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Before I can even register what’s happening, they’re pushing me under.
I’m so shocked, but accidentally take a breath, chlorinated water rushing into my lungs, stealing my breath away. I begin to choke, but that only makes things worse as I’m now inhaling huge mouthfuls of water. My arms and legs thrash, and my nails rake across the skin of the girls nearest me, but it doesn’t do any good. There are so many of them that they keep me under with little effort.
Time seems to slow to a crawl, so that I’m seeing each second as a whole minute. I see their legs, dancing beneath the water, the curves of their dark blue academy-issued swimsuits across their thighs. My eyes seem to catch on the black number four on the pool wall, indicating the depth of the water.
Is this really happening? I think, the strength and speed of my struggle slowing dramatically. Am I really going to drown in four fuFking feet of water?
My vision starts to darken at the edges, while the center flickers with little white stars. Once that starts happening, all I can think about is my dad and how much I’m going to miss him. My next thoughts … don’t make a lot of sense.Content provided by NôvelDrama.Org.
I think about Zack, about Tristan, Creed and Zayd. Will any of them miss me? Will any of them care that I’m gone? I know Miranda will, and Andrew, too, probably.
But soon, those thoughts fade away, too, and I start to feel sleepy.
The next thing I know, there’s a huge splash that rocks me and jostles the grips of the girls holding onto me. Strong arms wrap around my waist and pull me up and out of the water before hoisting me onto the edge and laying me flat on the cement.
Someone is leaning over me, but I can’t see who it is. My vision is too unsure, and I feel like my consciousness is coming in and out. My mystery savior covers my mouth with his own and breathes life into me.
That’s the last thing I remember before waking up in the nurse’s office.
The official story is that I got out of the pool to use the restroom, tripped, fell, and hit my head before tumbling into the pool.
It’s tempting to rat the girls out, but there are fifteen conflicting stories to compete against mine, so I say nothing. Charlie is called, but the nurse insists there’s no reason for him to drive all the way out here, and he’s got work anyway … but I sure wish I could see him.
That was scary as hell. I almost died. Never did I believe the girls would actually push me that hard.
It turns out that Windsor York is the one who saved me.
Zack looks sick with guilt, and stays by my side the entire day until the nurse discharges me. Miranda, Jessie, and Andrew also come to visit, but it isn’t until I get back to my dorm that I find Windsor waiting for me. Zack stiffens up slightly, but the two men are at least polite to each other as we approach and Windsor pushes up from the wall.
“Ah, milady,” he says, taking my hand and putting my knuckles to his lips. “She lives.”
“Thanks to you,” I say, feeling this cold, scared sickness roll over me. Revenge was sweet … until it wasn’t. Now I’m terrified. I had no idea this was turning into a life or death situation. Creed’s words echo in my head: “The girls want to kill you. WatFh out for them.”
“Mm.” Windsor drops my hand and studies me with a very serious expression. Behind me, my friends fan out like a cadre of bodyguards. I wonder if maybe I should call Kathleen Cabot and ask for that Kyle guy
back? I haven’t seen him around campus in weeks, so I’m guessing he’s left. I know she wouldn’t hesitate to send him or someone else to watch over me though. “To be quite honest with you, I was only heading out to the pool to perv on you in your swimsuit.