It was deep, dark and murky. Nothing could be seen as Matthew was dragged farther and farther from the surface. He could no longer hold his breath. His legs thrashed around, but the force that dragged him down still pulled his throat and lungs. They burned as the water filled his lungs, he looked up at the darkening surface. He felt at peace, his limbs started to feel heavy like lead, his eyelids like sandbags started to drift shut.

Matthew's eyes snapped open, he quickly sat up in his bed gasping for air. He was having the dream again. He drowns not able to wake up till it's killed him. He forced himself to coughed until he coughed up a small amount of water into his hands. When he had that dream he would wake up with water in his lungs. Matthew swung his legs over the bed and stood up and looked at himself in the mirror. His deep blue eyes with their normal flecks of purple were dull. His soft curly hair was a mess. He looked over at his school uniform, before walking to the bathroom. He placed his thin fingers on the smooth wood of the drawer opening it slowly. The blonde grabbed a small razor he pulled out a sterile wipe and sterilized it, before dragging it across his skin on his left arm. Just to make sure he was still there and not in a dream. As the dull pain could be felt, he sighed in relief. The red crimson blood started to drip down his arm. As he cut himself a few more times he reached for the faucet, but changed his mind and grabbed a sterile wipe and used that instead.

"Matthew are you almost ready for school?"

"Um yeah just freshening up."

"'Kay I'm going to work, you're going to have to walk today."

Ever since Matthew's mom died, he had lived with his father. He didn't know anything of his mother, she died when he was about two and a half. All photos were kept away, her name and age,and even her appearance were all a mystery. Whenever he asked about his mom, his dad would end the conversation. His dad wasn't much of a dad, more of someone who looked over him while he wasn't at school. His dad mostly was out on business or meeting some girl at a hotel. They both kept to themselves.

The Canadian walked over to his school uniform. The last day of 10th grade. After today he could put it away and go about his life, until the next year of course. He quickly pulled on his trousers, and shirt then his blazer, completing the school uniform. Matthew quickly ran down the stairs and slipped on his old pair of navy converse and headed out the door.

Third period. Matthew sat in his seat, scribbling doodles on a piece of paper as the teacher rambled. The blonde just tuned her out, scribbling a couple lines here and there.

"Hey cool drawing." said a voice "Are you going to take art next year?"

Matthew came out of his trance like state, and looked up and saw a boy with white hair and beautiful crimson red eyes, his pale skin was flawless.

"Um thank you." Matthew said, "No, I'm not really that into art."

"I'm Gilbert, what's your name?"

"Matthew."

"Matthew, awesome name, well not as awesome as mine." he said "Oh by the way, you're in my seat, you might want to go to your next class."

Matthew stood up waving to the stranger and on to his next class. As he entered his fourth period he looked at his drawing. A lake, with giant trees surrounding, it was pretty realistic. He quickly tucked it into his binder and sat down in his seat.

"Maple!" it was gone "Kumikiku where are you?"

Matthew looked under his bed and through his sheets. In his closet, and through his clothes but his stuffed polar bear Kumajiro was nowhere in sight. The blonde felt a small panic attack coming on.
"Hey Matt, you okay?" His father asked walking in the room

"No, I can't f-find Kumajiro."

"He's in the car." The man said pointing out the window "We're going on a little vacation."

Matthew followed his dad out to the car. He then slowly hopped into the car, buckling his seatbelt for the possibly long journey. Matthew discovered he had fallen asleep for a while during the trip, and he looked at his surroundings. It stayed quiet for a while, before Matthew pondered where they were heading.

"Dad?" Matthew asked "Where exactly are we going?"

"We're going to a lake house that belonged to your grandmother, it was given to me when she died."

Matthew swallowed, a lake house, water. He had always been afraid of water, there was no known reasons behind his fear. Yet in his dreams, an invisible force dragged him down. Until it got to the point he could feel the burning of the water cascading down his throat. Causing him to wake up and cough a small amount of water out of his lungs.

The blonde looked out of his window, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. The car jostled a bit as the road turned into a dirt road. An unreadable sign stood on the side of the road.

"We're here."

They took a small turn before coming to a large lake. It was a bit foggy as they pulled up to a cabin. Matthew's dad stopped the car, turning the keys and pulling them out of the ignition. The two men stepped out of the car, Matthew's dad handed him his stuffed polar bear and told him to go play outside for a bit. It wasn't his idea of fun, but Matthew did as he was told. He clutched Kumajiro a little tighter as he walked onto a dock. Matthew then sat down on a lawn chair that had been left at the dock. He looked out across the water, he felt like he was being watched. His paranoia seeping into his thoughts, as he looked around the lake. A bit more across the lake he could see a boy in a bright red jacket. The boy was kicking a stone in front of one of the neighboring lake houses. The boy turned, and looked at Matthew for a bit before waving. Matthew waved back.

"Matthew!"

"Yes?"

"Come unpack."

The Canadian sat in his room, it had a window facing the lake which he immediately shut the curtain on. He sat on his bed, bored, the alarm said four o'clock. He could still go outside if he wanted to, maybe he could make a friend for once in his life.

He changed from his school clothes to jeans and a red maple leaf hoodie. He tossed his clothes in the laundry. He picked up Kumajiro off the bed, and carried him down the stairs. He then slipped on his shoes and headed out the door. The boy was still there, but he was tossing stones so they jumped over the water before plopping in and sinking into the dark water.

"Hey!" Matthew said as loud as he could waving.

"Hey."

Matthew walked around the bend in the lake, over to the boy. He looked at the boy thinking that he look vaguely familiar. The boy started smiling.

"Mattie, I didn't know you would be the awesome me's neighbor."

"Hi Gilbert." he said "I didn't expect you to be here either."

"We are going to be like best friends!" Gilbert looked down at Kumajiro "Who is this?"

"Oh, um this is Kumajiro, I uh...have panic attacks unless I have him." Matthew confessed

"Cool, you want to meet my little buddy?"

"Sure."

Gilbert reached up into his thick, white hair and pulled out a little yellow ball of fluff. He held it out to the Canadian, Matthew smiled as he looked at the little bird.

"This is my buddy Gilbird."

Gilbird flew from Gilbert's hand into Matthew's hair, causing him to stay pretty still. Gilbert just laughed a bit. Matthew reached up with one hand with a finger extended. The other hand clutched Kumajiro. He placed his finger against the birds stomach. Gilbird hopped onto his finger, he slowly brought it to eye level. He handed it back to Gilbert, who put the bird on his shoulder.

The door of Gilbert's house opened and a boy with slicked-back, blonde hair stepped out. "Gilbert Opa would like you to come in now."

"Okay." Gilbert replied rolling his crimson eyes

"No he means now."

"Okay Ludwig, don't get your panties in a twist." he turned back to Matthew "See ya tomorrow, Birdie."

Matthew watched as Gilbert walked up to his house, and shutting the door behind him. He sighed, as he stood there he heard a splash in the water. Without looking he turned and dashed to his house.

Authors note: I have such bad writers block so my doctor who fic will be a while...Anyways this story I felt in the mood for paranoid canada horror story thing. First chapters are always confusing for me...Reviews?