Chapter Twelve
Almost Hear You Sigh
Haley
"Wow, how cool is this?" Peyton asks, tripping over Tim who is lying on the floor trying to see up Ashley the cheerleader's skirt. She's holding a red cup filled with what I'm guessing is beer, and her eyes are kind of glazed. Oh she's long gone.
"And how drunk are you?" I ask, laughing. I've got to admit, this party is pretty cool. We're all going to go to school tomorrow feeling like zombies but what the hell right? At least we've partied hard!
Oh, I am so worried. This doesn't sound at all like me. But then, having three beers doesn't really seem like me either. Hmmm…
"Have you seen Lucas?" Peyton asks. "He's being all broody out by the pool. I think Nate's planning on pushing him in. Maybe you should save him!"
"Yeah!"
"Oh my God, what a plan! We'll both save him! Like… Like Charlie's Angels minus one!"
"Hey girls," Brooke says, coming over with a blue cup.
"Brooke!" I yell. I don't know why I'm yelling because she's right there. "Brooke you can… you can be the third angel! We can be like, like Charlie's Angels."
"No," Peyton yells suddenly. "We can be Lucas' Angels because that's who we're going to save!"
Brooke gives us a funny look. "Okay, you two really can't handle your drink can you?" then she kind of squints at Peyton. "Except… Except you usually can. What have you been drinking P. Sawyer?"
Peyton shrugs. "A little bit of this… little bit of that…"
For some reason I find this hilariously funny. I burst out laughing and Peyton joins in.
"Wow, you two are going to be no good for school tomorrow. Do you want a drink of water?"
"Water!" I gasp. "Lucas and the pool." Just as I say this there is a large splash. I rub my ears but then they're filled with laughter. What the hell?
Brooke gasps. "Lucas is in the pool!"
The three of us run out to the pool, were Lucas is pulling himself out with a furious look on his face. Nathan is stood with his cocky grin. My knees go weak.
Uh, I have been drinking way too much.
"You jerk!" Lucas shouts, pushing Nathan as soon as he gets out.
"Luke relax, it was just a joke," Tim is saying, trying to calm him down. Wait, Tim?
"Yeah, everything is a joke to Nathan Scott, hot shot rich boy who thinks Tree Hill belongs to him!"
"Lucas," I say, stepping forward and putting my hand on his arm. He gives me a cold glare that has me reeling.
"What's the matter Lucas? Scared of the water?" Nathan asks.
It all happens so quick that I barely register it. Lucas's arm swings up and his fast catches Nathan bang on the nose. A single gasp rises up from the crowd.
Everything is still for a second, and then Nathan pounces on Lucas and they both go back into the pool.
And because I was holding Lucas's arm, I go in with them.
The water rushes up past me, and the world is blue. I try moving my arms but they won't move. They're too sluggish and I feel like I'm in treacle. I open my mouth to yell, but a rush of water goes into my mouth and down the back of my throat.
I hit the bottom of the pool with a silent thud. bubbles cloud up my vision. I find myself thinking how weird it is to drown at a party, when everyone is too drunk to save me.
Oh well... Guess I'm going to drown...
