The Stories of Silvia Silverman Chapter 3 ~ Code Black

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The water embraced me. My nerves settled as my legs sliced at the lake. My newfound confidence calmed me. The water churned around my arms and legs as I pulled closer and closer to the dock.

My lungs set to burst, I surfaced. The dock was floating only five feet ahead of me. I did butterfly strokes until reaching a plastic chained ladder. I pulled myself onto the dock, and it swayed with my weight. The buoys slurped up the rippling tide and I heard the planks let out a tired creak at my arrival. Somehow, it held steady enough for me to sit. I had been the first to reach the island, but not by much. Dennis was right behind me. I had no idea how much weight the dock could hold at a time. I was about to find out. Dennis ignored the ladder and pulled his body straight from the water onto the dock. His brown skin was dripping, gleaming in the sunlight. I swallowed hard. I was immobile. He wiped the streams of water cascading down his face then looked down at me. His eyes widened at the sight of me in my underwear. He winked then started scanning the dock for something. No one had ever looked at me like that before. I didn’t know what to do. I felt a smile tugging at my lips, but I knew better than to get excited. He couldn’t possibly like me.

Then I remembered the entire purpose of swimming here. Look for your name and further instructions, we had been told. There were three plastic crates in the middle of the makeshift island. Dennis was digging through the far left crate, which was white. I rushed toward them and peeked inside the far right one, which was gray. The middle crate was black, and Dennis was pulling a white envelope out of it.

I finally took action and tried to find the envelope marked “Blue.” Others were arriving--or waiting patiently before climbing the ladder--lightly paddling to stay afloat. Dennis was tearing his envelope. The gray box didn’t have my name, and others were starting to shove me.

Someone yelled, “hurry up!”

I moved to the black crate to find only one envelope, with my name on it. In front of me, I saw Dennis sliding off the island. But there was no splash. I walked towards him and tore open my note, just as he was pushing away from the island in a bright orange kayak.

Blue,

You are assigned to The Colours: Operation Code > Black

Proceed to the kayak. Find a friend.

Row until you meet the opposing shore.

There you will find further details.

Everyone around me was ripping their envelopes hurriedly. Dennis was so far the only one in a kayak. There was no time to think of the meaning of my letter. I realized there was only one boat, and Dennis was shrinking smaller and smaller the longer I stalled. I dropped my letter back into the crate and dove into the water after him.

Back in the open blue arms of the lake, I became everything I was not on land. I was quick and graceful, my toes were pointed as they slapped at Lake Porter. It didn’t take long for me to reach Dennis. He was no longer rowing but coasting, his eyes taking in the scenery. When I got close to his boat, he faced me and smiled, his eyes reflecting the shining water.

“Need a ride?” He asked. He genuinely looked happy to see me.

“My envelope said to go to the other coast by kayak,” my breath coming in huffs from this unprecedented workout.

“Don’t worry, there’s room for two,” he said, eyes gleaming. My heart hammered away in my chest.

I tried to pull myself up and into the boat but, my body was waterlogged and the kayak was unsteady on the surface. My arms were hanging over the side of the boat and Dennis simply lifted me up by my underarms. It was like plucking a baby up from a cradle for him, almost effortless. His body was so long, he managed by leaning away from the side of the boat I was struggling alongside. The kayak nearly tipped in the process, but Dennis was strong and I flopped into the boat. My energy was spent.

The two-seater was flush with dry towels in its nose. Dennis passed one back to me without turning around. I wrapped the warm towel around my near-naked skin quickly. I had never been so aware of my body. No one had ever seen me in only my underwear, save for my mother. I looked down, my nipples prickled and showed through my bra. My red, pineapple splattered bikinis clung to my hips. The humidity was fierce as I struggled to get my breath back, but the heat in my cheeks was from pure embarrassment. I had never done anything so reckless. Now my clothes, book bag, purse and phone were on the opposite shore. I was floating along in a plastic kayak --in my underwear -- with a boy I met not even an hour ago. A very cute boy. My heart was beating against my chest. Blue was fading away, taking my courage with her. I had never been in a situation like this. I didn’t know how to act in front of boys. I didn’t know how to act in front of anyone.

“We have to go back,” I squealed.

“We’re too far from them now,” Dennis replied.

I knew I didn’t have the strength the swim all the way back to shore. I was stuck on this little adventure.

“Thanks for letting me in the boat,” I finally say. Dennis nods as a response. He was back to rowing, and I was in the backseat being extremely unhelpful and insecure in my overexposure. He couldn’t even see me. I started to relax.

“It should only be a few more minutes,” Dennis assured me.

Dennis kept us moving forward while I looked behind us. No one else was following. I found that odd, but I was starting to enjoy my alone time with Dennis. Some minutes later, we were skidding onto the sandy shore. I hopped out as he pulled the boat fully out of the water. I scanned the beach for other Colours. A sinking pit filled my stomach when I realized we were alone. I had expected everyone to have the same task. It didn’t make sense that we were the only two sent to the opposite side of the lake. I liked Dennis, but I was scared. What if this whole thing was a joke at my

expense?

“Um... Dennis,” my voice was shaking.

