Chapter 44: 38|| I won't let go

Dedicated to HariniGonugondla Thanks for all the lovely support <3!!!

"Hey." I mumbled lowly, clearing my throat when it clenched at the sight of the gravestones, as always. With a wavering breath I carefully crouched between both, trying to mess the beautiful dress Norah's lend me as less as possible. "It's me again." I smiled, picturing my parents grinning down at me and placed the buckets of flowers down while picking up the dried ones. "Here, lilies and roses. As usual."

I pushed my weight back to seat on my heels and gazed the soft white of the marmol where they're names were scuped. My fingers traced it with this pinch in my heart.

"It felt like I can't come often enough. There's always too much to say... Too much you should had seen." I felt that familiar sting in my eyes and blinked rapidly. "Anyway, I have good news. Remember how I'd given up with USC? Well, that's changed." I cheered, feeling more and more light at the happy topic. "They agreed to give me a change to entered the shoolarship program if I do a decent presentation. And it's... it's today. I'm so nervous. Really, like my stomach could explode at any moment, and my limbs felt shaky and sweaty and..." I sighed, controlling my ramble. "Well, you get it."

I brushed the marble free of leaves and dust, careful not to get any of it on me.

"I've worked so much, and I think I might get a chance. Chosing the topic was so hard, but once it was done everything else fell right into it's place. Granny'd helped a lot. Really. I don't think it could had worked out without her and was always so sensitive... It's funny how she won't stop praising the project and says it's on the blood." I laughed and shook my head. "I just hope it all turned up alright. It would be nice for one thing to go well after all. That would be perfect."

I keep telling them about the exposition, about my nerves and how important this event was I also update them about Brett. About us being together now, even tho I hadn't seen him for a whole week and I missed him more than I thought I would.

We'd text and called but it wasn't the same. I hadn't realized how used I'd gotten to having him back into my life 'til he was thousands of miles away.

I could almost imagine my mother smug glance, especially after Julia told me she'd shipped us since we were little. It would had been nice she would had seen it happen and could had brag about her premonitions 'til I burn in shame. My father would had probably rolled his eyes and joke about it. I smiled at the thoughts.

It felt good to come clean with them. Especially with the amount of things that had happen since last time I came.

By the time I made my way back to Granny's car I felt both relief and saddened. I halted by the driver's door, and give her a smile through the downed window.

"How did it go?" she asked nontheless.

"Good." I hummed and it wasn't all a lie. But coming here was always hard.

"Really?" she cupped my cheek tenderly and I gave her a cheerful nod, forcing my smile to beam.

"Of course. All good. Now slid over so I can drive."

She grumbled something and gave me a narrowed gaze but did as I asked and moved to the passenger's seat so I could occupied the driver's.

She wanted to drive, but considering her delicate state we both know it was better for me to do so. She was forced to agree on the way here, but the sneaky grandma used my little get out to take the driver seat as if thinking that would fool me. I gave her a winning grin sliding inside and closing the door.

She was a great shotgun, though. She babbled and joked and made me  forget about the nerves and all the doubts about my exposition.

Well, it wasn't my exposition. It was an exposition and there was a small spot for my project. But still.

I was in eternal debt with Loui for having let me borrow a space so the scouts could see it.

Macy was already waiting for us the moment we parked in the public lot before the Studio. She was wearing a light body and the strands of the swimsuit where visible.

Right. Today wouldn't stop with the stressful even this exposition was. It was Hattie's party as well. That 'small gathering' Norah's friend invited us a couple weeks ago, for her eighteen birthday. I'd almost forgotten since two days ago.

Since she had a pool and the weather had been hot as hell this past week, as if we were already on summer, she turned it into the very first pool party this year and a lot of people invited themselves at that.

What a joy.

My last pool party was literally a disaster.

Considering I don't even swim, I hadn't gotten myself a swimsuit since my parents took me to beach campings in vacation. I would had been good going with just a sundress, but Norah insisted and practically dragged me to the mall to buy me a bikini. Yep, not even a full swimsuit. A bikini. Now packed in my bag in the car. I felt like fainting at the thought of people seeing me on it.

