My lungs seized up as water filled them, and the sea glass, so enchanting from my perch above, bruised my back as I slammed into the ocean floor. The water wasn't deep here, but I'd fallen far, and the waves were rough, pulling my shocked form towards the stone. Pain slashed across my cheek and down my neck as I tumbled into a wall, a cloud of red billowing around me.  Up became down and left became right as I flailed, kicking through the cold.

    I needed air. The urge to breathe deep possessed me like a demon, and just as I started to inhale, Kieran's sturdy hands heaved me above the ocean's surface. I let him drag me as I coughed up every bit of the salty solution I'd swallowed, and all the while, rage built in my belly.

    "Isla," he dropped me on the sand, the grains still holding onto a small vestige of daytime warmth and imparting it to my frozen skin.

When I didn't respond, he bent over to administer CPR, but I wasn't silent because I couldn't breathe. I was imagining creative ways to kill him. I waited until the last possible second and rolled away, popping up and pressing my hand to the top of his head. The sight of him face planted in the wet sand almost gave me enough joy to ease the burning on my face.

"I'd say yer fine, then." He rocked back to his knees and spit out a mouthful of sand, irritation clear in his expression, until he studied me closer. He grasped my chin and touched the scrapes gently. "Yer poor face."

Adrenaline wearing off, I jerked away and wrapped my arms around my waist. "What the hell were you thinking? Why were you in such a hurry to get down?"

"I was trying to help you," he implored, snagging his sweater from where I'd tossed it and offering it to me.

"You grabbed my hand while I was clearly trying to look at something else."

"Nonverbals really aren't my thing."

Teeth gritted, half from anger and half to stop them from clacking together, I spit out, "Turn around."

"Why?"

"Because I'd like to take my sweater off and put yours on. Why can't you just do what you're asked?"

Mouth working, he turned on his heel. I pried the wet top from my body and shrugged into the cardigan. Pins and needles erupted along my skin as blood started to flow again. Buttoning it was difficult, my fingers stiff and almost useless.

"You done?"

"No," I snapped, tongue jutting out and pressing on my top lip as I concentrated. The small, wooden clasp refused to cooperate.

"Can I help?"

"No!" I looked down in horror, my breasts visible through the wet lace of my bra. He'd get a free peep show if he turned around.

"Isla, I will be a gentleman."

"Cause that's worked out real well for me today," I said, pushing the button through the loop successfully. That was one down. Five minutes later, I'd managed one more, and I started to cry.  "Fine, but keep your eyes averted. I'll move your hands to the clasps."

"Done," he said, looking to the sky as he walked over. He stuck out his hands and waited.

Trembling, in ways that had little to do with how cold I was, I guided his hands to the middle clasp. His deft fingers made quick work of it, and he let his hands hover in the air, waiting for me. I nudged his hands higher, sucking in a deep breath as his fingers brushed against my skin.

When he finished that one, I felt covered up enough. "You can look now. There's just the top one left."

He lowered his gaze and reached for the button at the collar, lingering on this one as he studied me beneath his thick lashes. "Better?"

"Yes, thank you. We'd best go."

He cleared his throat. "Right. Um, yer shoes and socks are there."

"Oh I forgot." I rolled the socks over my feet, unable to stop the moan of delight that tumbled out of my mouth as they warmed. On with the boots, and I felt almost human. The soaked leggings were responsible for the almost.

"I'd lend you my trousers," Kieran stated, hurrying to catch up as I started up the hill without him. "But I'm afraid they're in as sorry a state as yers."

Him pantless was not something I was in the mood to contemplate, but it did earn a chuckle. Now that we were on the move, my body was returning to normal, only the uncomfortable chafing between my generous thighs and the stinging on my face reminding me of my near drowning.

"Probably best to keep them on. It's going to be hell enough explaining to my dad why I'm wearing your sweater and nothing under it."

He tripped and cursed. "Stupid rock."

It was my turn to smirk. "Sure."

"So, am I forgiven?"

