Chapter 3

Bubbles That Sink

I ran across the field and over the low fence, while scrambling up the hill towards the back door. My lungs wheezed as I ran making me feel dreadfully unfit. As I slammed the door shut behind me, my foot slipped and I landed on all fours with my hair falling over my face. I gasped as I realized that someone was watching me.

'You haven't changed a bit,' a familiar voice chuckled.

'Yes, well, I do my best,' I breathed, while lifting one of my hands to move some hair out of my eyes.

'Where have you been? Your soaked.' He asked stepping towards me.

'Joel, I was swimming,' I said, getting up slowly.

Joel had grown since I had last seen him. His hair was now dark brown with shining blue eyes. He looked like one of those surf boys that are on the cover of those magazines. Joel was wearing a blue top that said 'I'm not naughty…Just irresponsible,' while he also wore jeans and a black hoody. I hadn't seen him since I was 13, when I thought I was madly in love with him, but I was clueless then…wasn't I?

'Listen Joel, I need to have a shower,' I said, walking into the bedroom to get my towel. While he followed closely behind me, I could feel his eyes all over me.

'Hey Anna? Can I please have some food? I'm starving.' He smiled, looking into my eyes.

'Yeah sure, help yourself,' I said carelessly, heading into the bathroom as I closed the door with a grin on my face.

Once I had finished my hot shower, I wrapped the towel around me and opened the door slowly, making sure Joel was not around. Feeling pretty positive, I creped quietly out the door into my room, opening one of my cupboards to find some jeans and my dark-blue short-sleeved top. I heard something move just beyond my eyesight. I turned around quickly to see Joel standing wide eyed at me with the towel wrapped around me.

'Joel! What are you doing in my room?' I squeaked, hold my towel tightly around me.

'I'm sorry Anna, I was just looking around.' He hesitated. 'I didn't expect you to walk out of the bathroom in a towel,' he said along with the funniest expression I have ever seen.

I laughed, 'Well, a little privacy would be nice,' I suggested taking my clothes in one hand while holding my towel in the other.

'Oh of course,' he said, walking quickly out the door. 'Oh and Anna' Joel said looking back towards me. 'Don't slip.'

When he had gone, I stepped swiftly towards the bathroom door finding myself lose my balance on the wet tiles. Trying to find something to hold onto, I grabbed onto one of the cream-colored curtains, dragging them down with me when I fell with a giant thud.

'Ouch!' I huffed.

I could have sworn I heard someone laugh from the kitchen, but that was probably just my imagination.

Once I had recovered and dressed, I walked out of my room and walked towards the kitchen. There was a nice smelling aroma coming from the kitchen as I approached, something that I couldn't place a name to filled my senses. I stopped and looked quizzically at Joel, wondering if that smell was just my imagination.

' Mmmm… What is that?' I asked closing my eyes as I tried to guess the lovely smelling food.

'It's called an omelet,' Joel said, smiling angelically.

'Yes, but how did you get it to smell thatgood?'

'It's a secret,' he whispered, taking the pan and splitting it on two plates.

I sat at the table slowly eating the delicious omelet in front of me and gazed up at Joel, as I thought about Harvey. They were both the opposites of one another; Joel was charming and alluring, while Harvey was caring and wonderful to be around. It reminded me of and angel and a devil of the two prospective, except that both of them were incredibly good looking.

Joel must have noticed me staring at him because he was now staring at me with the strangest expression. I quickly blinked a few times and pushed another mouthful of omelet into my mouth.

'Oh my god, I was starting to think I needed to call an ambulance.' He sighed, looking at me in concern. 'You weren't moving or blinking and I thought you had been possessed.' He continued.

'Oh sorry, I was…thinking,' I trailed off looking at my plate, which was now empty.

'Anna is it okay if I go into town today, I was going to see a few friends of mine.'

'Sure, do I know them?'

'No, I don't think so,' Joel said, taking the two empty plates and putting them in the sink.

'Okay then, I'm probably going to go to bed soon,' I yawned.

'But it's only four o' clock,' he stated, looking at his watch.

