asper

My back sank into the black leather couch as I laid my head on the pillow I had grabbed before laying down, many thoughts raced through my mind as I began to shut my eyes but one memory soon tuned me into sleep.

It was the summer of 2015 when the grass was green in the lit-up forest and the sunset began to paint the sky, I sat on the ledge of a rock as I watched my two best friends splashing water at each other.

"I'm going to get you!" The girl hollered as she pounced onto the boy who was now shoved into the water, his arms flew in the air as they waved around in desperation for oxygen.

A deep sigh escaped my throat as my attention was now focused on something new, something way more interesting than watching my friend drown. There was a bird that perched itself next to me, it was a crow.

The creature's head tilted to the side as it began to speak in its own language, it rambled on and on until I watched it fly away from a loud voice.

"Jasper!" The girl shouted as I watched the boy emerge from underneath her in the water while she sat on his shoulders. "Come on in!" A grin was plastered on her dripping face.

"No thanks." I mumbled waving my hand off, "I told you I don't like the lake."

Both bodies emerged from the water and plopped next to me, the soaked girl then laid her head on my shoulder with a pout, "You don't like anything."

I gently pushed her off as I scooted away, "You're freezing, go get a towel."

With arms crossed and a grin forming on her lips, she spoke deviously, "Why don't you get one for me?" Quickly getting on all fours, the girl began to crawl toward me with a smirk. "Or should I take your shirt and use it to dry off?"

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

As she crawled up to me, she then laid herself on my lap and looked at the sky covered in tree leaves, "How many this time?" Raising one finger, she counted the clouds, "One, two, three, four, five, six." Her voice paused, "Seven?" Then her orbs focused on mine as she shifted her body in my direction. "How many bruises did he give you this time?"

No words would form in my mouth, she could see right through me like air. I didn't have to lie when it came to her because one way or another, she'd find out, she always did and always have.

I felt her arm sling around my shoulder as she evened out her weight into more of a sitting position, then her head was on my chest once more.

"I could hear your heartbeat get faster you know." Her voice was laced with pure amusement. "I wonder how fast I can get it to beat-" The brunette cut off. Her head was raised and her face was centimeters from mine. Her eyes left mine and now focused somewhere else, "Until it explodes."

I shoved her off in the other boy's direction as I stood up, I could feel my face turning redder as I began to walk away.

"Ew get off me, Grayson!" She squealed, "Gross, you get off me!" He replied.

"Come on Jasper, don't be like that!" I heard the blonde call after me and within a few seconds there was a scream, then a giant splash.

Anxiety built up inside as I whipped my head around to see Grayson sitting on the rock by himself, where was. . . ?

"Where is she?" I hollered to the boy who had wide eyes, there was no reply.

His expression was filled with horror as I ran and jumped off the ledge into the water, did she fall in?

My body hit the water as I sank and opened my eyes to see the sun through the small waves, I kicked my feet and swam up for oxygen.

My breathing quickened as I frantically looked around, seeing no sign of my friend who I heard fall into the lake, "Charlotte!" I screamed while panic began to boil throughout my body.

What if she hit her head on a rock and passed out? No- There'd be blood everywhere and the color would show, right? Or maybe she sank so deep that the color won't show for a minute more.

I held air in my mouth as I ducked down, my eyes began to burn with tears as I saw no one else down below.

Going back for air, I stopped in my tracks.

At the trail up the path was a head peeking beside a rock, the face wore a smile from ear to ear.

"So you do care about me."