Macy waved as we approach and once there I realized there were already people inside the gallery. My heart throbbed violently against my rib-cage.

Loui was busy going up and down, organizing everything and gave me a quick smile and hug, followed by rushed directions and sent me to prepare my part for the fully opening, like, ten minutes from now.

All my nerves surprisingly erased the moment the doors were finally opened. In all fairness, my spot was a small one, not really in the spotlight and surrounded by other major works. It wouldn't attracted that much attention other than the people who came looking specifically for me. Perfect.

Indeed, I was proud of what it turned out. It'd been hard to choose a topic and to work on it, but after all the hours spend on it with the little time I was given I was satisfied with the result. More than satisfied, I thought feeling my chest bloathing as I stare at the three pictures on my spot. Yep, this could work.

The first persons wandered by and I surprised myself not been half as anxious as I was on the way here. It was as if now that it was happening I allowed myself to relax and examined it from affar.

Well, you wait until the scouts arrive.

More and more people came and went, filling the space with soft chatter and walking bodies. At first I thought about standing next to my place, waiting for the  USC representants to arrive but discovering I couldn't stand still for much long I went in search of the food tables on the big room next to this. It had small snack and little plastic glasses. I filled one with soda and went back to my place. Glacing arround impressed with the other works. If I wasn't so pendant of mine, I would had love to analyze others. I love expositions.

When I entered the room with mine again, I caught a glimpse of dark clothes and bleached hair and as I stepped closer my chest relaxed a bit when I recognized Connor on one of the columns, glancing around impassible. There was a girl there too, leaning her side against his and as I got closer I couldn't make out who she was.

She got short straight hair, with a long fringe that almost covered her eyes, but not enough so I could noticed the dark accentuated makeup. She was almost as short as me yet wearing huge plataforms. She got that gothic touch, with the also dark clothes, fishnet stockings and thick choker.

Nop, I was sure I hadn't seen her before. But for the way she clung on Connor's arm I could hint at who she might be.

"Hey, you made it." I greeted when I reached them and under the sudden weight of their eyes I nervously tucked a strand behind my ear with a giggle. "Thanks." when he shrugged but made no effort to introduce me the girl I bit down a sigh and turned to meet her intense gaze. "H-hi. You must be Heather." Her brows perked and I feared I said the wrong thing. "The girlfriend?"

"Girlfriend?" To my surprise then her lips pulled into a sly smirk and tilted her head to give a pointed look at Connor. "So you've been talking about me." and turned back at me when he refused to utter a word. "I am, I guess. But I don't believe in mortal targets."

The unexpectedness of such a comment didn't allow me to process it at once. "Pardon me?"

"Girlfriend." she rolled her eyes. "As if that would be enough to describe a feeling. The arrogance of it is too much."

"Nors and Macy are gone for food." Connor abrupt intent to change the topic didn't fool anyone, as well as his boring act. I could tell for the way he gulped this was the most emotional I'd seen him since I met him.

I could tell he wasn't as open to talk about deep feelings as she was at  the moment but I was intrigues by Heather's words and tilted my head at her. "What do you mean?"

"I'm a girl, yes, but we're more than just friends. Something there's no word for. We're two halfs of a whole."

"Whatever." Connor rolled his eyes but I almost smiled  when I thought I saw a hint of pink in his cheeks. It must had been the lights. He didn't correct her tho, and allowed her to lift his arm over her shoulders and interwine their fingers.

"And you must be Alyson."

I shyly smiled. "He talked about me too?"

"In a Connor's way." I giggled at that, knowing exactly what she meant and also touched I worth his breath knowing how scrooge the guy was with words. "The exposition is cool, by the way. I like the first picture best, tho."

"Thanks." I blushed a little, turning to look the one she was refering to. I'd tried to prove I could go with different styles and in that one I worked with more tetric colors and sharp shadows, tilted in a crocked angle. It kinda makes you uncomfortable to look at and I was proud of that effect. "It's the darkest one."

She smirked. "I know."

