Dancing in the Rain

Chapter One: Topsail

Chapter One: Topsail

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Taylor's Point of View 

“This is it!” a voice shouts back at me, and I wake with a start, my eyes flashing open.

“Huh...what?” I mumble, trying to get a grip on where I am, and why everything is so dark and cloudy. Oh, sunglasses, of course. I shove my pink framed shades farther up on my head, revealing the beige leather interior of my best friend’s minivan, which is illuminated by rays of the sun shining through the car windows.

I can hear the sound of waves nearby...we must be here. “We’re here, Taylor!” Rob, my best friend, confirms my thoughts and turns around from the driver’s seat, flashing me one of those wide smiles of his. Why he made me sit in the backseat, who knows. I guess his luggage is more important than his soul sister and future roommate? Pshh.

“Wow!” I say, laughing and opening the car door and stepping out into the late August sun. “Topsail Island...” I mutter under my breath, spinning around in circles as I take in the palm trees, the old-timey shops and view of the ocean behind our new apartment. It’s a pale yellow color, with white shutters. It has a friendly look to it, almost.

“Rob, come check this out!” I yell, turning around to see Rob with his suitcase. “One step ahead of you, as always, Taylor.” he winks at me and starts up the driveway. I roll my eyes and grab my stuff that I had pickily chosen from home for my new life here. I slam the back door of the car and hurry to catch up with Rob, who is feeling around in his pocket for the keys.

He takes them out, unlocking the door. He pushes through, and the smell of new house floods the air. I follow him in, looking around. The floor consists of both the living room, dining room, and kitchen, with some couches and chairs in front of a small TV on one end, with a dining table and chairs in front of a bar that leads unto the kitchen on the other. Of course, since this is the beach we’re talking about here, there is cheesy beach decor everywhere. Pictures of fish, shell lamps, starfish on the table...jeez.

Despite the unoriginality, I like the place. Rob drops his bags next to me, letting out a sigh as he looks around, hands on hips. I watch as another white smile breaks his face again. “This is awesome!” He says, looking at me. “I know, this’ll be great.” I laugh, hooking my arm in his and plonking my head on his shoulder.

This is the beginning of me and his new life.

Rob and I used to live in the middle part of North Carolina, far west of Topsail (a small, little known island right off the coast). We lived in Durham, where we both had somehow pushed through our freshman and sophomore years, but by the end of 10th grade, we were fed up. Maybe I shouldn’t be talking, because it was really Rob who’s high school life ultimately sucked. His whole entire school year revolved around getting beat up, called names, prank called, harassed and even receiving death threats--all because he plays for the other team. I just don’t get people sometimes, even if you are a homophobe, you don’t have to treat people like that. Or their best friends, for that matter. I wasn’t treated as bad as Rob, of course, but I had a few slammings into lockers and quite a bit of threatening. My grandparents, who live here on Topsail, thankfully agreed to let Rob and I transfer to Topsail High School and rent the apartment they used to live in before moving into their beach house down the street. We would stay here until graduation, and then probably go to the same college, or wherever we decided.

Today, August 21, we packed up our bags and drove west until we wound up at Topsail, now home. Now we were ready to move in, check out the island, and start off the new school year with a clean slate on the 24th.