Chapter 8

There were several moments of silence. Emma's nerves were escalating with every silent moment. Ty lifted his head to look into her eyes. After another pause, he asked her, "Do you enjoy surfing?"

Emma knew surprise must have been easy to see on her face. She was expecting him to yell and lecture her, not ask her something like that.

Emma cleared her achy throat and replied, "Well, before I came here, I didn't know how to surf, but after I started getting the hang of it…..well…..yes I enjoy it. A whole lot actually. When I'm surfing, I feel like I'm gliding on the water. So yeah, I really enjoy surfing."

Ty listened to her, and the more she spoke, the brighter her eyes got. He knew that she really must love surfing. He didn't really know why he had asked her that. He didn't think he really meant to. His plan was to demand why she was there and what she was doing, not ask her opinion on surfing.

After she was done, she lowered her eyes and clasped her hands. Ty rubbed the back of his neck to ease some of the tension that had built up in the last few minutes.

With a heavy sigh, he looked at Emma with serious eyes, "Emma, I know you probably don't want to talk about what happened last night, but there are some things I have to know."

He was right; she wasn't ready to talk about it, not to him or Johnny. She started to wring her hands in her lap as she pondered what to do.

Should I? He did save my life, and he already knows most of what happened.

She took a deep breath and nodded, "What do you want to talk about, Ty?"

Ty scooted a little closer to Emma and said, "Well, the one thing I just can't figure out is why you were there all by yourself."

Emma started clasping her hands, and with her eyes downcast, she answered, "I wanted to practice on my surfing. I didn't want anyone to know about it because I wanted it to be a surprise, and I didn't ask anyone to help me because I wanted to be able to do something on my own."

Emma looked up at Ty, and he looked like he was processing everything he had told her. He also looked like he was angry. She cleared her throat, "Ty-"

Before she could say anything else, Ty shot up off the bed, and with a louder voice he started to yell at her.

"What were you thinking Emma?! Don't you know how dangerous that was?! It was freezing cold and pitch black outside, and you were wearing a BIKINI and had NO FLASHLIGHT! Did you think about what would have happened if I didn't go surfing?! You could have DIED Emma!"

Emma looked away from his angry face and tried to keep her emotions under control. As hard as she tried, a hot tear ran down her face. Although her emotions were unstable, she calmly answered him.

"Yes Ty, I thought about it. I know I could have died, and I know the only reason I'm living is because you were there. I didn't know it would get so dark so fast, and I didn't know it would be that cold either."

She turned her head so she was looking into his blazing eyes, exposing the few tears that had escaped her eyes, "Yes I know that I almost died, and it's a very scary thought. While I was being tossed around in the water, and even while I was holding on to that rock, I thought I was going to die. You have no idea how it felt, and if all you're going to do is remind me of what could have been, then save your time, because I don't want to be reminded of it."

Ty stood very still as she gave her speech. He didn't mean to yell at her like that, but all the emotions that he kept inside just spewed out, and when he started yelling, he couldn't stop until he got out all of the anger he had kept inside since last night.

He stood quietly as she talked calmly, a huge contrast to how his outburst had been just a few moments earlier, and when she turned her head, and he saw her tears, and he instantly regretted yelling at her. He didn't mean to hurt her feelings; he was just upset, knowing that she almost didn't make it.

Ty sat back down on the bed and gently wiped away her tears, knowing that they would burn her cuts if they reached them. His heart ached every time he saw her injuries, so he looked down at his hands instead.

"I'm sorry Emma. I didn't mean to upset you. I don't know why I'm acting like I am. I just get upset when I think about what would have happened if I didn't come along. Forgive me?"

Emma was surprised that he had gently brushed away the few tears that had escaped her eyes. She listened to his sincere apology, and gave a small smile as she reached out and touched his hand. "Of course I forgive you Ty."

Ty looked up in Emma's eyes, and without him realizing it, he began to lean in. He was getting ready to kiss Emma, when suddenly the door burst open.


Johnny stuck his head in the door. "Emma, are you feeling bet……."But he was cut off in mid sentence. His jaw dropped open as he saw Ty, sitting on Emma's bed, leaning forward. He switched his gaze to Emma. Her cheeks were blazing red and her eyes were downcast out of embarrassment.

Ty sat up straight while saying, "Uh, Emma, I should go. My parents are probably wondering where I am. I'll, uh, check on you later."

Ty walked to the door, but before he left he turned back to Emma and said, "Get some rest. And please stay here." Ty then left, closing the door gently behind him.

Johnny didn't know what to do. He felt betrayed that Emma could talk to Ty, but when he tried to keep her company earlier she just sent him away. Johnny stared at the flowers he held in his hand, his heart broken.

Emma was a little upset that Ty had left, but he said that he would check on her later. With that to comfort her, she looked at Johnny, and was instantly puzzled. He had a bunch of colorful flowers in his hand, and he was just staring at them. Emma hesitated before she spoke to him, but she had to know what was wrong. "Johnny? Are you okay?"

Johnny looked at her with sorrowful eyes and held the flowers out to her. "Here Emma, I thought these would cheer you up."

Emma reached out and grabbed the flowers. She held them up to her nose and inhaled the lovely aroma. With a bright smile, she looked up at Johnny and thanked him.

"Thanks Johnny, they're beautiful! There the perfect gift!" But when all he did was shrug, she knew something was bothering him. The smile left her face as she placed the flowers in her lap.

"Johnny, what's bothering you? You're not acting like yourself. You know you can talk to me about anything, right?"

Emma patted the side of her bed, inviting him to sit with her and talk, but he just shook his head and said, "Sorry Emma, I have to get back to work. If you need anything, you know how to reach me."

Emma watched as Johnny walked out of the door with his head hanging low. He made no eye contact as he turned around to quietly close the door behind him. Emma didn't know what was wrong with him, but she was determined to find out.


Let me know what you think so far! :)