Half the world away

Chapter 4

I woke up around 3am, my face stung from crying. Part of me couldn't wrap my head around loosing Beans. It brought my mind back to the man that Sammy told me about the one they lost, then to Dolly and the full life she's lived. And what am I doing hiding in my house going out as little as possible just because I'd got hurt. As much as I hate to admit it I feel pathetic.

Sitting up I flicked on the lamp and walked over to the wall where my photos of the summers I'd spend with my nana and uncle on the coast. My uncle teaching me to surf and snorkel. Eating ice cream with my nana on the rocks and BBQ's with mum and dad. I felt a strange sense of longing as I looked at them and back to my board. For the first time in years I pulled out 6'ft10 board and ran my hand over the used smooth surface. The paint still looked as fresh as the day I got it. I still remember the first wave ever road but that was nothing compared to my first tube. That was a feeling I'd never forget.

Leaning my board against the wardrobe door. I picked my laptop up and called Sammy.

"Hey Ru, you okay what you doing up so late?" Sammy asked as soon as he picked up.

"I just woke up and I was thinking about a lot of things and I just wanted to talk to you." I glanced down seeing he had his lifeguard top on.
"Shit sorry I forgot you're at work-"

"Hey it's cool, I'm on break. Danny's taken over for me for a bit. What's up?" He cut off my rambling before I could even start.

"The other week when you said about me not being alone. Did you mean it?" I said after a deep breath.

Sammys eyebrows shot up to his hair line and his face looked surprised as all hell. And my heart rate went through the roof. We'd always talked about meeting each other over the years but mentioning it felt like I'd made a mistake.

"I've always wanted to meet you Rubes you know that. But why now?" He asked with a smile.

Good question.

"I dunno I guess I've got a confidence spike and I'm riding it out. But it doesn't matter if you weren't serious." I said fiddling with a lose string on my pillow case.

"I'm not serious about a lot of things sweetheart but I was serious about you not being alone." He said sincerely as he smiled warmly at me.

"Really?" I asked him not sounding sure of myself.

Sammy laughed gently and ran a tanned hand through his messy hair.

"Yes Ruby I'd love for you to be out here. But sweetheart it's a lot of money I don't want you to waste it." He said sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck.

Cute.

"Don't worry about that. Moneys money at the end of the day, it'll come back to me one day." I said with a smile.

I'm not really sure where this sudden confidence came from but it felt good. Like the old me.

"Still with me sweetheart." Sammy laughed, snapping me back into reality.

"Sorry spaced out there for a sec." I said with a smile that mirrored onto him.

"You space out all the time, I'm used to it." He chucked softly.

I was about to reply when my board slipped down and knocked into my desk.

"What was that?" Sammy asked sounding concerned.

I hadn't told him about my accident, or that I used to surf.

"My lamp fell. Anyway, you really wanna do this?" I asked changing the subject back onto me going over there.