lifeless troubles by sharon cruz (best books to read for young adults TXT) 📕

CHAPTER 1: THE START

the signs were there....
You never think that in a summer’s day the wind will blow so powerful that it would nearly blow you over off the deck and into the ocean. I, on the other hand tried to stand in different positions but I still couldn’t stay in place. My foot was just off the deck a bit and just as I was about to go over the edge, a strong hand grabbed me just in time. Bert, my best friend saved and me and pulled me forward. As we both walked and in under the motels rooftop that we were staying at the night before, Bert laughed at me as I felt my hair high and frizzy. “Ha-ha.” I said smirking but giving him attitude. Bret shook his head. Bert a 5’10 guy about 19 stood with broad shoulders and had the lightest blonde hair ever. Muscular, his eyes are the prettiest blue eyes. “Jac. We got to go!” Bert yelled in the distance heading towards our boat.

Fixing myself once more as I prepared for the blasting wind. Even though there was the slightest darkness in the clouds, the sun broke through and bluest sky shone through it. I jumped on deck on our boat and started to release the rope when Mr. Wickham grabbed my hand. “Whoa there.” he said pulling the rope back to it’s place. I looked at him startled. Mr. Wickham a 60 year old man with pure white hair and about my height climbed on board. “Where’s Bert?” he asked me. “Bert!!” I yelled. Just in time Bert came in. “Mr. Wickham sir, how are you doing?” Bert said smiling and shook Mr. Wickham’s hand. I never felt comfortable with Mr. Wickham. I always knew something was up with him but didn’t know exactly. I always find him like a creeper. Strong the wind blew past us but not as strong as it did before. “I want to give you two some fish, you know just in case you get hungry.” Mr. Wickham remarked giving the big bucket to me. I held the bucket but nearly fell over when I didn’t expect the weight on it. Quickly, Bert helped me but gave Mr. Wickham a glare. “I’ll take them.” Bert said smiling at me broadly and carrying the fish away. I examined Mr. Wickham. My dark brown loose curly loose hair fell on my face as I pushed it back behind ear. Mr. Wickham looked out at the sea with his hands in his worn out blue jean’s pockets. His red lumberjack plaid shirt looked hideous on him and the shirt was button down a bit which was disturbing to see. But his beer gut stood out the most. Bert came back later and I smiled wide. His muscular face was handsome. He is handsome.
The story: Bert and I were best friends since the second grade. Always played with one another, always hung out with one another and always had each other’s back. I may be two years younger than him. But we were never apart. We were inseparable. We were total opposites.

“Well thank you Mr. Wickham for the fish, I’m sure it will be in handy.” Bert smiled politely. “Very well, have a safe trip you two; don’t do anything inappropriate yah hear.” Mr. Wickham said as he got off and I quickly let go the rope again and pulled it in as the boat began to sail away. “In your dreams.” Bert said to himself but I overheard and laughed with him. Looking at me he laughed.

CHAPTER 2: SWEET VACA…

The point for the boat trip was to get away from everything School, jobs, college friends and parents. I mean everything expect to best friends. Just to relax and ride in a boat for almost all summer... Wobbling on deck, I brought out two cold water bottles to Bert as he drove the boat. “You’re making me sick, this isn’t race you know.” I said as I passed him the water bottle but gave it back to me so I would open it. Once he drank, I was tipping over but held on to Bert. The air felt nice as I listened to the waves crash alongside the boat. Seagulls gawked high up at the sky. It was almost....beautiful. As Bert rode the boat there was nothing surrounding us but the ocean itself. We wanted to ride around the world, to experience different adventures. I sat down on an old rusted chair and Bert asked, “Are you excited to be here?”
“Yeah!!” I exclaimed smiling but looking at Bert as If that was a dumb question. Bert knew me better than anyone and sometimes better than me. Chuckling Bert looked back at me as I stood up and rested my arm on his shoulder. “You’re not going to get tired of just riding this boat?” I asked.

“I’m sure I will.” Bert replied. “So how long before you take a break?” I asked again. “Why do you want to know so badly?” He asked smiling at me. “So we can hang and so I can do this!” I cried and began to tickle him. Bert moved away laughing and trying to stop me with one hand. But that’s when I found out you can put the boat on automatic and then it was my turn. Bert chased me around as I ran away from him. Finally reaching me he grabbed ahold of me and tickled my stomach. I pushed him away several times, trying to stop him. His strong hands would grab my wrists as I moved backward. When it was a dead end I quickly grabbed his shirt and pulled it over his head blinding him and ran off laughing. Soon Bert regained his place and once he found me again he pulled me down gently yet ruff so I would fall on him. My cheeks burned with the nonstop laughs as I got off of Bert and rolled over on my back. We both sighed as we looked up at the light blue clear sky. “We have to remember this summer.” I said “we will. It will be unforgettable.” Bert said and Bert was right. Ahead of us was something unforgettable...

