Thanks again to holeybubushka for beta reading this chapter. While she looks over everything, the ultimate decision regarding content is mine and mine alone. Or to put it less pretentiously, anything stupid or wrong is my fault not hers.
If you like this work, check out my main work Oh Beth ( s/11844194/) It's my opus about what might have happened in Until Dawn if Beth survived the prologue and came back the next year with the other eight. And it's not dead, it's just resting. :)
Of course, please favorite and/or review if you like this story. Thanks in advance. :)
Chapter 2
After spending an hour on the water with Sam, Beth's psyche had relaxed. Instead of being a harrowing adventure, their date had been spent calmly paddling through gentle coastal waters. Engaged in pleasant conversation centering on their college decisions and Beth's siblings. Specifically, how Hannah needed to take Mike's rejection at face value and move on.
Her voyage being just two friends hanging out in a kayak both encouraged and worried Beth. She was reassured by the lack of any awkward weirdness, especially on her end. However, there wasn't any romantic character or passionate spark to their conversation. It was almost as though their earlier mutual confession did not happen.
What did you want her to do, Beth? Start grinding up against you as soon as you got out of Hannah's sight. Beth thought anxiously. Okay, you did, but Sam's not a loose sort of woman. Plus, you're not exactly Mata Hari yourself. Best to just take things slowly and...
"So, what do you think?"
Sam's inquiry derailed Beth's train of thought. Straining to cover her emotions, she responded. "I mean, I've been enjoying myself. It's always great to get to see you and hang out together. Plus, the paddling is great exercise, even if I'm starting to get a tad sore."
She gestured towards her jean shorts which the ocean water splashing over the kayak had soaked, as Sam had earlier warned. "On the other hand, I'm sopping wet from water splashing into the kayak, so I'm hoping I have a spare outfit in my trunk. As, right now, I look like I have a spastic bladder. Not to mention how my life jacket, sorry, PFD, is squishing my tits together."
Sam rolled her eyes. "Glad to see you haven't lost any of your usual demureness."
"I was demure. If I weren't, I would have mentioned how fucking much they're sweating.
Sam tittered. "Beth, sometimes you're disgusting. I mean completely and utterly disgusting."
"Well, you're the one who thought dating me was a good idea."
"Apparently, I dig utterly disgusting." Sam conceded mirthfully. "Tell you what? At some point, we can go and find you a PFD designed specifically for women, like mine. One with the floatation panels sculpted to compensate for your 'ladies.' They'll have more room to breathe, and we won't have a similar conversation next time."
As Beth half nodded in casual agreement, Sam took a sharp breath and gambled on flirting openly. "If you're worried about being wet, maybe next time you can wear the black and pink Speedo I remember you wearing all the time last summer. At least then you shouldn't mind. Being wet, I mean."
Thankfully Sam was in the front position of the kayak and couldn't see Beth's sunglasses slightly pushed down, with her right hand covering her eyes in embarrassment at both Sam's recollection and awkward attempt at flirting."You remember the exact suit I wore while teaching swimming lessons at the rec center?"
Sam turned and smiled gently before pressing forward. "Of course I remember. I couldn't forget you wearing a thin garment of wet, slippery, lycra. "
Beth bit her lower lip, trying to rein the surge of emotion in her chest. "I'm sure I looked real sexy, scolding a bunch of psychotic seven-year-olds."
Sam's eyes twinkled at Beth's attempted deflection. "I must have tuned out the screaming children. I can't believe you didn't notice me gawking at you. I think somebody could have drowned ten feet away and I wouldn't have even noticed."
"Come on, Sam, you were way too responsible a lifeguard..."
Sam started giggling. "For God's sake, Beth, I'm trying to be romantic here. I mean, I know I'm not good at it, but you being obtuse is not helping."
Beth smirked back. "To be fair, you're more raunchy than romantic right now. Not complaining, I mean, with Josh for a brother I'm used to lewdness. Just observing and informing." She sighed wistfully. "Still, it's not like I didn't notice your red swimsuit when you were on duty."
