Chapter 61

The sun rose into the blue sky as the birds chirped in harmony. A family was getting ready to leave Camp Grizzly despite of the protests of Toni and Michael.

Reluctantly, Robbie had to decide to leave as there had been news about the company that Tonette had emailed him. A long time rival company, Pretty Lips, had stolen their new idea for a new lipstick shade which were about to be launched for the Fall season.

Pretty Lips had always been their rival company and yet, this was the first time that they stole their ideas. As much as possible, Robbie and his team were very careful when there was a product launching. Robbie knew this was something serious.... and he needed to fix it by himself.

It was his job to find out who was the snitch in his company who sold their idea.. and with that, Robbie needed to cut their trip short.

Sasha had gone down the lake and heaved a deep sigh. They had just finished eating breakfast with Toni and Michael, and she asked her parents if she could sit by the lake for a little while. She felt really sad since she had not done some of the activities in the camp and now, they needed to go home all of a sudden. She took a stone from the ground and threw it over the lake.

"Sasha!" called a little girl behind her and she turned her head. She smiled. It was Viola.

The little girl walked towards her and sat beside her on the ground.

"Hi Viola," Sasha greeted the girl. "What are you doing here?"

"I heard you were leaving," Viola replied.

"Yeah... I am. I wanted to stay though but Dad has an important thing to do so we need to go back home."

The little girl sighed.

"I'm gonna miss you, you know. I never had any friends in camp except you."

"I know..."

"But Mom said she knew your parents and maybe we will see each other again."

"How? Do you live nearby?"

"No."

"Then how?"

"I don't know," and Viola shrugged her shoulders. "But I really hope I could see you again and play with you a lot."

"Me too...."

Both girls stared in the water.

"I want to swim in the lake," Viola blurted out.

Sasha suddenly had a wonderful idea. She stood up abruptly that startled Viola. The girl, on the other hand. creased her brows in confusion.

"Sasha, what's wrong?" Viola asked. She was starting to worry. Did she say something wrong?

"Oh, nothing's wrong. I was just thinking... do you want to swim by the lake?"

"What?" Viola started to panic. "Now?"

Sasha nodded. "Why not?"

"But-but there was no one here."

"We'll just be by the side. We won't go further."

Viola looked at the lake reluctantly. Her mother told her to always be careful near the water as she tend to get too excited the she sometimes forget the danger ahead. But she trusted Sasha, since she was bigger and older than her.

So shoving away her mother's instruction, she smiled at Sasha.

"Okay," she agreed.

Soon, both girls took off their pants and kept their t-shirts on and panties then, started walking towards the lake. They shivered as they felt the water on their hips. Since Sasha was taller, the waist deep water for Sasha was a bit higher for Viola. It was chest deep for her.

"Do you know how to swim?" asked Sasha to Viola.

"A bit. I took swimming lessons before," Viola proudly replied.

"Okay," and they started playing in the water. Viola started to kick her legs underneath and moved away from Sasha. She got a bit farther away from Sasha, about two arm lengths and the older girl was worried.

What if Viola went farther away from her? She was worried for her life. Even if the girl said she could swim, she was still afraid something might happen.

"Viola! Come back! I don't know how to swim," she called.

"Don't worry. I can handle this," Viola shouted back as she bobbed on the water.

"Please come back here, Viola! I'm getting scared."

"Alright! I don't even know why," and she swam towards her but suddenly her legs cramped. She could not move her other leg and she started to sink under the water.

Sasha panicked. She remembered how she almost drowned. Her instinct told her to go to her but she was afraid since it would be chest deep, and she did not know how to swim.

'What should I do?' Sasha thought.

She took a deep breath as she tried to calm herself and somehow remembered a few things Kellan had taught her about swimming.

"Hold your breath then blow bubbles through your nose when you're under the water. Whatever happens, don't close your eyes. It is good to be able to see where you are swimming. Kick your legs, and let your body slowly float in the water. Then, move your hands slowly as youwade them kn your sides. Soon, you'll besurprised you are swimming," Kellan had told her.

"Sasha..." Viola called in the midst of sinking as she gasped for air. "He...Help... Me!"

Sasha bravely took a deep breath and kicked her legs. She saw how Viola tried to grasp for anything to hold and she swam quickly towards her.

Viola automatically grabbed her shoulders as soon as Sasha had reached her. Then, they slowly swam back to the bank. As soon as they reached the ground, they laid down as Viola coughed up the remaining water that was on her throat. Both heaving deep quick breaths.

