In Over Your Head

The two bikini clad girls giggled as they hopped down the carpeted stairs, beach towels and goggles clutched in their fingers. “Daddy, we’re gonna go swim in the lake, okay?” Susie called, swinging herself around the banister at the bottom of the staircase. Violet and Susie walked past the living room doorway, Susie’s Dad sitting comfortably in a recliner, newspaper in hand. “Be careful, you two.” He ordered despite the hint of a smile on his face. He knew they were both excellent swimmers, but as a parent, he was obligated to say it. “Aiden, why don’t you go read out on the dock so you can keep an eye on them.” He hooked a thumb in the direction of the screen door that lead out to the short backyard, sloping subtly down to the rocky shore of the lake.

Aiden groaned, but a stern look from his father made him get off the couch and slump towards the door after the girls. “Why, Dad, they know how to swim well enough.” He grumbled, not expecting a response. He knew arguing was useless.

Violet and Susie had already laid out their towels under the sun, slipping off their colorful flip flops and testing the water with their big toes. “Oooh, it’s a bit chilly today!” Susie exclaimed, shivering for effect. Violet rolled her eyes, smiling. “Psh, it is not! You’re just a big wuss.” Susie crossed her arms, a challenging grin creeping across her lips. “Oh yeah? I dare you to jump in first, then, Miss The-water-isn’t-cold.”

“Fine, I will.” Violet accepted her dare, slowly sliding her arms out of the cover-up sundress she was wearing. The firey hues contrasted with the deep blues and greens of her suit, the pair covering all colors of the rainbow. She took her time tying up her long black hair into a tight ponytail atop her head, laughing when Susie began to tap her foot against the dark wood of the dock. “You're stalling!” She accused, lunging forward.

Violet evaded her attack by jumping sideways, hoping that Susie lost her balance and tumbled into the water, but she wasn’t that fortunate. They mirrored each other, standing at the edge of the dock facing the shadowy water, waiting with mischievous smiles for the other to strike first.

Out of the corner of her eye, Violet saw Aiden approaching them, ambling over to the bench on the dock with a thick book clutched in his hand. Curiosity flitted shortly across his face when he took in the girls’ stances, but soon left, his expression turning unreadable. “I’m surprised you two aren’t already racing each other across the lake.” He commented, his heavy footfalls thumping hollowly on the surface of the wooden platform.

“Yeah, well, we’re trying to settle something first. It’s none of your business anyway. Butt out.” Susie retorted meanly, just the way a little sister might. He just shrugged, uninterested, and made his way over to the cushioned bench.

Violet’s gaze had shifted from Susie over to Aiden and Susie used this distraction to her advantage. She pounced forwards, arms stretched out in front; the perfect position to push someone. Violet was lucky to have her quick reflexes, and, to Susie’s dismay, dodged at the last second. “You can't catch me!” She yelled giddily, leaping to the other side of the dock around Susie.

Susie growled, despite the smile on her face, and threw herself at Violet again. She missed, for the third time. Violet stuck her tongue out, mocking Susie and laughing at her expression of frustration. “That’s it!” Susie declared, pointing a long nailed finger at Violet. “You're going into this lake!”

Susie and Violet both screamed simultaneously, falling into the water with confused expressions bending their brows. Susie hadn’t pushed Violet and Violet hadn’t even touched Susie. When they surfaced, Violet knew exactly who did it.

“AIDEN!” Susie shrieked, making a flock of crows in a nearby evergreen caw and fly away. He looked over the top of his book, lounging on the bench like he’d been there the whole time. His eyebrows rose at her. “What?” He asked innocently, a smile threatening to break out. His lips quirked at the corners as he tried to hold it back.

“You pushed us in! I know it was you! Don’t play dumb with me!” She fumed, climbing up the rust incrusted ladder screwed to the platform to stick a wet finger in his face. “Hey, water is a book’s enemy.” He said, slapping it closed and holding it away from her dripping body. Violet had to laugh at the absurdity of his expression against Susie’s fury, how it seemed to glance off of him.