"Believe me; I caught you staring at me more than a couple of times." Sam coquettishly smiled while gesturing to her choice in attire. "Did you notice I'm wearing the same suit today?"
"Yeah. I'm obtuse, not blind...We sure took our time futzing around each other didn't we?" Sam had agreed with a short nod before Beth continued. "Although, I was even more oblivious than you, which is saying something."
Sam shrugged. "In the land of the blind, the one eyed woman is queen."
"Yeah and if Josh were here, he would be making a borderline obscene comment about a one eyed monster."
"Unlike yourself who just plants the seed in one's imagination?"
"Now, he would be making one about planting one's seed. And, of course, I'm a fucking demure young woman." Beth smirked. "Although, while I love almost falling off a cliff or floundering in the ocean as much as the next girl, I have other date ideas. Like, I'm sure we can get tickets for Opening Day. Even if my dad won't let me use the production company's season tickets."
"Opening Day? Judging by the glee on your face, I'm guessing you're referring to some sporting event? Right?" Sam cautiously asked.
Beth enthusiastically nodded to the point where she almost rocked the kayak before pointing to the logo on her cap. "First game of the Dodgers season. Trust me, watching Clayton Kershaw pitch is an experience."
"I'm sure it is." Sam drily observed while returning her gaze back forward.
"Oh shit!" Beth exclaimed, oblivious to Sam's lack of interest. "I forgot the Dodgers are opening the season in Tokyo."
"Why is a team from Los Angeles playing in Japan?" Sam turned back around with honest curiosity.
Beth shrugged and grunted. "Beats the fuck out of me. The wonders of expanding to new markets, I suppose." Beth pondered the situation for a moment. "Regardless, we'll have to get tickets to see Kershaw pitch at some point."
"So, he's a good pitcher? Because he looks like the guy who sits in the back of English Literature class eating Fritos. Not to mention all the times I've seen him talking to Josh in hushed whispers." Sam paused before clarifying. "The guy in our class, I mean, not the baseball player."
"Dude, don't judge the playoff beard!" Beth sternly admonished her girlfriend. "And is Kershaw a good pitcher? He won two of the last three NL Cy Young Awards. Last year he had a WHIP of .915 and an ERA of 1.83. And not to get all sabermetric on your ass, his wins above replacement was 8.4, better than any other pitcher in Major League Baseball."
As Sam stared at Beth with her mouth agape, Beth recognized she might have gone too far. "Okay, so maybe I have a bit of a man crush on the guy. But he's an outstanding pitcher. I mean, maybe the best Dodger pitcher since Sandy Koufax and the best pitcher period since Greg Maddux and...FOR FUCK'S SAKE, NO HETERO!"
At Beth's vulgar reassertion of her sexuality, Sam snorted and unleashed a long, sustained, laugh. "Glad you clarified, I was starting to think I wasn't the only switch-hitter. And the way you were rattling those stats off, I don't believe you can call me a nerd with a straight face anytime soon. Straight face, you get it?"
"I get it. No hetero, goddammit." Beth snarled through gritted teeth.
Still snickering, Sam continued. "Seriously though, I know you're a huge Dodgers fan. So, while it's not my usual cup of tea, I'll be happy to go with you and watch your boyfriend pitch."
"Thanks. And I'll continue doing things with you which are only slightly more likely to get me killed than driving on the 405." She shifted her weight and peered out over her sunglasses towards the slowly fading sun. "The wonders of early February. Starting to get dark already."
Sam squinted and turned towards the sun. "Judging by the sun's position in the western sky, I would say it's about 4:15, give or take five minutes."
"Impressive," Beth said with mock astonishment. "But you want to know how I know what time it is?" She thrust the timepiece fastened around her left wrist towards Sam. "I use a lost technology. It's called a fucking watch."
