Inside Outside

3. Old Problems Not So Old

This part is a little short, but the next part is coming soon! Hope you enjoy! -BeatriceButterfly

“So are you ready to go kayaking?” Aphrodite practically screamed at me when I came through the front door to the porch. She'd been waiting to scare me, although other individuals were better at frightening.me.

“Last night you were strapped to Rascal for warmth. How're you gonna survive if you fall in the freezing lake?" Aphie gave me the I-can't-believe-you're-saying -that look before I was forced to continue.

"Nevermind, I'm just switching with you as the responsible one. Let's do it!” Thus Aphie and I went down to the dock and uncovered a kayak from the snow. Since we were renting the cabin I was surprised that there were boats available, considering the damage that could be done.  I could hear the boys joking around in one of the larger trees nearby about how weak we both seemed, trying to pick the thing up and accidentally scratching the plastic against nearby trees.

When we finally lifted the heavy red plastic into the freezing lake I looked out and saw that there was ice around the small islands and rocks in the lake. The strange and sudden warm front had melted most of the ice, but the area definitely hadn't completely thawed yet. The branch above my head tugged on my hair and left icy droplets. I shivered from the cold, but took it as a beginners step, since I knew that from then on there was no way I'd go without getting at least a little wet.

“Sorry I abandoned you guys this morning,” Aphie looked over her shoulder to say. She sat mostly on my lap since this boat was really only meant for one. “I had to find out what everyone else was doing. Luckily for me the only person up yet was my mom who had come to find us.”

“So are we all gonna die slow painful deaths?” I asked, knowing Aphie was holding something back the way she does when she doesn't want to worry me. I am pretty easily excitable. 

“No, people seemed perfectly contented not having us around so they could gossip about us. Small town....” One of the paddles splashed me after hitting a rock. We were pretty far out at this point.

“Sooooo?” I pushed, waiting for the actual news.

“Mckenna and Jake were joking around about you and James being alone together, since obviously I wouldn't have any interest. That would definately be impossible, us being cousins and all.” For someone who is usually very direct, this was rather conniving.

Pushing my hand against the moss on a mostly underwater rock, I jerked the boat, which was practically sinking already. “Mckenna was around when I was said I thought I might like him. Does everyone still think I do?!”

“Well you do act like it.” that's the Aphrodite I know. The kayak had turned itself completely around now, which Aphie took to mean that it was time to head back.

Spacing out, I thought to myself, “I spent so much time trying to fix this so James and I could be friends and this happens?!?! I know he doesn't like me at all other than as a friend. Aphie asked him and he said so.” I looked over to the woods surrounding the lake. We were much closer now, with Aphie paddling. We had traveled much faster than we would have if I were rowing; my arms were pretty pathetic as always.

“Wow, Aphie!” I suddenly sputtered, “There was ice filling that hole in the back of the boat that's meant for draining, but its melted!”

“That's fine, the water level is always below the opening anyway,” Aphie said without even looking back to me.

“Well the two of us together in here are heavy, no matter how not fat you say we--” and we were underwater.

 Have you ever been in almost freezing water? Your lungs collapse painfully, but definately worth it. :D Again please tell me what you think and vote! Although I don't fully understand the whole voting thing.