"You scared me!" Sasha said after a long pause. They were now staring up in the sky as the sun warmed their clothes to dry.

Viola laughed. "My legs cramped all of a sudden. But at least, you learned how to swim."

"Well... I tried to remember Kellan's advice."

"Who's Kellan?"

A soft smile curved in Sasha's lips.

"A friend," she answered.

Viola sighed. "At least you got other friends."

"Don't you have any other friends in your neighborhood?"

"I do but... some of them are mean to me."

"Really? Why?"

"I don't know... They said I'm adopted since I don't look like my dad."

"But you look like your mom."

"Only my eyes. I got blue eyes. Also, I'm not as white as my dad."

"So?"

"What do you mean so? Don't you see? I got a different face from my dad."

"I don't look like my dad either. More like mom. Viola, don't listen to these meanies, okay. I got bullied too before for not having a daddy around."

"Really?"

Sasha nodded.

"I did not care at first because I have Mom. For me, Mom is enough. But then, later on, I wanted to meet my dad, too."

"Was it sad not to have a dad growing up?"

"Yes... very sad. I look at some of my classmates and both of their parents would come to school on events while I only have Mom. Sometimes Kiara and Christopher would come, too but it was still different. You're lucky you have your dad ever since. I only got to meet dad now."

"I'm just glad you met him. Your parents look so nice."

"They are the best. Yours too."

"Yes, most especially dad. But sometimes, Mom brings me to Tito Miguel."

"Who is Tito Miguel?"

"A friend of my mom's. He sometimes buys me ice cream and stuff. He's nice."

Sasha did not say anything and thought about Christopher. Her mom's friend was the same to her. He would bring her to movies with Kiara and even bought some stuff for her.

"Sasha!" called a female voice behind them as both girls sat up quickly and turned their heads towards the voice. It was Alex.

"Oh my! What did you do? Why are you so wet? Did you fall into the lake?" Alex ran towards Sasha and kneeled before her. She held her shoulders, eyes full of worry.

"No, Mom. We swim in the lake," Sasha replied.

"You swim? You know how to swim?" Alex was surprised. "Who taught you?"

"Kellan," and Viola smiled as Sasha looked at her wide-eyed. Obviously, she did not want her mom to know. The reason, the girl had no idea.

"Kellan... I see..." and a smile formed in Alex's lips. She was starting to really like the boy now. He would probably be the best influence for her child after all.

"And Sasha saved my life," the girl Viola added.

"You what?! Wait!" and Alex turned to the girl. "What do you mean she saved you?"

"We were swimming and I swim a bit farher away from her. It was okay at first then suddenly my leg cramped and I can't move it. So I sank until Sasha took me out of the water and into the bank."

"I was proud of you, Sasha. But.."

"Uh-oh. Here we go," and Sasha hid her face with her hands, trying not to get scared of the punishment Alex would do to her.

Will she take her phone privileges for disobeying her by swimming in the lake all by themselves?

She knew the rules but she decided to break them since it was their last day at camp. She thought it would be fun for once... though this would be her second time breaking rules.

In which she always went in for trouble... and got out, thankfully.

Alex chuckled as she saw her daughter docking her head as if she was about to blow fire from her mouth. She took her two hands and held them firmly.

"I'm not mad, okay. And because of your bravery, there will be no punishment for bending the rules today, okay? Just don't do it again next time. Promise?"

"Promise, Mom," and she lifted her hand, palm facing towards her mother.

Alex smiled.

"Now, let's get you both changed, okay?"

"Oh no!" Viola suddenly cried. "Mom would kill me for sure."

"Oh, don't worry, Viola. I'll go with you. I'll explain to your mom everything."

"Thanks, Tita."

Alex was surprised of what the girl called her but somehow she was happy that Elaine had taught the girl some manners.

She should not be thinking that way yet, it still bothered her how come the girl did not get her parents' personality.

Viola looked mild-mannered compared to her mother who was feisty and Miguel.. he was playful and cunning. Both genes should at least sonehow be evident but none could be seen.

'Was she really Miguel's child?' Alex wondered.

Alex looked at the girl closely. She did not know but she suddenly felt that suspicious of Elaine.

What if Slaine was just using her daughter to get close to her family? But why?

Alwz could not think of any other reason but fame. She wanted to think that way but as soon they reached the RV where the Crainshaw family stayed, she forgot all about it as Elaine came out to greet them.