Hello! Here's chapter 8! I really want you guys to answer these questions. You can just PM me, I don't mind. If I get a response from you you'll get one from me, okay?
Is this story going too slow so far?
Should I speed it up a little?
Do you guys want me to include more characters?
Word Count: 1,731
Finn's Point of View
Swimming with Annie yesterday was something I'll never forget. Plus we're meeting at the beach early again right now. She did an amazing job for her first time swimming yesterday but she still wants my help today. I hope we can practice today, the clouds are pretty heavy and the news said late afternoon thunderstorms. I don't blame her, swimming takes time to learn it right. I'm so happy that I was able to make her feel less self conscious yesterday. I hope that makes her always feel more comfortable with me in general. And I think Annie trusts me more now.
Just as I walk out of the locker room she passes by me with the most beautiful smirk on her face. I give her a big smile and she giggles. My heart is dancing right now. Sitting on the sand waiting for her to come out of the locker room I watch the water. The water's blue as usual but the waves are much choppier than the norm. Maybe we'll just be able to squeeze in a half hour of time in the water. Annie is walking toward me, towel in hand. What's different from yesterday is that she left her clothes in the locker room. She's just in her mandatory red bathing suit.
"Hi Annie." I say as she stands next to me
"Hey." she says nervously
"Something wrong?" I ask
"Um.. the clouds look pretty low in the- sky. And I... don't know if-"
"Oh no don't worry about that Annie. If it gets crazy out here we can hang out at the concession stand okay?" I tell her placing my hand on her shoulder. Her body stiffens but she doesn't seem too bothered by it.
"Oh okay." she says just loud enough for me to hear
Together we walk to the ocean. I can see Annie looking up at the sky nervously at times. I honestly do think the weather will hold out so we have some time to practice. This morning the news said heavy rain in the evening so hopefully the rain will hold out till later tonight.
Unlike yesterday Annie doesn't have a problem going out as far as shoulder high. I'm beginning to think Annie actually likes swimming, and maybe even spending time with me. With a smile on my face I keep pace with Annie. I understand she's still learning so I just wade in the water and she slowly swims beside me. The two of us swim out as far as she wants to. I don't want to pressure her into anything so when she comes up giving me a worrying look I reassure her. Immediately she grins and nods her head then plunges back underwater to swim back to shore.
We repeat this same trail several times before I notice how dark the sky is. The sun is gone and the fluffy white clouds have been replaced with large gray ones. Then it starts down pouring. I look down remembering how nervous Annie looked up at the sky before we got to the water. The rain is beating so hard down my back it stings. Suddenly Annie isn't by my side. Where could she have gone? She was just right next to me.
Wiping at my soaked eye lids I yell "ANNIE!". Swimming, groping for her in the sea, I get worried. I have to find her. Once I'm at shore shrieking for her, I see Ms. Fish and some other employees packing up the concession stand, running to get everything inside. Annie couldn't be with them, she would have had to swim faster than me to make it to shore that quickly. What feels like a large fish waddles past my left ankle. ANNIE! Her head immediately shoots up dying for air, with her mouth wide open. She looks completely terrified. How could she have found me?
"Annie! Annie look at me. Its Finn!" I say brushing her dark wet hair off her face
"I- I- Finn..." she sobs, her chest heaving, her eyes wide, and her mouth open.
"Its okay. I'm going to get us inside okay?" I tell her leaning my forehead against hers, holding her tear stained cheeks
No matter how uncomfortable she is going to be with this, I hook an arm under her knees and the other at her waist pulling her to my chest. Out of instinct she locks her slim fingers around my neck. With her in my arms I run as fast as I can the rest of the way to shore. Her crying lessens, her head lolling to my shoulder. Blending in with every one else running to get out of the harsh rain, I bolt into the women's locker room.
Thankfully its just the two of us in here. I don't let go of her until I sit her on the bench in front of the lockers. Her green eyes are still filling themselves with tears. Its so cool in here I don't want her muscles to lock; I fetch a towel across a set of lockers and wrap it around her shivering body. With the towel she immediately snuggles into the warm fabric. She looks so frightened I want to cry myself. Her back is hunched, her hands covering her face, and she's whimpering. I can't help but feel guilty for not comforting her.
Carefully I take a seat next to her on the cool wooden bench; she doesn't seem to notice. I grab her by her waist and place her on my lap. She must really feel horrible because if she didn't she wouldn't allow this much contact. I position her sideways on my lap so I can see her face and she can see mine. Making comforting noises in her ear I gently place my hands over hers. Then I grab her hands and back them away from her face slowly. She hesitates at first but then allows me to do this. I put them on her lap.
I use my thumbs to wipe her tears away. She's still crying but when I cautiously place my palms on her cheeks I can tell she's trying to stop. I push her head down so she's leaning on my shoulder. Still trying to comfort her I rub my large hand against her small back in tiny circles while my other rubs warmth into her shoulder.
"Shh shh Annie its okay now shh." I coo
"...no more- no rain.." she mumbles her forehead on my heart
"No there's no more rain. See? We're inside, we're safe." I whisper close
"Good." she responds tentatively, catching her breath, and looking around taking in her surroundings.
"I'm sorry Annie. I honestly didn't think it would get so bad out there like that." I say my heart crumbling
" 'ts okay." she mumbles looking down
In a rush of adrenaline I grab her chin pulling her face up. She sniffles quickly, wiping a tear off her face. She looks at me with the saddest green eyes I've ever seen. I hold her face and she presses her forehead against mine. Annie can probably hear the racing of my heart. I close my eyes because I know that what I'm about to do is very risky. Softly I place my lips on her already flushed cheek.
As soon as my lips leave her skin her head pops up. She looks at me with surprised eyes. Then as if her face isn't red enough she flushes again. I give her a shy smile and she does the same. Embarrassed Annie hides her face in my shoulder, I chuckle at how cute she looks.
"Why did you do that?" she asks quietly
Why did I do that? I didn't really think about it I just went for it I guess. Is now the right time to tell her I have strong feelings for her? No one else is here, its just the two of us. I don't think I should. She's had a stressful day already I don't think she wants some weirdo like me to confess my love for her.
"I- I don't know." I tell her honestly.
She stares blankly at me. With the both of us staring at each other and no more words coming out of our mouths, its becoming extremely awkward. The only sound the beating of our hearts. Suddenly Annie stoically hops off my lap, towel in hand. She fetches her bag in her locker hastily and walks out of the locker room in a rush. I sit there surprised as to why she left me so quickly. Bursting through the door I launch myself outside looking for her. No one is outside. No one. Could she have left so quickly that I can no longer see her? Where is she?
I overwhelmed Annie. I should leave her alone tonight. Hopefully I can talk to her tomorrow. I shouldn't have kissed her, I should have known Annie would never let someone like me be so intimate with her. Why do I have to screw everything up? I just hope she's somewhere safe.
Please review! How'd you like the fluff in this chapter? I know there's been a lot of fluff but next chapter will be in Annie's POV and probably won't have as much. Please review. And again I'm trying to get these chapters out as fast as I can. Oh and don't forget to PM me on what you think of my Questions above ^^
This chapter has less words in it for a reason. I want to keep it short and sweet. Next chapter will definitely be longer.
