Cleo throws her head back and laughs, a sound that's as clear as a bell and just as pretty. Her eyes dance with amusement as her hair shakes into her face. I find myself reaching out and tucking the loose hair behind her ear.

Cleo looks at my hand, and an unknown emotion crosses her face, making her smile a little wider. She stares into my eyes, her smile fading as I stare back. She begins to lean in, and I unconsciously do so as well.

Suddenly, an uninvited voice cuts into our little moment, and I look away bashfully, taking my hand down and turning to face my mother. "Sierra Bridges Burke! What did you think you were doing?"

Thinking on my toes, I say, "I, uh, I saw a wasp and I had to get away from it." Mom rolls her eyes, and I fight the urge to flip her the bird. Mom knows I have an intense phobia of wasps and will do anything to get away from one.

Either way, she doesn't question my story, and she grabs me away from Cleo. "Come on. Your brother wants to go swimming and it's getting late." I nod and rise from my seat. Turning to face Cleo, I blurt out, "Would you like to come swimming with us?" She nods eagerly and says, "Yes! Let me go ask my dad real quick."

As she rushes to the wheel, I rake a hand down my face in exasperation. I really need to work on my impulse control.

***

When Cleo comes back, she says that her dad said yes to coming swimming with us. Mom brings the boat closer to Cleo's boat, and soon we're boarding it while Mom holds it still. I get on first, but I stumble as I'm getting in and I would've fallen if Cleo had not caught my wrist.

A shiver runs down my spine as Cleo continues to hold on to me even after we're both safely in the boat. Her skin feels warm to the touch and reeks of sunscreen. It burns my own skin like fire, but it has a sort of comforting feel to it and I don't want to let go.

Mom fires up the engine after making sure David is comfortable. As we race across the lake, Cleo continues to hold on to me.

***

"We've got a little bit of time before we need to head towards the cove," Mom says. "Would you and your new friend like to go tubing?"

I look at our green and black tube with anxiety. I like to tube, but I don't like to go fast. I don't want Cleo to think I'm some kind of wimp for going slow.

I look over at her and she smiles and says, "I'll go after you do." I nod and slip into a life jacket while Mom sets up the tube and the rope.

When she's finished, I climb onto the swim platform. Mom brings the tube closer. I swing one leg on top of it, then stretch out the leg. In one fluid motion, I swing the other leg onto the tube, and grab the handles.

Mom pushes me off and I straighten both legs until my feet drag in the water. Then I make sure I have a firm grip on both of the green handles before I lay down on my belly and give Mom the 'I'm ready' sign.

She revs the engine up and starts off slowly, at idle speed. Nervously, I look at Cleo. She's sitting at the stern of the boat, watching me with an amused expression on her face.

Bravely, I give Mom a thumbs-up, telling her to go faster. I don't care if I'm wildly tossed from the tube, I will not have Cleo thinking I'm a baby.

Mom speeds up considerably, and I smile. This is only a little faster than what I usually go. I relax my grips on the handles and scoot back a little on the tube so my feet are resting in the water.

I take another peek at Cleo, who's still wearing that amused expression. A flash of white-hot humiliation floods my body, and I grip the handles tighter and give Mom the signal to go faster.

A smile lights up her face and she speeds up...a lot. Gasping, I tighten my fingers around the handles and press my body up against the tube.

Cleo's expression changes from amused to satisfied, and I puff up with pride. I did it! Cleo doesn't think I'm a baby!

Smiling, I decide to go one step further. I release my hand from one of the handles, and I begin to trail my fingers in the water for Cleo to see.

By now, the boat is going much faster than I normally would have allowed and my chest is probably getting fractured from bouncing on the tube when we hit waves, but I'm happy.

I feel the spray from the water flying into my face, and it feels good, nice and cool. The water is rushing past my feet as they dangle in the lake, and the thrill is really getting to me. I throw my head back and laugh from the pure joy of it.

Meanwhile, Cleo has taken out her phone and is aiming it at me. Warmth floods my face as I realize she's taking a picture of me on the tube. I smile broadly and try to sit up a little more.

When Cleo lowers the phone, she beams at me and gives me a thumbs-up. I smile back.

Suddenly her happy expression turns to concern as a wave goes under the boat. A wave that splashes over the side, completely soaking her.

A wave of horror runs through me as I realize that that wave is headed towards me next.

As I'm thinking this, another giant wave splashes over the side of the boat, followed by another. A tremor runs through me as I realize that it's not just one giant wave that's going to hit the tube; it's a series of giant waves.

Gritting my teeth, I grip both handles as tight as I can and I press my body to the tube hard. But I don't tell Mom to slow down. Now's my chance to look brave and daring in front of Cleo.

The first wave passes under my tube, and I barely manage to hang on to the handles as my legs are bounced skyward. I grit my teeth as I come down on the tube with a tremendous thump.

The next wave is at least twice the size of the first one, and I grasp the handles even tighter.

When the wave passes under the tube, I do everything possible to hold on, but my efforts are in vain. The handles slip from my hands and I manage to utter a gasp before I'm launched airborne.