I pushed out a hard breath, moving a straggly piece of hair out of my eyes. The rage from earlier had faded, now that my life wasn't in danger, and to be fair, it wasn't as though he'd shoved me. "Yes, but remind me to say no the next time you want to climb a rock in the ocean."

He bumped his shoulder against mine, and I returned the gesture. "I'm just happy there'll be a next time."

"Whatever," I grumbled. "So who else do you think was with Tara?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I told you I saw her walking along the edge of the cliff. Like there was a ledge there."

"The sun was starting to set; it was probably a glare."

I scrunched my face up as I came to a complete halt. Kieran walked several steps past me, and in the dim light, I could barely read his face. "Why are you being so defensive about this? Why is it such a big deal if she was out there?"

He shrugged and jammed his hands into his pockets. "It's cold, Isla. Let's get you home. Blood is starting to dry on your face."

"I know it wasn't a glare. She still had the bright, yellow ribbon in her hair."

We crested the hill and reached the main road that wound from Halloran Manner to the the turn off for school. My calves were protesting the climb, but he didn't even have the decency to be out of breath.

"You should be able to get home from here. I'll just head on to town."

"Fine, but wait a second." I ripped my soggy sweatshirt from him and tugged his cardigan off. There was little to see in the dusk, but I hurried as fast as I could force the wet material over my body. Goosebumps rippled across my skin, and it ached everywhere it brushed against me.

"That's really unnecessary. You could bring it to class tomorrow."

"Oh, sure. So everyone can see me returning an article of clothing to you on the same day we met. Besides, I don't want to deal with my dad." And with that, I stormed towards the house, refusing to look behind me to see if he was watching me go.

Ten minutes later, and I was at my front door. Night had claimed its victory, and without the light from the windows, I'd have wandered the countryside til morning.

    Dad was sitting in the parlor, a book in his hand when I stepped through the door. "Where have you been? You left hours ago." The words were gentle- curious, not angry.

    "Sorry," I said, keeping the right side of my face turned away. "We ended up walking farther than planned, and it took awhile to get back."

    "Are you wet?" The book went on the coffee table, and the first tendril of concern crept into his voice.

    "We went down to the beach, and you know what a klutz I am. I tripped and went in. In fact, I'm about to freeze to death. I'm going to change and go to bed."

    "Ok," he settled back in his chair and grabbed the book once more. "Good night, Isla girl. Love you."

    "Love you too, Dad."

    I stayed in the shower until the water ran cold, and even then the tips of my nose, fingers, and toes were still icy. Steam filled the bathroom like a sauna when I stepped out, and I wiped away the fog on the mirror to inspect the damage from the fall.

    Most of the scrapes were minor, but one across the top of my shoulder was long and angry looking. I twisted to see where it ended, and found my back was riddled with purple dots- small bruises where the sea glass had stabbed me. I'd be lucky to be able to move tomorrow, but I cleaned and patched what I could, hoping it would be enough. Dad would panic if I needed stitches, but I wasn't the kind of girl who found scars sexy either.

    Dragging on dry leggings and a t-shirt, I scrambled beneath the covers, more than willing to make an early night of it, but sleep was elusive. I thought about grabbing a bite to eat, but it wasn't an empty stomach keeping me awake. It was a racing mind, trying to figure out what secret Tara and her companions were hiding. Surely, it was something big if it put Kieran on edge.

I huffed and flipped my pillow, staring up at the black space above me as a dark thought burgeoned. What if my fall hadn't been an accident but a diversion? If I'd not tumbled into the ocean, there was a very good chance I would've insisted on finding the path they'd taken. Perhaps Kieran sensed that.

My nails bit into my palms as I considered it, but I dismissed it with a sigh. He'd done nothing for me to be so suspicious of him. In fact, he'd been kind enough to accompany me when he could've been hanging out with friends. The experience had put me on edge- that was all. I'd probably even read into his surly behavior on the walk home. Like me, he was cold and tired.

Rolling to my uninjured side, I scowled. I'd owe him an apology tomorrow. Crow wasn't my favorite flavor, but salvaging the chance at a new friend would be worth it. I closed my eyes. As long as he didn't smirk, everything would be okay.