Chapter 6
Aslyn felt Spot's hands on her waist, pushing her into the water. She then felt her body hit the frigid water. She didn't know what to do. She flailed her arms and gasped for air, causing her to take water into her lungs. I am going to die, she told herself, I am going to die and there's nothing anyone can do about it. With that, she let go of all her thoughts and let herself sink to the bottom of the river.
Just as her feet touched the bottom, she felt a pair of hands wrap around her waist and pull her back up to the surface of the water. Wait, what's happening? She thought, Why aren't I sinking? Why aren't I dying? She gasped for air when she reached the surface of the water. The pair of hands remained at her waist, holding her steady in the water. She opened her eyes.
"Spot!" She screamed, "What the hell did you do that for?"
"I saved ya' didn't I?" He said, smirking.
"Yes, but why did you push me in, in the first place?"
"I told ya'. The first rule of swimmin' is ta' always swim with someone ya' trust. You trusted me ta' save you."
"That's the dumbest excuse I've ever heard," Aslyn said, pushing his hands off of her, only to find herself sinking again. Spot reached out and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to him.
"Will ya' please just listen ta' me?" Spot asked.
"Fine."
"Okay, now 'dat you're in da' water and we've established 'dat ya' trust me ta' not let ya' drown, we'll start with da' basics."
Spot spent the rest of the afternoon teaching Aslyn how to swim. By the time the sun began to set and they decided to head inside, she was actually getting the hang of it.
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"Spot," Aslyn whispered as she sat looking out the window that night.
"Uh-huh?"
"Matthew's outside," she said, chills running down her spine.
"What?" Spot asked, coming over to the window.
He gazed into the street below, and saw whom Aslyn was talking about. Matthew stood across the street, leaning on a light post, staring at the lodging house.
"Don't worry," Spot said, placing his hands on Aslyn's shoulders.
"How can I not worry? He's found me, and he's going to take me home."
"No, he's not," Spot said, looking at her.
"How do you know?"
"'Cause I won't let him. I'll protect ya'. Ya' trust me don't ya'?"
"Of course I do," Aslyn replied.
She took a hold of Spot's shirt collar and pulled him close so that his face was only inches away from her own, "I trust you," she whispered. Then she kissed him lightly, letting the passion of their kiss build with each second that went by. Spot wrapped his arms around her waist, and Aslyn wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him even closer. Spot slipped his tongue into Aslyn's mouth and she welcomed it warmly, meeting it with her own. Their kissing continued for several minutes, only stopping so that they could catch their breath.
When they finally stopped, they both climbed into bed and snuggled close to one another. Aslyn laid her head on Spot's chest and listened to his heartbeat as he gently stroked her hair. "I love you," Spot whispered into the darkness, but Aslyn didn't hear him for she was already fast asleep.