Chapter 3 By the Lake

LIAM

Liam nearly had a heart attack on the second day of camping.

Their morning activity, as he and Trevor had organized, was swimming in the lake. So they put their rashguards and jumped to the lake before the sun even came up.

Trevor had taken the habit of taking snapshots of their adventure on his phone. From trekking uphill to eating s’mores to swimming in the lake so he can post them on social media when they get home, in which he suspected that Trev will be needing his help to pick out the best photos and come with the most ridiculous captions and hashtags.

That was fine with him. He and Trevor did almost everything together. He was like a brother to him. Most people who don't know them just assumed they were twins, even though they were nothing alike. Trevor had his Mom's auburn hair and blue eyes, while he had the Prescott dark hair and grey eyes. But the twin assumption was probably because they were on the same year in school and they share the same last name.

Liam was thankful that his Uncle Harrison had taken him into his family after his Mom, Elyse, his uncle's younger sister, died giving birth to him. His cousins were more than cousins to him, they were brothers and sisters, especially Trev and Alex.

Now, they were in the water. Well, four of them were in the water. Hunter had come up with a spontaneous swimming contest with Brooke and Trevor. That sort of gave him, Hunter and Brooke an advantage since they were athletes back in high school. He and Hunter were in the Football team, the Braswell Institute Knights. Brooke was in the archery team, and Trevor was in the school politics, in fact, he was the Student body president of the Braswell Institute's High School Department.

Alex was tending to the three dogs, Artemis, Bullseye, and Tippy near the tents. His second favorite cousin and Bryce were the only ones who had the same Prescott features as him, with their dark brown hair and grey eyes unlike the rest of their siblings, who all had their Mom’s auburn hair and blue eyes. Alex was sort of a tomboy. Back when they were young, she would rather play tag or climb trees with him and her brothers then play dolls with her sister, Olivia. Even now, she chose camping with them than be stuck at home for the weekend. And he was certain it’s one of the reasons she and Brooke got along so well, they were both similar in many ways.

Bryce and Connor were merely sitting at the docks. Bryce's dog, Oddy was sitting between them as Bryce caressed his pelt.

Ever since Bryce's accident, confining him to a wheelchair for five month when he was ten, his Mom kept him from doing physical stuff. Connor on the other hand, has asthma and constantly carried an inhaler in his pocket. And both Bryce and Connor were always excused from Physical Ed class in school.

"Bryce!" Trevor called to his brother as he swam just below the docks, which was by the way, already a deep part of the lake since they can't even reach the bottom. "Why don't you and Connor take a dip?" He suggested.

"Nah, we're good," Bryce replied. "Thanks though."

"If you're worried about the water being cold, little brother, it isn't." Trevor assured. "Now, come on." He waved for them to join them.

Connor considered it. He began to scoot towards the edge of the dock and probably drop down the water.

"Hey!" Brooke yelled as she swam towards Trevor and looked up at her brother. "And what do you think you're doing?" She demanded.

Connor shrugged. "I'm just gonna take a dip." He said.

"Then go to the shore," Brooke scolded. "Don't just jump into the water. I don't need to remind you that you can't swim."

Connor sighed. "Fine." He stood from where he sat and walked to the shore where they kept their footwear.

The Rachfords had basically grown up without a mother. Connor had never known their Mom, Celine, since she had died hours after giving birth to him. So Brooke had taken over that role at a young age. It was also around that time they became friends.

When Brooke and Connor's Mom, Celine was in labor, their Dad, Gregory had left Brooke in the care of Harrison and Evelyn Prescott in Gallanberg. Brooke had shared a room with Olivia and Alex in the Prescott Manor, but she mostly played with Trevor and Liam himself. Because back then, Olivia played with dolls and Brooke preferred sparring sticks, using it as swords with them, Alex was still a toddler and his Aunt Evie was still pregnant with Bryce.

And since Connor was born a month premature, his health was delicate. So Liam can’t really blame Brooke for being so over-protective of her little brother.

