EDEN EIGHT:

~Marina's Pov~

"YOU DID WHAT?" I shouted into my phone unable to believe what my ears just heard.

I couldn't believe my ears.
Jakob had killed Topaz.
Can I file a case of Rabbit homicide?

"I'm sorry, Marie, Kiara's Mom doesn't like animals inside her home, the pet store was the only option, besides would you prefer it stayed home without care and died of starvation? Because I personally won't think about feeding that animal."

Okay maybe he had a point.

"But what if she gets sold before I get back."

"It's just one week Marie, by Monday I'll take you to the pet store myself and you can have your bunny back."

"Fine, thanks Jake."

"Sure thing, how you enjoying your getaway?"

"Quite well," I lied, chewing on my lower lips, "Actually, I think I have a crush on Jace."

Jakob laughed over the line, "Yeah I always knew that."

"Eww how? The feelings just literally came."

"No baby sis, it's always been there, you just started paying attention to it, Jason is literally the only boy you hangout with don't you know it's been a long time coming? It only makes sense that you like him, you have to tell him!" Jakob was basically slaying the big brother role.

"Bad idea."

He laughed again, "Mmk, let's see how well you handle the rest of the week alone with him."

"Devil."

"Hey let's not forget you came to me confessing, anyways goodluck!"

"How's Mom and Dad?"

"Mom isn't back yet, Dad seems fine."

"Alright bye."

The room door opened slowly and Jason casually walked in.

"Tell him, Marie, goodnight." Jakob said lastly and I ended the call.

Glancing over at Jason, I realize that this hiding my feelings stuff is going to be really hard. Ugh why did God have to create emotions?

"I was hoping you'd change your mind." Jason said suddenly.

"I didn't feel like walking anymore." I replied sitting up, then he came to join me on my bed. "So what are your plans for the week?"

"I was going to ask you," He laughed softly, "Beach tomorrow morning, what do you say?"

"I don't want these tropical acrylic nails to go in vain, so yes!"

He smiled at me and said, "Do you want me to go back to my bed?"

Weird question... Hell no Jace, I want you to cuddle with me. But as always I was too shy to say it bluntly.

"If you want, it's not like it'd be the first time we're sleeping together."

Okay here comes the regret.

His lips tipped into a cocky smirk, "You don't say, I think I'll pass."

I shoved his arm, "You're evil."

"You don't love me, Marina."

I freaking do! You're my best friend and maybe I wished you were more.

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Goodnight, Fuzzy." He said as he settled into his bed.

~ ~ ~

We sat under the awning of the beach bar as we ate breakfast that Jason paid for by the way. I was having protein shake and waffles while Jason ordered iced tea and sandwich.

I pinched his sandwich and watched him closely as I slid it into my mouth.

"Hey, that's not fair." He pouted like a baby while his blue grey eyes glittered.

"Your food tastes better seriously."

"You want to trade?"

He had already almost finished his meal and he's asking for a trade, this boy is sick in the head honestly.

"No thanks!" I said drawing my tray closer to myself then Jason pulled out his phone and took a picture.

"What are you doing?" I blurted out, hiding my face.

"Taking a picture of my best friend," He replied smiling.

Great... The friend zone. Awesome!

"You look cute, now take your hands away." He complimented me and tried to pry my hands away from my face.

I had my hair in a messy bun as usual, while my body was simply clad in a white graphic tee and blue jeans bum shorts, beach vibes giving?

"At least give the nails a chance." I told him as I flexed my pretty nails in his face.

"They are horrible." Jason commented with feigned disgust.

I feigned hurt also by placing my hand to my chest dramatically, and the son of a devil was still taking pictures. I reached over and tugged at his black face cap but when he swung his head back, my elbow shoved his iced tea off the table, lucky for Marina's clumsiness it didn't spill on his ocean blue graphic tee, unless I'd be dead already, Jason doesn't joke with his clothes.