It was so weird to finally meet her in person. Connor barely let me know anything about her, muttering a thing or two from time to time if I insisted enough, but that wasn't enough. I hadn't expected her this way, even tho knowing the Mendley boy she kinda fit. But she was also looked, like, ocean deep on top of dark.

She look intense.

Just at that moment I saw someone on the other end of the room. "Hey, I need to go greet smeone else. Thank you so much for coming, really. And nice meeting you." Heather returned a crocked smirk. Yeah, definitelly dark but I kinda liked her. "Maybe you could stay later? We'll be doing a lunch before Hattie's party. You should come."

The short girl looked up at Connor and he returned her stare, especifying: "A pool party."

"Oh- ew. I mean, thanks, but no. Human pollution isn't something I want to be in touch with." she shuddered as if the mere thought repulsed her and Connor rolled her eyes. But my heart melted when he fix his arm over her shoulders, now voluntarily letting her made him wrapped her. Wasn't it the cutest thing? Heather must noticed because her sharp eyes lightened a bit. "But the lunch sounds good."

"Perfect." I laughed, half nervously, half genuine. Heather wasn't at all what I expected. From the corner of my eye I saw him moving. "If you excuse me."

I let them to cutely dark and alternative and cut throught the people before he desappeared.

"Dylan!" I stopped him just as he was about to cross the door's frame to the next room. He halted and turned, startled but when he saw me approaching the remaining steps he smiled.

"Hey, I was looking for you."

"Found me." I giggled reaching him and gave him a brief hug. He's been a huge support this Spring Break. When I texted him about a week ago -kinda desperately, gotta say- he accepted to model for me even with the short-time-notice I gave him to reorganize his plans and then refused to accepted my money. He said friends don't pay favors. "I didn't know you were coming."

"I told you I'll try to. I can't stay long tho, I had this flight and the car is waiting." he grinned brushing his head. "There's a lot of people, uh?"

I gave him an incredulous glance, noticing how he gulped eying the surrounders. "Are you... embarrased?" my jaw hanged open at way he shifted awkwardly in the spot. "B-but you pose like this, like, dayly."

"Well, yes, but I don't usually get to see people's immediate reaction, it's more like in comercials... and then they told me about it... you know?"

"I-I..." my stomach twisted with guilt. "I didn't know you would feel bad for it." I whispered. "I wouldn't had asked you. I'm sorry."

"No!" his eyes widened and any trace of self-consciousness was pushed down as he gave me a sweet smile. "Don't be sorry. I accepted. And I work like this. It's just... weird. But I don't feel bad for it, so neither should  you, okay?" he reached out and gave my hand a reassuring squeeze, causing me to smiled shyly at him.

"Lys," there was a new presence beside me and my heart immediately warmed at the known voice I've been missing for way too long. Yet when I turned to face him Brett was busy frowning at Dylan.

"Hey," smiled the model oblivious or suicidal. "I remember you. You came to one of the sessions right?"

"Right." he grinned back but it wasn't a genuine grin. It look more like a warning, hard on the edges and I think I saw something swirling in his orbs as he eyed Dylan. He basically comfirmed it when I felt his arm around my waist and tugged me closer. "I'm Alyson's boyfriend."

"Yes," I mumbled blushing that he was making such a scene right here.  I clenched his hand on my side, waringly. "He knows."

"You... he does?" at any other moment I would had laughed at the flabbergasted expression he had now but it really annoyed me that after so much days without seen each other the first thing he did was mark me as if I was a property or something.

"Yeap." laughed softly Dylan which only 'cause Brett to look back at him with that scowl. "She told me about you... and I guess I'll be leaving you now." he gave me an amused glance I didn't reciprocate at all but managed a smile at him. After all he'd done that the least he deserved. "Good luck, Alyson. It looks amazing."

"Thanks." and we watched him leave as the tension here grew. Just great.

"I could had told you that." grumbled Brett under his breath like a child and I folded my arms.

"Then why didn't you?" I retorded, unable to keep the pissed undertone out of it. "You just came here all macho and pushed away my friend."

"He likes you, Lys. How am I supposed to be okay with that?"

