~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
~ Day Dreams ~
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
~ Chapter Eighteen ~
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
~The Calm Before
The Storm~
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
~ Nineteen-Years-Old ~
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
~ Jake's POV ~
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

"Ahh! Help me! Someone please, help me!" a female's voice shrieks from the ocean.

I grab my surfing gear as my feet rushes straight for the ocean to rescue the female from drowning. The surfboard dives into the water as droplets of ocean water splash around me. Arms pace forwards with all my strength as I near the frightened girl waving her arms in the air. I halt near her and pull the girl onto the board as she wraps her arms around my bare upper body. I spin the surfboard around and with the swiftness of my strong arms and legs I head back towards dry land. My bare feet hit the shallows of the beach as the girl does not intend letting go.

"That was so scary," the girl said, as her grip around me finally subsides, I jump off the board floating above the water but she does not move an inch and her eyes never leave mine. "I didn't think you would come to my rescue, but you did. You're my hero, pretty eyes," the brunette girl winks and sends me a kiss.

Pretty eyes? Please, not this crap again.

"It was no trouble of mine ma'am," I said, trying to grasp my board out of the water, but the girl would not move. She finally decides to slide forward on the surfboard, fluttering her eyelashes at me. As soon as the girl leans forward, the board tips over and she falls into the shallow water.

"What the hell," the girl said with anger, "Why didn't you catch me? Jerk!"

"Sorry about that, ma'am, I'm in a rush but you should definitely go home and rest," I said with a vacant expression as she scoffs and rolls her grey eyes at me.

I do not care. This happens just about all day, every day on a day's job. I hate it when girls pretend to drown and expect a reward.

With the surfboard underneath my arm I sprit up the hill of sand towards the lifeguard shack, leaving the girl behind as she finds her next victim, who happens to be Weston. Once inside the shack, I lean the board against the wooden planks along the wall, before walking out and locking the oak door behind me. I jog through the thickness of the sand towards my banged-up Jeep (which my mother keeps hassling me to buy a new one, 'that it's outdated' but that makes me not want to) as my name is called from behind.

"Yo Jake, wait up, dude," I turn and face my best friend striding towards me as his afro bobs up and down.

"Hey, Ash," I greet Ash with a nod of my head as he returns the gesture. "What's up?"

"You need to teach me your ways with the ladies one of these days man, cause you're a ladies man and a chick magnet or... something like that. Dude, you gotta help me score with Brooklyn Chanel Heather," Ash says, his eyebrows wiggling.

"I don't know what you're talking about?" I said, shrugging my shoulders, "And no."

"Come on, bro to bro, help out a man struggling with his game," Ash laughs to himself and changes the subject, "Anyway, I saw how that girl was like 'ahh... save me, you're my hero' and you're like 'not even interested'."

Ash's mouth forms into a thin line as he pats the back of my arm, "Jake, I love you like a brother, but I seriously don't know why you date a girl like Chanel. Like she's hot and all but that's all she has going for a her. Unlike Brooklyn, she actually has a personality. I see the way she treats you and I think that she's the wrong girl for you and you deserve way better."

I shrug again, leaning against the side of my car not wanting to continue the conversation. I know Ash is only looking out for me and has been ever since lifeguard school, but he does not understand that I have to date Chanel because of my mother's overbearing interference that she has ahold of me.

"She's alright," I said with another shrug of my broad shoulders, "Relationships take time to work, so it will only be a matter of time before we work it out," I lie. I know I do not love Chanel and I do not plan on dating her for the rest of my life. I am only dating Chanel to make my mother happy that her son is dating her rich best friend's daughter. After I graduate and leave for the Olympics I plan on leaving her behind.

"Nah... your right, bro. Anyways, I don't wanna hold you up cause don't you have swimming lessons with that new girl this afternoon?" Ash questions.

"Yeah, I don't want to be late on the first lesson or my mom will be pissed," I said, leaning off of the car, "Catch you later, man."

"Yeah, see ya," Ash said, his lean build, yet thin frame swaggers towards Ethan patrolling the flags. Whereas, Weston is busy on break, or should I say busy making out with the brunette girl I rescued moments ago.

With a slight shake of my head, I turn and unlock the car door, chucking on a pair of sneakers and throwing a hoodie over my head that I keep set aside for after my shifts. Shutting the car door with a thud, I rest in the driver's seat for a couple of moments, as I roar the Jeep's engine to life. After minutes of a peaceful drive to college, I park the car in the students' free parking lot and pace towards the swimming arena.

