Jess is finally going! That New Zealand holiday is at its dawn, and all she can think of is landscapes, walks and adventures. But what she does not expect to find, is what is waiting around the corner - someone.
Someone who will turn her holiday up...
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Jess laughed as they made their way down the sandy path. Their slippers squelched beneath their feet, the cool sea breeze blowing Jess's hair into her face. She shivered slightly as they walked. Her left hand clutched Obi Wan's leash as though her life depended on it; she had not forgotten yesterday's fear. She doubted she ever would.
It was a lovely day, just as warm and sunny as the previous one had been. This was why Jess and James were there, walking, sandy and wet and silhouetted by the just-setting Sun.
They were headed for their stream path. They were on their shortcut again. Truth be told, it was not exactly shorter than the other routes, but as it wove its way between their path and the beach, there was no way more ideal than it.
It was, Jess mused, almost like a little tunnel. Not in a stifling way, but it was very sheltered, as though it was in a realm of its own.
The overhanging trees, and ivy-covered walls on either side, closed in, scarcely allowing room enough for two people to walk. It made it seem like a little gateway, taking them to magnificent, secluded lands, greater than just the neighbourhood beach.
But, to the open waves they had been anyway.
Jess would be heading out of town soon, on a three day trip, and they had decided to make the most of the time before then, to roam the neighbourhood. That particular day, the thought of the sea - chill and biting - rushing upon the warm sand, had been just too inviting to turn down.
Both had agreed they had wanted to wade through the water.
Obi Wan had not been able to resist the water either - no cocker spaniel ever could. That was, at least, until he had stepped in. After that, it was a sprint onto the sand, with a frantic yelp, and a preserved, disdainful stare for the waves, as he trotted along far from their chilling reach.
But then, as long as he was within sight, the humans had not minded.
Both ended up much more soaked than they had expected. But that was bound to have happened, when the brief wade turned into a bit of splashing, which had in turn morphed into a brutal, salty water-fight.
Jess's lingering fears, left over by the dreams of the night before, were washed into the sea.
She had thought, only once or twice, about how she would explain her state to her family. Jess had also, once or twice, flung the thoughts from her mind - she had wanted that moment to herself. She had not had time for them.
She did not notice it all clinging afterwards, like the sand and salt from the brine, to her clothes.
Only now, walking down the path and back toward home, Jess could begin to regret it.
The games had come to an end only once they had both, slipped and crashed, waist deep into the frigid water. Cackling, with the Sun beginning to change the deep blue sky to countless meshing hues of ambers and golds above them, they had emerged from the water.
