Loud tapping on Georgia’s window startles her awake. With bleary vision, she taps the screen of her phone. It reads the time “4:25am”. She slowly makes her way across her bedroom to open her curtains. As she peers down from her third story building, her friend Holly is waiting there holding something in her hands. She had previously told Georgia, she wanted to buy a waterproof camera to capture this adventure. Georgia rubs her face and checks her calendar. “Shoot. That’s today?” Georgia says to herself. It’s tubing day with her friends, to celebrate Holly from graduating college. Georgia texts the group chat “Be down in 10” as she quickly rushes to get ready. _I really hate mornings _she thinks. In Arizona; in order to have a good time at the river, you must get up before the sun.

Georgia walks outside to Holly talking to a GoPro, “And here comes my best friend, say hi to the camera!” Georgia, only half awake, jokes with Holly. “I wish I had half your energy, can you share? I can barely function”. Holly laughs and turns off the camera. “Let’s go, I don’t want to be late.” Georgia continues to the car with Holly to the rest of her friends, David and Holly’s boyfriend Michael. She could almost feel the beat of “Funkytown” before she could open the door. She slides into the backseat where her eyes met David’s. Georgia has known him since she befriended Holly in high school 10 years ago. But over the recent years, she has started to notice more. From poltite mannerisms when talking to her, to his sweet gestures when they all hang out together. Recently, he solidified her feelings when he gave a homeless person food. Last week Georgia had confessed this to Holly, and she had planned this day for Georgia as well. To get the both of them alone together and hopefully develop something. As both girls are situated, they are on their way to the Salt River. It is a 30 minute drive of songs and laughter. Georgia feels a rush of heat in her stomach when her and David set their hands down simultaneously in the middle seat; their pinkies grazing each other. Georgia missed the glance David had given her since she was admiring their light touch. He lets out a sigh and watches as Michael and Holly are dancing in their seat to Cardi B’s “I Like it”.

Michael rummages for his Tonto pass in the glovebox as the girls are applying sunscreen. “Maybe you should ask my brother to help get your back” Holly whispers handing Georgia the bottle of sunscreen. She nods grabbing it from her, and Holly makes her way to the bathroom to make it less suspicious. Georgia watches as David is hand pumping air into the four single black tubes. She notices how his muscles contract against his pale skin with each pump. He pauses to wipe sweat from his green eyes and caught Georgia standing there. “It’s a bit humid today” David attempts at small talk. Georgia snaps out of her trance and stumbles on her words “oh I - I need help”. He moves towards her. David makes her cheeks hot and her heart skip a beat. She looks down at the lotion in her hand and hands it over to him. “Holly is in the bathroom, and I can’t reach my back”. David smiles and starts applying it to her shoulders. As he is massaging her, he notices a familiar scar on her right shoulder. It was from a surgery Georgia needed to fix an injury. He gets a flashback to when they were just teens. The girls only being 16 and him just a few years older. Their group would always go to Kleinman Park to play softball. One day Georgia pitched a ball that ended up tearing her right rotator cuff. That was the last time he touched her shoulders in that way. Knowing it was 8 years ago, he never thought about how much of a beautiful woman Georgia has become. He gently rubs her scar. “I think you are good” David says; and Georgia turns around tucking her brown hair behind her ears. “Thanks” she is embarrassed, hardly giving eye contact. Holly makes an appearance by grabbing a tube and running towards the water. The rest follow with other river necessities.

After the last knot was placed, all four tubes were secured. “Not one ripple or current will split this bad boy” Michael says slapping the tube. It makes a loud rubbery echo, making Georgia jump. Holly laughs and starts up the GoPro. “We have made it to the river, and we will be sure to take the craziest paths.” She pans the camera to the group. They all smile and wave. They hop into the water. _It is freezing. _You would think in the middle of a Mesa summer, the water would be warmer. But the overcast had made it feel about ten degrees cooler. As the four are floating along, Georgia closes her eyes and listens to the sounds of running water hit each pebble and rock. She then opens her eyes to David placing a cold beer can on her left thigh. “I bought the Four Peaks pack, I know it’s your favorite” he explains. Excitedly Georgia snaps open the can and starts to take a sip. Holly screams startling the crew, making Georgia spill her drink. “Guys look at this” Holly shares a replay of the video from just 10 minutes prior. She then pauses the video pointing to a figure that hovered far behind Georgia. It was all black and almost transparent. Georgia fixes her position in her tube “I am not a fan of whatever that is”. “I second that” David agrees with her. Georgia stretches a smile slightly showing her teeth. She has liked David for their similarities, and how he cares for her.

The clouds grow thick and only momentarily cover the sun. It’s only dark for a brief period. Michael shivers as he follows movement in the foliage across from him. A couple sprinkles fall from the grey clouds, but it was hard to distinguish the feeling of rain and river water. A roar of water is heard in the distance. Rapids. “Hold on tight!” Michael shouts. As the group rides the current, they quickly approach a large rock. Using only their hands, all four work together to avoid hitting the obstacle. The cumulonimbus overcast create more droplets. Thunder claps as the rock was a near miss; but the rope snaps. They are now separated, Holly and Michael in front, and David and Georgia in the back caught in a tree branch. Panicked, Georgia reaches for David to get out of the serrated branches. The tubes follow the current in a rush, and the rain gets heavier. Now day feels like night, a monstrous crack of white light illuminates a figure ahead of their path. Michael leads the group to a shortcut, as the rest are frightened for their safety.

They pause their float with a nearby fishing spot to figure out a plan, now that the rope is frayed. Holly follows Michael up a trail leaving David and Georgia alone. The rain has calmed and Georgia was ready to confessed to David. She did not want to risk not saying anything in case something happened “Hey I’ve been meaning to talk to you.” Her eyes widened and heart dropped. David bites his bottom lip nervously “I have a confession” Georgia finishes the beer that was still in her hands. She mirrors him, biting her lips in return. She wanted to kiss him so bad. His voice sounded like a song. “I was actually going to tell you something.” David fidgets with his hands. “I have always known you as my best friends older brother. But my perspective has changed.” David walks closer. “I told Holly last week that I want to get to know you better-“ Before she could finish David cups her face with his left hand and pulls her in slowly by her waist. “Holly does not know how to keep things to herself. She already told me.” They are breathing the same air at this point. Georgia closes the gap by pressing her lips on David’s. He lets out a moan. His left hand trails to the back of her neck pulling in for a much deeper connection. It’s electric. It’s slow and sensual, as their lips take turns. She momentarily opens her eyes, and pushes David away. Spooked, she looks over his left shoulder to something dark lurking in the trees. He turns around reading her frightened demeanor. As the pair crossed the roaring river, they notice a figure waiting for them on the other side. It’s the same shadow entity in the video. David then yanks Georgia by her right arm in attempt to run away. She yelps in pain, sending a signal to the others that had them come running back. Holly is watching as David is apologetic. Georgia then points across the river, tears running down her face “it’s following us!”