Novocaine Hearts

Jake's POV

"What are you trying to say?" I asked in confusion.
I don't know what Lexa was getting at during this conversation. It was like she was beating around the bush, trying to get something out of me.
"I'm just saying that I regret hurting you. It was never my intention..." she paused. "You never answered my original question. Do you think we would've worked out?" She asked again.
I thought about it for a moment, gazing out at the deep blue ocean that surrounded us.
"I like to think so. Back then I wasn't trying to change you, but I was trying to make you healthier and get you into my lifestyle... I don't think I should have pushed it though."
Lexa tilted her head, looking puzzled. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, if I hadn't pissed you off that day, maybe you wouldn't have gone out with Juliet and did... what you did. There is a huge part of me that blames myself for what happened" I said looking down between my hands and the water.
Lexa was silent, but her hand reached out to touch my wrist, stroking it with her thumb. I looked up at her and she smiled.
"You shouldn't blame yourself. It's all my fault."
I sighed and looked down at her hand. I grabbed it and held it in mine. Still soft palms with callused finger tips, like mine. I noticed on the 3 middle fingers she had 3 X's tattooed in the mids of her fingers.
"So you're really straight edge?" I asked, running my fingers over the tattoo.
"Yeah... I'm even trying to ween myself off cigarettes... That's been the hardest thing. I'm down to about 1 per 2 days... I just wanna be clean. I've lost too much of my life already" she said, looking over at our hands. She gently squeezed my hand before letting it go.
My heart was racing. My mind was spinning. Every part of me was trying to figure out what Lexa was getting at. Did she really want to get back together?
I glanced over at her as she was looking towards the horizon, biting on her lower lip.
"So, when do you think you'll be back in LA?" I asked.
"Umm, I'm not sure... I have to find a new place cause I obviously can't live with Parker any more. I don't know, might see if I can move to LA, but the others will have to move as well" she shrugged.
"What if you stayed at the Malibu house again? You'd probably have to pay rent to Ashley, but it's a place" I blurted without thinking.
"Hmm, I don't know... I already stayed there for a bit, don't know if Ashley would want me there..." she said, looking uneasy about the idea.
"Summer is over, Ash is not going to use it. And... I would kinda like it if you were only 30 minutes away, instead of 5 hours" I said quietly.
"Hmm, why's that?" She smirked.
"Just move into the damn house. Better than staying with Parker" I teased.
Lexa giggled. "Sure. I'll ask Ash later... It's been really good to talk to you" she smiled warmly. God I missed that smile.
"Yeah, you too."
We were quiet for a moment. Listening to the seagulls squawk in the distance, the trickling of water as it made small splashes against the boat.
I could hear our friends starting to get rowdy and talking about jumping off.
I could tell Lexa was listening to them too.
"You swim?" I asked.
"Yeah. We should probably join the others anyways" Lexa said, using the rail to pull herself up.
The boat was no longer moving through the water; it gently bobbed with the waves, making it easier for us to walk.
Riley and Juliet were impatiently waiting in their bikinis for everyone else to be ready. Ashley was triple checking the all the ties and knots, making sure the boat wouldn't move.
Nate, Saxon, Andy, Jinxx, CC and Seth were in an intense conversation to even look at their surroundings. Kimber and Sammi sat with them, occupied by their kids.
"Okay, anyone coming in the water?!" Shouted Juliet, hoping that her new husband would pay attention to her.
"Yeah, I don't think they're listening" Lexa said, walking up to them. Me trailing behind her.
"You coming in?" Riley pressed to the both of us.
"Yeah... Why not?" I shrugged. I was already dressed in my Quicksilver board shorts.
"It's gonna be fun guys!" Juliet said, trying to interrupt their conversation again.
"Just leave them! Come on!" Riley said, grabbing Juliet's hand and started to run to the front of the boat.
"Let's watch them jump first. I'm not good with heights" Lexa admitted.
I nodded and lead her to the front of the boat where Riley and Juliet had just climbed over the rails.
"Ready? I, 2, 3!" Juliet counted.
"We're in Miami bitch!" They said in unison as they launched off the boat.
"How the hell are they so brave?" Lexa said turning to me. "I wish I could do that..."
"What the hell are you talking about? You are fearless" I said taking her hand without realising.
"No, I was on drugs. Fear doesn't exist. Remember when I told you that being clean was enlightening...?" She asked.
"Yeah..." I said slowly.
"Not only am I afraid of heights... I'm afraid of open water... I hate not knowing I can't touch the ground..."
"Lex, we don't have to jump. It's stupid anyways" I said shaking my head. "Here, we'll just sit and watch the others" I shrugged, going over to the edge and sitting by the railing like we were before.
The voices of the others soon joined the rest of us, all jumping in after Juliet and Riley.
We watched them attempt to do flips and fail. Riley and Ashley seemed like the only ones who could nail it.
"Is there anything you guys can't do?" Lexa asked when they were about to jump for the eighth time.
Riley shrugged, as she re-tied her hair so it sat in a bun. "I suppose we're just good at everything" she smirked as she climbed over the railing and backflipped into the water.
"Woahhh! Ten out of ten babe!" Ashley called.
I shook my head at them. "They are so ridiculous" I said.
"They really are" Lexa scoffed.
I watched Ashley get his footing for his jump, but he slipped.
It caused his body to not get enough distance from the boat. His head audibly cracked against the edge of the deck, making his body limp and flopping into the water.
"ASHLEY!" Riley screamed from below.
"Oh my God! Is he alright?!" Someone called, but I kept my eyes on the water, where Ashley landed.
"I DON'T KNOW!" Riley yelled in panic. Riley's head ducked under water and I held my breath.
"Oh my God, should we go down there?" Lexa asked with worry.
"I might have to. Ashley ain't gonna be light" I said starting to remove my t-shirt.
"She's up!" Juliet said, now up on the deck with us, everyone was.
"Guys help! He's unconscious!" Riley screamed up at us as she tried to sling one of Ashley's arms over her body.
I quickly dived in, to aid Ashley.
"Ash! Ash, you gotta wake up!" Riley cried, trying to keep his head above water.
There was a giant gash across Ashley's forehead that had spilled blood all down his face.
"Are you okay? You were under for a while" I asked as I pulled Ashley's weight onto myself.
"I'm fine. Just get Ash on the boat!" She sobbed. Her tears dripping into the ocean.

Notes

Please comment guys.
I finally got the inspiration for this, so it is a little longer than normal. The next chapter will continue. So happy reading :)
-Tina xx