ADOPTING BEAUTY

Chapter 26 + Summer Days

I loved teaching little kids how to surf. I'd competed in surfing contests up until eighth grade. That was the time when lacrosse took over my life. I was more of a soul surfer anyway so I didn't really miss competitive surfing. I took lacrosse seriously as a sport but surfing was more my therapy. I liked how different the two pursuits were in general. Lacrosse was a team sport on land that built camaraderie. Surfing was an individual endeavor in the water that made me look inward for enlightenment. That was what I wanted for Larissa. To find her center and have balance in her life. As Camille was my counterbalance to Larissa, surfing was my counterbalance to lacrosse.

I spent the entire morning working with my students in the water. I taught both group classes and private lessons. I had beginners and numerous kids I'd taught individually for several summers. The money was not great but I wasn't really doing it for the money. I wanted the kids to feel good about themselves. I'd always struggled with that as a little kid. I never felt good enough. I watch my brother Brad excel at everything he did. I lived in his shadow. I was now coming into my own but I couldn't see it at that time. When I watched the joy on a kid's face when they caught their first wave, it made me happy. I could only imagine how happy I'd feel when my sister caught her first wave.

+++++

As planned, I finished up my lessons and walked the mile up the beach to the snack shack. By noon, the PV high school and junior high kids already dominated that stretch of sand. I knew Camille would come down to the beach at some point in the day. She was not an early riser and her wealthy stepfather did not make her work. Her biological father had moved to Laguna Beach in Orange County with his new wife and baby so she'd planned to spend half the summer down there as well. I never really knew her schedule. She also had all-star cheer practice and camps throughout the summer. I'd committed to a few club lacrosse tournaments that summer as well. We'd see each other when we could. Things were good between us and I didn't want to rock the boat.

I grabbed a table with an umbrella in the sand at the snack shack and waited for Larissa. A lot of kids were in line for lunch. For some reason, the thought of Larissa being sexually abused popped into my head. How could anyone do that to a young child? Had any of the kids I was now watching been molested? It was a horrible thought. I looked out towards the beach and ocean to rid the thought from my brain. As I did, I saw Larissa in line with all the other JGs returning their paddle boards to the lifeguard shed. She held one end of the long yellow foam board and sure enough, Sofia Harper carried the other end. I guess my sister had made a friend in Sofia.

The girls walked up to the snack shack in their navy blue one piece swimsuits, messy wet hair, sandy feet and backpacks slung over their shoulders. They looked tired, hungry and hot.

"How was it?" I asked.

"Hard," said Larissa. "They made us do a buoy swim on the first day. I was the last one to finish."

"It will get easier. You'll be in awesome shape by the end of the summer."

"Hi Joe," said Sofia. "I'm Max's little sister, Sofia."

"I know," I said. "Nice to finally meet you, Sofia. Do you want to join us for lunch?"

"If that's okay."

"Of course, my treat."

"Thanks. My mom's picking me up at one o'clock. I have cheer."

"Plenty of time."

The girls sat down and Larissa came across happier then she'd been in weeks. She finally had a buddy. I could tell Sofia was unsure what I thought about her after the sleepover from hell. I started by taking their lunch requests and went to order the food. While we waited for our food to cook, I decided to clear the air with Sofia.

"Thanks for being nice to my sister," I said to Sofia.

"Sure," said Sofia. "I'd like to be friends with her if you and your parents aren't too mad at me for the sleepover."

"They're not mad at you," said Larissa. "They're mad at Emma and Lily."

"They're just mad at what happened," I said. "My dad said you did the right thing that night by being honest."

"I'm not friends with Emma and Lily anymore," said Sofia. "They're awful people. Your girlfriend Camille destroyed them for what they did."

"Hopefully they learned their lesson."

"I think they did."

I heard our number being called for the food. Lunch was ready. I went to the counter to retrieve our food and in the five minutes I was gone, we had a surprise guest sitting at our table. It was Caleb. He'd come down to surf and hangout after his shift at In N' Out Burger. He'd pulled up a chair next to Larissa, which was no big surprise. His crush on her had not faded in the slightest.

"What's for lunch?" asked Caleb.

"Whatever you go buy yourself," I said. "The girls and I are starved."

"You can have some of my fries," said Larissa.

I picked up a vibe that maybe the crush went both ways. My jealousy hit me but I brushed it off.

"Thanks," said Caleb. "See, your sister has a heart."

Before I could muster up my smart ass retort, I could see every male in the vicinity turn their heads towards the two beautiful teenage girls in bombshell bikinis walking up. It was Camille and Peyton. Only those two could cause such a commotion. They owned the beach.

"What's this?" asked Camille. "A double date?"

"Very funny," I said. "Larissa and Sofia are in JGs together and they just finished up for the day. Caleb is mooching food off us as usual."

"You're Sofia Harper, aren't you?"

Sofia was shaking in her bare sandy feet at Camille's question.

"Yes," said Sofia. "I can go."

"No," I said. "Sofia's cool. She's friends with Larissa."

"After that shit show of a sleepover?" said Camille. "You're lucky you're still on cheer. Stop with the nudies, little girl."

"Stop it, she's the only one that was nice to Larissa that night."

"Sofia didn't do anything," said Larissa.

"That's the problem," said Camille. "She let those little sluts, Emma and Lily, push you around, Larissa."

"She's not friends with them anymore."

"Okay, that's a start."

"I wanted them to like me in eighth grade," said Sofia as she started to cry. "That's why I took naked pictures before. But when I saw them being mean to Larissa, I hated them for it."

Peyton pulled up a chair and comforted Sofia.

"It's okay," said Peyton. "Just stay away from Emma and Lily. They're not on cheer anymore. We've got your back."

"Thanks."

Camille sat on my lap, put her arm around me and took a sip of my soda.

"You're okay, Sofia," said Camille. "I like you. Larissa needs a friend. Don't fuck with her. Got it?"

"Yes."

"Wow," said Caleb. "Girl drama. Can we just enjoy the beach today while we're still young?"

"Yes," I said. "After we finish eating, I'm gonna give Larissa a surf lesson, then we'll come find you."

Camille was bugged that I was not rushing to lay on the sand with her and worship her body.

"Don't make me wait too long," said Camille.

"I'll see you after your surf lesson," Caleb said to Larissa. "Then we can hang out."

Larissa smiled.