The tale of the shadow phoenixes

Chapter twenty four.

The youth thing happened to be one of those things where couples go together in canoes on the lake. Arianna and Cole sat in their boat, floating along the river. James watched them out of the corner of his eye while talking to Jane. “I mean imagine what would happen if we fell in the lake.” Jane said. James nodded, distracted. For some reason he couldn’t stop staring at Cole and Arianna. Something pierced his heart. Jealousy.

“So Cole, what do you plan to do when you get older and move from your parents house?” Arianna asked. Cole grinned. “We’ll there is this girl that I want to spend my future with…” Suddenly their boat lurched and it overturned. Cole plunged underwater. He struggled to the surface then gasped for air. *splash!* A splash sounded nearby. Where was Arianna? Cole splashed around looking for Arianna. “Arianna? Arianna?” Cole called. Suddenly James head surfaced from underwater, holding an unconscious Arianna. “She hit her head on the rocks!” James called. “I have to get her to shore!” James swam while holding Arianna. Cole followed. Once they reached shore James set Arianna gently on the sand. He shook Arianna gingerly.

Arianna’s eyes flickered and she stared into a man’s deep brown eyes. “Arianna?” The man asked, his voice gentle with concern. “James?” She asked wearily. James nodded. “She’s okay.” James told Cole who was behind him. “I’m cold-and wet.” Arianna said, her teeth chattering violently. James grabbed his jacket from the shore(he had left it behind, so it was dry and warm and not wet and cold). James wrapped it around her then stood. “Well, I better get Jane. Y’all…catch up.” He told Cole and Arianna. He began to walk away and Arianna thought she saw a flicker of sadness in his eyes. “Are you okay?” Cole asked. Arianna forced a smile. “I’ll be alright.” Sadness filled her heart but she didn’t know why.

-SunnyFox57.