Sam bristled at Beth's cynicism. "You must be the only person under the age of thirty who wears a watch. Since you're the guardian of ancient lore, am I right or not?"
"Let's see; it's 4:13 right now, so I suppose your parlor trick was kind of impressive" Beth admitted as Sam permitted herself a brief triumphant grin. "And in seven minutes, Josh will be bemoaning not being able to celebrate the time in his usual fashion. Or trying to get Hannah stoned. Hopefully, the first one."
"Speaking of Hannah, we should head back before the sun sets and she sends the Coast Guard out after us." Beth nodded in concurrence with Sam's statement, and both girls slowly turned the kayak towards the marina.
Beth groaned. "Guess our first date is officially half over."
Sam cleared her throat before raising a suggestion. "You know our date doesn't have to end when we get back. There is a quaint little Italian place, about a fifteen-minute walk away, or a three-minute drive if you're tired from paddling. I've been looking for an excuse to have their delicious vegan lasagna again, and a first date is as good as any."
Sam sensed Beth's apprehension and looked back with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry; they have plenty of dishes which include dead animals. I'm not going to start with the vegan indoctrination rituals for a few more weeks. Best to let you get invested first."
Beth scoffed with a faux air of disgust. "You better not make me choose between you and bacon."
Sam stopped paddling and rotated her upper body as much as she could. As she pulled off Beth's sunglasses, their tender gazes locked with one another. "Can a piece of bacon do this?" She leaned forward, under the brim of Beth's baseball cap, giving her a passionate kiss. The kayak started to move uneasily, requiring Sam to shift her weight, breaking the kiss off earlier than either girl wanted. "Okay, in hindsight, probably should wait until we're back on dry land to make out."
"Yeah, sounds like a good idea." Beth reflected upon what just happened. "So that kiss was the first as an actual couple? Not quite how I envisioned it. Especially the part where bacon was involved, but it wasn't bad. Not bad at all."
"What about..."
Beth sensed Sam's objection and interrupted. "Winter Formal doesn't count; If anything, the Winter Formal kiss was, like, the preamble to getting together."
With an overly earnest expression, Sam countered. "You sure? You seemed to think it counted when it happened. And, wouldn't you rather have our first kiss as a couple be in front of our friends after the final dance at Winter Formal? Rather than almost capsizing a kayak after a come on involving bacon?"
Beth mulled Sam's request while scratching her chin. "No. I'm going to go with the bacon story."
Sam grumpily sighed and rubbed her temples while thinking of the future impact. "Promise me one thing. When we've been together for fifty years, and you are telling the story of our first date to our grandkids, please don't say Grandma Sam hit on you using bacon. Or, at least, say it was vegan bacon."
"I assumed you would go by Gammy Sammy." Beth looked at Sam, before exploding in high pitched giggling, with Sam soon joining her. As both girls calmed down, Beth wiped her eyes. "I can't in good conscience make a promise I know I won't keep."
After settling back into her seat, Beth reached into the left front pocket of her jean shorts. "I should give Josh and Hannah a call and tell them to meet me in the parking lot..."
Exhaling, Sam steeled herself. "Beth. I love Hannah and Josh. And I love spending time with them. But, they aren't who I'm dating. And I was hoping it would just be you and me getting dinner together." Sam paused as she looked back and saw Beth's doubtful expression. "I mean, I like hanging out with the whole Washington crew, even during Sam and Beth time, but not during all of the Sam and Beth time."
Beth grinned faintly, with only a slight upturn of the lips visible. "Okay. Nice to know, even if Josh might be disappointed to find out you aren't dating him too."
"Well, seeing as he had enough sense to turn down my offer to join us. I'm going to assume he understands the situation, general lewdness, rudeness, and crudeness aside." Sam gave a slight chortle. "One day, I'm going to figure how just how the hell Hannah is related to Josh and you. Anyway, if you let them know, I'm sure they'll understand."
"All right. Although, seeing as I'm Hannah and Josh's ride, how are they supposed to get home?"
