I didn't go to the pool for the next three weeks. My mum was constantly checking in on me because she knew how much I loved the water. She found it odd that I wasn't going and she was constantly asking if I was okay and now I knew why people hated being asked how they were doing.

In the water I felt safe and that I could do anything, I felt free, yet, when I wasn't in the water I felt as if I was vulnerable and anyone could hurt me. I would then show I was weak, and I didn't want that. I knew what I then had to do, even if that meant confronting Ariel again.

We would have to make up one day, if she even still wanted to talk to me. Who knew such a small fight could ruin the beginning of a friendship? I certainly hadn't known that would happen, but Ariel and I were both in fault.

I was planning to fix it no matter how badly I just wanted to curl up in my bed and sleep. I wanted to sleep until everything was gone and away from mind, lost and forgotten. Was that even possible? I was silently wishing it was and I slowly got up from my bed, and pulled a shirt on over my bare torso.

Having a shirt on for once actually felt weird, since I had been walking around the house without one.

I walked over to my closet, getting my pool bag out of it. Quickly, before I could change my mind, I got all of the stuff I knew I'd need, told my mum goodbye, and drove away. I wouldn't forget the smile on my mum's face when she saw I was actually leaving to go swim.

I also couldn't explain the smile on my face, seeing as I was smiling so big it actually hurt. Although, the only reason I was smiling was because I actually got over myself and set out to do what I had come to love.

Swim.

I knew I would swim, and swim, going until I couldn't breathe or how my finger's would get all wrinkly. I missed it all so much, that I had totally forgotten about Ariel by the time I had reached the pool.

I didn't bother thinking as I walked into the locker room, got changed, and ran out to the water and straight into the pool, probably splashing everyone around me. I felt like a child again, and I honestly didn't care.

Then, I saw her.

She was coming out of the girl's locker room, her red hair tied back and out of her face, and her glasses perched on the bridge of her nose. She looked like she was searching for someone, and I scoffed, thinking it was most likely her boyfriend. That was, until her eyes landed on me and she started to walk over.

I don't know what got into me, but I felt like I was frozen in place, I felt terrified to actually talk to Ariel again.

So, without thinking, I started to swim away from her after I heard her jump into the pool.

"Niall!" I heard her shout, but I didn't listen, I felt like my feet were now moving on there own and I quickly climbed out of the pool when I reached the other side, and even though there were signs everywhere telling me not to run, my feet still wouldn't listen and I took off running.

I swear to God, I probably looked like the most retarded person ever, running away from a short girl with red hair.

Ariel had taken off running after me, and we were both soon just ignoring the warnings from the lifeguards, and chasing each other around the pool.

That was when Ariel stepped into a wet spot, and flew backwards, falling onto the cement pavement.

Screams of pain, and curse words drifted through the air, and I stopped instantly, now finally having control of my own feet. I felt bad, and saw people crowding around Ariel, including her boyfriend who had suddenly appeared out of no where.

I could faintly see Ariel sitting up and pulling her hand away from her head and the only thing I was was blood. It was staining her perfectly pale hand red, and I could feel the bile raising into my throat. I had never been a fan of blood.

Seeing that just reminded me of when we found out my dad was dead, and had to go see him. They still hadn't gotten rid of all the marks, and blood was dried everywhere on his body.

I felt like I was being suffocated again, and I wanted to go and see her, to see if Ariel would be fine even though I knew she wouldn't be.

I couldn't bring myself to do it, I couldn't bring myself to walk over and say I'm sorry, so instead, I just quickly grabbed my pool bag from chair I had left it on and walked away, doing the wrong thing.

I knew I shouldn't have come, because I mess everything up.

Niall the fuck up.

So, when I got home and my mom asked me how everything went, I just broke down and told her everything, and she held me tightly as I cried, telling her how I felt so alone, and sad, and I just didn't even know how to describe how I felt anymore.

I just knew I wanted the pain to go away.