Standing Still For Far Too Long

The Warden woke everyone up at nine-thirty which put everyone in a good mood from the start. She was weirdly happy for reasons unknown to everyone else, but the extra hour and a half was a blessing, especially for Gerard and Frank.

Everyone was made to dress in their special “Come Together Day” clothes. Gerard had a button up green plaid shirt with a white T-shirt under it and nicer jeans then usual. Frank borrowed a similar shirt, but it was red; he also wore a white T-shirt and nice jeans. They looked almost alike except for the colour of the plaid shirts and the lengths of their hair.

Breakfast was pleasant; almost everyone was obviously happy and excited to see the girls. Frank didn’t even complain about the soup; he hated it while wearing a smile. Even Justen was acting alright; he wasn’t mad, and he wasn’t happy. The boys talked about what they wanted to do, and how they wished that it was apple picking season.

Windy peered up at Gerard who was sitting next to him, “why didn’t you read last night Gee?”

“Frankie and I were talking.”

“I want to know what happens though.”

“You do know what happens. What is it, the twentieth time that I’ve read it?”

Windy scowled and turned back to his soup; Gerard took no notice and continued talking to Frank. Breakfast was over quickly, and the Warden came in to line all of them up to go outside. They walked down the hallway and out of the front doors where to the girls were already playing out in the fields. The inside of the orphanage may have been nasty, but the front yard was surely beautiful.

Gerard spotted his friend, Peyton, and pulled Frank with his as he ran over to her quickly.

“Pey!”

Peyton whirled around quickly, causing her flowing skirt to look like a parachute. She saw Gerard and smiled before whirling around again, “Isn’t it pretty Gerard?” she asked, “Ms. Abby made it for me!” Gerard grinned and Peyton laughed before giving him a big hug. Frank cleared his throat.

“Oh; sorry Frankie. Pey this is Frankie; Frankie this is Pey.”

Peyton smiled, and Frank put his hand out awkwardly which caused her to smile even more. She moved swiftly, and she was soon hugging a very surprised Frank.

“I like to hug people!” She said after letting him go from her grasp, “When did you get here?”

“Oh…about two days I guess.”

“That’s cool! Just in time to meet all of us wonderful girls!”

Frank and Gerard smiled at each other; Peyton’s friendliness lightened the gloomy mood that the orphanage tended to cast onto people, and Frank could see why Gerard liked her.

Peyton suddenly grabbed the two boy’s hands and pulled them closer to her so that they were in a mini huddle.

“Listen guys, Ms. Abby says that she’ll cover for us if we want go to for a little swim.”

Gerard’s eyes widened, “How come you get the good person in your division.”

Peyton smirked, “Women are better than men, Gee. It’s part of life.”

Gerard hit her lightly on the shoulder and she exaggerated being hurt, “Ouch! You know I’m kidding, Gee! Aren’t I kidding Frankie?” She looked at him expectedly.

Frank was, yet again, caught by surprise, “Oh; uh, yeah! Yeah!”

Peyton laughed again, and Gerard followed suit.

“Anyway,” Peyton say, “Let’s go!”

Frank shuffled his feet, “I can’t swim.”

Peyton and Gerard both smiled at him, “Don’t worry, Pey will help you. She helps me.”

Frank nodded and all three of them started moving smoothly towards the side of the orphanage. They could see Ms. Abby distracting the Warden, and Gerard found himself once again wishing that he lived in the Girl’s Division. They made it to the opening of the woods, and Peyton started running once she passed the first tree. Frank and Gerard were following closely, but they were quick not to trip over anything. Last time wasn’t all that fun.

They reached the lake, and that was when they discovered that the weather had changed drastically. It was hot, and it had been relatively cold before. Peyton turned around to look at them with a radiant smile on her face as she took off her skirt and shirt.

Gerard looked at Frank and saw the blush forming on his cheeks, “Don’t be nervous. She tells me that her underwear looks a lot like a bathing suit, so it doesn’t bother me. Haven’t you seen bathing suits?”

“Y-Yeah,” he stuttered, “but…I mean…it’s definitely different.”

“Oh suck it up!” Gerard punched Frank lightly on the shoulder, and ran so that he was closer to the lake. He removed his clothes, everything except his boxers, before jumping in; if only he had looked back at Frank after that. He would have seen a redder sight.

Frank did as Gerard did, and found himself dipping his toes into the water while Gerard and Peyton were standing in the lake up to there torso’s.

“Just jump in Frankie!” Peyton yelled, “Do you want me to come closer and help you?”

Frank flushed, “No, I’m alright. As long as I can stand…” He placed his foot into the water and his other one followed. He found himself walk out to the place next to Gerard. He was almost next to both Peyton and Gerard when he stepped into a deep hole in the water.

It felt like slow motion to him; his head was under the water in no time, but he saw his life flash before his eyes. He felt his arms start to flail, and he felt the oxygen leaving his frantic body. He heard something plunge into the water, and a strong hand grasped onto his arm as another slender hand pulled his other. He felt them pulling him out, but by that time his lungs were already filled with water.

Gerard carried him quickly to shore, and he looked wildly at Peyton who was shaking her head next to him, “Shouldn’t you like…do CPR or something!?” She asked him loudly.

“I don’t know how!”

“Breathe into him!”

“How, damn it?”

“On his mouth, breathe into his mouth!”

Gerard placed his hands onto each side of Frank’s cold face, and then he covered his lips with his own. He blew all of the air that had occupied his lungs into Frank. Then he came up for more air and repeated. He did it four times before Peyton stopped him, “You have to hit his chest or something.

Gerard started hitting Frank’s chest with his fist, and then he breathed into him again. He hit him once more, and the water finally came sputtering out of Frank’s mouth as he coughed for air. Frank opened his eyes slowly and saw slivers of Gerard’s face that were peaking through his mess of black hair.

“Frankie?” Gerard yelled, but Frank only heard a whisper.

“Frankie, just nod your head if you’re okay!”

Frank moved his head slightly, and he saw Gerard smile and look over at someone next to him. He thought about a smile in his mind, and tried his hardest to translate it onto his face, but he passed out again while listening to the voices of the frenzied Peyton and Gerard.