Tess Morgan gazed at the glimmering sand and inviting water. She loved the beach and after a rough week of finals, she needed the break. Smiling, she strolled down, kicking her sandals off as she got into the less packed sand. Putting down her bag and towel, she ran her hands through her hair, enjoying the breeze and gazing around at the crowd.
It wasn't as crowded as it could be but it was early in the season. Some people might argue that it was too early to be swimming in the ocean. Most of the crowd seemed to be more interested in playing in the sand, though there was a crowd of children watching a guy in a ball cap build a sandcastle. Even from a distance Tess could tell it was an impressive castle. It looked like it came up to the guy's waist and he towered over most of the children.
Tess watched the man briefly, admiring the toned muscles on his chest, which were obvious even at a distance. Smiling she shook her head, "You came to swim, not ogle eye candy." Laughing at her own comment, she dropped her cut off shorts and pulled her shirt off, striping down to her bikini. Taking a moment to stretch, she basked in the feeling of the warm sun on her skin. Satisfied that she'd dawdled long enough, she took off for the water, her feet pounding over the sand and splashing through the waves.
A shriek of joy caught the attention of Harrison Wells. Looking up from he was doing, he watched a gorgeous woman dash down the beach, leap through the water and dive into an oncoming wave. Pausing for a moment, he watched her come up with a shout, tossing her hair back and rolling onto her back. Complaints from the children who had been watching him reached his ears and he turned his attention back to the castle he'd been building.
He too had come to the beach to get away from some of the stresses of the week. Unlike Tess though, he'd been at the beach for most of the morning. In fact, he'd beaten most everyone to the beach and had been building the sandcastle for several hours. Throwing his shovel into the sand, he wiped his hands, glancing at his fans, he pulled his cap off and wiped at the sweat that had accumulated there.
"Sorry kids, time for a break," he announced as he ran a hand through his hair before putting his hat back on . There were several groans of protest and sadness. "At least let me get a drink!" He protested, grabbing his water bottle and uncapping it. Once more his gaze turned to the woman.
The water was cold, but Tess had jumped right in, coming up with a shout. Now she was steadily stroking through the water, paralleling the shore. It had been a while since she'd been swimming and the water felt great around her. Her muscles felt the resistance as she cut through the water. After only a few meters, however, she felt her calf muscle starting to clench a little more than necessary. On her next kick the muscle clenched and she managed to cry out once before she went under.
On the beach, Harrison heard a noise as he was turning to go back to his castle creation. Pausing, he turned to look back towards the water. The beauty he'd been admiring before appeared to be having some trouble; floundering in the water and going under. Realizing that she was indeed in trouble, he started running towards the water. Calling out as he ran.
In the water, Tess was starting to panic. She couldn't move her leg and she'd gone under, taking in a huge gulp of water. Trying to fight the panic overtaking her, she got to the surface for a moment. In that moment, she thought she heard something, but it could have been herself shouting for help. She went under again, and the panic was rapidly becoming terror.
Harrison ran as fast as he could, lifting his feet high as he splashed through the shallow water and diving out as soon as he thought it was deep enough. He came up just in time to take a wave in the face, but he kept driving in the direction the woman had been. Another wave came towards him and he dove, aiming for the base. This time when he came up, he spotted the woman flailing and once more struck out towards her. When he got to where she was, she'd gone under. Taking a deep breath he dove down where he'd seen her last.
Tess couldn't get her head above the water. She'd broken the surface once or twice more but now was sinking. She thrashed desperate to get to the surface. It was no use. The water stayed closed over her and her body sank deeper. Die, she was going to die here. How stupid was that, someone as smart as her with as bright a future as she had and she was going to drown.
Harrison found her. Hoping he wasn't too late, he wrapped an arm around her, going under her arm and grabbing the opposite shoulder. Kicking for the surface, he pulled her up, arching his back so that her head came out first. He heard her gasp for air and relief flooded through him.
"I got ya," Harrison reassured her.
Tess couldn't believe it. She'd been saved. The arm wrapped around her was strong and sure and the man was talking to her calmly. Taking several deep breaths, she tried to focus on what he was saying to her, though a part of her bathed in the sound of his voice. There was nothing like hearing another person right after you thought you were going to die.
"Thank you," Tess managed to say.
"No problem," Harrison replied. "A little more and then you should be able to stand. Are you alright?" She seemed to have calmed down some and he found it comforting.
"Cramp in my calf," she explained. Tess wanted to see who her rescuer was, but he was holding her tightly enough that she couldn't move much. Not that she wanted to move out of his grip.
"Oh. Do you need me to carry you?" Harrison wanted to kick himself as soon as he said the words. World's worst come on ever.
"At least let me lean on you," she replied. She felt her feet touch the bottom and his grip eased as they reached shallower water.
"Okay, take it easy," Harrison said as they both stood. He let go of her shoulder, but moved his arm so that it was around her waist.
"Good. Thanks." Tess felt a little unsteady but was determined not to be a total damsel in distress and need him to carry her out of the water. Standing a little straighter, she made sure she wasn't hanging onto the hunk who had saved her and took a step. Her leg gave out and she immediately went under.
"Woah boy!" Seeing the woman go under, Harrison pulled her up, happy he'd kept his arm around her. Without thinking he scooped her, feeling the clenched muscle in her calf. "How about I do this part?"
Tess looked up into the face of her rescuer. He seemed vaguely familiar, his dark hair clinging to his face in some places. He smiled crookedly at her and she was struck by how handsome he was. "Okay," she agreed as he steadily walked them out of the water. "Have we met before?"
"I don't know," he replied, more focused on keeping his balance than the conversation really. He got them to the beach proper and carefully put her down, moving to help her stretch the cramped muscle.
"I'm lucky you came and got me," Tess said as he helped her stretched her leg.
"If you hadn't shouted I might not have looked up," he replied. "I was just getting back to my sandcastle when I heard you." That explained it, Tess thought, as she watched him. He was the castle builder she'd admired when she'd first arrived.
"Sorry to tear you away from your construction," she said. His hat was gone. "Oh, you lost your hat," she said without thinking. His eyebrows arched as he looked up, as if he could see the hat he'd been wearing backwards.
"Damn," Harrison said, realizing that she was right. "Oh well. Lost for a worthy cause I'd say." He smiled at her, and massaged her leg.
"I'll get you a new one," she suggested. Waving her comment away, he pointed and flexed her foot some.
"Nah, don't worry about it," he said, shaking his hair and sending water flying.
"Well, how about I buy you a coffee," Tess suggested. He really was very good looking. With a smile, he nodded, wiping at some water on his face.
"I think I could accept that," Harrison agreed. "Do you need help getting to your stuff?" Moving her leg experimentally, Tess tried to decide if she was willing to let him slip away now.
"I'm gonna need help getting to the coffee hut," Tess replied.
"Oh, you wanna go for coffee now?" The surprise covered his face. "I'm all wet," he added.
"So what? I know the owner. She won't mind," Tess replied.
"Alright. Sure, why not." He stood, and offered her a hand. Hamming it up a little, she let him help her up and hobble towards her towel.
"I'm Tess Morgan," Tess said.
"Harrison Wells," Harrison replied.
"Harrison Wells, it is very nice to meet you," Tess declared. She looked to Harrison and he smiled at her, his blue eyes bright.
"Nice to meet you too, Tess Morgan." They shared a laugh, as she bent to get her things, and then hobbled off into the sunset.