Chapter Eight #2
“And you didn’t believe me. You stood up, clearly nervous, and asked the question again in a different way. And I stood too, right in front of you and looked you in the eyes, and I said, ‘You.’ And then you...”
“I pushed you.”
“You pushed me. Off the cliff… or overhang… or whatever you want to call it. And I did a free fall to the bottom and crashed into the water. Cut my leg.”
“God, that’s so horrible. I’m so sorry!”
“I know. You were very apologetic,” she said, brushing her shoulder against Shae’s. “You jumped in after me, and you were already crying when you reached the bottom.” Em paused, silence filling the space.
“And that’s the first time I fell for you.” Em joked.
“Ehh,” Shae laughed. “Was that a joke?”
Em laughed, “That’s a joke. The best I’ve got, really.”
“Clever.” Shae raised her hand expectantly. Em tapped it lightly, shaking her head.
“But yeah… that was the first time I told myself I wouldn’t back down from my own feelings. No matter what cliff or ‘overhang,’”—she made air quotes, glancing sideways at Shae— “stood in my way.” She exhaled. “Somewhere along the way I lost that, but I think… I think I’m finding my way back to it.”
Shae stared out into the distance, the scenery blurring before her. She could feel Em looking at her, and she wished she could let her in, if only to help her unravel all these complicated thoughts, these feelings she’d become trapped in.
She turned to look at Em, who sat cross-legged now, her knees tucked into her chest, fiddling with the lace on her shoe.
A strand of her hair had come loose from her ponytail and was blowing in the breeze.
Without thinking, Shae reached over and swept it gently behind her ear.
Em’s eyes closed with the simple gesture, opening on Shae.
Shae held her stare. Em’s eyes were so gentle.
Her wistful smile pulled at Shae. Coiling inside her and tightening, like a rope being slowly drawn taut.
It threatened to draw her forward even as her mind screamed to keep a distance.
Shae dropped her hand, startled by how much one simple motion had stirred in her.
“I’m sorry,” she murmured.
“Don’t be.” Em breathed.
“Okay, everyone, get in here. Group picture.” Lennon called, jolting them back to the present.
Em rose to her feet, wiping the dirt off the back of her shorts before offering her hand to Shae, pulling her upright with a gentle tug. The two of them joined the group, Shae tucking herself in between Kira and Seth, wrapping her arms across their shoulders as Julian stood back, camera in hand.
“Cheese, everyone,” he said, his grin stretched wide. The group followed suit, giving their best smiles.
“Alright, listen up," he announced, handing the phone back over to Lennon. “Breathe out on your way down or plug your nose. Straight body and flat feet all the way down, we’re not doing any acrobatics today… that means you, Seth.” He halted, gesturing toward Seth, and winked.
Seth beamed from the sidelines, clearly enjoying being singled out.
“You can put your arms across your chest if you want, just keep them close to your body. And… that’s it.” He clapped his hands together as he finished his speech. “It’s not terribly high, but it’s still a rush, enjoy it!”
Cheers erupted from the group, and they swiftly stripped off shorts and tops, gearing up for the jump.
“Okay, guys, let’s do this! Let’s be legendary!” Seth hollered, attempting to hype up the group.
Everyone made their way toward the edge.
“Give each other space,” Julian yelled, and the group spread out further.
“This is crazy!” Em screeched, toes at the edge, peering down.
Adrenaline flooded Shae’s system. She stood next to Em, crossing her arms in front of her. “You scared?”
“No,” Em lied.
“You should be.” She paused, watching Em peer over the edge again. “You going?” Shae smirked.
“Are you?”
“Nobody’s getting left behind!” Seth yelled, overhearing the conversation. “Everyone lock in!”
Shae peered down at the drop… beautiful, yet terrifying.
Em blinked over at her, and something bold sparked in her eyes. “Here we go.”
“One, two, three!” the group screamed in unison.
For a second, Shae was weightless. Like she was suspend- ed in time. And then the water crashed up around her, filling up all of her senses.
Shae surfaced, a wild and euphoric energy surging through her. Her limbs tingled, and the rush of pressure made the blood roar in her ears.
Her friends' voices echoed around the cove.
“Holy shit!”
“That was fucking AMAZING!”
Brodie whooped.
Seth burst out of the water nearby. Pumping both fists into the air. “Legends!” He shouted. “Did I not tell you this would change your life? What’d I say?”
Shae laughed, wiping the water from her eyes.
Em broke the surface a few feet away. Slicking her hair back with both her hands. Sunlight flashed across the water. Em laughed wildly, letting out a loud, “whoop” before dunking herself. Shae chuckled.
Kira swam over to Shae. “Worth waking up early for?”
“Well, I’m just glad I’m still alive.”
“Riiight. It’s the little things,” Kira quipped.
Claire was already almost to the shore.
“What’s the rush, Claire?” Shae called after her, wading through the small waves.
“It’s fucking cold!” Claire hollered back.
“She's right,” Kira added. “I can’t feel my legs. Let’s go.” Kira picked up speed, full on, swimming toward the shore.
Shae looked back at Em. She was floating on her back, staring up at the sky.
Shae grinned, the tide tugging her backward toward Em. For a second, she imagined herself next to Em, staring skyward, lingering in the simple for a little longer.