I like this one too. It's a tie between this one and chapter 3, Light (Out of Sight, Out of Mind). Oh and one more thing... When you read this line: "With each thrust, Mello's only thoughts were…" -.-; Get your mind out of the gutters XD.
Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I do not own Matt or Mello, the stars of this chapter.
10/100: Breathe Again
It wasn't something Mello thought about often. It wasn't exactly the best of his memories.
It was scary- losing him like that.
He hadn't expected it. One second, Matt was leaning over the edge of the river to retrieve his fallen goggles and the next he was gone.
Mello barely had time to blink before he himself rushed over to the edge of the river. He looked this way and that, watching for his friend. Look for stripes, look for goggles, look for red hair, he kept telling himself. He peered in carefully, panicking when he couldn't spot his best friend.
He looked to the left, the direction in which the rapidly moving water was heading. Finally, after what seemed like eternities but was only about a few seconds, he saw them. He spotted stripes.
Thanking God, Mello ran to catch up with where the river was taking Matt. He dashed a couple of inches ahead in order to be ready to grab him. He leaned as far as he could, his fingers only brushing against Matt's shirt only for him to be taken away by the current yet again.
Adrenaline ran through his veins, his thoughts were all in a mush from how fast and how much he was thinking, and he realized he wasn't breathing and didn't seem to care. He ran along the edge of the river, trying to keep up with his friend. He wasn't about to let him drown. He wasn't going to die- not on his account he wasn't. Not in a million years.
With new determination, Mello ran.
Fear clawed at his heart, bile rose in his throat, panic was itching and scratching to come out in shouts and screams and yells, but he didn't let any of that affect him as he leaned forward, almost loosing his footing, and finally, finally, grabbed Matt by the shirt.
He hauled his redhead friend out of the water, placing his arms under the other's arm pits, in order to carry him more easily. He laid Matt gently on the grass.
The sight of Matt made Mello almost want to cry. In the few minutes that Matt had been in the river, he had turned pale, oh so pale (the water was freezing, Mello finally realized). His lips were bluish and his eyes remained closed. There were droplets of water on his cheek that Mello could've sworn were tears. He looked so small, now that his clothes were soaked through and sticking to his body.
Mello froze. Matt wasn't breathing.
Before his mind could dwell on that one horrifying thought, Mello was in action. His hands were poised above Matt's chest, already performing CPR. With each thrust, Mello's only thoughts were, He's not breathing. I can't let him go. I can't. I just can't. Please, don't leave me, Matt. You're all I've got… The process went on for a while and Mello was getting ready to give up.
Tears began to gather at his eyes. Could this really be it…?
Mello jumped back as Matt sat up abruptly, coughing and hacking up water.
No sooner had Matt recovered, warm arms enveloped him in a hug, momentarily stopping his shivering.
Matt breathed again. They were going to be ok.
