Waves - Book #2 [completed]

3 ~ Ughten

Ughten
(noun)
The part of the night immediately before daybreak, early morning

I slept solid fourteen hours last night and woke up before six in the morning. That never happened to me before, but I guess until I get fully accustomed to the time zone I'll have to adapt to that and make the best out of it.

So I unpack, which doesn't take too much time since I didn't bring much stuff, and grab my running shoes. I brought them as inspiration to get back into my running game. I'm more into lifting weights and stuff, but my brother Kacey runs and because I'm a competitive shit I made a bet with myself that by the time I get back from Australia I'll be faster than him. Grinning, I reach for my basketball shorts and a tank and slip everything on.

The sun just went up and it's still a little cooler outside, but my jog along the main road warms me up pretty quick. I don't meet or see a single soul for the next thirty minutes and that's kind of freeing. I don't mind crowds and thrive on stage in a packed arena, but sometimes it's just nice to be alone with yourself and your thoughts. Only now, my thoughts are pretty bland and boring – uninspiring.

On my way back to the house when I'm drenched with sweat, I discover a path leading down to the beach beneath Danny's house. Following the small track through shrubs and reeds, I soon find myself standing in fine, soft, beige sand. The beach expands left and right and contrasts the glistening blue waves that break by the shore and send foam across the shoreline, washing up and soaking the sand. The air is clear and fresh with a breeze of moss and salt. The sound of the sea and the seagulls screeching at the top of their lungs is something they should play at spas or put on a mediation app.

I'm still feeling weird and jetlagged, but the tension that usually lingers between my shoulder blades isn't as prominent as it used to be in New York before I left.

Wow, see how relaxed I already am? After one night? Jeez, in a week I'll be writing cheesy love songs and putting inspirational quotes on my Instagram.

Laughing and shaking my head, I slowly walk back to the house. I'm not a romantic person. Calm and comfy, yes. But romantic? Nah.

Back inside I spy Rathi emerging from the other bedroom. My new friend looks tired and grumpy in the morning as she heads to the kitchen.

"Good morning." My voice is way too bright for this early hour, but I'm awake and energetic now – ready for the day.

"Morning." It's a growl that's a little frightening coming from such a small person. "Did you sleep okay?"

"Like a stone." I grin.

Yesterday Rathi and I got acquainted over a late lunch slash early dinner after Riley had left and I quickly got to like her. After twenty minutes it was like we've known each other for years really. She's easy to be around and a fun ball of pure energy with the mouth of a sailor to compensate for her size. She whipped up the most delicious Indonesian meal for the three of us and earned instant brownie-points for the perfectly seasoned tofu I don't come across too often. She told me about the two restaurants she's running, one in Gold Coast and one here in Connor Head, and gave me the number of one of her cooks who's also a friend and distant relative and into my style of music.