I felt myself starting to slowly sink down and began to panic.

But then I was being pulled up by strong arms, and I reached the surface to find Troy in front of me, grinning like an idiot.

"See, that was fun right?" He asked.

"Yeah, I guess." I admitted, biting my lip.

I watched his eyes flicker down at that small action for a split second.

But then he broke the moment by splashing water in my face.

"Hey!" I exclaimed.

"Sorry, you need to stay focused. You wanna learn how to swim or not?" He asked, giving me a serious look.

"Not really."

"Well too bad!" He yelled, before taking my hands off of his arms, and placing them around his neck, pulling me closer and placing his hands on my waist.

"What am I exactly learning?" I asked, raising a brow at our proximity.

"How to stay afloat. You just move your legs as if riding a bicycle." Troy explained.

"You're enjoying this aren't you?" I asked as he moved even closer.

"Very much." He winked at me.

Then he moved us over to the dock, and told me to hold onto the edge of it.

"Okay now try it on your own." He instructed, his hands leaving my waist.

I gripped on to the dock even tighter and tried moving my legs like he said.

"You have to let go of the dock sugar." Troy said, smiling at me in amusement.

"What? Do you want me to drown?" I asked, looking at him as if he had two heads.

Troy laughed at my panic, then moved closer and floated behind me, his hands around my waist but not exactly touching.

"If you start to sink, I'll grab you. Trust me Ava." He spoke softly.

And I did. Very hesitantly, I let go of the dock and moved my legs like he said.

But it didn't work and I started to sink. My heart pounded in my chest.

Before I could scream, a pair of hands grabbed my waist and held me in place. "You almost had it." He spoke.

"I don't want to do this Troy." I spoke, turning around in is arms and holding onto his shoulders.

Troy seemed to understand and nodded, before grinning. "Well I have no problem with holding you against me." He winked.

I rolled my eyes, before I got an idea.

"Actually, why don't you be my dolphin." I grinned.

Troy looked up at me in confusion. "Is that supposed to be romantic?"

"No you idiot. Here, I'll show you." I grinned, before moving around his body and then climbing onto his back, my arms wrapping around his shoulders and my legs around his waist.

"Well it is more comfortable." Troy shrugged.

"That way TroyTroy!" I yelled, sticking my arm out in front of us.

"What did you just call me?"

"GO!" I yelled in his ear, causing him to obey and he began swimming over to where Alex and Vince were splashing around like idiots.

Brianna and Rory were making out somewhere further and Jennifer was laid down in the dock, tanning. I looked over to see Drew sitting by himself and was surprised to find his eyes already on me.

I looked away when I felt a splash of water to see Alex and Vince had started attacking us.

"Not today! TroyTroy! Attack the foul beasts!" I ordered.

I could almost feel him roll his eyes, before he complied and we started attacking back.

Well, Troy mostly. I just yelled and cheered in his ear.

"Come on guys! This is unfair, I have a crazy woman on my back and am outnumbered!" Troy whined, causing me to slap his back.

"Who are you calling crazy!?" I yelled.

We continued to splash around and have fun, until Brianna and Rory said we should eat now.

I begrudgingly got out of the water with Troy.

"Did you have fun?" Troy asked as I walked back to where everyone else was.

"Yeah!" I grinned. "Thanks for not drowning me." I smiled up at him now genuinely.

"You're welcome. Although I did want to at times, especially when you kept yelling 'kill them all TroyTroy!'" He mimicked.

I laughed at his girl voice impersonation.

We all then sat down and ate some delicious sandwiches that Brianna had made for us. We were all talking and laughing and having a good time.

I then realized how much I would miss this. I had never had friends like this, I had never been so carefree and happy.

It saddened me that I was going to leave in six days, and I wondered if I'd ever find people who could make me laugh and be happy like I was today.

I got up after I was done and walked over to the dock, sitting at the end.

No one seemed to notice me leave thankfully. I wanted some time to stare at the beautiful lake because I knew I'd probably never come back here again.

Then I heard footsteps approaching and sighed. That was a short moment.

I turned and was surprised to see Jennifer standing right behind me.

"Hey." I greeted anyways, smiling up at her.

"I know what's going on." She spat out, her venomous tone taking me by surprise.

"What are you talking about?" I asked confused.

"Oh don't play dumb, please. I see the way he looks at you and how you've been stealing glances all day." She glared.

"Jennifer, what is this about even?" I asked, my brows furrowing.