She regretted it instantly when Susie rounded on her, turning all her anger towards her and piercing holes in her face with the intensity of her stare. Violet held her hands up in surrender. “Hey, calm down, Suz. He just pushed us in. We wanted to go swimming after all, don’t get all fired up about it.”

It only took one step and a good shove and Violet was in the chilly water once again.
Susie yelled, frustrated, hands balled into fists at her sides. “I cannot believe you!” She huffed, turning her back to him. Violet surfaced, taking in air and wiping wet strands back from her face. “C'mon Suz, ignore him. Let’s race.” She suggested, gesturing with her arm for Susie to get back into the water. Reluctantly she slipped back in, disturbing the liquid with her body.

The water rippled restlessly around them as they swam between the parallel shores. The second time they got to the other side they stopped for a rest and stretched out on a floating platform, letting the sun dry their dripping skin.

“Don’t mind Aiden,” Violet murmured, knowing Susie was still thinking about what happened earlier. “He’s just being your big brother. He aims to make you mad and enjoys your anger and frustration. You remember him smiling up at you, right? He didn’t care; he was happy that he made you mad. He thrives off of that.” Suz just made a grunting noise indicating that she had been listening.

“But you don’t have any older siblings who’re like him. He’s a big idiot.” Susie sighed heavily, rolling over onto her elbow to face Violet more directly. “Do you really think that’s what he wants when he makes me mad?” She pondered aloud, her eyes darting all around in her head in thought.

Violet nodded and closed her eyes, reveling in the warm blanket the suns beams cast down on her. Susie hummed in thought, rolling onto her back and copying Violet. Violet turned her head to the side and watched Aiden flip pages on the opposite dock. His dusky brown hair was short and messy; it hung down low enough to cover some of his forehead but not shadow his blue eyes. The black shirt he wore hung loosely on his frame, but pulled tight in just the right places and his jeans were dark-wash, faded and gray. There was a hole at the left knee, the darkened edges fraying into white.

“Earth to Vi.” Susie jabbed at her shoulder and Violet blinked over at her. “What’re you staring at?” She demanded, her eyes following the trail of where Violet’s had just been. Her lips curved into an excited O and Violet braced herself for what she was about to say.

She gasped dramatically for starters. “You like him!” She half yelled half whispered. Violet rolled her eyes and groaned, turning away from Susie. She squealed. “I should’ve thought of that before! Ooooh, you would look so cute together! And then, if you get married, you’ll be, like, legally my sister!” She leapt up to her feet and grabbed Violet’s hand, tugging her none-too-gently onto her own.

“We must tell him the great news!” Susie smiled gleefully. “Hey-!” She started, waving her arm in a huge arc to get Aiden’s attention. Violet slapped a hand over her mouth and jumped off the platform, plunging them both into the lake. “Are you nuts?!” Violet hissed once their heads were above water. “We don’t even know if he likes me back!” “Well then, let’s find out!” Suz replied simply, oblivious to Violet’s anxiety.

“No, Suz wait! Please, let’s talk about this! I don’t know what he’s even like!” She begged, swimming alongside Susie. She giggled in response. “He’s smart, he reads a lot, he’s not a pervert, and he loves taking walks, he’s perfect for you!” Violet groaned, knowing at this point that Susie wouldn’t stop. Nothing Violet could say would prevent Suz from marching up to Aiden and telling him she likes him.
“Please, Susie. What if he rejects me? It’ll be your fault, you know.” She pleaded again feebly, without any real intention to win the debate. Susie just snorted, amused. “He won't; you're too pretty to turn down.” Violet was so surprised by that comment that she stopped in mid-kick.

Quickly regaining herself, she paddled up next to Susie. They were halfway to the dock; maybe if she pretended to drown, but acted real enough, Susie would totally forget about this whole thing? That might work, she thought. Violet could, at times, be a great actress.

Before she could begin her act, however, Susie was pulled under.

Something appeared to grab her ankles and yank her underneath the water; it closed in rapidly over her disappearing head. “OhmyGod - Susie!” Violet shrieked in shock and horror, taking a deep breath before diving down into the murky water. To her frustration, she could only see a foot or two in front of her face through the shadowy green lake.

