At the End of the Dock

Met You At The Lake

We met at the lake on the Almanor Peninsula.

I'd gone there with all my friends and all of their girlfriends and wives. Someone's parents owns the house, I can't remember who.

I'd gone because my friend had just been dumped by his girl and he needed another single guy there just to brave the vacation and he wanted me around to accompany him drowning himself in shots. I'd never been one for commitment but I'm always one for some tequila and beers.

It had been pretty boring for the past couple days. Every game we played consisted of all the couples partnering up and my friend and I creating our own pathetic singles team. Still it'd be better than having someone around nagging me about how I was supposed to be playing the game. I guess it would have been nice to take someone back up to the lake view master suite though when everyone else retired to their rooms.

I thought about her. Just for a second. How nice it would have been; the two of us up in that suite going at it until the sun came up. But, God, how I would hate to actually have to talk to her when the sun came up. When I followed that thought process to its end, sex in the lake view master suite is just not worth it. And it's hardly not worth it. I'm a living, breathing man after all. I suppose I'll silently bear my place on the singles' team.

The next morning, I was up before everyone else. It was so quiet and the world was still a little gray and peaceful and pretty soon the calm would be pierced with screeches of the girls making breakfast and the guys chanting and cheering over whatever morning drinking game they were planning on playing. So I headed downstairs and started up the coffee, my head still throbbing a bit from the tequila I'd guzzled the night before. I think I'd passed out on the couch for half the night before I finally made it up to my room.

I made a full pot, knowing the girls would definitely want some coffee before they started drinking again for the fourth day in a row, and I poured a portion of it into a thermos before heading outside.

I made my way down to the dock. My buddy's pontoon boat swaying slowly in the water adorned with a colorful array of inner tubes and extension that had all been used repeatedly over the past few days. The air was cool and crisp, easy and fresh to inhale. I honestly think I could live out here forever, right at the end of this dock.

Taking my seat and letting my feet touch the water, I took a sip out of my thermos and the liquid battled away the bit of shiver running through me. I could tell it was going to be a warm day but it hadn't quite graced me with its presence just yet. I stared out at the other side of the lake, taking in the scenery before me when I caught a bit of movement on the dock to my left.

There was a girl there. A girl with long, dark hair sitting on the edge of her dock soaking up the early morning also. How funny. She didn't seem to notice me or the fact that I'd been sitting there for quite a while. I started to feel a little awkward. The docks were close enough that if she spoke loudly I would be able to hear her.

I turned my attention back to the water and it wasn't long before everyone from the house began joining me out on the dock. They started setting up all the equipment for a day's worth of fun and drinking and partying, and honestly, I was pretty ready for it. Just a couple more sips of coffee and I could get on board for a couple rounds of beer die before going for a ride on the boat.

But I kept turning my attention over to the girl. I wondered if she was staying alone at her house. It was almost mid-morning after all and no one had come out to join her. The hubbub of my dock seemed to have interrupted her morning meditation and she stirred.

Suddenly, she looked right over at me. I turned my head quickly. Maybe she didn't notice I'd been looking. But all of a sudden she was on her feet, stripping down to gray flannel underwear and staring out at the water. I watched as best I could through my peripherals, trying hard not to be too obvious. Then she ran, and she jumped.

I was mesmerized. I watched the spot of the water where she had disappeared, waiting for her to return. My friends had all apparently noticed and had cheered when she jumped but quickly turned their attention back to their game set-up and opening of various bottles and cans. I took another swig of coffee.

Finally, her head reappeared above water and she looked right at me, smiling this dazzling, carefree smile. She laughed when she realized I was looking at her, then I realized, shit, I was looking at her. I raised my hand to wave, hoping it would cut through the awkwardness of this moment. Damn, I wish I had a tequila shot. Nothing cuts through awkwardness like a tequila shot.

She wiggled her fingers at me. Shit, she's telling me to jump in. Fuck a tequila shot. This is the most stimulation I've had all trip. This must be what the sailors felt like when they heard the mermaids sing out on the rocks, heading towards it without rhyme or reason, just unwavering desire and instinct.

Then I was up on my feet, turning towards the house for my running start. I turned back toward the water where she treaded, waiting for me. And I ran. And I jumped off the end of the dock into the water with her.

When I came up for air she was laughing and I started laughing too.

"I'm Henry."

"Arabella."