"Well, I could always drive you home in the Prius and Josh could drive..."
Beth loudly grunted in disagreement. "Sam, I would let Hannah drive my car before Josh. And she once failed the driver's exam because she was afraid of hitting a squirrel and refused to put the vehicle in drive."
"Aww, I remember her telling me about the squirrel. How sweet of her." Sam gushed.
"The squirrel was on someone's front porch, a hundred feet off the road, a quarter mile down the road. And, the important part, it was a lawn statue of a squirrel." Beth sat back, arms crossed in silent exclamation. "And I would still ask her to drive before asking Josh."
"Okay, she left the lawn statue part out of her story," Sam thought back to previous rides in Josh's car. "Come to think of it; I do remember white knuckling the oh shit handle while shouting at Josh and Chris to pay attention while driving."
"And you wondered why I got my license the second I turned 16. Because I wanted to live to 17." Beth deadpanned, before reaching into her pocket for her phone again.
While pulling it out, she hesitated, considering the previous conversation. "Fuck it. They'll just have to get an Uber home or call the production company's car service because Beth is going out for a nice romantic dinner with her girlfriend."
Sam beamed in satisfaction. "Great, now if Beth can just not refer to herself in the third person."
"Don't push your luck." Beth snarked before looking down at her phone. "And I have a text message from Hannah. 'I'm So Sorry, Beth.'" Beth looked back up before rolling her eyes nearly back into her skull. "Oh, this ought to be good."
Sam looked forward and resumed paddling. "Well, if you need to respond to her before or instead of calling, I should be okay paddling by myself for a bit."
"Thanks. Hopefully, finding out what's up with Hannah will only take a minute, and then I can text her with what we decided." Beth squinted in irritation at her iPhone while inputting her password and opening iMessage.
HW 4:09 PM: I'm So Sorry, Beth
BW 4:21 PM: Hi Han. Starting a conversation with I'm So Sorry is never a good sign. What's up?
HW 4:22 PM: Hi Beth. Um, not sure what you're talking about, how's your date going?
BW 4:23 PM: Han, I can see your previous message. And you included my name, so no claiming you fat fingered your 1000th apology to Mike. (Who by the way, should be apologizing to you).
BW 4:23 PM: So what did you do? Or what did he do?
HW 4:24 PM: He?
BW 4:24 PM: Hannah. Come on. JOSH.
Beth started muttering. "Why is she so circumspect when she texted me in the first place? Hey, Sam, you get any messages from Hannah?"
Sam shook her head while continuing to paddle. "I have my vibrate function on, and I usually can feel it through the PFD's foam. But I can pull it out and check if you need me to?"
"Nah, just curious. Let me know if you need me to help and take over with paddling. And Hannah just texted me back."
HW 4:25 PM: I'm sorry, Beth, I shouldn't have sent a text and just let you enjoy your date.
HW 4:25 PM: But what's done is done.
HW 4:25 PM: You remember how you had difficulty with your seat belt earlier?
BW 4:26 PM: Umm, I was hanging upside down cussing a blue streak so yeah.
HW 4:26 PM: And you threatened to insert the phone up Josh's hindquarters if he showed anyone
BW 4:26 PM: I doubt I used those exact words but yeah.
HW 4:27 PM: I scheduled a proctologist appointment for him for next Friday
BW 4:27 PM: OH FUCK ME IN THE ASS.
Beth felt her anger swelling at the thought of Josh sending the video to all their friends. Jess would taunt her for months. And Sam, he better not have sent the video to Sam.
Beth knew her love of colorful vocabulary was notorious amongst their cadre. To the point where, Mike, the second most proficient cusser, looked at her with a mixture of awe and dread when she started in full stream. But, she tried so hard to keep it in check around Sam. Sure, Beth still swore more than she should, and it's not like Sam was a fussy old lady, but she genuinely tried to control it.
