My Bondi Guardian Angel

Bronte to Bondi

Maxi's POV

Even though Olivia's comment had stung, I couldn't bear to leave her alone with this man. My gut feeling told me I couldn't trust him, and I couldn't ignore that. Despite my discomfort, I remained in the lifeguard tower, keeping a vigilant eye on Olivia and the man who had intruded into her life. I couldn't help but feel uneasy about their closeness; Jesse was my best friend, and their relationship seemed too intimate for them to be "just friends."

I continued to observe them through the large window, grappling with my promise not to interfere. It was evident that Olivia wasn't enjoying his company, but I had decided to respect her wishes.

I grabbed my lunch from the fridge and began eating while attempting to distract myself with my phone. The harsh water conditions, the bone-chilling cold, and the powerful waves, ideal for experienced surfers, had left the beach entirely deserted, save for Olivia and the mysterious man. Nevertheless, every few minutes, I couldn't help but steal a glance in Olivia's direction, my concern for her safety compelling me to ensure she was alright.

As I continued to watch, my unease grew, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. But with the limited information I had, I hesitated to call the police or request backup. I knew I had to be cautious and ensure I had a clear understanding of the situation.

Then, during one of my glances in Olivia's direction, I noticed something that made my heart race. The man was still in the shallows, but Olivia was nowhere to be seen. Panic surged within me, and my mind raced, uncertain about what to do next. She couldn't have gone far.

I retrieved my binoculars and began scanning the area where I'd last seen Olivia. After a tense moment, I spotted her floating in the water. Initially, I assumed she had fallen, and I waited for her to get back up, thinking that she might have had a minor mishap.

As I continued to observe, my concern deepened because Olivia wasn't making any effort to rise. It was becoming increasingly evident that something was seriously wrong. Panic started to set in as I realized the urgency of the situation.

I knew I had to act quickly, and while the situation was growing dire, I decided to prioritize getting to Olivia and ensuring her safety. With a racing heart, I radioed the boys situated on the other beach as I sprinted towards her, my mind racing as I closed the distance to the scene.

"Bronte to Bondi, Maxi speaking," I panted.

"Bondi to Bronte, go ahead," came the response.

"Can you send Jesse and anyone else who's available? It's Olivia... She's..."

The voice on the other end cut me off, "Yeah, of course... They're on their way right now."

I rushed toward both of them, every step a pounding heartbeat of urgency. As I closed the distance, the man abruptly turned and began to sprint toward the promenade, but for now, I chose not to divert my attention from Olivia. My primary concern was her safety.

Reaching her felt like an eternity, my heart thundering in my chest. I acted swiftly, carefully turning her over, feeling every second tick by in slow motion as I lifted her bleeding face out of the water. With urgency in mind, I dragged her out of the water and quickly assessed her vitals. Her pulse was racing and her breathing was shallow but steady, so I placed her on her side to ensure her airway remained clear.

As I was about to head back to the tower to fetch some oxygen, I noticed Jesse, Matt Dee, and Harries emerging on the horizon, and relief washed over me.

The next few minutes passed like a blur, as I busily attended to Olivia with the first aid kit Harries had tossed me. I was so absorbed in my efforts that I missed the moment Jesse realized what had happened. Later, I was told that he had caught up to James, running faster than anyone had ever seen him, and tackled him to the ground. It took two people to pry him off the man as he unleashed a flurry of punches. The police had been called, and James had been immobilized to the ground before Jesse returned to check on Olivia's condition.

During this time, I covered Olivia's face with a mask to help her breathe more easily. The poor girl was trembling, and I had to emotionally distance myself from the situation to maintain focus. With all life-threatening injuries ruled out, I took a deep breath, briefly filling in Jesse, who had just knelt beside me.

Jesse's POV

Still breathing heavily, I knelt next to Maxi, and together, we focused on assessing her condition. The tremors coursing through her body had yet to subside, so we took measures to address her shock and hypothermia. We carefully wrapped her in a metallic blanket, and I held her close to me, determined to share my warmth. She was awfully cold, but I didn't care. I removed my hoodie and draped it around her, while Maxi did the same with his jacket.

Maxi quickly dashed back to the tower to provide an update to the ambulance services.

By the time he returned, the police had arrived, escorting James with them. He was facing minimal charges for failing to assist a person in danger, but perhaps more severe accusations like attempted murder and assault awaited him. We would have to wait and see how the situation unfolded.

The ambulance arrived, and they transported us to the hospital. Maxi assured me that he would handle work matters and promised to visit us later.