I swam under the clear water, twisting and flipping gracefully. I feel so free when I'm in water, it's my happy place. Calum pushed Ashley in once she finished stripping down to her underwear. He then bursts into laughter and cannonballs right next to her, causing her to flinch from the splash.
I begin to float on my back, propelling myself around slowly with my scrawny arms. 'Water is just so calming' i think in my head, 'i just love th-' I get pulled under the water hard, getting yanked in different directions. Theres so many bubbles I cant tell which ways up or which ways down. I finally feel the sandy bottom and kick it as hard as I can.
I come up coughing hysterically, swimming to where I can stand in the water. "LUKE?! WHAT WAS THAT FOR" I push him with all my force as we both stand in the shallow water, but he doesn't budge as he watches me in concern.
"I'm sorry tara" he sighs. I can't help but notice how much I love it when he says my name. How am I yelling at someone who made me waffles and pancakes? I giggle aloud at my thoughts as Luke talks in a rush trying to explain what happened. I interrupt him by grabbing his hand and looking into his eyes.
"I'm alive aren't I?" I point out. Luke takes a deep breath. "Let's go under the waterfall."
We walk into a cave-like spot where the waterfall beautifully falls in front of us. I stand in front of Luke, facing him.
"So..." I begin, "you like me?"
Luke looks shocked at how confident I asked an awkward question. Instead of answering me he lightly pushes me forward into the drenching water. He steps forward so he's getting 'rained' on as well, then puts his face close to mine. I close my eyes when I see him part his lips.
"I might" he says, then turns and dives into the deeper part of the bright swimming hole. I'm astonished at what just happened. He's such a tease. I still feel like he's not really into me, like it's some stupid prank. Only time will tell.
I take my time swimming back to the three amigos. When I get there Ashley stands up, knees deep in the water with a big smile planted on her face.
"I know what would be fun" she starts jumping up and down in excitement. I notice how nothing on her jiggles, she's a lucky one. Calum then asks what she's on about. She points toward the waterfall, then slowly moves her finger higher, higher and-
"NO WAY AM I JUMPING OFF A CLIFF INTO THE HOLE" I shout.
"Come on don't be a party shitter" Calum says to me.
"I'm sorry I already ate pancakes this morning and I don't think that's what they mean by you are what you eat" i say sarcastically.
"You won't turn into a pancake, Tara. The water is deep enough I'n sure loads of people do this here" Luke says, holding the small of my back.
"I'll stand at the top with you guys but I'm not jumping" I decide.
Ashley and I walk together with Cal and Luke walking together behind us, checking us out I'm sure. I hear them laughing, making me insecure.
Once we climbed to the top I look down and take a deep breath.
"Chillax" Luke says when he notices me trying to calm my nerves.
"I don't like heights," I snap.
"I don't like party shitters" Luke snaps back.
"It's a rational fear, don't judge" I state.
"How's about we go together?" Luke asks, grabbing my hand.
"No I told you, I'm not jumping." I reply to his offer sternly.
"How about falling then?" I hear a deep voice from behind me before I get pushed off the cliff.
I grab onto Luke's hand as I'm pushed, and we both fall to our dooms. I scream at the top of my lungs and look down at the clear water which, from up here doesn't look deep at all! Once we get close to the water I shorten my scream and take a big breath.
When I splat the water it's nerve wracking, but when I slow down safely under the water I smile to myself. I feel the bottom of the swimming hole and decide to swim around at the bottom for a minute since I'm not running out of breath yet. I swim at the sand and run my fingers through it. Then I look up to see Luke swimming down towards me and grabbing my body. I look at him, eyebrows raised. He kicks off the sand and brings me to the surface.
"Tara! Are you okay?" Luke looks at me as if I'm dead.
"I'm fine, I wasn't drowning I was just swimming. I guess this makes you my hero?" I tap his chest twice before he let's me down. "Let's go again!" I suggest, he looks at me in awe, then smirks.
We swim off to the side when I hear Ashley and Calum from the top of the cliff.
"Is she alright?" They ask in sync.
"I'm fine asshole!" I yell to Calum. "Ashley, if you wouldnt mind I-" before I could even finish my request, Calum goes plunging into the water. Somehow, he does a flip in the air before landing in a perfect pencil style jump.
Ashley runs off and cannon balls in next to him, coming up to remind him, "think of that next time you decide to cannon ball in next to me."
After we climb and jump in a few (dozen) more times, we decide to lay out and dry off before getting clothed and leaving.
We had the pizza and told stories for about an hour or two. We all got in the car.
"Where to?" Luke asks.
"You're the man with the plan" I rhyme.
"We went to all of the places I wanted to, for today. So your place?" He asks me.
I called my parents and asked if they were home, they said they already went home and back to work.
"My place it is" I tell the driver (Luke) before blasting music through the car.
"I'm staying the night again, right?" Luke asks, adding "let's stop by my house to get me what I'll need for the night." He smirks at me before turning the music back up.
His place it is.
-
"Nice place" I compliment Luke as the four of us walk into his roomy apartment.
"Chill on the couch while I grab my stuff" Luke winks at me before disappearing in the dark of a skinny hallway.
I lay on the couch comfortably and start to doze off. What seemed like seconds later I try to open my eyes, but they wont open. I bring my hands to my face to try to yank them open.
"Ouch!" I screech when I poke the whites of my eyes.
My eyes are open... but all I see is black. I then realize I'm leaning on something hard, unlike the couch I was on moments before. 'oh no' I think to myself, 'I've been buried alive!'
