It was a rough night. The bed the guys had kindly set up for Rosemary was, indeed, comfortable and cozy. However, she couldn't find comfort, sleeping in that bed. She was used to sleeping beside Russell, who used to envelope her into his warm arms and snuggle with her until she fell into slumbers. Or sleeping in the apartment she and Carol used to live in, with Carol sleeping on the bed next to hers. She wasn't used to hearing four lads she'd known for a couple weeks breathing deeply, steadily, and evenly as they drift further and further into the imagery of odd dreams.

Although, at some point at around three in the morning, Rosemary had fallen asleep. But not for too long, much to her relief. She had dreamt about drowning. She was sitting in a little canoe, staring down at the lovely ocean blue, allowing the soothing sight and feeling to wash over her senses and relax her. Until suddenly, a large wave came through and crashed down on the canoe, making it topple over and sending Rosemary into the water.

She thrashed around in the ocean, screaming and crying out pleas for help. But no one was around. She was alone. A large amount of salt water entered her mouth, making her choke and sputter. The intense taste of the salt made her eyes water, blurring up her vision. Unable to stay up any longer, she sunk. Deeper and deeper into the ocean. Her ears became tight with pressure, so tight it made her ears bleed. She struggled to swim back up, but to no avail. The ocean seemed bottomless.

Seconds later, her world went dark.

Then she woke up with a start.

And she wasn't able to sleep for the rest of the night. Not that she wanted to. When she awoke, she almost couldn't breathe, like she was actually inhaling the ocean's overly salted water.

However, when the sun had risen, it was not kind to her. The sun blinded her, leaving her unable to see for several seconds. Once her vision cleared up, she kicked her blankets off. The warmth the duvets had given her left her quickly, and she shivered through the cold morning air. Sitting up wasn't an easy job either. As she got up, she realized she had a pounding headache from lack of sleep and from crying the night before. God, I'm a pitiful mess.

She looked it too. One glance in the mirror made her cringe. Red, puffy, dried up green eyes. Tangled up, messy, bushy black hair. Dried, cracked, chapped pink lips. Thin traces of dried tear stains on her pale cheeks. She certainly wasn't the prettiest sight in the morning. I knew there was a reason why I never was a morning person.

With a heavy sigh, Rosemary tiptoed out of the room and closed the door slowly and carefully, cautious as to not wake the boys up. She headed down the short flight of stairs. Entering the living room, she realized she wasn't the first to wake up.

"Morning, sunshine," Micky smiled.

"Why're you up so early?" Rosemary inquired.

Micky tutted. "Well, that's one way to greet a guy," he pouted.

Rosemary let out a silent, croaky laugh. "Sorry. Hi, Micky."

"Hey," Micky said sheepishly. "And I tend to wake up a little early sometimes, in case you were gonna ask again." He bit his lip, resisting to stretch it into the grin that made Rosemary's heart turn to mush. He just had the cutest smile. "Actually, I was gonna go for a quick swim just now."

"Right now?" Rosemary said incredulously. "Micky, it's seven-thirty."

"I know," Micky shrugged. "But why shouldn't I? I'm usually the first one up, and I get bored. But seeing as you wake up pretty early too..."

"I don't usually wake up this early, actually," Rosemary said uncomfortably. "I, uh... I couldn't sleep."

"Oh," Micky said silently. Rosemary inhaled sharply. She had forgotten that Mike told him and Peter what had happened with her and Russell.

"Forget about it," she smiled weakly. "It happens. And I've learned my lesson."

Micky looked up. "What lesson?" he said, dumbfounded. "He's the one who should learn his lesson! No one should treat a person, let alone a lady, like that!"

"I meant choosing the right guy," Rosemary said quietly. "But I'm just gonna take a break in looking for a relationship. I need some freedom."

Micky stuck out his lower lip. "Well, in that case," he murmured, "you wanna go to the beach? There isn't really much to do. And we don't want to wake the guys, right?"

"Suppose not," Rosemary nodded. "Alright then."

Completely unaware of the fact that she wasn't wearing appropriate beach wear, Micky grasped her arm and dragged her outside, eager. One look at the ocean once outside made Rosemary's insides roll over into nauseating somersaults.

"Gosh, Mick, you're acting like it's the first time you're going to the beach," she tried to joke.

"What can I say?" Micky chuckled. "Swimming makes me active."

Soon, they were by the ocean. Rosemary slowly and hesitantly followed a hyper Micky into the water. In under five minutes, the water was up to her knees, making her heart quicken at a rapid pace. She stopped in her tracks and watched Micky float on his back and drift further away from her reach.

"Why're you just standing there?" Micky called. "Come on, Rose!"

Swallowing nervously, Rosemary took a heedful step forward, unwillingly allowing the water to reach her thighs. She panicked.

"M-Micky!" she gasped.

Micky glanced up at the sound of her terrified tone and found himself treading water. "Rose? You ok?"

"Micky, I... I can't," Rosemary squeaked fearfully.

"Can't?" Micky grew worried. "Can't what?"

Rosemary felt a large, painful lump grow in her tight throat. She glanced around her, absorbing her surroundings and making sure no one was listening. It was mostly empty, apart from the lovely couple and the family of four that walked about well away from her and Micky.

Rosemary sighed heavily and closed her eyes. "Swim," she muttered.

"What?" Micky wasn't sure if he heard her right.

"I can't... swim," Rosemary admitted. She gazed at her hands in shame, an embarrassed red blush heating up her cheeks. The only people who knew about her secret were Carol, Russell, Davy, and now Micky. Pathetic, she thought bitterly. I'm in my twenties and I can't swim. Pathetic, pathetic, pathetic.

A gentle hand touched her bare shoulder. Startled, she glanced back up, where her eyes met the child-like ones that belonged to no other than Micky. Though, they weren't as playful as they normally were. There was this softened feel dancing across them.

"It's ok, you know," he said softly. "Not everyone can swim."

"Yeah, five-year-olds maybe," Rosemary mumbled acidly.

"No," Micky shook his head. "I know people your age who can't swim. You know, I didn't know how to swim until I was sixteen." (Idk if that's actually true, I'm just making it up lol)

"Really?" Rosemary peered up at him with big eyes. "Or are you just saying that to make me feel better?"

"No, really," Micky grinned. "But don't tell the guys. You're the first person I've told." He winked.

"Alright," Rosemary giggled. "Your secret's safe with me."

"As is yours," Micky bowed his head.

"Well, not completely," Rosemary glanced away towards the ocean with a look that looked like she tasted something sour. "Davy already knows."

"Oh... oh, right," Micky said. "Well, it's still safe with me. In fact, I'll pretend I don't even know about this."

"Works for me," Rosemary mumbled.

Micky sucked the insides of his cheeks in deep thought. "Listen. Davy feels horrible about... about what he did," he said quietly.

"Yeah, I know," Rosemary said coldly. "I've been told."

"I figured," Micky shrugged. "So you're still mad at him?"

"How would you feel if you were with someone for so long, thinking you knew them well, when all of a sudden they backstab you and turn to someone else?" Rosemary snapped.

Micky sighed. "I know, Rose," he nodded slowly. "But you don't hate him... do you?"

"No," Rosemary calmed down a bit. "No, I don't. I don't even know why. I mean, I should hate him, but I don't. But I can't forgive him. It takes much more than a stupid apology for me to forgive him."

"I understand," Micky said. "Look, maybe we should go back. The others'll be up soon."

Rosemary nodded in agreement. "Sure."

And together, they walked back to shore and headed back to the pad.