"Because I like you." I retorded, blushing. "You don't have to chase him away. He doesn't likes me and even if he did, he knows I'm with you. And he's helped a lot this break."

"I know Lys," his gaze softed and he stepped closer as I fumed. How dare he? "Please don't get mad. I've been waiting to see you so long, I've barely sleep with all the car journey and when I came straight I saw you with... with him."

"He's my friend."

"I'm sorry." his fingers grazed  the skirt of my dress and tugged it making me step closer so his lips met my forehead and my heart throbbed. "I've missed you so much."

"T-that's still no excuse. You have to trust me."

"I do trust you." his arms come up embracing me and more of my barriers shuddered. How was I supposed to remain mad when I missed this so much as well and he was looking at me like that? "Won't happen again, okay? Please, please don't get mad at me..." he pouted and I couldn't help a small giggled.

"Okay." he grinned warmly and my chest melted a bit more. Damn him and his natural effect on my body. "So, how had it gone? Appart of tired from lack of sleeping."

"Good. But I'll tell you later. How is this going?"

"I don't know... Good, I guess? I just don't want to-"

Norah suddenly appeared and yanked my arm to the side, excitement beaming in her eyes.

"They're here."

My stomach laced in a tight knot. "T-the scouts?" she nodded energetically. "How can you be so sure?"

"Em, because they were in suits and a folder with USC printed on it?"

As soon as she spoke I spotted a couple gentlemen just as she described, eying the pictures skeptically, taking notes. "Oh God." I began hyperventilating. This was it, the big moment. What would they think? That it was good? enough? Sheer trash? I couldn't tell only with their impassive glances.

Norah gave me gentle shoves their way and I felt like dying. "Go there. Introduce yourself."

I looked back and she gave me a thumbs up as Macy smiled encouragely. "Good luck." she mouthed and I swallow.

I was so not ready for this, but I didn't realized I said it out loud til I heard it rolled out my mouth.

"You are." smiled Brett and brushed my hair away to swiftly peck me on the lips. A spark of fire ignited from there to the rest of my body and I felt my cheeks warming. Yet a new determination burned in me at his words and sweet gesture.

I am. I can do this. I nodded, pushing down the tight knot in my stomach and found it in me to step closer the men. And stepped again, and again and little by little I made it to the piece nº3 they were examinating at the moment. Their attention fell on me as soon as I halted by their side and my guts clenched.

"H-hi." I choked out and by they unmoving looks I could tell they didn't hear me. What the hell? I made it here, ain't I? Screw the insecurity, I'd deal with it later. Clearing my throat I try again, louder this time. "Hi. I'm Alyson White. You must be from USC?"

The youngest returned the smile. "Yes. Nice to met you Miss White. I'm Fran Dandle and this is Jason Medina. We've been sent to anylize you applycation."

"Of course." I shook their hand as confident as I could. "Thank you so much for coming, I know this is an odd way to apply..."

"It is." Mr Handle laughed taking out a bunch of papers from his folder as Mr Medina remain stoic, impersonating my worst fears for today. "But the dean was impressed with your sample. Could we have a word with you? There just some questions about you and the project. Protocol and stuff, to get to know you better."

"Sure."

"Perfect, so about this nº2-"

..........

It went so great I couldn't even believe it. They got a few questions about the motives, inspiration and creation, they asked about my grades and family too and by the end Mr Medina go off expressionless but the other smiled warmly and say they'd keep in touch.

That was good, right?

Everyone believed so, so I decided I'd let my nerves consume me later. Right now I felt like a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulder and I wanted to celebrate. The Ryder's drove Granny home and they left us to have lunch at a close italian, where joined us Hunter and Lydia. I tryed to get them to stay, feeling bad they felt like going, but they said it was our time to celebrate. They didn't look offended a bit so it was okay I guess. And as the lunch proceed I realized it was better if the adults weren't here.

What a bunch of idiots, they almost kicked us out and by the time we were done they look relief. We tried to convince Connor and Heather to come as well but there was no use, so we parted ways and here I was now, freaking out in the Hattie's bathroom.

