Charles' POV
"Excuse me? Was it my fault that there was a traffic accident? Was it my fault the cellist got sick? At least I fixed it!" She yelled at me.
What was she talking about? She turned around to walk away, but before she could do that, a yelp came from her as she fell. Her arms flailing, desperately trying to grab onto something before she hit the surface of the water.
I had reaches out a hand, trying to grab hers before she fell, but I failed. She fell right into the pool. A loud splash and being hit in the face with water told me she had hit the water.
"Ms. Aires! Ms. Aires! Are you okay? Ms. Aires!" I yelled into the water, but there was no reply.
A second later, the water bubbled and her head broke the surface.
"Please help-" was all she could manage before she went under. "-can't swim."
I took off my jacket and dove right into the freezing water. I looked around frantically, trying to find her. I found her, staying still, not moving and hanging around lifelessly in the water. I quickly swam towards her. When she was within reach, I reached out and shook her to get her conscious again.
Please wake up. Please!
I grabbed her hip with my left arm and I swam upwards. It was so much harder to swim than before. Now that I had to carry something, it was weighing me down. I kicked my feet and tried to swim up.
Finally, our heads broke through the surface of the water. One lifelessly hanging to the side and one searching for something to grab on to.
I reached for the closest thing to hang on to and it was the wall of the pool. I heaved myself upwards onto the platform and dragged her still body into my arms.
I laid her on the ground and I moved her from her face.
"Ms. Aires! Ellery! Come to your senses!" I shook her body, trying to wake her up. "Ellery! Wake up!" I yelled.
I put my ear near her nostrils, trying to see if she was still breathing. Just a tiny bit. I put my hands together and put it on her chest and started doing CPR.
Please wake up. Please breathe. Ellery, I beg you.
Please don't die. Please don't die on me.
I stopped and tried to hear her breathing again. I put my index finger and thumb to her nose, and squeezed it. I opened her mouth and did mouth to mouth. I gave her two breath of air before she started gurgling water out. She coughs and sat up, disoriented.
I sat back and took a sigh of relief.
"Thank you." She said when she finally came to realization as to what just happened.
"You don't know how to swim?" I asked.
"No, sir." Ellery said, shivering.
I didn't want to pry anymore. She must have her reasons. I got up from the ground and picked up my jacket from where I dropped earlier.
"Take this." I said, giving her my jacket.
"It's okay. I'm fine. But thank you."
"I don't think you want others to see everything you're wearing underneath. I think it's in your best interest to take it."
"What do you mean?" She said, confused.
I pointed to her white dress, now soaked with water. The fabric of the dress was thin and after a dip in the water, you could see her undergarments very clearly.
"Oh my gosh."
I tried my best to suppress a laugh. Seemingly as it would be very rude if I were to laugh at her right now.
"I will take you up on that offer, Mr. Mercuer." Said Ellery, taking the jacket from my hand. "Thank you."
"I think it would be better if we were to head inside or to somewhere warmer." I suggested. Even though it was summer, the night air was getting colder.
Ellery tried to get up but fell down to the ground again.
"Ah!"
"Are you alright? Can you get up?" I asked.
"I think I sprained my ankle." She replied.
I walked over to her and put my right arm behind her back and my left arm under her knees, carrying her bridal style.
"What are you doing?" She asked, surprised.
With one breath, I lifted her up from the ground. I didn't know why I was doing this, but it just felt right to do so.
"Mr. Mercuer, you don't have to do this. I can walk." She said and I ignored her. I have a very stubborn mindset, if I put my mind onto something, I would do it without hesitation.
"You can put me down." Said Ellery, struggling to get out of my arms. "People will see."
"Then we can around the building. I'll take you home."
"You don't have to do that. I can take the bus."
"I'll take you home. It's in the same direction anyways." I replied.
It just didn't feel right to let her go.