ELARA~
"Do not let go" I said, my face buried in her shoulders. God, I hated this. Hated how scared I got when water surrounded me. I got so scared, I couldn't even move.
I once knew how to swim. In fact, I loved it. The way the water would move around me, the chillness of it, the silence beneath the surface. I was one with it.
Growing up, while other kids spoke about being doctors, nurses, lawyers, astronauts, engineers. I wanted to be a hydrologist.
I never once had a change of mind because If water covers half of the earth, it meant that there was a lot which hadn't been discovered yet. And I wanted to bring to the surface what others didn't know existed.
Until my twin drowned in our backyard pool, years back. He didn't love swimming so why was he even there? or maybe I was just bad luck and brought about death with me.
"Fuck I don't want to feel this way."
"You good?" she asked adjusting her hold on my waist. Her deep voice didn't help the situation, it only made things worse.
"I can't swim" I whispered.
"I know" I looked at her and she held my gaze, this was the part where she swam me to safety and out of this cold freaking water but from the way she was looking at me, I was sure that hadn't crossed her mind yet.
"You have… really, pretty eyes" she said suddenly.
And then looked like she regretted saying it. I almost laughed. This was not the moment for compliments. I was shivering and clinging to her like a lifeline.
"Are you two okay?" Ben's voice cut through.
Isla guided me to the edge and Ben grabbed my arms and pulled me out. The cold hit immediately and I rushed upstairs, changed from my clothes and put on my bathrobe.
I was about going downstairs when my thoughts betrayed me.
She said I had pretty eyes. I walked to the mirror and stared at my reflection. I knew I had pretty eyes.
But the way she said it. The pause, her voice and that moment. Damn, I was reading too much novels.
I shook my head and headed downstairs with an extra towel. The woman hated me, acted like she couldn't go few minutes looking at me.
And let's exclude her sudden change yesterday. She was crazy and annoying.
"You're leaving?" I asked when I saw her by the door, with all her things in hand.
As much as I hated her attitude I couldn't help but be glad she was attractive. And ugly person would have just made matters worse.
"Yeah" she answered facing me.
"You should change out of that first or you will catch a cold" I said.
"So now we caring, huh?"
Did she forget she was the annoying one few minutes ago, before the fall, and before the compliment.
"I'll feel bad if I let you go drenched" she didn't look like she wanted to stay, and I didn't want to push it.
"Anyway… thank you. For saving me. And the compliment"
"I'll help clear your name" she said. "Promise". That reassurance was all I needed at the moment. The smile came easy, and I raised the towel toward her.
She dropped her things on the sofa, walked up the stairs toward me and took it.
"You can shower in my room and pick some clothes from my…" I trailed off. She was staring, so intensely it made me feel naked.
She had always kept a safe distance from me but seeing her this close, her tattoo, her wet hair, her lips.
I swallowed at the thought of kissing her and my eyes unconsciously dropped to her lips.
"Ms. Jones, thank you." She said finally breaking whatever thought I had going on. "But I'm afraid I can't stay" she looked away.
"What's wrong?" I asked, half glad too because I was beginning to lose my cool.
She stepped back shaking her head "Tomorrow the doctor will be here" now she sounded nervous.
"Doctor?"
"Lawyer. I meant lawyer" she paused slapping her hand against her forehead.
"Are you okay?" I moved closer and she widened the distance between us in just two steps.
"I'm fine. See you tomorrow" she picked up her things and rushed out with the towel draped around her neck.
Was it just me or did she actually look nervous? I walked down the remaining steps and into the kitchen. Isla Matthews nervous?
That didn't sound right. I took out a bottle of water from the fridge and took a mouthful.
I leaned on the counter and just stared at the bottle of water in my hand.
"You have… really, pretty eyes"
I shook my head vigorously, now her voice was invading my mind.
I shouldn't be thinking about her, not at a time like this. Not ever. She was...
There was no denying it, I was either very bored or loosing it.
Not to mension, I had thought the girl laughing at that resurant yesterday was Angela.
That had really thrown me off. What the hell is wrong with me.
---
I didn't see Isla for the two days that followed.
I wanted to call, then realized I didn't have her number and then I realized something worse.
There was barely any network available and none of the guards had their phones either.
I felt locked up. And the silence made me think about Chris. Why leak the footage? Why sue me right after?
None of it made sense. Unless it was about isolating me and…
The doorbell cut through my thoughts. Isla?
I hurried to the door, not even thinking twice. Whatever expression had been sitting on my face, curiosity, relief, maybe even suspicion vanished the second I opened it.
Surprise replaced it and whoever stood there noticed. I felt it in the way their eyes lingered on my face.