"Geez, Brooke," Trevor huffed. "You should really lighten up a bit." He suggested. "We're here to have fun. Why are you keeping your brother from doing so?"

Brooke glared at Trevor, then splashed water, hitting him in the face. "Connor can't swim." She said. "And if he drowns because you told him to jump into a deep part of the lake, I will personally kill you." She threatened.

"She's right," Liam agreed as he swam towards them. "And if that happens, I'm going to help her kill you."

"Alright, point taken," Trevor said.

"Okay," Bryce spoke up from the docks. "Now that you're done agreeing to kill Trevor if someone drowns, I'm gonna join Connor to the shore," He said. "It seems like a fine option." He turned to his dog as he stood. "Come on, Oddy."

Bryce's dog, Oddy scampered after his master, wagging his tail playfully.

Suddenly, something grabbed his feet. "Shit!" Liam cursed as he wiggled free from whatever that was. "What was that?" He wailed.

Beside him, Brooke yelped. "Oh, god, something's touching me!" She cried.

Liam had imagination that someone or something was lurking beneath the lake ready to pull down campers under, though there were no reports on people going missing swimming in the late or camping in the woods.

Just then, Hunter emerged from the water, laughing his head off. "Oh, shit!" He chortled. "You should've seen your faces."

Trevor gave Hunter a high five. "Nice one, Hunter." He praised.

"Seven hells, man!" Liam screamed. "Not cool."

Brooke splashed water at Hunter. "Goddammit, Beckett!" She cussed. "It's not funny!"

"Alright, that's it." Liam said as he swam towards the shore. "I'm done."

"What?" Hunter exclaimed. "Come on, Liam. It was a joke."

"No, I'm gonna give Alex her turn." Liam yelled back. "She's gonna kill me if I don't let her swim."

Liam and Alexandra had made an agreement that they should take turns watching their stuff and tending the dogs. And in a simple game of rock-paper-scissors, they decided who would swim first, and he had won, which meant Alex had to be on guard duty first.

Near the shore, Bryce and Connor were knees-deep in the water. Bryce's dog, Oddy was trying to approach his master, but unable to do so because he was afraid of the riptide coming fast that he'll just run back to the shore.

Liam's dog, Tippy was waiting for him on the shore, wagging his tail playfully. His snowy white Husky barked in excitement when he saw him approaching.

"Liam, are you guys, okay?" Bryce asked when he saw him getting nearer. "We heard you and Brooke scream."

"We're fine," He assured. "It was just Hunter playing a practical joke on us."

Tippy ran to him and nearly knocked him off his feet.

"Hey, buddy," Liam said as his dog licked his face.

Alex glared at him with Artemis and Bullseye at her heels. "Am I free to go now?" She asked.

"Yeah, you're good, little cousin," Liam confirmed. "It's my turn to watch the dogs."

Alexandra smiled. "Thanks." She took off her shirt revealing her purple rashguard underneath, then ran towards the shore and swam towards Trevor, Brooke, and Hunter.

Bryce watched his sister with envy. "Why can't I go there?" He asked. "It's not fair."

"Because you can't swim," Liam pointed out. "Both of you can't swim, and if either one of you drowns," He shrugged. "Your parents will kill us."

Liam sat at the edge of the sandy shore with the four dogs. Well, three, because Oddy was still trying to get to Bryce.

Liam had to smile at that. Oddy was always the playful husky out of the six his Uncle Harrison had brought home nearly three months ago. He remembered that day. He was really worn out from football practice when Alex burst into his room with a snowy white Siberian husky, which he had named Tippy, because he's the most silent among the six pups. He's so quiet it's like he's on his tippy-toes all the time.

