Prologue

I always hated romance novels. They're all the same. Two people find each other, tragedy strikes, they're separated, they're re-untied, and then they live a long happy life. Boring! And let's be real here, that's never really gonna happen anywhere outside of books and movies (boy, was I wrong about that).

I was fifteen. Just about to finish gr.9. I lived in a small town in Idaho, called Ashton. Ashton has a population of 1,129 and it rained, a lot. 31.6 inches to be exact. They only had one school for all grades, k-12. And there's only one teacher two grades.

I wasn't always happy with my life. I wanted my mom to be alive. I wanted my dad to stop drinking and love me the way a father should. I didn't want to live with the only foster family in town. Don't get me wrong they were good people. Well not counting Nicole but other than that they were good. I just wanted MY family, but that doesn't mean that I don't enjoy life. I had really good friends. I had a boyfriend, Hunter Jones. He understood me. He loved me for me. And I loved him for him. I was good at school. Enjoyed it for the most part. I loved to run.

It wasn't until June, 21, 2013 that my life took a turn for the worst. My friends and I decided to go out to Lake Ash (named after Ashton). The lake is not big, but it's not small either. We went as an end of the school year trip. We were going to stay over night and come home the next day. We got there around 5:00. We ate and relaxed. Alexis and I were sitting on the beach, it was 6:00. The water just grazing over our feet. Ethan and Hunter were out in the water swimming, racing each other to the other side of the lake and back. Of course Hunter was beating Ethan. Hunter was always so athletic. I could still see him. He was a little more than half way across the lake when he stopped swimming. It looked like he was trying to reach something beneath the water. That's when he went under. I got up and walked into the water a little farther.

"Sam, what's wrong?" Concern filled Alexis's voice. She was now standing next to me. I was scanning the lake for Hunter. I didn't see him so I continued to walk deeper into the water.

"Hunter. He stopped swimming and it looked like he was reaching for something. Then he went under." He should have popped up for air by now. By that point I was really worried. "Alexis, where is he?"

Alexis was just about to say something when Hunter popped up. He was struggling to stay above water. He screamed for help. Ethan stopped swimming and saw Hunter struggling so he started swimming faster. Much faster. I was now running into the water. Hunter went under, again

"Alexis, call for help. Stay there till they come!" I yelled to her.

"On it." Alexis pulled out her phone and began to dial. "I'm going to meet them on the road and bring them here." She yelled back. Not even waiting for my responds she ran. I was now deep enough that my feet couldn't touch the bottom. I swam as if my life depended on it, because it did. Hunter was my world. If I didn't have him I would have left long ago and never looked back.

Ethan was at the area we saw Hunter last. He went underwater to search for Hunter. He came up for air and went back under. I was about 10 feet away.

"He's not here. He might have drifted away." Ethan spoke slowly. He was out of breath.

"We have to keep looking Ethan." I began searching. Only coming above water when I was completely out of air. It's been 20 minutes and no sign of him. Alexis returned with help and they also began looking. One of the men told Ethan and I that we had to go back to beach. We refused, so they forced us on one of three rescues boats and brought us back. The EMS gave us blankets to keep warm. I asked them what the time was, it was 6:30. I wondered how long they'd keep looking. Ethan, Alexis and I were sitting on the picnic table, where we could still see what was happening on the lake.

I noticed they were putting something onto one of the boats. Then the boat began to come back at top speed.

"Guy's look. They're coming back." My voice was empty. My body was numb. I started walking toward the edge of the water. Alexis and Ethan said nothing. They just followed me to meet the rescuers on the beach. As they got closer, the police made us clear the area. We were standing on the road with all the police cars and ambulances when I saw them carrying out a stretcher. It was obviously Hunter. There was a blanket covering him, head to toe. One of the rescuers walked toward us.

"I'm sorry." Is all he said. Alexis began crying. So did Ethan.

"I want to see him." I wasn't going to believe them until I saw Hunter for myself.

"I don't think that's a good idea." He answered.

"I don't care what you think. I want to see my boyfriend." I said firmly. Nobody questioned me. The rescuers lead me to the stretcher. Ethan followed me. They pulled down the cover and stepped away. Hunter laid there. He was so still, so cold. Ethan just stood behind me. I took Hunter's hand.

"Hunter wake up. Come on Hunter. For me, please," I began crying, "Please, please wake up." I was shaking him but he didn't move. Ethan grabbed me and hugged me.

"No, no. He promised me he'd never leave." I cried into Ethan's chest. Hunter was gone. It felt like the light at the end of a dark tunnel was suddenly gone. The light you were so close too. The light that made you feel like everything was okay just vanished. I swore at that very moment I would never fall in love again.