Tidal Waves

Nineteen

Tallulah inhaled deeply when she resurfaced and her hair glued to her head, strands of hair curling in front of her eyes as she turned. Her arms spinning her around as she treaded water, needing to keep herself afloat and gazed around for her best friend. Her eyes burned from having opened them below the ocean for too long and her lungs were heavy, filled with water as she coughed.

Her surfboard floated beside her, the strap remained tight to her ankle and board, keeping the two of them together. With a huff and deep cough, choking up some water, Lou swam to her board. Her fingers grasped onto the edge, gripping the board as she pulled herself up enough to float on water to relax herself.

Further away, the wave had passed by, since she'd failed to remain up long enough to complete the session, where JJ was finishing his run. Arms in the air as he hooted and his board came to a slow stop as the wave neared it's finish. He hooted loudly before falling back off his board and sinking below water purposely, a dramatic ending.

She sighed, wishing she could surf like JJ could because it was embarrassing that she couldn't even make a full run without doing something wrong. Whether she wobbled too much and looked like an old lady or wiped out entirely, causing a laugh for everyone at the beach. With a head shake, she used what upper muscles she had and pulled herself onto the board fully. Sitting on it with either foot in the water, she unwrinkled her long sleeve shirt and then flicked some water droplets off her bare thigh.

It was a few minutes later when JJ had came paddling back, a smirk inched across his mature face and he couldn't help but laugh at her. She stared at him, lifting her arms and crossed them over her chest as she gazed away with a huff. 

"Eleventh time's a charm." He chuckled and stopped paddling, sitting up in one swift motion with either leg hanging off his board.

"Haha." She faked a laugh. "Easy for you to say, you haven't wiped out once."

He shrugged. "What can I say? I'm a pro." He winked and she gagged at his response with a laugh before she lifted her foot and splashed him with water. 

Lou turned her head and stared back, wondering if a wave was coming in or not. "Imma hit one more before I go."

He didn't say anything before paddling beside her and placed a grip to her board, his fingers turning white from how hard he gripped, pulling her board through the water towards his. He let out a low sigh. "Look if ya wanna catch a wave, spread your feet apart more."

She raised a brow and stared at him. Was he actually going to help her willingly on his own terms? She was slightly shocked because JJ always teased her about her surf skills, which were dreadful. "If this is some-"

"It's not." He cut her off. "I'll show you, come on." He nods, whipping around suddenly as he flopped onto his stomach and began his paddle for a wave. She lightly rolled her eyes, reluctantly following the hillbilly of a boy into the waves of the ocean.

He slowed his pace, lying on his stomach and awaited for her to arrive by his side. When she had, she placed either elbow to her board and held her head up, awaiting for further instruction from JJ. She was kind of glad he was willing to help her because she adored the water and surfing, but neither really liked her.

"All right, so take it slow and get up quick, but steady." He told her, motioning her to catch the wave that was coming. He stared back at the small wave coming that would soon turn massive, ready to surf by many. 

Lou sucked in a deep breath before paddling ahead to get a head start on the wave. When she felt the wave over take her board and suck her backward, she placed her hands flat on the board and hopped up with a hobble. JJ watched, observing what she was doing wrong and right, though there were more wrongs than right and he couldn't help but laugh. He watched her arms wobble as they were outstretched and her knees were like a pin, kept straight the entire time and he was betting her tongue was sticking out the corner of her mouth, as she was sure of herself on this wave.