Taking a deep breath, Beth attempted to calm down. The video would have gotten to her friends eventually. Josh wouldn't have been able to resist forever, and he certainly wasn't going to delete it, her threats not withstanding.
It was kind of funny when she thought about it. Her hanging nearly upside down and spewing vulgarities like a long haul trucker. It would be okay. She would tell Sam the story while they were eating and they could get a good laugh out of it. She might even ask Josh to send her a copy so she could show it to Sam. Like tearing off a band-aid.
HW 4:28 PM: Eww, I'm your sister.
BW 4:28 PM: (sigh) Not literally, Han. It's an expression.
BW 4:29 PM: Anyway, it's fine, I knew the video was going to get out sooner or later
BW 4:29 PM: Did he send it to everyone?
BW 4:30 PM: Just hoping Sam doesn't see it until after we're done
HW 4:30 PM: Well...
HW 4:30 PM: He posted it on YouTube.
BW 4:31 PM: WHAT?
HW 4:32 PM: And you know how KCAL has a segment which is lighter news. But you call "footage of cute animals or stupid assholes."
HW 4:32 PM: They didn't have footage of animals today.
BW 4:33 PM: Oh Fuck
HW 4:34 PM: And considering how we're quasi-famous...
HW 4:34 PM: Actually, you might be more than quasi-famous now.
HW 4:35 PM: Just not as one of the twin daughters of a renowned Hollywood producer/director.
HW 4:35 PM: But as an epic rageaholic who can't operate basic automotive safety equipment.
Beth gritted her teeth angrily while trying to keep from shouting at the top of her lungs. Her friends would have been one thing. But her little incident was now being viewed across the country. Four years from now when applying to grad school, the head of admissions would have watched the video. Even if she ran for President forty years from now, the video would show up in an opponent's campaign ad. She would never be able to escape its specter.
Beth started grinding her teeth so loudly than Sam could hear her teeth scraping off one another. "Are you okay? You look like you want to wring someone's neck."
"I'm fine." Beth spat out in possibly the most unconvincing attempt at reassurance Sam had ever heard.
Sam smirked softly before returning to paddling. "Well, when you want to tell more about just how fine you are, let me know."
BW 4:36 PM: I suppose you're now responsible for carrying on the family name.
HW 4:36 PM: As I've assumed for years, but why now?
BW 4:37 PM: Because I'm chopping off Josh's nuts and feeding them to him.
HW 4:38 PM: Can't you and Sam adopt?
BW 4:38 PM: Not if I'm in prison for chopping off Josh's nuts
HW 4:38 PM: :(
HW 4:38 PM: Seriously, Beth. He does feel bad.
HW 4:39 PM: He just looked over my shoulder and said he's going to text you.
HW 4:39 PM: Talk to you later. Love you, Sis. Please don't make me visit you in prison. :)
Beth flared her nostrils as she saw the incoming text from Josh.
JW 4:39 PM: For the record, I've had some of the boys frozen just in case you go after my jimmies.
BW 4:40 PM: Great, then you won't miss them.
JW 4:40 PM: Well, I'm sure I'll still have phantom morning wood, but I'll manage.
BW 4:41 PM: And people think I'm lewd.
BW 4:41 PM: So why did you do it?
JW 4:41 PM: That's it? No stream of vulgarity?
BW 4:42 PM: Well I would call you a motherfucuing sonofabtuch but what good would it do?
BW 4:43 PM: motherfucking sonofabutch.
BW 4:43 PM: God fucking dammit, typing one handed sucks ass.
JW 4:44 PM: hehehehehehehe
BW 4:44 PM: Oh Shit.
JW 4:44 PM: And right in front of Sammie too? How depraved of you.
JW 4:44 PM: Unless that's where your other hand is?
JW 4:45 PM: In which case, way to go Sis.
JW 4:45 PM: Didn't think you had it in you or would be willing to put it in her.
BW 4:46 PM: You fuckhead. Stop trying to make me laugh.
