Tough Shit (Rejects Paradise 1)

If he wants to play, then we’ll play.

I have enough oxygen in my system to make him doublethink his tactics. I should have filed a report against him when I had the chance. An attempted rape case would look good beside his attempted murder one, but he won’t be getting the best of me.

A few seconds pass and I use my arms to roll myself onto my back. My arms spread out at my sides and I have to gently sway my feet to keep me below the water. I’m not surprised when Spencer comes rushing in beside Jude and with the water beginning to calm, it’s easy to see the panic on his face.

It’s only a moment after Spencer arrives that the whole group is there. Colton and Charlie step up to the side of the pool and it makes me wonder where the hell they came from. For them to be here so soon, they must have been here while I was struggling against Jude, meaning they saw and didn’t do a damn thing about it.

I look up at Colton and somehow this goes from some kind of bullshit war between Jude and I to a challenge between Colton and I.

Who will break first?

Colton’s face remains cool, calm, and collected and I watch as the four of them talk among themselves, the only sign of his distress being his fisted hands at his sides. He never takes his eyes off mine.

My oxygen slowly begins running out, but I know my body. I know my limits. I can play this out for a little while longer.

A fifth body appears at the opposite edge of the pool and my eyes break Colton’s hold to find Milo staring down in horror. I watch as he goes to jump but Colton’s loud, booming “NO. Leave her,” is heard, even through the water.

Milo hesitates and his eyes flick to mine. I don’t doubt he’s questioning if I’m actually alive down here, so I move my arm back and forth, trying to ease his mind enough to take a backseat.

I look back at Colton. Time is running out.

Will he break, or will I?

It’s a risky fucking game, but I wasn’t taught to take the easy way out. I was taught to fight for what I believe in, though I have a feeling that mom wouldn’t quite be pleased to find that this was the way my young mind interpreted her lesson.

It’s fucking stupid is what it is. Trust me, that knowledge isn’t lost on me.

I’ve been down here for at least thirty full seconds and common sense would have him knowing that I can’t last much longer. The question is am I stubborn enough to allow myself to pass out down here or does he blow his ‘I don’t give a shit’ facade and come in here after me?

It’s a fight for dominance and right now, neither of us is willing to relent.

I’ll give myself five more seconds and then the game is up.

Five.

Four.

Three.

Colton jumps.

He dives in after me, swimming down into the deep waters and quickly grabbing at me. He scoops me into his strong arms and pushes up off the bottom of the pool with everything he’s got.

We break the surface within sheer moments and I discreetly suck in a deep breath as I hear Colton doing the same. I flop my body heavily against his as he swims to the edge of the pool.

Charlie and Spencer are there and grab my arms. They haul me out and lay me on the dirty ground.

“Is she fucking breathing?” Colton roars as I hear a rush of water, telling me he must have pulled himself out of the pool.

“I don’t know,” Charlie replies, a little too close to my face as the other two remain silent.

“MOVE.”

I feel hands on my body, cold and wet just like mine and I know it’s Colton.

“Ocean?” Milo calls in a panic, sending a wave of guilt coursing through me, but I don’t respond. I’m going to see this through. If Colton wants to insist on fucking with my head, then I’m going to do the same. “If your little fucked up game has killed her, I’m coming after you, Carrington. All of you fuckers will go down for this.”

“If we go down, you’re fucking coming with us,” Jude spits at him. “You could have dived in, but you didn’t. If she’s dead, then that’s on you too.”

Fuck. My poor Milo.

He’ll forgive me, he has too.

“Shut the fuck up,” Colton roars. “I have to give her CPR.”

I feel the heat of Colton’s lips hovering above mine, ready to start saving my life and I decide that enough is enough. For him to think that he’s about to start CPR means that I’ve taken this far enough.

My eyes spring open and I grin up at him. “Well, who would have known that you cared so much?”