SPOV:
'I don't pity you. I feel sorry for you. There is a difference. I'm sorry about your sister and neighbor and I'm sorry you had to go through that at such a young age. And I'm not pretending to be nice. I was wrong. I shouldn't hate you because 'I just do'.'
My words kept running through my head. What had I done? She probably hated me now. I had pushed her against a pole. And on top of that, I admitted I didn't hate her. Would she figure it out? Will she figure out if I love her? What if she already knew.
She had come down a bit ago, and I had been watching her out of the corner of my eye, no one saw of course. It was fun to watch her on the waves. She would suddenly get really tall, and then back to her height. I loved to hear her laugh and see her carefree smile. It wasn't often I saw that smile, usually it was happy, but not carefree.
This huge wave came. I jumped it and then the one right after it. When I looked around for Payton, she was no where. I waded over to where she had been with the other girls. On my way over, I thought I felt flesh hit me under the water. I have always been curious so I plunged in and grabbed onto the thing.
It was a body. A body that I would recognize anywhere. Payton. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her up to the surface. I held her like a young child above the water. The water was at her waist, and I continued to walk out of the water. I was aware of everyone watching me, and Payton.
I was aware of her breathing, that was a good sign. She had opened her eyes, but closed them right after, when I brought her to the surface.
"Don't worry. Everything will be alright." I said. I knew I was losing her again, but I wasn't going to let that happen.
She probably had a bunch of water in her lungs, and I read somewhere if there is water in your lungs and you fall asleep, you could drown, even out of the water. This was the first time I was thankful for that red cross course the school made us take. So I started doing CPR. I was aware of our entire group watching... some of the younger kids just ran off to go play and some of the adults went with them since they went towards the water.
I wouldn't let her die. She couldn't die. And she couldn't die just for me, but also for her family. The Grace's had already lost one daughter, and I wouldn't let them lose another, especially one who looked exactly like the first.
I took almost 10 sets, but she gasped. You know how in the movies, the girls drown and are on the verge of death, and then the heroic male love interest comes in, gives her mouth to mouth, she gasps and comes back to life and they kiss, and the live happily ever after. Well that didn't happen, she gasped, coughed a little, then screamed and kicked me, hard, right in the tenders.
I rolled off of her groaning, and clutching my...tenders. "What the hell Payton! I save you and...ugh." I yelled out.
"Oh my god Shane!" She bolted up and leaned over me. "I...I saw her...I know it sounds stupid, but I swear I saw Ashlyn. And then her death came back to me, and you were...you know... so..." She rushed, "Reflex?" She asked.
I couldn't help but laugh a little, even though I was still in pain. In the distance I was aware of Payton's little brothers pulling their parents away to go do stuff on the beach. The parents followed their sons, leaving the daughters. I couldn't help but think how this family just lets death go and forgets about it completely.
"Soooo...are you okay?" She asked, looking me in the eyes.
"I don't know? What do you think?" I asked her sarcastically. The crowed was dispersing.
"Oh. Well... Is there anything I can do?" She asked, her cheeks red.
I wanted to say something like 'Hell, yeah.' Because she really could. But instead, I was a good little boy and just said, "No, I'm fine. I'm going to go up to the house, and put some ice on that." I stood up and started to walk away, I turned back around. She was still where I left her. "God you have good aim." I took another step, "And good aim." She laughed.