"It's fun, isn't it?" I ask when we're both sitting down.
"Mm," he replies, his arms wrapped tightly around his stomach, shoulders hunched over.
I turn my gaze out to the ocean, searching for the girls. They're far enough that we have to shout to each other, and even then half of our words are swallowed up by the wind.
"They capsized!" They yell, gesturing to the front of the group.
"What? A boat capsized?" I shout back.
"Yeah!"
"On accident or purpose?"
"We—"
"Huh?"
In the end, they have to shrug, too far to communicate.
"Someone capsized?" Curtis asks behind me.
I face him. "Yeah, but they're fine. Just proves that accidents aren't a big deal."
Curtis looks out at the water, deep and blue. His throat bobs.
"Don't worry. That guy told you that there weren't sharks out here. Right?"
"You never know," he mumbles.
I look out at the water, the waves gentle, the wind refreshing on my skin. We're silent, and after ten minutes, I see another boat capsize. I'm certain the group of twenty-something boys did it on purpose, wobbling on the side.
"Are you bored?" I ask suddenly.
He blinks. "Er, I guess?"
"Cool." I walk up to his side of the boat.
"Liam, what are you doing? The balance —"
"Huh?" I say, noticing how a gust of wind has gathered out of nowhere.
"The sail," Curtis says, jumping up and heading to it. The boat tips. "Oh, holy shit —"
"It's okay, Curtis." I raise my voice because the wind has gotten louder, and it's hard to hear each other. For a moment, I wonder whether I should go through with this. I'm not an idiot — I know Curtis isn't keen on sailing and probably doesn't want to get wet.
I think of that party last year, and I think of him dating Kennedy now, and I set my jaw. I move closer to the edge of the boat.
"It's going to capsize," Curtis says as our side of the boat tips lower and lower. "Liam, get away from there."
I don't move.
"Liam!" Curtis shrieks before the boat completely tips and I fall backwards, water splashing over me. Curtis's cry is the last thing I hear before my ears are submerged with water.
9
Curtis: Ice Cold
I am going to die.
