Emery's view

Not much has happened between I and Gracen romantically like that almost kiss, but we have gotten closer. We haven't brought it up at all in the past two weeks. I hope she doesn't want to forget about it, because I sure can't forget it. I keep picturing how close our lips were and how much I so wanted to lean in a bit further.

Today she looks so beautiful and I can't take me eyes of her. I hardly hear Aiden talking about the lake party today. Apparently I wasn't the only one not listening, my brother Ethan was staring at Jordie. I gave him a playful nudge and give him a look that shows I know how much he likes Jordie. He blushes and we both turn to Aiden.

"So everyone is going to the lake party right?" He asked.

"Hell yeah," says Clare, Jordie and Gracen.

I'm a little uneasy about going. I hate Lakes ever since the accident. I remembered vividly the car driving over the edge of the bridge into a lake and being consumed by the rising water. Then someone breaks me out of my thoughts. I look over to Gracen who gives me a worried face. She seems to always know what I'm feeling, which intimates me at times.

After a lot of begging I finally agree to go. So after school, my brothers and I go to our house to get prepared. On our way we pick up Gracen and Jordie. I'm forced to one side and Gracen is in the middle, which makes me pretty nervous. I'm not usually this close to anyone, and being so close to Gracen is a bit too much. I'm both ecstatic of it and terrified.

We finally get to the lake and I jump out of the car and pretend to stretch. We walk over to the crowd of people having fun and accidently get separated. I wonder around aimlessly before meeting up with Gracen. We walk to a corner and just talk about random school stuff but we could barely hear each other due to the noise. She suggested walking closer to the wooden dock near the edge of the lake. I agree but I'm a little nervous being with her all alone. We start talking about whatever the heck comes to mind and it's so relaxing. I love talking with Gracen because it just comes so naturally easy with her. As the dock gets narrower we walk closer together and my hand accidently brushes too close to hers. Being the awkward person I am, I immediately apologize so much but she cuts me off.

"Em, don't worry, it's perfectly fine..... In fact, I'd like to hold your hand," she says as she reaches toward me. I let her grab my hand as she starts to pull us closer together.

"Em, I need to tell you something important, something I've been meaning to tell you for a long time now." I can tell she's hesitant and nervous to tell me. Before I can answer though, I'm roughly pushed into the lake. I feel the icy cold water engulf me as I sink down. I freak out and try to push myself up, but I feel something tighten around my leg. I try pulling with all my might but it's no use. I reach down and find my leg trapped in a small rope that's connected to the dock. This is where I get terrified because flash backs of the accident and Danny enter my head. I flail around for help, but it's no use. The water is so murky, it's impossible to see around. I feel like I'm sinking and fading away like before. Terror engulfs me, but I can't do anything.

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Gracen's view

Out of nowhere Jackson violently pushes Emery in the water. I witness as she hits the icy cold water and disappears under.

"You a**hole," I yell at Jackson before slapping him. I go to the edge and wait for Em to come up so I can help her out.

But she doesn't come up. All I see are a bunch of bubbles and ripples of water. I freak out and yell for Aiden and Ethan. Then I immediately jump into the murky water. I try to reach around for Emery, but I can't feel her. I go above water to see Aiden running up and witness as he punches a laughing Jackson and throws him in the water. I quickly go back under water and finally feel someone hand. I pulled myself closer and faintly see Emery, I try to pull her up but something isn't letting me. I cupped her face to see what's wrong and she points to her leg. A rope is wrapped around her leg, I try pulling her leg out buys it's no use, and I'm not strong enough. I look up and see she's having a hard time holding her breath, so I do the only thing I can think to help her. I push myself up above the water as Aiden jumps in and I tell him to help me. I take a big breath and go under and I quickly cup Emery's face in my hands and put my lips on hers as I blow air in her mouth to make sure she doesn't take in water. Aiden is able to get Emery's leg out of the rope and we pull her up. She starts coughing and flailing around which is a good sign. I pull her to my side and push her out of the water onto the dock and haul myself up. Emery is on her elbows coughing up any water that got into her and I immediately wrap my arms around her. I'm so glad she's okay, I was so scared. I notice Ethan run up to place a blanket around Emery because she's shaking uncontrollably. Emery's in shock so Aiden leads her away from the lake with me close behind. Then we see none other than the a**hole Jackson and his sister.

"I guess you're still a scared of a little water. Aww poor baby. Time to movie on pathetic bitch," says Lyla snickering along with her brother. I barely have time to register what happens next, but Clare's hand slams against Lyla's face as Aiden punches Jackson again. People at the party hold back Lyla and Clare, but no one is able to stop the Jackson and Aiden. The last thing I see is Jordie and Ethan trying to pry those two away from each other as I push a shocked Emery away from the huge scene going on.

Author note: Is everyone excited for the next chapter? Are you guys liking the story so far?