𝚎𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚗

"Grayson?" I call out his name, not spotting him in the field of sunflowers.

My eyes roam around the familiar area, noticing something is off about it. It feels like I've been in this universe for weeks, yet today something seems different.

The sudden noise of water causes my head to spin around. I can hear splashing from the distance, which would normally scare me. I hate large bodies of water, yet my feet are pushing me toward one.

Nervously gulping, my orbs widen once the green grass parts and a large lake is displayed in front of me. I only saw it once, the day we ran through the field and Grayson tried to catch me, but after that it disappeared. This is randomly here, and I'm confused as to why.

Looking up from the ground, I notice Grayson's white t-shirt, jeans, and converse are scattered around the grass.

"Hope?" His deep voice calls out in the distance.

My eyes widen even more when I see his head pop up above the crystal water. The droplets are racing down his sculpted body and I'm trying my hardest not to noticeably stare at his bare flesh exposed in front of me.

"Uh, hi." I stiffly respond. I pretty much resemble a deer in headlights right now.

"Isn't this amazing? I walked outside and this was randomly placed here. I swear the lake from the other day was so far away." His voice is very enthusiastic.

"Yeah, amazing." I take a step back as he swims closer to the shallow end of the lake.

God, Hope, stop looking at the way his arm muscles flex when he moves.

"What's wrong?" He finally asks once he's standing up.

The only item of clothing on him is a very thin pair of boxers, which are becoming see-through from the wetness.

"Nothing, uh, I just didn't know where you were." I slightly turn my head, my eyes dropping down to my sandals.

"I couldn't resist taking a dip. The water feels different on my skin. It's hard to describe, but it's awesome." He says while staring directly at me.

"Can you feel the temperature of it?" I raise an eyebrow.

"Yeah, it's cool and refreshing but feels heavier. Maybe it's because I can't actually feel my skin." He shrugs, still keeping his eyes on me.

"Sounds nice." I nod and continue to awkwardly stare at the grass.

"You coming in?"

"What?" I actually look up at him through my fear-driven eyes.

"To the water. Are you coming in?" He asks again.

"Oh, uh, no." I quickly decline his offer by shaking my head.

"Why not?" He crosses his arms over his chest, something I wish he didn't do.

"Because I don't like the water." I whisper, almost embarrassed to tell him.

"Because of Hunter?" He asks in the form of a question.

I nod, looking back down. He takes a step closer to me and I don't know what to do. Grayson makes me confused. It's like a part of me wants to open myself up to him, but another part is scared of rejection.

"Don't be afraid." His voice is delicate and inviting. He's not only telling me, he's demanding it. He wants me to believe it, he wants it to be true.

I watch him confidently take another step deeper into the water. It's now up to his waist. I push myself to get closer to the edge.

I want to be safe with him, but my brain naturally wants to overthink. I'm battling with my inner thoughts because in this universe, wherever I am, fear doesn't exist. But if that's the case, why am I so torn?

"Do you trust me, H?" His words make me let out a sigh.

Do I trust him, that's the million dollar question. I'm pretty sure I do trust him. I wouldn't be this close to water if I didn't.

"I do." I say quietly, barely hearing my own voice.

"Then come in the water." He steps closer and extends his hand out.

"In my dress?" I say with slight sarcasm.

"Take it off." He says a lot louder than I thought he would.

"Seriously?" I look down at the material on my body.

"Yes, don't you have something under there? Unless, you would rather skinny dip." A low smirk swipes across his face and I gasp at his semi dirty words.

"I do."

"You would rather skinny dip?" His eyebrows flick up.

"No, um, I mean I do have something under my dress." I refer to my bra and underwear, which would fully expose me. I've never been this physically open with a boy before.

"So pull it off and take a dip. See how un-scary the world can be." He tilts his head to the side.

"What world are we talking about?" I challenge him.

"Hope, do I really have to Notebook you right now? Get in the water!" He yells, referencing the iconic romance movie.

"Wow, you've seen that movie? Thought it would put a damper on your masculinity."

"Nope, it actually enhanced it. Ladies loved me because of it." He continues to smirk.

"Of course they did." I roll my eyes.

"Come on, you said you trusted me. It's time to start living even if we're dying."

His words begin to resonate with me. He's right. I'm already dying, so I can't get hurt. Drowning doesn't seem possible when you're already in heaven.

"Fine, but turn around." I insist.

"No." He shakes his head.