She rushed to the surface, gulping in air before throwing herself back into the depths of the lake. She quickly glimpsed the dock before she went under and saw that Aiden had stood up from his seat, looking out towards Violet. She scissored her legs as fast as she could, propelling herself downwards with her arms. Squinting her eyes open, her cheeks bubbled and she knew she was running out of air quickly.

“Damn it!” She cursed loudly when she got back above water, treading it and huffing. She felt light headed and knew, with a sinking heart, that she wouldn’t be able to go under again for a few minutes at least. And at that point, it would be too late.
Aiden dove in, swimming swiftly over to her. “Where’s Susie?” He asked in a hurried tone, bordering the edge of worry. Violet shook her head, eyes squeezed closed. Tears burned behind her lids, threatening to push past the barrier when she thought of Susie’s scared face being suffocated by water.

Aiden dove under, leaving Violet to tread alone on the surface. His body faded with every kick he took, searching for any sign of Susie until she couldn’t see his feet through the dull, mucky water.

He returned a minute or so later, shaking his own head in despair. Tears filled her eyes at the action, making his sister’s death true. This was reality.

She desperately wanted to reject reality.

“S-Susie…” She mumbled between pants, trying to regain her breath. Tears burned hotly in her eyes in great contrast to the chilly water she treaded.

“We need to get back to shore. Something pulled her down and I’m sure it won’t mind two more humans, whatever it was.” He told her as he grabbed her upper arm to help steer her in the right direction.

Just as he let go, she shot under the water with a gasp. Aiden submerged as quickly as he could, pumping his legs and arms against the water. He ground his teeth together, squinting his eyes as they darted around, determined not to lose her. Her pale hand waved in front of him and he grabbed at it frantically, clutching it with an iron grip and tugging without restraint. She came up toward him but the thing that had her ankles yanked her down deeper.

Her floating face looked lifeless already, eyes closed and lips parted, but he was resolute on keeping her alive. He already lost his sister and he wouldn’t let anyone else die, not when it was in his power to save them.

He gripped her limp wrist firmly in both of his hands and heaved with all the strength that he could, her body coming towards him again. He pulled back his leg and threw it forward into the thing that was trying to drown her, his foot connecting effectively. Her ankles slipped out of its loosened grasp and he hauled her to the surface, his oxygen level depleting dangerously fast.

He wove his arm underneath hers across the top of her stomach, her back on his front, and he crushed her body to his to keep her lolling head above the water. He felt exhaustion settle in his limbs, but he wouldn’t stop until he got to the dock. That thing was pissed and he knew, in his state, they would both go down without a trace if it came back for them.

As he neared the wooden platform he hurled her up onto it before climbing out via the ladder and stumbling over his weary feet. He fell to his knees, his energy spent and chest heaving. Air in his lungs never felt so good.

His eyelids were suddenly like lead, but he held them open against his will. Before he could let torpor take him over the edge of sleep he had to make sure that Violet was still alive and breathing. He put two fingers to her jugular and felt a subtle pulse. That was all he needed.

Putting his ear by her mouth, he noticed she wasn’t breathing. “CPR.” He rasped, leaning over her body to press his hands on her heart. He pushed again and again, stopping to put his mouth to hers and clamp her nose shut. Pumping his hands against her chest again several more times, he began to lose hope. He pressed his mouth to hers and blew air into it, hoping her lungs would take it in.

A gurgling noise came from deep in her throat before she rolled over and spewed lake water onto the wooden boards. Coughing and gasping, she struggled for air. Aiden held a shaking hand to the small of her back to help support her as relief washed over him. He heard rapid footfalls behind him, his Dad’s low voice following shortly after. “What the hell happened? Where’s Susie?!” He asked, but neither of them was in a fit state to answer him no matter how much he pleaded for a reply.

Aiden’s eyelids suddenly slid closed and he fell on his side in an uncomfortable position, his arms out at odd angles from his body. Violet fell back and tried to regain her breath, looking up at the blurry trees lining the lake. “I’m sorry.” She whispered, feeling like she had just run a marathon and then drank way too much water.

“I’m sorry...”