Almost all our grade was down stairs, so this small gathering she said was now more like a full party. Perks of having a pool on hot, steamy days. And we weren't even in summer yet.

I stared anxiously the two piece bikini. Apple green, which fit nicely with my olive skin but there was too much of it exposed. I don't think I been this bare in front of anyone other than me for years.

"Come on," Norah nudged my shoulder with hers examining herself in her neon yellow one. "It looks good on you. And everyone is like that. It's not like you're gonna stand out for it."

"I-I know." I took in a deep breath, taking the towel she was handing me and wrapping it around me. At least some of it was covered now and part of my unease released my chest. "You look great tho."

She grinned widely. "So do you." and laced our arms. "Now let's go."

Since Macy was already prepared under her body, she was already joining the party, sitting at the edge of the pool by a girl from our history class and laughing at the guys doing charades in the pool. The day was sunny as ever and even me, scared to dead of big bases of water was dying to freshen up.

Hattie waved at us animatedly from the side where she was chatting with a boy and a girl our course, she look beaming that her birthday had turned up to be such a success. I was glad for her. Norah was practically jumping in excitation at the side of the activity in the pool.

"Ohhhh, so cool so cool, so cool. We gotta take a dip."

I gave her an amused look. "You know I can't swim."

"Come on," she was grinning like a little girl, tugging at our laced arms so we approached it faster, stopping at a free sunbed and dropping her towel there. "Just the feet. It would feel great."

I bet. I smiled and was about to say that but my blood freezed when my eyes meet some pale ones across the back yard.

Jade had left me alone since the Spring Ball. True was it that we really ain't seen each other since but still. I knew that losing the crown to Lydia had been a hard blow for her, and I might even had felt some sympathy if it wasn't for all the horrible things she'd done so far.

The embarrassing picture she took of me didn't go online nor public anywhere tho. I know I threatened her, and I was determined to fulfill my threat if she went and keep using it as leverage, but a part of me was also expecting her to call it bullshit and go on just to mess with me.

But she didn't. She stayed away.

Even now, across the yard, it was Shannon that scared me with that glare but to my surprise it was Jade that grabbed her arm to prevent any possible trouble and gave her a warning look. The brunette scoffed, shaking off Jade's hold and walking away. Followed close by her.

"Alyson." I immediately tensed at the sudden voice. My chest tightened as I snapped my eyes from them to my side, where Noel stood awkwardly, a towel lazyly over his shoulders and drops falling from him and forming a puddle at his feet. He must just got out the pool. I clenched harder the towel around me, feeling unprotected all of the sudden. He was just as bad as Jade. He'd hurt me. Constantly. And now I know it was him that pushed in that pool those years ago. What if he wanted to repeat the history?

Norah straightened as well, folding her arms and giving him a nasty scowl. "And what do you want?"

"Are you called 'Alyson' by any chance? I want to talk with her for a second."

"She's not talking to you so piss off."

"What are you? Her manager? Fuck off."

"After you!"

"For fucks sake..." he brushed on hand across his face frustratedly. My heart stopped for a second when his hard gaze found mine. He was pissed. "I only want a second, alright? It's not like I'm gonna do anything." and gestured around to the crowded back yard. True. Not even he would risk doing something with so many people here, right? "Can we talk for a minute?"

I didn't want to. Every fiber of my body was begging me to say an emphatic 'no' and let Norah dragged me away from this guy that had caused me so much pain in the past. But there was the curious in me couldn't wrapped my head around him asking for a talk. Noel had never been the kind of person that speak calmly. He acts and asks later, so that's part of what shocked me about him approaching like this. If he wanted to do something, he would had already. And, truth was, he wouldn't do anything before so many people, would he?

So somehow I heard my breathless voice saying. "Thirty seconds."

Both turned to look at me surprised. "Are you sure?" wondered carefully Norah and I, pushing down the clench in my chest, nodded once. Let's get over with this.

Shock was covered in Noel's face by roughness again and he waved the pink haired girl. "You heard her. Go."

Her eyes narrowd as she gingerly stepped backwars, "I'll be watching you, Whickman. Don't push it."