BW 4:47 PM: It's hard to stay mad at you when you're such an immature goofball.
JW 4:48 PM: Then my cunning plan is working.
BW 4:48 PM: I'm still pissed off, just not angry enough to mutilate genitals.
JW 4:49 PM: A minor victory but I'll take it.
JW 4:49 PM: To answer your question
JW 4:49 PM: I just thought it would be easier to upload the video instead of emailing it to everyone.
JW 4:50 PM: I should have posted it privately, but I fucked up and didn't change the settings
JW 4:50 PM: And I don't know how I'll make everything up to you, but I will, I promise.
JW 4:51 PM: Until then for whatever it's worth, I'm sorry.
JW 4:51 PM: But you have to admit if this whole mess happened to someone else.
JW 4:51 PM: You would find it funny as hell.
BW 4:52 PM: Yeah, I know. Although until I said it was okay, you shouldn't have sent the video at all.
BW 4:52 PM: But, for starters, you can call an Uber for you and Hannah, so Sam, and I can have a nice dinner alone.
JW 4:53 PM: Candlelight vegan slop for two, I take it? Do you want me to book a hotel room as well? ;)
BW 4:53 PM: No, what type of girl do you think I am? On the first date? Jesus.
JW 4:54 PM: I made a joke about you finger banging your girlfriend
JW 4:54 PM: What type of brother do you think I am? :)
JW 4:55 PM: And you found it funny, so I think you answered your question
JW 4:55 PM: But consider it done. Hope you guys have a lovely evening. Like, seriously.
BW 4:56 PM: Thanks, big brother. Say bye to Hannah for me. See you later.
After patching things up with her vexing older brother, Beth put her phone to sleep and picked up her paddle. "Sorry, texting them took so long, but your idea of having a nice dinner for two is a-ok with Josh and Hannah."
Sam looked back after making a brief show of shaking the soreness out of her arms. "Great. I was beginning to think I was going to have to row the entire way by myself. Glad to see what wasn't bothering you still isn't bothering you though." Sam absent-mindedly felt the storage pocket of her PFD. "My phone has been buzzing off the hook for the last ten minutes, so can you pick up the slack for a moment?"
"Sure." Beth nonchalantly agreed, knowing what was coming next.
"Man, I have a shit load of texts, from Chris, Mike, Emily, Jess, Hannah. All are telling me to watch some video with you." Sam looked back at Beth confused and concerned. "Except for Hannah, who is telling me not to watch any videos anyone else sends me." She glanced back at Beth again. "Would you mind telling me what the hell is going on?"
Beth lightly sighed with a bemused grin forming on her lips. "Watch the video and find out. You're going to find out as soon as we reach the Marina anyway, so might as well find out now."
Sam stared at her own Android warily. "The video isn't a sex tape, is it?"
Beth burst out laughing at this absurd concern. "Who in their right mind would want to have sex with me, let alone tape it?"
"She says to her girlfriend."
Beth smirked. "No one ever claimed you're in your right mind. And even then, I don't think you would want to tape it."
Sam laughed albeit still somewhat apprehensively. "Fair points on both accounts. Here goes nothing."
After watching the video, Sam silently put her Android phone to sleep and secured it in the storage pocket of her PFD. Desperately attempting not to burst out laughing out of a fear of hurting Beth, she remarked. "Well, at least you were buckled up."
"Of course I was, I'm not an idiot." Beth snapped before realizing the comedic value in her statement. "Obvious video evidence to the contrary not withstanding."
Sam nodded without saying a single word for a solid minute, pausing to think of what to say next. "Okay, I'm not judging you by any means, and your answer isn't going to negatively impact our relationship in any way" The sober facade broke as she started snickering "But how the fuck did you forget to unbuckle your seat belt?"
Beth huffed defensively before straining for an explanation. "Well, I was nervous as hell about seeing you, and well, apparently my brain stopped working for a couple of minutes there."
