Freedom To Surf (Jesse Polock Daughter Story)

Well I Guess This Is My Life Now

Riley's pov

(Time frame: flashback-ish a couple-ish days ago)

Well, it's been a whole two weeks since the whole shark, beach, blood, almost-lost-my-best-friend's-foot incident, and the... Well, you get the idea. Let's say that Tullie, Jesse, Boo and possibly even Chase weren't thrilled with me, more like disappointed. The kind of disappointment that comes when you tell your parents you're throwing away your Ph.D. and becoming a garbage collector.

So *clasp hands* where should I begin, before I rant about something else. Well, I am now a lifeguard trainee. Hoppo was really impressed with my skills, and how fearless I was. I didn't have the heart to tell them that I was mostly terrified and high on adrenaline. You know that rush that you get when you are moments away from death? That will to live that takes over every thought in your head? Basically, I was high off my friends and my terror. Although, I knew that if I hadn't done that, Ryan would have died.

Anyway, as I said, Hoppo was impressed and talked to Jesse and Tullie. So he only partially convinced them into letting me be a trainee, one of his key selling points was "you guys need more alone time with the baby," his other was "I am your boss so I technically don't have to ask you" which he choose to follow up that with "I could fire you and hire her". None of those really worked, the first might have worked out if I actually spent time with Chase, trust me when I say my dad and, I guess, Mom (Jesse and Tullie) get more than enough time with their child. While Hoppo knew this, he was really using that as a last resort. I forgot to mention his awesome line: "this would be a great opportunity for you, Jesse, and Riley to bond." Jesse still didn't fully agree, but sorta gave us the okay. He talked to me afterwards to make sure I knew what I was getting myself into, which I kinda did. He explained that tryouts are rough. I didn't tell him that Hoppo would be only lightly testing me and that I didn't have to try out. Hoppo basically gave me the all-clear to start right away. Boy, did my dad get a surprise that afternoon.

(flashback to my first day on the job)

My Dad didn't know that I was starting today. He was working at Bondi today and I was going with him. He thought that I was just going surfing and talking to Hoppo. To be fair, I was doing that, but I was also going to start the first day as an official trainee lifeguard.

"Riley come on" Jesse yelled, as I came down the steps. "Don't you need your surfboard to surf?"

"Yeah but Jethro said I could borrow his," I lied. I don't know why Jethro is always the runt of my schemes. Then again I am always the runt in his, so we balance each other out.

Jesse and I skateboarded down to Bondi. When we arrived, Jesse stopped and went to get changed in the change rooms while I went to Hoppo's office.

"Hey," Hoppo greeted, looking up at me. "Ready to start your first day?"

"Sure, I'm also ready to give my dad the fright of his life, I am so excited for him to see me make my first rescue," I said, bouncing up and down from excitement. He handed me my shirt and we started to talk about the day. I already knew my way around the beach and the rips, so I was good.

I exited the office and started to walk across the pavilion to the tower, when Riedy, who was just arriving, yelled at me. "Hey Mini Polock, ready for your first day?" I ran off and put my hand over his mouth." SHH Boo and my Dad are in the tower." They think I still have to go through the qualifier, so shut it." I whispered harshly. "There is a reason Boo and Jesse are not working in the tower today." I finished explaining. "Oh got it." Riedy walked off into the tower. I heard him saying "Jesse, your daughter is going to take your job someday." I am going to kill that man one day.

I heard my dad and Uncle Boo talking and walking down the stairs that led down to the beach from the tower, and then starting up the beach buggy and driving down the beach. I ducked behind a trash can. 'Yeah like that'll hide me.' I thought. Once I knew the coast was clear, I walked in the lifeguard tower, immediately going over and playfully slapping Reidy on the back of the head, hearing him snicker to himself afterwards. Dean gave me the rundown through everything. I already basically knew everything in the tower, how to spot rips and a lot of other stuff that is a part of being a lifeguard. I knew more than a basic trained person would know on their first day.

After that, I was assigned to middle beach duty with Matty Dee. The quickest way to piss me off is to pair me with him. I find him hilarious, everyone does, but his jokes sometimes piss me off, and he acts like a second Dad to me. Jesse trusts him to look at me when I am grounded a lot, but bro he is very neat, picky, and stern when need be. I however put my annoyance aside while watching the water. Matty Dee radios up to the tower asking if there is a person struggling outback. We get a definite yes back in response.

He looks and gestures his head towards the water. "You want me to go in?" I ask.

"Trainees always try to get as many rescues under their belts as they can. It impresses the senior lifeguards and gives them much-needed experience. You may know more than normal trainees, but you still need to get the hang of proper rescues, not flukey shark attacks. Also, your Dad will eventually see you today, or Tullie is going to call him because you haven't returned from "surfing" yet. I also can't think of a better way to break the news to Jesse that you're our new Trainee. Now hurry up, we can finish our chat after you saved the person from drowning." Matty Dee finished explaining to me. Leave it to him to give a speech while someone is drowning.

I grab the board and run out in the water, paddling as fast I can. I reached for the victim and grabbed their arm and directed them onto the front of the board. Thankfully, it was a small Asian woman, so it was a fairly easy rescue. I didn't get an older large man, that would be more difficult since I was a small, light female. We got back to shore without any complications and the woman just walked away. Yep, no need to thank me for saving your life. I walked back to the buggy and put my board in the side part of it. I reached into the buggy grabbing my jacket whileist, turning away from the buggy and drying myself off, although in the Australian heat I can dry off within seconds. I feel a presence behind me and I can hear Matty Dee laughing. Turning around I see my seat is taken up by Kerrbox, I heard through the radio a well done on my "first ''rescue and that Jesse and Boo are in the tower eagerly awaiting me. Oh, brother! I'd better face the music before it makes me go deaf. Surely they can't be mad at me. Besides, this was Hoppo's idea not to tell them.

I make it to the tower, of course forgetting my sandals in the buggy, is it possible to get third-degree burns from sand? The minute I step into the tower I am whisked into a super tight hug, by Maxi. Why you ask? I have no idea. He picks me up, bringing up the couple steps and plunking me in Boo's lap with Jesse in front of me.

"Wasup Dad? Fancy seeing you here! You know, a funny thing happened-"

"Save it. One, that was a very good rescue, it was pretty easy but it was flawless, and you know when a trainee goes into the water to make a rescue every senior lifeguard watches, so congrats I think you made a very good and professional impression on them. Two, next time you and one of the other lifeguards are going to do something that may almost give me a heart attack, let me know. Unless it's you and Jethro, in which case, never mind. Hoppo knows we have a hard enough time getting you to tell us the truth most of the time. He has two daughters, he should understand." Jesse finished rampling when Boo reached around me and tapped his knee, bringing him back to reality.

The door creaked open before Jesse could say anymore Hoppo walked in, blissfully unaware of the drama he had stirred up.

"Hey Riley, great rescue! I knew you would be a great addition to the team even if you are only a trainee, you still are fantastic." Jesse was about to interrupt but Hoppo ended our little conversation."Jesse, you can talk to me and exhibit every opinion you have about this tomorrow, and you can be as loud as you want, but watch yourself, because I am still your boss. I am letting you go early today and see you tomorrow and Riley, you're not working tomorrow either."

"Okay, come on Riley," Jesse started. He got interrupted by his phone ringing. He put it to his ear. "Yeah, relax," he said to the person on the other end. "She's right here." Jesse ended his call, then put the phone down.

"Tullie?" I asked without looking up.

"Yep. Let's go home."

With that, we walked off into the sunset. Welll, not really, but it works.

Authors note:

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