I was quick to regret this when his attention was fully on me and even with the bubbling chatter and giggled around I felt suddenly isolated and cold. I wrapped my arms tightly around me, very conscious that under the towel there was only a bikini.

"W-what do you wanna talk about?" I could count the fast drumming of my heart as it hammered my ribs. Please don't let it be a mistake.

"Look, I never intend for it to go this far, okay? I was, like, messing around. I thought it was funny."

My arms tightened around my waist. I didn't had to ask what he was talking about. "It wasn't."

"I know that." Noel snapped. "And I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. Or make you bleed." he grimaced and I felt the spot in my line of hair pulsing as if remembering the cut. "All those pranks... they were just that. Pranks. But I see now I took them too far. And at that party last semester." my eyes widened and my stomach dropped to my feet. I hadn't expected him to brought it up just like that. My gaze lowered as he sighed, at least I saw repulsion and guilt cringing his features but I was too ashamed at the memory. "I was drunk. That wasn't supposed to happen and I will leave you alone from now on. I'm sorry."

"Mhm."  still couldn't bring myself to look at him.

How should I felt about this apology? Was he even been serious? For all I know he'd been horrible all my life... just because he thought it was funny? That makes him awful. Yet he apologize, twice. Shitty way to but he did after all. And a part of me deep down felt he mean it. But I couldn't tell him 'it's okay' bucause it wasn't. He'd been so wrong, hurt me so much in so many levels...

School was almost over, barely a month or two more and all this will be history. If he was willing to stop I wouldn't protest, not held grudges after the little future we still had together, but all those 'pranks' had scarred me too deep to just accept his lame apology. I was glad he was trying to change if he mean it, but I couldn't dismiss it just because he said he was sorry. I didn't trust him. He'd have to prove he was for real.

Noel waited a couple seconds, but when he realized I wasn't going to accept it just like that I heard him sighing.

"Just so you know," his voice broke through the tension. "There's no picture anymore."

Oh god. My gaze snapped up at his, wide in horror as my whole body buzzed. "Y-you've s-seen it?"

"I wasn't part of it, if that's what you mean." he rushed quickly, raising his hands and his scowl deepened. "But they showned me and I..." he grimaced. "I know it was wrong so I delated it. Shannon almost punch me. Apparently they were having a discussion and Jade seemed to want to back out."

So what I told her did had an effect. A small spark of pride pinched my chest. I had faced her and achive something. True I didn't exactly made it but created a chain of sucesses that ended in Noel delating it. Noel delating it. Ad apologizing. Maybe he did mean it?

As I eyed him carefully Norah stepped back by our side. "Thirty-two seconds, Whickman. And you still here."

"Oh, spare me." he glared at her, gave me one last glance and walked away like he didn't just said what he did.

I was so comfused.

Norah grabbed my shoulders and made me face her, a concerned look in her eyes. "Are you okay? What did he want?"

"He... wanted to say sorry."

"What?"

Yeah, I was just as surprised. She pryed a bit more but I was too baffled to make anything clear now. I'd had an stressfull day so far, right now I wanted to have some fun with my friends. I'd overthink if I should consider his apology or not later. Now my brain would explode if I keep going like this.

So before she could keep questioning I dropped the towel from around me, successfully cutting my friend that eyed me shocked at my daring move. Air grazed the skin of my abdomen and thights and I felt myself blushing. Dear Lord what was I doing?

It only took her a second to go from startlement to playful smugness. "Going bold, now are we?"

"Oh, shut it." I flustered making her laughed and tugged me closer to the pool.

Norah was right, I didn't stand out. Nobody cared not noticed the lack of clothing cause they were the same as well. Nobody was looking... except a burning pair of blue eyes, that didn't missed a move and made the excitement and bubbled in my chest increased.

Macy smiled up at me and I carefully sat by her side on the edge, my feet diping in the cold water and a shiver run up my spine. I felt the waves and lift my gaze just as Brett closed the gasp between us and stood right before me. Half way in the pool and half out since this was the swallow end so with our height-gap my head was just slightly higher than his.