Sam lifted her eyes at Beth. "And why exactly were you nervous about seeing me?"
"Um, Well, You See...err...Well"
Sam showed mercy and cut off Beth's hemming and hawing. "I'm just screwing with you. I was nervous too."
Beth's eyes lit up. "Really? Kind of hard to imagine you being nervous about anything."
"I mean not so nervous I forgot I had to push the red button to unbuckle the seat belt before getting out of the Prius, but of course I was nervous."
Sam paused to make sure Beth realized the sincerity of her next statement. "I've had a crush on you since the 7th grade, even back when you thought I was straight. And six years is a long time to carry a torch for someone. Enough time so, even when you realize your crush has been holding one for you for just as long, there is still a lot of tension when things change."
Sam took a deep breath before continuing. "Factoring in how your twin sister is my best friend... For the longest time, I figured I would have to finally move on with my feeling for you or give up Hannah. Hell, for a while I thought I would have to do both. And while Josh is a crude jackass, he also has a good heart and is my bro, so I wouldn't want to lose my friendship with him either."
Beth couldn't resist the opportunity to butt in. "Well, if push came to shove, I suspect Hannah and Josh would choose you over me."
Sam shook her head tenderly. "No, they wouldn't. They would miss me, and I would miss them. But you're their sister, and they love you more than you can know. Even if they sometimes chose foolish ways to show it. But, even if we don't work out as a couple, I will always be your friend, and I will always care for you deeply with my entire being."
Beth felt her eyes start to tear up. "Sam, your speech was beautiful. And if I ever tried to say something so sincere. I would probably have scattered fuck in there ten or fifteen times."
Sam chuckled "But, keeping in mind everything I just told you." She then turned out of her seat and while leaning forward placed both of her hands on Beth's knees to steady herself in the rocking kayak. Sam started devouring Beth with her ravenous stare while speaking in the sultriest tenor Beth had ever heard. "If all goes well and if you're a good girl...Not tonight, but sometime very soon, I'll make sure you're sore and wet for a very different reason. And give you all sorts of new ways and reasons to use your favorite word."
Beth looked at Sam processing what she had just heard for a moment. "Holy Fucking Shit!" After her profane exclamation, a mixture of romantic passion and shock dazed Beth, causing her to lose her balance. As she began to fall out of the kayak, she desperately flailed about in an attempt to grab on to the kayak's starboard side to brace herself.
Unfortunately, physics was not Beth's friend, and her grip flipped the kayak over, knocking both Sam and herself into the water. The startling crisp water of the Pacific Ocean jolted Beth back to alertness. For a split second, she panicked, until she realized her life jacket was pulling her back up. As her head broke the surface, she exhaled loudly while treading water.
"Shit Sam, sorry about the impromptu bath." Not hearing her date respond, Beth felt an uneasy queasiness in her gut. "Sam, are you okay? Sam? SAM?!"
"Jesus, Beth, I'm right here, you don't need to shout."
Beth turned and saw Sam floating about twenty feet away from her, snug and secure in her own PFD. "For fuck's sake Sam, why didn't you respond? Worried the shit out of me."
"Well, sorry, took me an extra couple of seconds to get my bearings" As Beth started awkwardly to swim over to her, Sam gestured her back. "I"ll swim over to you; I have a lot more practice swimming in a PFD than you do, trust me."
As Sam swam over, Beth continued to tread water "Again, sorry about tipping the kayak over.
When Sam reached her, she grinned in reassurance. "No worries, I'm better dressed for taking a swim than you are anyway. Plus, everyone flips over a kayak eventually. It's why we're wearing the PFD's. So, it's just a quick swim, righting of the kayak and we're back where we started."
Beth nodded at first but continued straining her eyes, looking at the ocean behind her girlfriend. "Umm, Sam. Where exactly is the kayak?"
Sam scanned the area and seeing the same thing or the lack of the same thing as Beth, only could utter a variation of Beth's favorite word. "Oh...Fuck!"