THE BUCKET LIST ─ L. HEMMINGS ✓

(07) the bucket list

❂

I gripped into the corner of my matress as Lucas grabbed my ankles and attempted to to pull me out of bed.

"I'm Not Doing It, Lucas! We Were Twelve When We Wrote This One!" I shout at him.

"We practically wrote this entire list then. So, does that mean you're not doing any of it?" Lucas let go of my ankle.

I sighed, "no."

"Exactly, so let's go."

"What if the cord snaps?"

"This is why I give you numbers and not tell you what we're doing."

"What if the cord snaps?" I asked him again.

"It won't snap, Alex. You are going to be perfectly fine."

"Don't lie to me, Lucas."

"I'm not lying to you. I swear, I'm not."

I took in one deep breath and let go of the matress. "If I die, you're going down with me."

He laughed, "alright."

❂

I took in a deep breath as we walked up the steps to the top of the bridge. I held on to the back of Lucas' t-shirt. I looked down and I could see the water through the each step.

"I can't do this." I whined.

Lucas turned around facing me and placed his hands on my shoulder, "we are halfway there, you're doing this." He turned around and continued up the steps, I took breath and followed.
"I'll go first." He told me, "if I don't die, go." He told me as we made it to the top. We walked along the platform towards the dirty blond boy.

"Luke, I didn't expect to see you here today." He told Lucas.

"Yeah, just here with my friend. She wanted to do this before she left."

"She is Alex. Seen the two of you around school a lot. I'm Ashton." We shook hands and I smiled at him. "So, who's going first?"

"Lucas." I said and nudged him over towards Ashton.

Ashton scratched the top of his head and began to strap Lucas up. One harness to the back and one on his left leg. "Alright, Luke, I want you to stand at the edge of the platform, facing me, then spread your arms and just fall back."

Lucas nod his head, smirking from excitement. "Alright." Lucas positioned himself like he was told. I stood at the edge at the gated part to watch him.

"Remember, if I don't die, you go." He reminded and I nod my head.

"I'm gonna countdown and when I say go, you go." Lucas nod, "5... 4... 3... Go!"

Without hesitation Lucas fell back and went plummeting towards the water. My heart began to race seeing that. He began to bounce up and down on the cord. He let the loudest, most excited scream I've ever heard as the cord swung him from side to side.

"Oh my God." I mumbled.

"You ready?"

I looked down at Lucas as he was being unharnessed from by a guy on a boat. "Kind of."

"That's good enough for me." I walked over towards him and let out a big sigh. "is this your first time?"

"This whole summer has been a first for me, honestly."