The Boys of Summer

9.

Hank and Scott came by this morning to visit with Scott's girlfriend Jean Gray or whatever her name was. She was a lovely girl with reddish hair and a clean smile. We all got to meet up and catch up on the things we did and whatever happened before.

Erik was probably still asleep and Raven was in the kitchen. Here was I, sitting on top of the brand new motorboat looking at parts I probably wont be able to figure out how they work.

Uncle Logan and my parents entertained them in the meantime while I tested out the boat that he brought. It was a simple motorboat and was very expensive. Of course being the excursionist I am, I decided to give it a test rise before the family could use it.

"Hey Charles." I heard Erik's gruff voice greet me. I glanced behind me as I saw him run over dressed in short blue shorts, a loose button-up shirt, and a bucket hat.

I lowered my Wayfarers and smiled at him. "Goodmorning 'Mr. I Thought I was Good Until You Beat Me in Chess' how was your sleep?" Erik then halted and exhorted to me. "You shouldnt touch that."

I raised a brow, still in a crouching position. "What?" I asked. Erik pointed to my hand. "Dont touch that or the boat will move."

I turned around to see what he meant, but to my clumsy move, I accidentally nudged a levet in the boat. Just then, a roaring sound came out from underneath and the boat moved forward. The sudden force caused me to topple over and land in the water.

"Told ya!" Erik shouted before running towards the boat that couldnt move since it was tied to the tiny pier. I swam to the shore and cringed in horror when I saw blood coming from my arm.

"Uh Erik." I said, debating on what to do as I stood there immobile. "I- Im bleeding!"

When he turned to see what happened, he jumped back on the pier and ran towards me. Streams of blood came rushing out of a huge cut in my arm which I covered with my hand. Erik expostulated. "Wait dont touch or youll hurt yourself." Taking my forearm into hus hands, he took a quick look before stripping off his top and wrapping it around my arm.

"Gah! Fuck that hurts." I groaned out. "Should I apply preasure?" I asked him and he nodded. "Its okay it wasnt deep anyway. Come on lets get you cleaned up before it gets infected."

The striking sensation of malaise engulfed my arm causing me to cringe in pain, slowing me down. But then strong arms carried me up as Erik carried me bridal-style towards the house. My eyes were fixiated on the amount of concern painted on his face as he kept on assuring me that ill be alright.

Once we reached the patio, Erik called out to Raven to get the first aid kit in which she got swiftly. Erik propped me on the sunbathing chairs and kneeled beside me. "Is it still bleeding?"

I nodded. "Uh yeah so much, I can feel the blood rushing out." I bit my lip as waves of pain followed. "Shit it hurts like hell!"

Then for some reason, my head started to hurt as well as my body. My heartbeat kept on increasing in pace as I started to lose breath. "Erik... I- somethings wrong..." I told him, voice weak and quaking. He looked at me with concern. "Charles, are you feeling okay?"

I couldnt respond as my hearing started to become distorted, like a microphone recording a storm. My eyes fluttered as i felt my body stiffen.

"Erik... theres s-something v-very wrong..."

And with that I blacked out.