I couldn’t breathe …
The pool was large, but it wasn’t that deep, yet there was something about being in the water that completely freaked me out. I had always prided myself on the fact that I was a good swimmer, but for some reason, I couldn’t breathe.
I tried to yell, but nothing came out. Water simply flooded into my mouth, choking me in the process, and I felt myself slipping away.
Someone jumped into the pool and carried me out, and I could hear frantic screams urging me to open my eyes. I wanted to, but they felt heavy.
Seconds later, I surrendered to the darkness.
Chapter 8
I was seated on the couch before the fireplace back at home, covered in a thick blanket while my hand gripped the scalding hot cup of tea my Mom had made me. The boys had gone home, and only Jake was left with us.
I watched as she paced in front of the TV with her palm clutching her forehead.
“I can’t believe she threw you into the pool. I’m definitely going to have a long talk with her parents, including the school principal. I will make sure she doesn’t get away with this. And you …” My Mom swiveled toward me. “Why didn’t you swim out? You are usually an excellent swimmer.”
I shrugged. “I don’t know; I just freaked out.”
My Mom scoffed. “You just freaked out? You could have died, Katrina. What the hell were you thinking? It’s just water, and the pool wasn’t even that deep.”
Suddenly I felt a flare of anger, and all the emotions I had felt since we moved to Redwood flooded out in a violent rage.
“Well, I’m sorry my Dad's death made me traumatized, and I haven’t gotten over him as quickly as you obviously have,” I yelled at her.
“Katina…” Jake began.
“Stay out of this, Jake,” I ordered him.
“You think I’m over your father?”
I crossed my arms over my chest.
“Well, aren’t you? You’ve been all happy and excited that we were moving here, away from everything that reminds you of him. Did you even love him?”
I knew the slap was coming before I felt it, and I didn’t even blink. Instead, I gently placed the cup on the t
able, threw off the blanket draped around me, and walked out of the door with nowhere in particular to go.
“Katrina!” Jake called from the porch and ran after me. “Katrina, wait!”
“What?” I snapped at him.
“You shouldn’t have said that to your Mom,” Jake said. “She was just scared. Hell, we all were. We thought we had lost you, and saying those words to her only hurt her. You should go back inside and apologize.”
I stared at him in disbelief. “You are going to take my mother’s side … really?”
“This isn’t about taking sides, Katrina …”
“Yeah, you’re right,” I interrupted. “It isn’t. Just stay the hell away from me and don’t look for me.”
I knew I was unreasonable; it wasn’t his fault, but I was so angry that I needed to let off some steam, so I walked out on him and to the only place I knew would calm me down.
In my third week at Redwood, the boys and I had discovered the perfect place we now called our spot just a little way down from Aaron’s house, which wasn’t quite far from my home or Jake’s. We had been on a study date when we’d found the spot.
There was nothing extraordinary about it, no lake, no flowers, no meadow; it was just a plain stretch of grass with scattered logs of wood around. Yet we had claimed the place because of the calmness it provided. No insects or birds were chirping, just complete and utter silence. However, as soon as I got there, the sight before me caught me by surprise.
“Aaron?” I called when I saw the brown-haired figure sitting on a log of wood with his back to me. When he turned to confirm my guess, I said, “I didn’t realize anyone would be here at this hour. What are you doing?”