Once inside the crowding building, I scavenge through the sea of people on a busy afternoon. Taking a pit stop to my dorm, picking up a sports bag with the necessary coaching gear hidden inside, slinging the bag over my shoulders and leaving the room. Nearing the double doors of the indoor sports hall and take deep breaths, opening the double doors to the sports arena.

Walking through the doors with a vacant expression, but as soon as I glance towards Summer, my face softens as I smile at her. "Hey, sorry, I'm running late," I said, adjusting the strap of the oversized, sports bag across my back, striding through the double doors.

I cannot help but smile at this strange girl as she reminds me of sunshine. Maybe that is why her name is Summer? Summer is sunlight and shins even in the darkness of the shadows. Helping this girl to swim may help me...

"No, don't worry about it," Summer says, looking from a book in her small hands and then glances towards the ground, her fingers fiddling with the pages of the novel. "If you're too tired we can cancel if you're not feeling up to it?"

"Wait, how long have you been waiting?" my white hoodie and red board shorts crinkle, and the large sports bag sling across my back sways while I amble towards Summer.

"About an hour or so, not too long," Summer's expression goes vacant, deep in thought.

"Sorry, I got caught up with work. It was a busy day at the beach," I said, rubbing the back of my neck as I place the bag on the stone of the floor. I am nervous to be around Summer? Summer looks nervous but only because she feels uneasy around water not around me.

Confusion spreads across Summer's face as I intervene and fill in the blanks, "I'm a lifeguard at Seaside main beach and when I'm not working I'm coaching swimming lessons. When I'm doing neither of those things I'm actually training for the Olympics."

"I always knew you woul—" Summer's sea green eyes widen and I am not too sure what she intended to say, but she seems embarrassed about the situation so I do not press further.

"I mean, I thought you might have been a lifeguard. It makes sense that you are," Summer indicates with her free hand towards my lifeguard uniform then trails off. "Olympics huh... do you ever hitch a break?"

"Yeah, once I graduate college I'm off to train for the Olympics. And to be completely honest, I haven't had a break in a very long time," I ponder for a moment and change the subject, "So, tell me again, what made you sign up for Survival 101?"

"I signed up with friends," Summer said in a kind manner.

"Did they not know you couldn't swim?" I said, leaning on the brick of the wall next to the metal benches.

"I might not have mentioned that part," Summer's gaze lingers on me, but as soon as her eyes land on me they peer towards her fingers then back towards my direction, but never peering into mine. Why is she avoiding eye contact with me? Am I that boring or do I smell or look like hell?

"Well, after these lessons you'll be able to keep yourself afloat," I said still leaning on the brick wall, I fold my arms across my chest.

"So, just an estimate, how many lessons will there be?" Summer says narrowing her eyes towards the ground. Her eyes... there is something about them but I do not know what it is?

"Whenever you're not scared of the water anymore and possibly not drown and cause harm to yourself and others around you,"

"What makes you think I'll drown?"

"I'm a lifeguard, so I know the signals," I said, sounding cocky.

"Tell me, what are the first steps of not drowning?" Summer's features briefly change for a second, and I wonder what is on her mind? Shaking my head and I decide not to press any further questions.

"To be able to stay afloat," I simply said, without tearing away my eye contact with her.

"Okay, teach me your ways on how not to drown," Summer confesses, as she leans over and places her book into her backpack at her feet and zips up the bag.

"So, let's start with something simple and do some arm and leg stretches," I instruct, "Then after that I want you to sit on the edge of the pool of the shallow end and dangle your legs off the edge."

Summer nods with hesitation in her eyes and stutters, "O-okay."
Her eyes, there is something about her eyes that makes me somewhat curious. Summer tramples to her feet, beginning to undress. Turning around and giving Summer some privacy, I face the pool and kneel on one knee onto the ground, unzipping my sports bag and revealing a kickboard and a few other essentials I brought with me.

"Whenever you're ready," I said, still facing the other direction as I stand to my feet. "Don't worry, we can take it as slow as you like. Whatever pace you are comfortable with."

Silence builds up behind me and out of my peripheral vision, as Summer's feet guide themselves towards the ripples of the pool. Summer halts next to me and wraps her arms around her waist in order to calm herself down. Summer's toes hit the chlorine water that is oozing out from the side of the pool into the drains surrounding the edge. Summer stretch's her arms and legs individually and begins to sit on the edge of the pool as she dips her legs into the water.

"Okay good. I now want you to slowly slide into the shallow end of the pool. And then tell me when your feet are able to touch the bottom," I said, behind Summer.