"Excuse me?" I'm taken back by his words.

"I'm not turning around, H."

"Why not?" I lowly whisper.

"Because I don't want to. You need to break out of your shell. Take the dress off and come in the water." His dominant and demanding tone is actually intimidating.

Nodding my head, I take his advice and slowly slip off my white sandals. I take deep breaths and pull off my dress. I can practically feel his intense stare eyeing my body up and down. No boy has ever looked at me the way Grayson is currently.

I place the items next to his clothes. I know I'm wearing a bra and underwear, but I feel so naked. I look back at him, and he's surprisingly looking me in the eyes.

"Was that so bad?" He asks.

"The scary part didn't happen yet." I mumble.

"Let that fear dissolve around you. Nothing bad can happen, this is a safe place." He reminds me.

"Okay, you're right." I say the words out loud so they can really sink into my brain.

I step closer, and the minute the water hits my feet, I feel an odd coldness to me. It's refreshing against my numb body. My eyes stay on the water and I slowly submerge myself into it.

"Do you know how to swim?" Grayson asks while getting closer.

"Yes, I do." I say while looking down.

"Good, just slowly swim over to me." His voice is still as soft as ever.

Before I realize it, my whole body is dunked in. I'm treading my legs since I can't feel the bottom.

"Holy crap, I'm in the water." This hasn't happened in two years.

Since Hunter's accident, I swore to never go in any body of water. I would have anxiety over the thought of being swallowed whole by it. Just like he was.

"You did it, H. How does it feel?" Grayson has a huge smile on his face, showing off his white teeth.

"It feels good." I stutter while looking at my hands. I can feel the water on my skin. It's cold, really cold. Almost icy.

"See? It's okay." He smiles at me.

"It's okay." I repeat.

"And if anything were to happen, I'm right here." He reassures me.

I nod before leaning my head back to dip it into the water. I love how it feels in my hair. It might be freezing, but at least it's something.

"It's so cold." I point out the obvious.

"A lot colder than I thought it would be." He nods in agreement.

"I wonder why it's here." I furrow my eyebrows and look back at him.

"I have no idea. The same way the carnival just magically appeared."

The carnival. I completely forgot about that. Hunter was the reason it was there, so is he also behind this lake? I wouldn't put it past him, but why? He knows I hate water because it's the reason he died.

Well, technically Kyle Montez is the reason he died. The water was just a side aspect to that horrible night.

"Overthinking again?" Grayson asks while swimming closer to me.

"How'd you know?" I mock with a laugh.

"It's like I can see the wheels turning in your brain." He says with a crooked smile.

"Of course you can." I sigh and look down at the water, shivering from the cold sensation of it.

"Come on, have some fun." He says while splashing me.

I gasp, my eyes wide. My hands automatically cup together to flick the cold water onto him.

"Do it all you want, it's refreshing." He says with a smirk.

"Sure, if refreshing is another word for ice cold." I giggle while swimming toward him.

"I still can't believe this place is real." I hear Grayson mumble while looking around the area.

My eyes latch onto the trees around me, noticing the branches slightly blowing back and forth at a heavier speed. Wind swishes around the water, and I begin to notice that the current is picking up.

"What's going on?" I furrow my eyebrows.

Grayson looks down, seeing the strong movement of it. "I have no idea."

Chills run up and down my skin as the water gets tighter around me. I can feel my lungs closing in, almost like I can't breathe.

"Grayson." I choke out his name, starting to panic.

"It's okay, it's okay." He tries to swim toward me, but the force of the water is pushing him the opposite way.

"Help." I yell, feeling myself being pulled under the water.

"Hope!" Grayson calls out.

Before I can process anything, my entire body is being dragged under the rigid water. Every particle on my skin is burning up, I can feel it tingling.

My vision blurs as my body gets knocked around, my stomach twisting and turning. I have no idea what's going on, but I feel terrified. The waves around me are vicious, and sharp pains are taking over my stomach.

It seems as if I'm about to take my last breath, until I feel something weird. A force lifts my body from the water.

When I come up for air, Grayson's bare chest is completely pressed against mine. One of his arms is securely wrapped around my back while his free hand is tenderly placed on my flushed cheek.

"Hope? Hope! Are you okay?" His voice is rushed and panicked.

I slowly open my eyes, noticing his are wider as he looks down at my body.

"Oh my god." I whisper while placing my hands on his chest, coming to the insane realization. "Grayson, I can feel you."