since moving to shorehaven, olive beckett has had time to get used to the sleepy town. but now that ari gibson has come back since disappearing for a year, will things still be the same between them?
ari gibson x oc
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Ari and I must have fallen asleep on the couch because the door slammed shut from the wind. We both have had busy days and conked out for a bit. The door slamming spooked both of us awake. I'm so stupid. I was so preoccupied trying to get Ari to talk to me and not avoid me or our friend group anymore that I left the door open. More so Ari did. Thank god it's only... 9:53?! "ARI! Get up! Abbie's almost going to be home and the floor– and sand– and water... and your board's still out!" I was trying to shake him up more to get his senses together.
He immediately sat up and began towel drying the rest of his wet hair. Thankfully most of it was dry already. I was scrambling to get the broom and sweep the sand outside since I had promised Abbie she'd come home to a clean house. I am so going to lose my job. Her car beeped outside and I knew who it was. It's too late. Ari and I look at each other with the same "we're in trouble" expression. The living was also still a mess from the altercation earlier. Abbie will be so mad, especially with that surprise call from Margot earlier.
Abbie's boots clacked and I heard the unlocking of the door. There she is, in the doorway staring at us with a gaping mouth. "What's going on in here? Ari, you're wet– and surfing?" She was pointing at the surfboard lying on the ground. "Explain right now!"
"Abbie, I can explain!" I burst in between her tirade of words. "I was just talking to Ari about his... time reflecting. He feels really bad, really bad, that he broke your trust at Stairway. But tomorrow's the first comp of the summer– and I'll be there! It'd be great if he can come. Even for one. Just let him come. He's been through a lot."
"Exactly. He's been through a lot. Which is why he isn't fit to surf again. He's going to strain his body." Abbie argues. "And it doesn't help going night surfing when I'm not here!"
"But he's been pulling weeds. Working out every day. Walking to and from the market. Isn't that straining his body? Also, he didn't necessarily die going night surfing." I shrug with a weird face trying to reason with the angry mom. "I let him go surf. He came home and I convinced him to go surfing when you weren't here."
"Olive, I trust you. I trust you with Honey, how can you just disregard my rules like that?" I felt my heart pang and I feel really bad for lying. But this is for Ari. And also for the sake of Abbie. She has so many things on her plate. I've seen her go into a cycle of having three jobs just to pay for Ari's hospital fees. If she gave Ari the freedom a 15-year-old needed, it'd release her stress so much more. And...Ari can finally come back to Boardriders. I miss him a lot.
"I'm sorry. But you tell me all the time I can only fend for myself. How are you getting to tell me that but also make Ari be within an arm's reach of you? I can't tell you how to parent, but you need to let go, too. It's been a year, Abbie. A year without friends and surfing." I say in a softer tone and step towards Abbie. I see her roll her eyes and give an irritated sigh.
