911!"

  She didn't hesitate. She called 911, told them our location, and five minutes later we heard sirens coming down the road. The paramedics put Tori on a stretcher and Caitlin and I rode in the ambulance to the hospital. I called my mom on the way there, and when I told her what happened, I heard a crash. Which, I assumed was her phone that she dropped to the ground out of shock.

  When we got to the hospital, the doctors told my mom, Caitlin, and I, that we couldn't see Tori until they came out and told us it was okay. Dang! This is serious! What did I do?

  I saw my mom looking at Caitlin. "Yeah mom I-" I started but didn't get a chance to finish.

  "I know," my mom said calmly. "Usher called me."

  "Oh."

  "And we'll talk later."

  "Okay." Great! I really hope I don't get grounded! I've done some pretty stupid stuff, but this was by far the worst. Flying Caitlin out here without her parents or my mom's permission. Stupid...but kind of sweet. And dunking Tori under water without knowing that she could swim. Just plain stupid.

  I felt something warm roll down my cheek and then I felt Caitlin's thumb wipe it away. Roll changing much? Was I crying? I was crying. "It's all my fault," I whispered.

  "It's not your fault, Justin. You didn't know," Caitlin said consolingly. I sighed and let a few more tears fall.

3 hours later

  "You can come in now," the doctor told my mom, Caitlin, and I. I let go of Caitlin's hand and walked into the hospital room with Caitlin and my mom following me.

  "Tori?" I asked walking up to her.

  "Yeah?" she asked.

  "I'm so sorry."

  "No, I'm sorry. I should've told you that I couldn't swim."

  "I shouldn't have dunked you under water with asking you if you could swim. But the good thing is, that your alright now."

  "Yeah. And Justin?"

  "Yes?"

  "Can you teach me how to swim?"

  I was taken aback by her question. She almost drowned and now she wants to learn how to swim? That girl is brave. I smiled. "Of course."

  Then my mom came over to her. "Oh sweetie! We were worried sick. Justin was even crying...and that means something is wrong."

  "Mom!" I exclaimed.

  Tori chuckled. "I'm glad you guys care about me so much. Thank you."

  "Your welcome hun."

  "Now when can leave? I hate hospitals."

  "Anytime. As long as you're feeling alright."

  "I'm good. Let's go home. And, Justin, how did Caitlin get here?"

  Here we go again.