"Now look what you've done." I exclaimed with my mouth at gape.

"Smile for the camera!" Jason winked at me, grinning evily.

Tell me he didn't just take that picture. Now he's going to blackmail me into doing everything he says, he's done this before, take a horrible unawares picture of Marina and threaten her entire semester with it, classic Jason.

"Haha, that's so funny, seriously delete it Jason." I gave him an unimpressed look.

"Nope, my phone my rules." He smirked as he recoiled his phone back into the pocket of his black beach shorts. "Plus you owe me a new drink."

I glared at him as I shoved the last piece of heavenly waffles into my mouth. I stood up from the red outdoor plastic chair taking my protein shake in my hand.

"Let's go for a walk," I said and held out my hand to him graciously.

He took it gingerly adjusting his baseball cap properly with the elevated part facing backwards, it was his cheesy bad boy ish style. Now that I think of it, I'm pretty sure Jason is going to post some pictures from our not-so-breakfast-date on his Instagram story and it made a conceited smirk tip my lips because the girls at school would be so jealous, I felt victorious, maybe this was what made me different from all the girls he messed around with, I was his only real 'girlfriend' his best friend!

We strolled with our hand entwined on the beach making sure not to go too close to the water to avoid soiling our shoes with wet soil.

"I feel like going for a swim, it's getting hot." Jason said to me as he shielded his eyes from the midday California sun.

I was squinting as well, I should have brought my glasses, "Sure, go ahead."

He gripped my shoulders shaking me a little, "You're coming with me."

I stepped back, freeing myself, "No! Absolutely no, Jason you know I'm scared of the ocean right, I have swimming phobia or whatever it's called."

And he knows it. In 9th grade I almost drowned in a swimming pool, and since then I've been afraid of even going so close to any water body that was higher than my knees.

"You won't drown I promise, I'll carry you if you want." He offered knowing fully well that was my weak spot.

I liked it whenever Jason carried me, nothing deep, I just found it fun and thrilling plus I get to feel his calloused chest and biceps, every SLake girl's dream. I stared out at the half naked teenagers and adults having a good time swimming with friends and kids in the ocean but making sure they weren't so far from the shore, if those little kids could do it then I suppose...

"Fine, only because it's on my bucket list."

Hold on, am I the only one who never admits my real reasons for taking on challenges, like I'd admit to myself in my mind but when I open my mouth something totally different yet convincing comes out, it's like my toxic trait. I hope it makes sense, I know I ramble a lot.

Jason nodded and began to strip, I quickly bent down to undo my shoe laces... Actually pretended to undo my shoe laces because my shoes had no lace, I just didn't want to be caught staring at his shirtless body because I know I'm going to get lost once the butterflies in my stomach come alive. I think Jason noticed my nervous stupidity because he laughed heartily.

I frowned, kicking off my shoes and looking up at him.

"You know it's high time you admit that you're infatuated by me."

"Ewwwww." I fake puked and he looked hurt.

"Okay, suit yourself little lying daydreamer."

"Jayson!" I scolded folding my arms.

He gave me a once over and quirked his brows in a questioning way, I didn't understand so I quirked mine back. We really need to work on our telepathy.

"You want to go in with all your clothes?" He asked me.

I stared down at my outfit, "Yes, what's wrong?"

"You're not twelve, Marina." Jason deadpanned and I felt bad.

I did have a bathing suit on but I didn't want to be so scarcely clad in front of Jason, I am too shy for my own good and this crush thing isn't helping matters either. I took off my bum shorts and loosened my white tee so it could cover my butt and quarter of my thigh.

I glared at him, "Happy now?"

"Your thighs are sexy, you should wear shorter things often." He teased me as he gathered our clothe pile together.

His upper body was glistening in the sun, I'm pretty sure he planned to set me up so he had applied sun screen beforehand which was just great. I fell back into reality when I realized I was being thrown into the air.

I gasped holding unto the first thing I could which just happens to be Jason's neck, "Jason, be careful."

