Riptide

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

"Parker," she calls to me, "Parker, come swim with me." She laughs a tinkling laugh that sounds like pretty bells. I swim to catch her but she disappears from my view. I spin around and she is right behind me, she slowly swims backwards away from me. I smile at her. She wants to play. I start to swim slowly after her, but I catch a glimpse of something flash beside her. I swim to take a closer look and stare horrified at the sight before me-

"Ahhhh!!!"

I wake up screaming and sweating in the middle of the night. "What the hell," I whisper to myself. The dream I have just awaken from is the weirdest dream I have ever had. I try and fall back asleep, but every time I close my eyes, I only see a pair of green eyes staring back at me. The girl in my dream was not Gia, or any other girl I know for that matter. I have never seen this girl before, but for some strange reason, she haunts me. I grab my phone and check the time. 12:30 am. Ugh. When I finally fall back to sleep that dream keeps repeating in my mind. I wake up to my alarm at ten o'clock. I told Gia I would pick her up at twelve. I take a shower and get dressed. I try to do random things to get my mind off that stupid dream, but nothing works. I keep seeing those vivid eyes and her angelic hair I just wish-

Stop it Parker, don't go there. You have a beautiful girlfriend who loves you, who's waiting for you to pick her up for your first date, don't screw this up. You've loved her for as long as you can remember. This is your chance to show her how much you care. I scold myself. I see that it is 12:45 and I head downstairs to pick up Gia.

"Dad, Ashley, I'm going to pick up Gia now," I call to them from the door.

"Okay, have fun and be safe," I hear Ashley call from the living room.

~ ~ ~

I get to Gia's house at one o'clock. Our first date and I'm already an hour late picking her up. I see her sitting on her front porch steps, wearing a spring green sundress.

"You're late," she says, but she is smiling at me, so I can't tell if she's mad or not.

"G, I am so sorry, I got completely sidetracked with getting ready and I just-,"

"Parker, calm down, it's fine. It happens." She is giggling at me, like I just did something silly.

"Phew, good I am glad you're not mad. I really am sorry though." I say

"Parker, please stop apologizing it is perfectly fine. You sound like a paranoid old lady."

I laugh this time with her. Gia always knows how to lighten the mood and make me feel happy. We start walking and head to the pier to figure out what's for lunch.

When we get to the pier, Gia seems hesitant. "Hey, what's wrong? You seem off today."

"It's nothing Parker, let's just enjoy our time together." Gia smiles at me but I can tell it's forced.

"G, you can tell me anything. I'm here for you." I try to reassure her, but she is still hesitant.

"It's just, Parker, I don't want to ruin our friendship with this relationship, but at the same time, I want to be with you."

"Gia, you don't have to worry about that. I can tell you that from this relationship, we will grow stronger and closer than we ever would have been when we were just friends. Even if one of us decides this is not what we want, I can assure you that we have known each other long enough, that we will still remain friends. I don't think I could ever stop being your friend. You are such an amazing person."

"Thank you Parker, that means so much to me." There are tears brimming in Gia's eyes, so I pull her in for a hug and she looks up and smiles one of her dazzling smiles at me. She leans up and gives me a kiss. I hear her stomach growl, so I pull away.