The Lifeguard

Chapter 35

Anna calls me from the other side of the door, knocking. I got up to open the door. She was holding few paper bags on her hands. "I bought you some clothes," she smiles. Anna went inside the room to place the bags down.

She reminded me of Chloe. I remember the time Chloe would bring many shopping bags home. They weren't all for her. She would buy me more stuff than herself. Now, seeing Anna doing the same, makes me miss my sister. I gave a smile to her. "You– didn't have to, but thank you."

She smiles again. "Hold on. I have something else for you." She leaves the room, but came back after a while. Now, she's holding a red dress. "I found this the other day and thought it would look perfect on you. I wore it on my first anniversary with Mikael. I want you to have it." It's a high low wrap maxi dress. She hands me the dress.

"I cannot take this. It's too much," I say to her.

She shook her hand, resisting to take it back. "Don't worry about it. I really want you to keep it. Change in that dress and come by the lake." Before I could say anything else, she already left. I changed into the dress she gave me, and headed to the lake.

From far apart, I saw the three of them by the dock. They were sitting down on the ground with a blanket beneath them. There's food on the side, and more on top of the picnic table close by. As I got closer, all their eyes turned to me. Anna was just smiling at me, while Mikael looked surprised. He probably remembers the night Anna wore this dress. Connor, on the other hand, faced me with a blank expression. I couldn't tell if he was happy to see me, or he didn't like it.

"I knew I was right. You do look perfect on my dress," she winks at me. Anna told me to sit down beside her, so I did. They had different fruits on a plate. There's also sandwiches, and other bread. There's ham, and fresh vegetables. The four of us began eating. Connor gave me a glass of juice, and I kindly thanked him. My own blood never spent summer days like this. We never had a family day, nor just a single bond. There was no quality time. No movie night. No family vacations. We don't go to the mall nor the park. We don't have inner jokes. We don't sit in the dinning table and have meals together. But with Anna and Mikael, the empty feeling when it comes to family is filled. They treat me as if I am part of their family, like my family didn't do them wrong. They give me the family I never felt I had.

"Hey," greeted Connor. He sat down beside me as he looks ahead, where Anna and Mikael are on a boat, paddling.

I was watching them too. "It's nice watching them. They look so inlove," I said, smiling without looking at him.

"Yeah. They do." I felt him looking at me. "I was hoping we could talk."

"What else do you call this?" I asked sarcastically. He stands up to walk behind me. I followed him with my eyes.

"You know what I mean," he sighs.

"Okay," I exhaled. He offers his hand to help me stand on my feet, but I didn't take his hand. I got up on my own. "What is it?" I asked as I face him eye to eye.

His face turned serious. "I'm leaving tomorrow. I already talked to Mikael and Anna. Mikael will drive you back to the hotel. They think it's best if you go back to the hotel. I think that's for the best too."

I knitted my brows in disapproval. "Why are you making plans without consulting me?"

"I don't need your approval."

"I'm not going back to the hotel. I'm coming with you. I don't care where nor how far," I insisted. Connor began shaking his head to object. I crossed my arms. "You're in this mess because of me. I'm running away with you. And you can't stop me."

"No, Zoe. You're wrong. As long as you're with me, you're the one who's gonna be drag into this mess. I don't want you to be part of this. They're only looking for me, not you. I know Sean will take better care of you than I can. He'll keep you away from this chaos. That way, you can live a normal life. You can go to Stanford or Columbia," he says. Connor took a deep breath. "Have you chosen which one?" he asked, trying to change the topic.

"Nothing you say or do will make me change my mind. I'm going with you whether you like it or not," I indicated. "I'm staying with you. Not because I feel obligated to, but because I want to... I want to stay with you... I'm in this– with you. I'm on your side, Connor. And I'm not leaving your side anytime soon." Connor suddenly pulled me against his body. He put his arm between my shoulder and my neck, embracing me. It was so sudden that I didn't manage to push back.