His hands pressed the tiles beside me, ghostly brushing my thighs and creating goosebumps as my hands fell instinctibly to his shoulders. My heart pouded loud in my ears as he leaned in my personal space and small drops poured from his skin to mine. "Hey, I saw you with Noel, was he bothering you."

"No... it's all good."

I could tell he didn't exactly believe it, but he must see the beg to let it go in my eyes because he did. His cold fingers phantomed over my thighs, tracing random, mesmerizing patters that created explosions under my skin. Where did my breath go? "I hadn't thought you would come this close to the water."

"It's really hot in here."

"Yeah. It is." I blushed to the tip of my ears at the suggestiveness he printed in each word. Brett smiled, so close my world faded to the blue of his eyes. "Now this isn't too bad, is it?"

I shook my head, unable to utter a word and his grin widened. His arms then circled my waist pulling my weight against him and I shivered at the weird feeling of his cold, wet torso pressing mine. But before I could fully process the sudden change he slid me from the border and with a gasp my legs were forced to wrap his waist so I wouldn't fall. Same with my arms clenching his neck.

"Brett." Panic and unease bubbled inside me as he stepped backwards and the water engufled us 'til our chests. "I- I can't-"

"I know. Relax." he took another step and and it now reached our shoulders.

"N-no, wait." Luckily he did, probably because of how badly my whole body was shaking as I hold on him for live. Literally. My breaths ragged. "Please don't go any further. I...I c-can't swim."

"Lys, I got you." he reassured pressing our foreheads but remaind standing there. If the pool was deep enough for only his shoulder to be outside, I know I wouldn't touch the ground here. The water around us move with the other's playing and jumping and my guts curled. No no no no- "Nothing will happen to you."

He kept me flush against him with one arm while his other hand brushed my back reassuringly, mumbling sweet words 'til the panic attack lowered and I realized he was way steadier than I'd initially thought. Like a rock, unmoving. My swallow intakes slowly shifted to normal again and my trembled lightened.

"That's it." he smiled when he noticed, smiling a bit guilty. "I'm sorry, I didn't thought you'll be so afraid."

"I-I can't swim, Brett. Can't we go to a swallower part?"

"I won't let nothing happen to you." he promised, but did move so now the water's limit was on our chests again and pressed his back against the pool's wall.

I breathed easier here but didn't let go of him a bit, realizing now that the fear was somehow more under control how much of our bodies where against each other. My whole body blushed red and he must noticed because he smirk, but didn't touch anywhere unappropriate... Although, what was unapropriate in this situation? It was hard to know.

"Doesn't this feel good?" he hummed and to add to my buzzy mind he leaned, brushing my jaw with his nose and bringing his lips to my ear. "The pool, I mean. Since it's so hot and all."

If possible, I turned more red at the tease and to my mortyfication we heard Hunter somewhere on my back. "Hey, keep it suitable for all audiences, will you?" and sniggers follow.

Embarrassed I buried my face in his neck and he chuckled, making me rumble since our torsos were literally pressed together. "Fuck you!" he yelled them back and lifted me slightly to get a better hold and adjusted our positions. "Don't mind them. They're idiots." he whispered only for me to hear and I smiled.

My shame mixed with joy at being like this, with him, with a good chance of going USC and with the people that hate me kinda controlled. I liked it. It felt like it'd been forever but my life finally look so put back on track. And it felt so right.

"It's fine, just..." I carefully lifted my head again, not to lose that perfect position that felt like heaven. The electric blue of his orbs stole my breath and reason as usual. I reached one hand to slid it in his damps hair. Gosh, he was so beautiful. I smiled playfully. "Don't let me drown."

His hold tightened deliciously. "I won't let go." for the way his eyes bored into mine, pouring emotions into every word I knew he wasn't just talking about this. "I won't."

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Hey! Wow, we're really close to the end. It's just the epilogue left, I'm so excited. What are your thoughts on the exposition? And Noel's 'apoloogize', you think that counts?

Would you guys like a bonus chapter or something? I'm still not sure about it. If so, what would you like me to write?

Don't forget to comment, vote and share.