Later that evening, the sun was setting and it was so cold that I wrapped myself with a blanket as Bert sat by me. The sky looked darker for some reason but tonight the night approached with storm coming in our way. The clouds and sky changed color into a blackish grey instead of the orangish red-violet. “Do you think we can go a different direction, out of the storms way?” I asked. “I’m not sure. What way would we go?” Bert asked me. “I don’t know. Just not that way.” I stated. “Yeah. But what if the storm is in different areas and not just in this one area that we are at?” Bert asked me one more time. “Are you Mr. Bert questioning my instincts?” I asked playfully. Bert smiled. “No, Ms. Jaclyn.” Bert joked. I just shook my head. Then I excused myself to go the restroom. But when I came back I made a shocking discovery. It only took 5-10 minutes until hard wind, thunder, lightning and rain to show up and take over the boat...

CHAPTER 3: DISASTER

The rain hit like cold water when I opened the door. Lightning crackled across the black sky. I shut the door behind me. “BERT!!!” I yelled over the hard rain. “BERT! WHERE ARE YOU?!” I screamed starting to get worried out of my mind. “OVER HERE!” he yelled back. I ran over to where his voice was. I gasped when I found Bert on deck stuck underneath a broken sail. He was soaked as I ran to his aid. I slid a little as I dropped on my knees and started to push the sail away from his legs. I pushed and pushed and Bert screamed in agony. The boat rocked violently as we moved back and forth. Water entered the boat. “Go please. Control the boat.” Bert cried as he tried to push it himself. I shook my head not wanting to leave his side. “GO!” he yelled and I quickly stood up and took control of the wheel. The wheel swiveled back and forth and used all my strength to stop it. It was minutes away from tipping the boat over. If it tipped one way I would pull it another way. But it didn’t last long when finally the stirring wheel broke off. I held it in my wet hands and panic filled me. “Crap.” I muttered to myself and ran back Bert. “What are-”Bert began “We have to abandon the ship now!” I interrupted him. Bert looked at me as drops of rain fell down on his worried face. “Help me get out of this.” he said quickly and we pushed and pulled. “Okay on 3...1...2...3!” we both cried as the thunder rumbled around us. It was a success. The sail was off Bert as I helped him up. We stumbled nearly falling over. That’s when I noticed how ugly and in danger we were. We are in danger zone. We are facing death... The boat waved back and forth making it hard to hold on to something or Bert to hold on to me. Going on the edge of the boat, we both looked down. Bert looked at me and said, “It’s worth the risk.” I agreed. Looking down the dark black sea, I could imagine the seas swallowing me whole, including Bert who is inured. Both of us never coming back. Then that’s when I imagined what happen if it did... the life I would leave behind. Hitting back to reality, Bert said, “Help me.” As we picked out any anything that we think would be light and floatable and started to throw it out into the sea. Once that was done, I took in a deep breath. “Ready?” Bert asked I nodded. We clasped hands together tightly as we jumped...i waited and waited for the sea water to hit me but it felt like time slowed as finally the water it hit me like a thousand needles. Letting go and swimming blindly, we tried to find the objects we threw out. I found one and when I came out of the water I felt like I was reborn. I felt like I died and the dark sea cleansed me forever. It was a life raft. Thank god! “Bert!!!” I yelled out to the sea when I climbed on the life raft and didn’t see him anywhere. “Bert!” I cried again. See this is what I was talking about! Just at that moment I heard kicking and splashing and looked over my shoulder. “BERT!” I yelled nearly crying in tears. Ruff waves were then carrying me away. “No! Bert! Swim, swim!” I exclaimed as I waved my hand over. Then I paddled with my hands trying desperately to reach him. But we were going further and further apart. That’s when I jumped out of the raft in to the cold ice sea again and dived underwater toward Bert. Once I reached him, I hugged him tightly, because the joy he was okay and because I was scared for my life. I don’t know how Bert stayed on the surface with an injured leg but I couldn’t leave him. He clasped one hand on my cheek and looked at me with a smile that I used to see. “You’re insane have I told you that?” Bert said. Tears filled my eyes as