Tippy's brothers and sisters: Trevor's dog, Bullseye, is the fastest runner among the pack, hence why Trev named him such. Because he runs like the wind, he said; Olivia's dog, Cleo, a shortened name taken from Cleopatra, an Egyptian queen, because her dog is the most behaved of the pack and 'acts like a queen'; Alex's dog, Artemis, the most stubborn of the pack, much like her master actually, whom Alex named after her favorite Greek goddess; Bryce's dog is Oddy, the most playful of the bunch, and you always see him scampering after his master. He named him after the Greek Hero, Odysseus. (Alex and Bryce are obsessed with Greek Mythology); and then there's Tyler's dog, Shadow, the most aggressive of the six, they literally had to restrain him everytime they get a visitor because the last time his Uncle Harrison had a visitor from the Aquilosi Capitol, Shadow nearly bit him, and he is named such because of the color of his fur.

Liam was busy tending to the dogs that he hadn't notice Bryce wasn’t on the shore with Connor anymore and Oddy was already barking in alarm.

"Bryce!" Connor screamed.

"Oh, my god!" Alex shrieked. "Bryce!"

Liam stood and saw the thing he was afraid that would happen. If either one of you drowns, He had said. Your parents will kill us. Now, he was seeing Bryce floating in the water, lifeless and drifting with the current.

"Oh, shit." He muttered, then ran to the water.

Hunter swam over to Bryce's unconscious body and started to drag him ashore. Liam swam towards them and helped carry Bryce towards the shore.

Once they got ashore, they laid him on the sand. All their dogs were now barking in distress.

Liam shook his cousin's shoulder. "Bryce!" He screamed. "Wake up!" He slapped his cheek hard. "Wake up, Bryce!"

Bryce was unresponsive and his skin was turning pale. Oh, god, he thought. He tried not to think what his aunt and uncle would do to them when they find out about this.

Brooke ran over towards them and knelt beside him. She took Bryce's pale arm and checked his wrists for pulses.

"I don't feel a pulse," Brooke said. "He don't have a pulse."

Liam looked around for any sort of help, but they were alone. Finally, he took it upon himself to help Bryce from all the training he had from being a football player and a few things he learned in Health class.

He placed his hands over the other and continuously pressed them on Bryce's chest.

Brooke seemed to understand what he was doing so she scooted closer to Bryce and pinched his nostrils shut. She then pressed her mouth against Bryce's and started blowing air into his lungs.

Liam could see Bryce's chest rise and fall, but nothing else. For about a minute, they were in sync performing Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation on Bryce. He continued pumping the spot over his heart with the heels of his hands and Brooke blew air into Bryce's lungs.

"Come on, Bryce," Liam muttered. "Come on."

Hunter had one arm around Alex and the other around Connor, trying to calm them down. Alex had her hand clamped her mouth and Connor's jaw dropped in shock. Obviously, they were still both stunned at what just happened.

Trevor was pacing back and forth, like he always does when he's in panic mode. "Shit!" He cursed as he raked his hands through his wet hair. "I killed him," He cried. "I killed him. I'm going to prison for fratricide."

"Trev, you're not helping," Hunter pointed out.

Suddenly, Bryce coughed out water and his eyes fluttered open as he sat gasping for air.

Liam and Brooke sat back in relief. Thank god, he thought.

"I'm never swimming again," Connor said in a small voice.

Bryce rubbed his forehead. "Oh, god. What happened?" He asked.

"Bryce!" Trevor cried as he crushed his brother in a hug. "Oh, god. I'm so sorry, little brother." He gently rubbed Bryce's back. "It's okay, You're okay. We're all okay now." He said, half-muttering to himself. He then turned to Liam and Alex, while still having an arm around Bryce. "Don't tell Mom and Dad about this, okay?" He pleaded. "We're gonna be grounded for the rest of our lives if we do."

"No, you're gonna be grounded for the rest of your life." Alex corrected. "Because you dragged him to that deeper part of the lake and you know he can't swim." She said.

"Are you kidding me, Trev?" Brooke spoke up. "Your brother nearly died today and all you're worried about is being grounded? Come on, you know better than that.”

"I agree," Alex concurred. "I'm telling Mom about this."

"Look," Hunter spoke up. "How about we just stay away from the lake for the rest of the trip?" He suggested. "That way, we don't have to worry about anyone drowning again."

"Couldn't agree more, Beckett." Liam said.