"You're not going to fall, Marie, you can hold onto me tighter though." He smirked down at me.

I squeezed my eyes shut as I felt the cold sea water touch my back, Jason was carrying me bridal style and right now he was halfway immersed in the water. He let me down slowly and I held unto his neck for dear life until my shaking legs touched a solid place under the water.

"Okay that's enough, this is how far I can go." I said shivering lightly, my heart was already pounding in my chest.

How did I let Jason talk me into my death?
Jason Kuyper and his devilish tongue would be the death of Marina Hunter.

"Too bad, you're going to miss out on the fun." Jason said as he swarm away.

Traitor!

"Jason get back here, don't leave me."

"Trying being more polite and maybe."

I had goosebumps all over despite the fact that I had a shirt on. This boy was taunting me. After ninth grade when I thought I could swim because the other kids were doing it and I almost drowned, I never tried to learn how to swim again and Jason knew this, yet we was pulling me along with him. This is messed up.

"Please." I croaked out as I felt the water raising and dipping my body gently. If he didn't get to me any minute now I'll be sinking.

The tides rose gently and the water mass under my breast was heaving in response. Fear was tugging at my heart strings.

"C'mon Marie, you got this, just spread your arms and don't fight the water." Jason yelled over to me. He was quite distant from me now, swimming farther to the deep parts of the water were the ocean beds weren't in the nearest reach and the water reached your neck.

I felt my mind yelling, Don't do this, Marie, go back to shore!

But I couldn't go back so I decided to go to Jason.

"Here goes nothing," I muttered to myself trying to encourage my fear wreathing nerves. "Today is the day I conquer my fear!"

Hopefully. I thought cowardly.

I stretched my arms out in front of me and tried tearing through the water, I kicked off the underwater surface and felt the water lift my body effortlessly.

"Okay..." I breathe out shakily.

I tried to move by kicking and flapping my hands again and again but then I got stuck. I wasn't moving towards Jason or back to the shore. Fear gripped and worked my nerves and I started to panic.

"Jason!" I shouted as my eyes frantically searched for him amongst the swimming crowd ahead, the air was rowdy, I couldn't spot him and he didn't hear me either.

I looked around, no one was close enough to help me back to the shore. It was like I was stuck between life and death (deeper waters and shore). The water began to ripple heavily, a great tide rose ahead from the far side of the ocean causing waves.

Oh no. I gasped and swallowed salty sea water. The water level was under my jaw now slowly immersing my entire body, I kicked and spluttered and the disturbance increased the tide, I drew in a sharp breath before I dipped and the water covered my head pulling me under.

I am going to die.

My head came up again and I gasped but before I could scream Jason's name the water took me under while I kept kicking and struggling to gain control of what I didn't understand.

My head came up the third time and this time I shrieked on top of my lungs, "Jason!"

"Someone, HELP!" I shrieked again gulping more salt water before the wave covered me completely not giving me enough time to draw air into my hungry lungs.

What are the chances of being saved or eaten by a shark?

My voice was muffled under the water, all I could see was bubbles coming from my mouth and nose as I drank in the salty water and the stream of golden sunshine coming from above. The more I kicked and struggled, the more I sank deeper, my heart beat was ringing in my waterlogged ears.

I was drowning but this time not in a swimming pool but in the ocean. Mom, Dad and Jake wouldn't see my body to bury.

My lungs were filled with salt water by now and ready to burst, there was no oxygen and my throat was locked, I didn't have the strength to struggle with or fight the wave any longer so I stopped.

My hurting eyes closed slowly and suddenly a pair of strong hands gripped my waist.

Jason?

~ ~ ~
A/N: hit the star below your screen and comment if you know how to swim or not, well I can't (still learning) and some few months back in February I almost drowned, so I wrote this chapter from experience but I'm not scared of going into water. See you in chapter nine.
TheShadyButterfly🦋.