'I'm tired and I'm not thinking straight today.' I said, standing up and walking back into the direction of my room. 'Oh and Joel? You'll have to set up the couch if your sleeping here for the next two weeks,' I declared, as I walked away.

The sunlight danced around my room as I opened my eyes. It took me a few minutes to realize I was not alone; Joel sat patiently examining me. He sat towards the end of my bed with is legs hanging over the side.

'Morning sunshine,' he grinned, 'are you coming?'

'Where are we going?' I asked groggily. He had now stood up and was walking slowly towards me.

'To breakfast you goose,' Joel chuckled, picking up a pillow and throwing it light over my head. I laughed and sat up as I balanced my weight on my arm.

'I am not a goose!' I declared. 'And why are you in my room?' I stated. Picking up my pillow and throwing it harder at Joel, as it hit him in the face. I giggled as I got up slowly on my knees, while holding another pillow in my hands.

'You wouldn't dare!' he growled, with a grin on his face.

'Wouldn't I?' I growled back, throwing the pillow again, but this time he caught it easily.

'Now you in trouble,' Joel beamed crawling towards me grinning, while holding the pillow. Which made me laugh as I squealed and tried to run away on my knees, but he grabbed me around the waste and rolled me swiftly on my back, while he leaned over me smirking.

'Truce, truce!' I shrieked in bubbles of laughter. His face inches from mine; I could feel his warn breath on my neck.

'No way!' he chuckled, grabbing both my wrists in one of his hands.

Joel stopped smiling and looked passionately into my questioning green eyes, while placing his index finger to my lips. He lifted his finger and blew lightly on my face making me sneeze. Joel chuckled and brought his lips to my ear.

'Tell me why you are looking at me like that?' he whispered melodically.

'I'm sorry, I don't understand,' I breathed embarrassingly.

Joel let go of my wrists and slowly crawled off of my bed, as he turned back around and faced me.

'You look at me like your scared,' he said, cupping my face in his hands. 'You know I would never hurt you, never ever.' He promised, gazing into my eyes.

'Yes,' I whispered as I tried to roll over on my stomach, but accidentally rolling too much. I closed my eyes waiting for me to hit the floorboards, realizing that I felt nothing but two hands supporting my weight. When my dangling feet made contact with the floor, I finally opened my eyes.

'Thank you,' I huffed happily.

I stood up when I thought I had gotten my balance, then I lead the way out the door with Joel following me closely behind.

'I'm going to go for a swim soon,' I stated while walking up the hallway.

I had reached the kitchen and was now leaning against the bench with my back to him. I brought my attention to an open window that gazed out to the backyard, the sun reflected on the lake in the background. I touched my necklace to make sure it hadn't accidentally fallen off in our pillow fight.

'Do you want me to come?' Joel asked.

'No, I'll be fine,' I confirmed. I turned around to look at Joel, his hair looked scruffy and wild, I decided it suited him very nicely. I grinned, 'I am going to wear bathers Joel, so stop looking so hopeful,' I laughed, putting one of my hands on his chest to restrain him.

'I would never!' he gasped in mockery, holding my waste in his two hands.

'Suure,' I purred in his ear, taking his hands and teasingly started to walk away towards the bathroom to get changed.

Strangely, he didn't follow. I grinned, one point to Anna, zero for Joel.

Once I had my bathers on underneath a light summer dress, I said goodbye to Joel and skipped out the door. There was a cool wispy breeze, which birds happily glided with above me. When I had reached the lake, I quickly threw off my dress and dived beneath the surface.

Water surrounded me as I opened my eyes. The currents were not as strong as the last time I was here, as little fish shortly welcomed me. They swam around me with their scales glittering in the sunlight, making them look like moving jewels. I realized when they swam around me, that the almost looked…exited. Like they missed me almost, I couldn't explain it.

I didn't realize that someone was behind me until I felt his breath on my neck. I admit it, I was scared, I didn't know if he was angry or not. I turned around slowly, gazing into his endless green eyes. He didn't look upset or anything, just concerned. I couldn't say for sure, he almost looked at me with…hesitation.

'Harvey,' I breathed.