"Just shut up! Shut your whore mouth okay! We may have some troubles in our relationship, but Drew loves me! He loves me and he doesn't need girls like you to distract him." She spat out.

"Jennifer I-" I didn't get to finish my sentence.

Because in that moment, my body hit the water, the sting of her foot hitting my back still there as I submerged.

I struggled to stay up. I tried kicking my legs like Troy had taught me.

I tried screaming when all I did was keep sinking further down. Water filled my lungs. My gaze went hazy and started to dim.

In that moment, I realized I was relieved.

Relieved because I had not ended up dying how I thought I would. I wasn't around my monstrous family. I wasn't being beheaded in my own home. I was drowning around people who had accepted me and made me happy.

No, I wasn't ready to leave yet and still wanted to live more, but I was relieved that I had managed to find happiness before I died.

Then just before everything turned black, I found a mesmerizing pair of green eyes staring back at me.

Then everything went black.

Drew's POV

I watched her get up and slip away, thinking no one noticed her leave.

My eyes trailed after her retreating figure, which stopped at the end of the dock to sit down.

I wanted more than anything to go and join her. To formally apologize for earlier. I just wanted to talk to her.

Just as I started to get up, I saw Jennifer leave my side and strut her way to Avery.

I watched in curiosity as to why she would go to her. I knew for a fact Jennifer didn't like Avery, even though she tried to hide it.

"Hey Drew, check this out." Vince punched my arm, causing my eyes to leave them and to face Vince.

I watched as he threw a grape in the air and caught it in his mouth, giving me a proud smile after.

I rolled my eyes. "How many tries did it take you to master that?" I raised a brow.

Vince glared at me. "Way to ruin my joy."

I then looked up to see Jennifer walking back to me, swaying her hips trying to look seductive, but really she looked like a retarded horse.

My eyes then instantly went to search for Avery, who was not with Jennifer.

My stomach dropped when I realized she was nowhere to be seen on the dock.

She wasn't in the water either, because she couldn't swim. I had heard her earlier telling Troy.

Getting up from my spot now, I ran over to the dock, ignoring Jennifer's pleas to stop and the guys' questions.

I reached the end of the dock where she had been sitting not two minutes ago.

I looked down and my heart stopped when I saw a pool of black hair swirling around, sinking down.

Without a second thought, I pulled off my shirt and dove in, swimming down to reach her as fast as I could.

My heart was drumming. I couldn't lose her. I barely knew her but the thought of losing her made me swim faster.

I reached her finally to see her beautiful light blue eyes dimming, before they fluttered shut.

I grabbed her waist and swam up to reach the surface, using all my strength. My muscles cried in protest and my bruises and cuts ached, but I ignored it and pushed through.

Finally, we broke the surface and I took in a large gulp of air. Then, I swam us over to the dock where everyone was standing in shock.

"GET BACK!" I ordered, placing Avery down on the dock and moving over to straddle her.

"I-I she fell in and I-I d-didn't know-" Jennifer wailed.

"Shut up! Stay away from her!" I roared, causing her to grow silent.

I pushed my hands against her chest and repeated the action several times, praying for her to open her eyes again.

I leaned down and was relieved to hear a faint heartbeat.

I pushed some more until finally, she coughed up a concerning amount of water, moving to sit up.

I grabbed her arms and gently moved her up. "Easy, easy." I said softly.

Avery coughed some more, before turning to me. "Drew, your bruises." She whispered, her eyes going to my chest, then flickering to everyone standing around us.

My heart melted. She just came back from a near death experience and the first thing she does is worry about my secret being found out.

"I don't give a damn about that, you almost drowned." I said, my eyes intensely staring her down.

  "But I didn't." She managed a weak smile, before her teeth started chattering.

"Somebody get her a towel!" I yelled, my eyes not leaving hers. I heard a pair of retreating footsteps sprinting.

I pulled her closer to me, my arms wrapping around her to keep her warm.

Everyone stayed back and didn't speak, because they knew better. I wasn't letting anyone close to her until she completely recovered.

It scared me how strongly I cared for her right now and how I wouldn't think twice about ripping Jennifer's head off if she even tried to take a step closer.

But I ignored these strange feelings and just held a shaking Avery in my arms, whispering to her that it would be okay and that I was here.

-

How'd you like Drew's POV? Please vote and comment your thoughts! See you soon beautiful peeps xxxxxxxxxx