Chapter 27

Sebastian didn't waste time.

He swung into action, signaling to Steve. He whispered a few words of comfort to Jane, egging her to go back to the Tower in case there was any other news. Though she argued and insisted on going with them, he managed to talk her out of it. He didn't want to have to worry about her any more than he was already doing.

By the time he was done talking to her, the air had changed. The beach was on a standstill and it was obvious that word had spread.

Sebastian ran to the equipment area and grabbed himself a lifejacket and fixed it in place before tossing one to Steve. Thankfully, there was a crew available and ready.

Before long, they were on a rescue boat and on the water.

The look of worry on Jane's face was plastered in my mind. Judging from the encounter earlier, he could tell she had a soft spot for the young girl. He only hoped they got there on time.

He didn't have to hope long. By the time they got to the boat, half of it had sunk into the water. Sebastian didn't have time to think about what had happened and how it had happened; there was only one thing on his mind.

"Claire!" He yelled, hoping to God she was in the part of the boat still above water. "Claire!"

The water was swallowing the boat gradually. If it had been about a thousand times bigger, it would've looked like something out of the Titanic.

"Any more and they'll drown. We need to get them out of there." Steve yelled over the sound of the engine of their boat.

Sebastian didn't even know if they were anyone still in the boat.

"Let's get closer." He yelled in response.

The driver angled the boat closer to the chaos and Sebastian jumped into the water. Thank God for all those swimming lessons he'd consistently taken all those years ago. He swam around the boat, looking for a point of entry that wouldn't be hard to pull someone out of. He heard the sound of the water splashing behind him and knew it was Steve.

It didn't look like there was anyone on the ship. Had they all drowned?

God.

"Claire!" He yelled again desperately, waving his hands in the water to help him stay afloat. Fear like he'd felt before gripped him. A stream of what-ifs passed through his brain. Jane would be devastated and most of all, he didn't want to let her down.

"I'm here! We're in here!" A voice came from somewhere in the boat.

"I can hear something!" One of the lifeguards said behind him. "There's someone in there!"

***

"Oh my God," Time seemed to stand still for Jane as stared out into the ocean. It'd been too long. Why weren't they back yet? Had something happened? "Fucking shit. Fucking hell. Jesus."

"Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?"

She almost gasped in surprise but held herself. "Harry. Oh God, you scared me."

"I didn't mean to. I apologize."

"It's alright. I'm a bit tensed."

"A bit?" He raised a brow.

"I assume you've heard a bunch of kids are out there with their boat almost sinking, right?"

He nodded. "I heard. Is that why you're tense?"

"Sebastian is out there too."

"Ah," he said, nodding emphatically. "This lifeguard job isn't an easy one."

"I feel so helpless, Harry," She ran a hand through her hair, biting her upper lip. The horizon seemed calm. Where were they? "God, I feel so useless. I should quit."

The radio had beeped and she'd heard Claire's panicked voice calling out for her and shouting for help. Words couldn't describe how scared she'd been. Her first instinct had been to tell Sebastian. If there was anyone she trusted, it was him.

"Don't say that. There are other people out here who need saving too and that's what you're doing. You're not useless."

Then why did she feel like it?

At a loud cry, she saw the rescue boat that Sebastian and some other lifeguards had taken out. Her heart pumped faster.

"Oh my God, they're here."

She left Harry behind, running to the water edge. Was she okay? Did he find Claire?

By the time they'd gotten to the shore, she was about to piss herself.

"Sebastian," She helped them out of the inflatable rescue boat, breathing a breath of relief when she saw Claire and the rest of her classmates seating in the most.

"Sebastian," She looked at him, feeling the urge to cry. "Are you okay?"

"I'm alright," He nodded, stepping out and pulling her into his arms. "Are you?"

She wrapped her arms around his damp body, feeling a tear escape. "I'm okay. I was so worried."

"She's alright, Kitten. They're all fine." He murmured against her hair, patting her back gently. They stayed like that for a few moments before he got called away for a medical checkup so she had to let him go. Her body felt empty without him.

Still, he was here and he was fine. That was all that mattered. She didn't know when his wellbeing started to matter to her but it did and she realized she didn't have the strength to fight it. She took several steps back till she was standing side by side with Harry again.

"Careful," He whispered.

"What?" She looked at him in surprise.

"Your smile," He returned her gaze. "You look like you're about to fall in love."