Page 18 of Brick Wall
Annie
“ I t’s so quiet here,” Sebastian observes.
We are in the middle of the still lake in an old blue canoe. Both of us have quit rowing, and we are just chilling, sitting on wooden benches, currently facing each other.
He looks almost comical sitting in the canoe. He must be so uncomfortable; he barely fits, but he hasn’t complained—yet.
“Yeah,” I say in a daze. I’m so happy and content. I can’t believe I’m spending time in my happy place with Sebastian right now. I was honestly surprised when he said yes to staying a little bit longer. I figured he had to get back, but I’m glad he’s still here.
“It’s so different from a few weeks ago.”
“Yes, it is so crazy when camp is in session—a good crazy.”
“Yeah, I agree. I had fun, but I didn’t relax much. I didn’t get in or on the water at all.”
“Really? That’s a shame. I’ll have to tell my brothers to go easier on you next year,” I say, without realizing my stupid assumption. “Uh, I mean, if you decide to team up again with us,” I backpedal.
“Oh, I plan on coming back. I already talked to your brothers about it. I had a lot of fun, and I’m excited to do this again. I’m hoping to make it an annual thing.”
“Really? That’s awesome.” I try to limit the excitement in my voice, but I totally fail.
“Yeah.”
“Next year, I’ll make sure I change the lock from the shed and hide an extra one or two keys inside, just in case.”
Sebastian chuckles. “We need to make sure we check the actual door handle first next time.”
“True.” A small laugh slips out. “I can’t believe we missed that step today.”
“We’re amateurs.”
“Speak for yourself. I’ve been locked in small places plenty of times.”
“Define plenty.”
“Maybe a dozen or so times.”
“Wow, by your brothers?” he clarifies.
“Yes, but usually it was Finn.”
“Really? I would have guessed Ryan.”
“He was guilty a few times. Tristan never, I don’t think. Finn was the usual suspect, though. We are Irish twins, less than a year apart in age, and sometimes he wanted a break from me.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, joke’s on him, though, because he usually locked me in the closet where my mom hid the Christmas presents. She would shop year-round and stash things away when they were on sale. Naturally, I peeked. ”
“Naturally,” he easily agrees with me.
“I would also drop hints to my mom if I saw something they’d love in the closet.”
He raises his eyebrow in confusion.
“You know, make her doubt her gift-giving. One year I saw an Xbox in the closet and told her about the ring of death, so they were practically giving the broken ones away to the suckers who bought them. Guess who got no Xbox that year?”
“Ouch, remind me not to get on your bad side,” he says, but there’s no malice in his eyes, only amusement.
“Hey, when you’re the youngest and the only girl, you need to get crafty sometimes.”
“I bet.”
I point my finger out to Sebastian and wave it around. “If you tell any of my brothers that story, I will deny it.”
He puts his hands out in defense mode. “I would never.”
“Great, because what happens in this canoe stays in this canoe.”
“Is that so?” Amusement laces his tone.
“That’s right. This canoe and these waters are sacred.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah,” I firmly say.
“What if I did this?” Before I can question anything, he lifts his hand out of the canoe, swipes the water, and gets me soaked.
“Hey! What was that for?” I yell, but I’m still smiling.
“Oh, nothing. Just wanted to see if anything would happen since everything stays in this canoe,” he cheekily says.
“Oh, yeah?” I say, repeating his words from a moment ago.
“Yeah,” he taunts.
Before I can think properly, I take my hand to the water and take a giant swipe, splashing him in return.
“That’s how you want to play it?” he asks, and I smirk in response.
He leans over the canoe and places his large hands in the water.
I close my eyes in anticipation, but I don’t get wet. Instead, I feel the canoe move erratically.
I open my eyes and notice Sebastian moving too fast to one side.
Before I can react or stop the moment, we both fall headfirst into the cold water with that old blue canoe toppling over us.