Survivor

Chapter One: Before

            The night is bright, the moon at its peak and the stars twinkle like diamonds in the sky. The boat rocks under my feet, and I love the feeling of floating--of feeling weightless. I sip my bottle of orange soda remembering how the water earlier was a rocky nightmare, and now it's as calm as it can be. Little crests of tiny white-tipped waves peak out in the dark water because of the slight wind. Standing at the railing at the front of the boat, "The Wine Knot" I look at the horizon, and the setting sun. The colors are tremendously beautiful, an array of oranges, reds, and pinks, and a plethora of sunlight fading into the horizon. I'm glad I went with my friends boating today, otherwise I wouldn't have seen this.

            "Hey! Clare! Get your little butt over here, we need your help!" Viviana shouts to me. I whirl around surprised, almost spilling my soda, and shout back to her.

            "Ok, Jesus! You don't have to give me a heart attack! Like, next time I'm spacing out I am just going to flop overboard!" I laugh and yell back.

            "Please help us take all of this soda to the chest." I near her, and she leans her red head down to my raven covered one and says, "Just remember who is on board with us." She looks to the cab of the boat, at who is steering it and she smirks as I redden. "He'll save you, and you will just love how he will hold you in his arms, and-" I glare at her. "Ow!" Viviana hisses as I punch her in the arm to get her to shut up.

            I sneak a glance towards the wheel of the ship, when I start to walk towards the front of the boat again, to enjoy the sailing.

            Before long, the ship's captain, Catcher, comes over to my spot, and leans on the rail next to me, his hair blowing in the wind. I eye him sideways, and feel eyes on my back so I turn around and sure enough, Viviana is watching us. Or should I say-me. I turn back towards Catcher, and I find him staring at me. "What are you staring at?" I ask wearily, a few butterflies hatching in my stomach.

            "Nothing much, I'm just enjoying sailing with my friends. And, enjoying the view," he looks at me sideways once more and then returns to watching the horizon.

            I have liked him for a while, and have been spending a good amount of time with him, and love it. We have been ice-skating, bowling, we went out to eat and so much more. It's like we're dating but not quite past the "just friends" zone. Well, to tell the truth, we're not even close to dating. It's all in my head, we went bowling with Vi, and a couple others attended on the other outings. I stare out to the endless sky, and take in the beautiful landscape so many other lives have touched, and am saddened at the fact that I will not be here to see it all the way through. "And to think that one day, this will all be here still, and we will be the ones washed away," I mutter to myself.

            "Yeah, I know." Catchers states, "Don't think about it like that though. Stay in the present, like what are you doing standing at the front of the boat all alone?" His question catches me off guard and I'm at a loss of what to do. So he speaks up again, "What I meant to say was, why didn't anyone come with you?" He smiles at me lightly.

            "I'm just enjoying the view as well, taking it all in so to speak," I pause to catch my breath. "Why not? Anyways what are you going to do now that you're up here with me?"

            Catcher shifts to face me, and smiles big. "What I should have done a few weeks ago." I stand staring at him, pondering what he could mean.

            I open my mouth and say, "Meaning?" Then to my surprise, Catcher cups my chin and neck with his hands, and brings his lips to mine. The sensation is one I have never experienced, and it feels good. His lips are warm on mine, and I find it hard to breathe so I pull back.