[55.1] Going For a Swim

My mother and I stood on the beach appreciating the water, both of us were matching with flowery sun dresses perfect for the beach. I kicked the water with my foot, "It's warmer than I thought it would be."

My mother smiled as she watched me play with the water, "Do you know how to swim?"

"I do. My school was lucky enough to have a swimming pool." I mumbled to myself, "Although I hated being forced to swim with the rest of the students."

"Oh, wonderful! I also know how to swim." My mother turned to face the people behind us, "Do any of you know how to swim?"

In the shade, Cyrus, the Headmaster, and Zephyr were all sitting on the ground with grumpy expressions. The Headmaster had his arms crossed and grumbled in response, which didn't seem to answer if he could swim or not. Zephyr was playing with a hermit crab, ignoring us while wearing a disgruntled expression.

Cyrus was fanning himself with a grim look made worse by the shade he was hiding in. However, he was still able to reply politely, "I can."

But his face said: I'm not going into the water.

My Mother let out a sigh, "Can't you all just try to enjoy yourselves?"

Cyrus, Zephyr, The Headmaster: "No."

I pursed my lips, "Should I throw them into the water?"

My mother just laughed and tugged on my hand, "It's fine. Let them sulk in the shade. We can enjoy the water without them."

I took off my shoes and tapped the water, creating a floating ice chunk. I giggled, "Do you want to go sailing?"

My Mother climbed on board and held onto me, "Aye-Aye!"

I used my wand to steer the ice boat and we traveled around. My Mother held on, "Watch out for the waves!"

"I'm watching, I'm watching." I glanced at the bottom of the crystal clear lake, "Do you think there are whales?"

"I doubt it." She glanced down, "I don't even see any fish."

"Are there such things as magical fishes?"

"I heard that if you travel south enough there are fishes that can fly."

"Seriously?"

"Maybe." She replied teasingly ominous, "No one who has ever been there has returned to tell the tale."

"...Then how do you know there are fish that fly if no one has come back to tell about it?"

She paused, "Good question."

As we stared into the water, I suddenly found it getting darker.

"Huh. Did a cloud cover the-"

My Mother and I both looked up simultaneously and froze when we saw a large wave looming over our heads.

"Oh fu-"

The wave crashed down on us, scattering us into the water and off of the ice chunk. I spun around in the water and waited until I was no longer being tossed around to swim back up.

I took a deep breath of hair once I broke the surface, "Mummy!"

She came up beside me and sprayed water all over me, "I'm here."

We both looked at each other and our miserable faces and broke out into laughter.

"I didn't see it."

My mother brushed the hair from her face, "It really did come out of nowhere-"

Another forceful wave crashed down on us, sending me spinning in the water.

Wow. I'm glad I'm wearing a light sundress and not a bikini.

That wave would have taken off my pants.

I resurfaced and sucked in a mouthful of air. This time, I prepared for the next wave and dove into it to avoid being thrown around again. I went back up and shook my hair, flinging water around. I laughed at myself.

The next wave arrived on cue. I dove back under and then stayed under, listening to the silence of the water around me.

I closed my eyes and floated for a while.

Mmm. This is nice.

It reminds me of the ocean back home.

I wish I could stay like this.

…I guess I should make an ice raft and stop enjoying this already.

I went to resurface but heard a sudden splash beside me. I turned in surprise to see a blur of a figure getting close to me alarmingly fast.

A shark!?

The blur of the image revealed a flash of golden hair. Arms wrapped around me and brought me to the surface.

I took a breath of fresh air and blinked away the water. Cyrus was holding me afloat, panting for air. His eyes were fixed on me with a slight obsessive blaze. I stared up at his face for a while with my heart thumping in my ears.

Hair was pressed onto his forehead and the rest of his long luxurious hair spread out around him. The water emphasized his blue eyes, giving them a depth that reached places I'd never seen.

I stared blatantly at his water-drenched face without realizing my cheeks were blushing.

He held me in one arm and started swimming to the beach. The waves weren't able to keep up with his athleticism and were no match for him.

I took the opportunity to hold onto him and feel up the muscles that were doing all the work.

I should pretend to drown more often.

When we were pulled to the beach, Zephyr was running around at the edge of the water screaming.

Cyrus pulled me up and helped me ashore, "Are you crazy?!"

I smiled innocently, "Crazy for you."

"..."

The Headmaster also arrived on the beach with my Mummy and turned to scold her, "Why weren't you watching her more closely!? You're supposed to supervise our little troublemaker, not get into trouble with her!"

My face twitched, "... Troublemaker?"

My Mother fiddled with her hands looking a bit guilty, "We were trying to see fish…"

I chuckled, "I wanted to see a whale."

My mother took her hair to wring out the water, "Let's go again. This time-"

Cyrus and the Headmaster both shouted at us, "Absolutely not!"

…After that, My mother and I weren't allowed near the water.