He tilted his head then, reading my face, and looked around the shore. “We’re alone,” he stated.

“Yeah,” was all I could muster. I was a ball of nerves in my towel-dress. “What are we supposed to do,” my voice was breaking. My breathing was heavier. Tears burned behind my eyes.

What had I done? Why had I come here?

Suddenly, I was back in 9th grade. I was on a team with the worst of the mean girls clan for a “friendly” game of gym class volleyball. Alisha was the class president and played lacrosse. I knew she was an aggressive athlete, but I didn’t think she’d take out all her belligerence on me. Even though we were teammates, she repeatedly shoved me out of the way to “make a save.” I was knocked down so many times that Mr. Dwier had to send me to the nurse for floor burns on my knees and forearms. All Alisha had to do to get away with it was bat her eyes and claim that I was the one in the way. My only defense was a pleading look at Mr. Dwier to see through her facade. But he only called me clumsy and to advised me to “let the athletes take control.” As if I had another choice.

I didn’t realize I was curled on my knees until Dennis’ arms were around me and pulling me into a sitting position. He was sturdy and his skin was cotton soft against mine. My breathing was starting to steady.

“Does that happen a lot?,” his voice was low, curious.

“Sometimes. Not recently,” I answered.

It was of course, a lie. I had a panic attack the night before my first day of school, and everyday before lunch. But, I figured the less he knew, the less weird he would find me. He stood up. He looked even taller from where I sat. I had become clingy, I wanted his arms back around me as soon as they left. He held out a hand to help me up, and I took it lightly, knowing he could pull my weight. I smiled despite myself.

“Let’s find our envelope,” he said.

It didn’t take us very long to find what we were looking for. And yes, it made me that much more insecure about prematurely panicking. On top of a boulder, some fifty feet from shore, was another black crate. Inside, was a package. The wrapping paper and the bow keeping it together were the exact color of the crate.

I untied the ribbon and tore open our present. Pitted eyes stared back at me. I flinched and instinctively threw the box top back on. Chills travelled down my spine.

The sun was starting to set. Any minute we’d be covered in darkness. Dennis shot me a look, his mouth was open as if he were about to speak, but then thought better of it. He took off the box lid and pulled out a skeleton head. Dennis let out a laugh, but I was still trapped in my head, creating a list of all the things that could go wrong.

An envelope was hanging out of the toy skeleton’s mouth. Written in cursive blue ink were the words: Friend or Foe?

We looked at each other quickly, then back at the envelope. My first letter had told me to find a friend, and I had hopped into the kayak with Dennis. What had his letter said?

I asked him this and he shrugged, “probably same as yours.”

He began to open the envelope. Our light was quickly receding. I had no clue what time it was now. Certainly much later than I had anticipated this initiation to take. I glanced at our fate.

Kiss me or ditch me.

Prudes will be dealt with harshly.

Pucker up!

Dennis was still staring at the note, shaking his head. Dennis was eyeing me, and I wrapped my arms around my body. I had lost my towel during our search for the letter. He smiled, then started to laugh. His laugh was deep, full and unexpected. I started laughing too. What a ridiculous situation we had found ourselves in. Then, I was nervous. Samson and I had kissed once, in order to practice for our real first kisses we stupidly assumed we’d get before graduation. We must have been having a good day, oblivious to our tortuous high school reality.

Dennis looked at me--his eyes still alive with laughter-- reached his arm out, and pushed a piece of blue hair behind my ear. “I like this,” he said, fingers still in my hair, then resting on my collarbone. Goosebumps pimpled my skin then he said, “and you.”

Silvia would have retreated into herself. But I had never heard those words before and here, with Dennis, I was Blue. Instead of pulling away, I leaned in. Then, his lips were on mine.

They were silk pillows against my own, and I put a free hand behind his head to pull him closer.

“Is this okay?” He asked. I let myself lie back, shook my head invitingly, and then he was over me, kissing me hungrily.

The sand was cool on my back as I kissed Dennis back hard. It seemed only Silvia needed practice, Blue was a pro at this. He flipped me so that I was staring down at him. My knees, spread on either side of his hips, dug into the sand. He sat up to meet me, holding me close. He brushed his lips against mine then scattered kisses along my neck. We were entranced. We were ebony and ivory melting together in the moonlight. For once, my mind shut off long enough for me to savor this moment.

Then, I heard the sound of twigs cracking. I stopped moving. Dennis continued to kiss me, ignoring the noise. Silvia was bubbling to the surface, trying to ruin my fun. I pictured the Colours hiding in the bushes, waiting to jump out and mock us. But Dennis didn’t seem to be bothered, Blue reminded me. Animals roamed the woods all the time, it was probably just a rabbit or bird. I let myself be persuaded back to his mouth.

Seconds later his face was illuminated with a harsh light, breaking our spell. I jumped off of Dennis and immediately tried to cover myself and sink into the sand. Silvia was back at the helm.

“What the fuck?” Dennis blurted while turning away from the light to adjust himself.

“Silvia Silverman?” a voice asked.

“Who’s aski-”

“Yes,” I interrupted Dennis.

“Lakeview Police. We’re here to take you home.”

Shit.

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