Page 21 of A Twist in Fate
“C'mon look at this! Where else would you want to be?” She turns around, slipping from my grasp and walks towards the water and sits down.
“You’re right, sunshine. You're always right.” I sit down beside her and play with one of the pebbles from beneath me. Being with her here feels like the day we sat together on the beach, but it feels as though so much has changed. Her hair has many golden streaks throughout it from the sun and the waves are much thicker than the day I met her. They are much more like curls. It feels like she's more comfortable now. She seems so much lighter and full of happiness. I hope that never leaves her even if she has to go soon.
“So, why did you want to bring me here?” she asks nervously, twiddling her thumbs.
“I don't know. I used to come here growing up with Mom and the girls on the days Dad was at work. We even had a picnic here, all of us. Mom said this is where she knew she loved him. They came here when they were younger, before me and before they were married. She told me that they had got lost through the woods trying to go camping and this is where fate had led them. She would use this to remind us about how we may plan to do something, but it may not be what happens or what is right for us. They had planned to camp in the field just beyond the woods but as a twist in fate they ended up right here, together. We stopped coming here after he died,” I say,and turn my attention towards Ivy. She is looking at me with a deep look in her eyes, as if she was thinking hard or not thinking at all. I can’t explain it.
“What?” I ask, embarrassment bubbling up within me. I never talk to anyone about here or about how much this place means to me. I don’t talk about Dad. I don't think Bailey has been here since she was young either.
“Nothing, really.” She turns away, a blush creeping up her face. “I'm just surprised you brought me here. I'm nothing special and this seems really special to you.”
“You’re amazing Ivy, and I just thought it would be nice to bring you here. We could swim if you want?” I feel vulnerable. I'm not sure if I like it.
“I don't have a swimming costume,” she says, shyly with her accent rolling off her tongue.
“Neither do I, we can just wear our clothes.” I stand up and softly take her hand, pulling her with me. “It's hot today. They will dry by the time we are back in the car.” She smiles up at me and kicks off her shoes, using me for balance.
My hand still in hers, I lead her to the water. The cool water brushes over the bare skin of my legs until the fabric of my shorts clings to my skin. I remember that the water continues to get deeper and in the middle I could barelystand as a teenager. The back, by the waterfall, must be almost ten feet deep. Ivy may struggle to swim in the water soon. When I turn towards her, watching as she slowly walks through the water, it is almost reaching her hips, and she is shivering ever so slightly, with an arm wrapped around herself.
“The water isn't even that cold,” I say, smirking at her. I tug at the hand she has in mine, pulling her further into the water.She squeals loudly, pulling her hand away from mine.
“Oh really?” she says with a mischievous look on her face.There’s my girl. “Is it not that cold, Lucas?” She instantly scoops up the water in her hands and flings it right at my chest. The next scoop of water hits my face, and I am not at all prepared for it. “Hm? You still warm over there, Lucas?”I laugh a little, rubbing the water away from my eyes.
“I can't believe you!” I walk towards her, quickly and wrap my wet arms around her waist, picking her up and dragging her further into the water.
“Let go of me! Stop it is freezing!” she yells, “Please, Lucas!” Once we reach the middle of the pool of water, I finally stop, bringing her through the water. Now the water hits my entire chest, and I am no longer cold withthe warmth of her body pressed up against mine. We are both silent for a moment, staring into each other’s eyes.Hers have golden specks right in the middle which flicker throughout her deep eyes. Her hair is partially wet towards the bottom and a few strands cling to her face. I brush it away, tucking the damp curl behind her ear.
“Um, you haven't let go,” she says quietly, adverting her gaze, towards the water.
“Oh, sorry.” I let go of her abruptly and her body quickly starts to sink beneath the water. Within seconds, I have a hold of her waist again lifting her up above the water. Her hair is now completely drenched, along with her clothes. Small droplets of water pepper across her face like her freckles. “Shit! I am so sorry. I cannot believe I forgot how deep the water is. Are you okay?” I ask, scanning her for injuries, panicked.
She looks down at the water for a moment and I think for a second that she is upset with me, but she then, all of a sudden, pushes down on my shoulders, forcing my head completely under the water, unexpectedly.
“I am going toget you back for that,” I say, as I lift myself back up, shaking my head to stop my hair sticking to my face. The small sprinkle of water falls around her.
“Yeah? How?” she says and, just for a moment, I think I see her eyes focus on my lips. Is she going to kiss me? I hold her thighs to wrap her legs round my waist and pull her further into the water, towards the waterfall. I now have to tread the water as it is too deep for me to touch the bottom. It is a lot harder holding up both yours and another person’s body weight, but I barley notice as I watch her face, feeling her all around me. She seems transfixed on the way I am holding her and reaches her arms to behind my neck, slowly. Ivy’s wavy hair is tucked behind her ears, and she looks beautiful.I am completely enamoured by her.
“Ivy,” I say, a little breathless.
“Yes?”
“I'm sorry.” A confused look passes her face before I pull us both under the crashing waterfall. She screams, loudly and when we come away from the water she says with a frown, “Lucas! My necklace fell off.” She wears the same gold necklace with the yellow stone, every day, but it is only visible if she wears a shirt that does not cover it.
She swims right into the deep water, removing herself from me. I instantly feel the loss of her touch. I feel cold, duller. I instantly start looking in the deepestpart water and tell her to look where she can stand. It is hard to see anything without the light shining on this area of the water, and it slightly burns my eyes. What must be an hour later, we cannot find it anywhere and Ivy swears that she hates me for it but the longer she tries to ignore me, a larger smile creeps up onto her face. I will make it up to her either way. I want to.I have to.
As we walk down the streets of my hometown, I forgot how nostalgic this place is for me. I don't visit often, and I wish I did, but there are so many memories tied to my dad in this town. There are too many. Our clothes are already dry, and the sun is starting to lower across the sky, making it flow into an orange hue which lights up Ivy's face, flawlessly.
“I'm going to miss you when you leave sunshine,”I say, quietly.
“Yeah?”She looks up at me, smiling slightly. I feel bad that she is missing her necklace, but I already have a plan to make it up to her.
“Yeah. Bailey is far less annoying when you're around.” She laughs as we continue to walk towards thestore. I let myself think about her leaving, just for a moment. She will be at school just like she wants, and she will be happy.
“What does that look mean?” Ivy asks.
“What look?” I turn to face her.
“You look upset.” I think for a moment.