"S-sure," Summer nods again and bites her lower lip. Her body slowly but surely manoeuvres into the chlorinated water, her feet touching the bottom of the pool as the water hits above her shoulders. Summer's really short and barely staying afloat, but she looks kind of cute in a way. Why did I just call her cute? What has gotten into me? You do not even know this girl, get grip of yourself. You're so stupid, Jake!

"You're making great progress so far," I praise her with a wide grin imprinted on my face, "Alright back to business, I want you to warm up your body with some star jumps and do as many as you like until you feel warm."

Summer does as she is told and warms her body with star jumps as water droplets cascade around her. Summer's porcelain skin shines underneath the sunlight bouncing off the skylight above. With Summer's ever glowing eyes she appears some what captivating in the sunlight. What are you thinking, Jake? Concentrate on the lesson and get your head out of the skies.

"Great job, now I'll give you a kickboard to help you stay afloat and teach you some floating exercises," I motion to my sports bag and pull out a white styrofoam board and hand it to her. "Now, I want you to hold the board tight to your chest and lean backward with your core arched back then float towards me."

Summer's trampling hand reaches for the board as she holds it tight to her chest and she hesitantly leans backward. As soon as her face is in contact with the water she panics. Shifting through the thickness of the water, the styrofoam board slips between her fingers and hits her hard in the head. Summer's sinking fast, as she most likely inhales a gallon of chlorinated water. Panic scorches throughout the water as she hits the back of her skull on the side of the pool's concrete wall.

I slip my hoodie over my head and drop it onto the ground and I kick my sneakers off as they fly behind me, not caring where they land. I jump into the shallow end of the pool as splashes and bubbles form around me. In the blur of the water, Summer lays limp on the concrete floor as my hands grip both of her shoulders and I emerge out of the water with her draping in my arms.

Summer coughs uncontrollably, but it soon stops as soon as I pull her out of the water. I gently lay her pale, white body onto the stone floor and check for a pulse. Damnit, nothing. I hear nothing. I hover over Summer's body, as droplets of water fall from my hair and bare chest onto her skin below me. I scoot to the side of Summer's body and begin immediate CPR. You can do this, Jake, you have saved many lives before, but somehow this feels different... she is different. I cannot explain it... but I cannot let her die, not today.

My hands form over one another on Summer's chest as I begin chest compressions. The strength of my hands and arms continue to fight for Summer's life as they stop so I can begin mouth to mouth. Lips nearing Summer's face, mere inches away from mine, smelling chlorine and a soft scent of strawberries.

Summer's body fidgets underneath me and she coughs up a gallon of water. Her chest softly rises and falls and I double-check her pulse again. She is breathing, thank goodness. I lean back and give Summer some space to breathe as her sea green, eyes flutter open. Her eyes. I do not know what it is, but I feel connected to them that somehow in another life I knew her...

Summer slowly begins to sit up as I stand to my feet and grab ahold of her towel off the metal bench and cocoon her within the towel's warmth. I grab myself a towel from my sports bag and hang it loose around my shoulders. I cross my legs next to Summer as she continues to shiver into her towel.

"How are you feeling?" I said breaking the silence between us.

"I've felt better," Summer said, her voice hoarse, "Thanks for saving my life. I owe you."

"Nah, it was nothing. It's my job to save lives," I give Summer a small smile.

"Isn't that scary though," Summer questions with a cough.

"Is what scary?" I wonder aloud.

"All of that weighting on your shoulders, a burden of whether if someone survives or doesn't," Summer said in between waves of chattering teeth.

"It was at first, but I know if I try my best that it's up to the person if they wake or not," I said and Summer nods her head as water falls from her long waves of blonde hair.

Sudden noises form from behind the sports hall doors and distract us from the conversation. Summer and I glance over at the destructions forming, but as I soon come to realize that this situation just got a whole lot more complicated...

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
~ Please ~
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
~ Vote ~ Comment ~ Share ~
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
~ Cheers ~
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Please, tell me in the comments what you thought about Chapter Eighteen? 🙈 I'll be greatly appreciated. Thank you, you very kind soul!
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
~ Chapter Eighteen ~
~ Dedications ~
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
HeliiBoh
DebMorey
PeterPetruzzella
CaitlinWoodward9
DaniJones_14
ChloeMayerhofer
savvvy1998
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
You guys should totally check out PeterPetruzzella short story! Lighthouse. It's amazing! Please also go check out Peter's YouTube account pure56 for awesome content on movies, tv-shows, and game reviews!
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
You guys should totally check out ChloeMayerhofer story! Fallen! It's awesome!
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
C.Morey 🥕 xoxo
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~