Chapter 13

Hanging out with Logan was pretty cool. I learned that he went to school with Owen and Adrianna and he played soccer. He wasn't easy to talk to though, like I kind of had to beg him for information, which made for pretty awkward conversation. 

The waves were kind of rough, but we decided to go out anyway. They were especially rough for me because I still wasn't used to the power of the Pacific Ocean. Once I got out there though it didn't seem too bad. Logan was pretty bad at surfing so he just rode a wave back to shore after a few minutes. Owen and I stayed out though, accepting the challenge.

On the next wave I decided to go out a little bit farther into the ocean. Surfing made me feel so powerful, the waves chopping against my board. I felt so free. When I got out to the spot, I looked around. I was farther out than I had thought. I couldn't see the shore anymore, and Owen was nowhere in sight. I started panicking. I must have been pushed out to sea while I was thinking.

"OWEN!" I screamed. I could hear how afraid I sounded, and that just made me even more scared. "OWE-" I started to scream again, but I was thrust under the surface of the water by a wave. My body was flailing when I resurfaced. I was coughing uncontrollably. Spitting up water and gagging. I tried treading water, but the current kept trying to pull me under. I tried swimming back in the direction of the shore, or where I thought the shore was, but I didn't get very far.

This is it. I thought. I'm not going to get out of here. I was breathing hard, and my tears blended in with the salt water. I was about to go under again when a hand reached out and grabbed me by the bicep. I was lifted out of the water and placed onto something hard. I think I was on a surfboard. I didn't dare open my eyes, I was still severely panicking. I didn't want to see anything that I didn't want to. I didn't want to send myself deeper into fright. When we got to the beach, I was basically passed out. 

I was lifted off the surfboard and picked up by someone strong. My body hurt everywhere. I rested my head against someone's chest. I tried to open my eyes. When I did, my eyes had trouble focusing. Eventually, they did and I was relieved to see who it was. I was currently being held in the arms of the gorgeous Wesley Stromberg.

He was looking down at me, his eyes extremely worried. Once he saw that I was awake he started to put me down, but I wouldn't let go of him. I just wrapped my arms around him and buried my face into his chest. He just held me. I needed him. He walked over and sat down on a beach chair. I was sitting on his lap now, still cuddled into him. Wes made me feel safe.

Drew and Adrianna came running over. Adrianna was crying hysterically and Drew looked insanely concerned. 

"Oh my god! What happened?!" Adrianna asked as she fell to the floor at Wesley's feet.

"She was out surfing with your brother and she went too far out. I saw her go under, so I paddled out to-" Wes started. I could feel his entire body tense up. Owen and Logan came up to us.

"Thank god you're okay." Owen said to me.

"Are you kidding?!" I've never heard Wesley sound so mad, "She could have died! Why the hell would you take her out there? The waves are completely unpredictable today!" I grabbed his hand, and I could feel him start to calm down.

"Guys, please don't fight, it's okay I'm fine." I said. But I wasn't fine. I could have died. I was still hugging Wes. He kept me calm. If he wasn't there I would probably be unconscious somewhere floating in the water. I looked over at Owen. He looked devastated. "Wes, it wasn't his fault." 

I saw a look in Wesley's eyes that I had never seen before. It was like a part of him died. "Are you kidding Avery? Oh my god, if anything had happened to you..." He shook his head violently before he finished speaking, like the rest of the sentence was too hard for him to say. He looked off into the distance, not looking any of us in the eye.

"How did you even know where to find me?" I asked with disbelief. His gaze returned to mine.

"Uh after you and Owen left for the skate park he texted Adrianna where you guys went." Wesley said.

"And I don't really like the skate park so I went to hang out with Wes and Drew," She told me. "Then Owen texted us that you were headed to the beach, so we grabbed our boards and were going to meet up with you there, and that's when Wes saw you." She smiled softly at me. "It was kind of heroic actually. He just ran in there to save you." She looked at me.

I glanced up at Wes who had a sort of smile on his face. I looked up at him with gratitude. We were just staring at each other. I glanced at Adrianna and tilted my head over to the side. She met my eyes and nodded. She turned to everyone else.

"Hey guys! Uh, why don't we let Wes take Avery home, and we can go to the pier!" Adrianna said. I looked up and no one moved. I gave her another look and she grabbed Drew's hand. "Come on babe let's go!" I saw Drew raise his eyebrows and shot an electric smile in Wesley's direction. Wes and I both started laughing as they walked away with Logan and Owen in tow. 

In a few minutes, we were alone. I was still sitting on him, but it wasn't awkward. I could tell he didn't really mind. We didn't say anything to each other for a while. We just sat there. I think it was still a little hard to grasp the concept that if Wes wasn't there to save me, I wouldn't be here right now. 

"So do Drew and I have to keep you on a leash or something?" He asked me jokingly.

"Ha! I could say the same for you!" I replied punching him in the arm. He winced slightly. "Oh my god, wait! How did you manage to save me? Your shoulder!" I gave him a worried look. He bit his lip. 

"Well, it wasn't probably wasn't the best thing for me to do." He admitted. I looked into his eyes and he brought his good arm around to the back of his head and rubbed his neck. That's another thing that he does when he gets nervous. I placed my head on his other shoulder and put my hand through his hair.

"What would I do with out you?" I asked him. And really, what would I do. Wesley is always there to save the day. He's my hero.

"Well you would probably be in critical condition." He laughed. 

"Thank you." I said, as I turned myself to face him. I smiled at him. I just looked at him for a while. His hair was shorter than when I first met him. I liked it better short. I thought it was cute. I like the way that it just sticks up in different angles. I put my hand back in his hair and spiked up the front. I started laughing. Wes gave me that signature smirk and shook me off playfully.

"God Avery you're just like my mom." He said jokingly. He brought his hand up to his hair and messed it up again. 

"Hahaha, I like it. It's cute." I ruffled his hair again, just to annoy him. This time he ruffled mine back. My hair was almost dry now; we must have been sitting there for a while. Wes must have sensed it because he spoke up,

"Hey, I think it's time we get you home." He said smiling. We got up and before we could walk very far, I stumbled. My legs weren't used to walking yet I guess. Wes caught me though, just like he always did. I started laughing. Wow. I was not usually this spastic. He turned my body and lifted me so I was standing up straight again, facing him. I wrapped my arms around his neck and he put his hands on my waist. I just moved closer to him, shortening the space between us. 

He had that smirk on his face again. God, that smirk. I couldn't help it. I cradled the back of his head in my hands and kissed him.