Accidents Happen ∙ Garreth Weasley

10 - Tour guide

GARRETH POV

Morning light trickled in streams through the gaps in the curtains, casting an ethereal glow onto Lina's face. My moment of tranquility was cut short when I realised Lina was here. Asleep. Pressed up next to me. Heartbeats plodded in my chest, feeling like they were hard enough to burst through my ribs. 

I froze, not wanting to wake her up. I slowly began to edge away, but fell onto the cool stone floor with a loud thud. Groaning as quietly as I could, I rubbed the arm on which I fell, and sat up. Her eyes were half open, and she was smirking at me.

"Did you just fall off the sofa?" She asked groggily, raising an eyebrow.

I cleared my throat. "Possibly..."

She chuckled, rubbing her eyes with the palm of her hands. "Guess we'd better get up. I can smell breakfast already," she said, and she was right. The smell of pastry, bread, and coffee wafted under the door, and my stomach made an unhappy growl.

Pushing open the door, I saw Natty and Leander sat at the kitchen table, eating and drinking. Leander muttered something before receiving a satisfactory kick from Natty, leaving him snorting into his tea. I pulled a chair out, sitting down opposite Lina, who helped herself to a thick, soft piece of toast. 

Her eyes were bleary and she squinted as she faced towards the kitchen windows, yawning occasionally. My jumper sat nicely on her, a little oversized and baggy, but suiting her perfectly. I doubted I was going to get it back any time soon. 

"What are you kids doing today?" Mum asked. 

"Hm, I was thinking about heading down to Albatross later," I replied, remembering the place I spent most of my childhood: I could almost smell and hear it.

"What's albatross?" Natty inquired quizzically

"You'll have to see," I answered, smirking slightly and flashing my eyebrows.

Once the morning sun was floating overhead, Lina, Natty, Leander and I left home with a picnic basket and not much else. I led us through fields and over hills, where rows of barley waltzed a slow dance, swaying far into the distance. Natty and Lina strolled ahead, long skirts and loose jeans buffeting like sails in the breeze as we headed down the roughly-hewn path: the wind was colder here than back at home, salty air slapping us around the cheeks. As we reached the top of the hill, Lina suddenly called out.

"The sea! Look!" She exclaimed, her face lighting up with delight.

Her long hair whipped around her face as she looked down on the ocean below us- foamy white water crested the tips of waves, rocking back and forth in the water. Steel blue sea crashed against small, jagged rocks that peppered the shore, sticking out of the sand like needles.

I smiled at her and she held my gaze for a moment before she began to quickly move down the crumbling steps, holding the bottom of her skirt up. Following suit, I ran past Natty and Leander, chasing Lina across the fields and through the purple heather. 

Catching up to her, she slowed when the edge of the cliff began to near. I skidded past her, before wheeling back around to face her. She stood in awe of the ocean, faintly smiling. Her eyes were fixated on the crashing waves, whereas mine were on her face, drinking in the sight of her.

"Oi, Weasley! Where do we go now?" Leander shouted from behind me. He raised his free arm in frustration, the other weighed down by the picnic basket. I felt my face heat up as Lina turned back around and locking eyes with me, making her cheeks also go a little pink.

"Um, down there," I answered, indicating to the left. 

Another set of stairs led down onto the beach, enclosed either side by two huge boulders of rock. The wooden steps beneath us were slippery and green, with minute salt crystals that had formed on the edges. Wind was even stronger down on the sand, blowing tiny flecks of water off the ocean surface into our faces.

"Welcome to Albatross cove. This way," I said, walking over to a tucked-away spot behind an outcrop, sheltering us from the sea air. 

"How do you know about this place?" Natty asked.

"I used to come here all the time as a child. I've never seen anyone else here - our own private beach!"

I heard Leander's stomach growl, just as he whined "Can we have lunch now? I'm famished."

"Not yet, Prewett. I want to have a look around," Lina argued, twisting her hair into a thick braid that rested down her back.

"Ugh, fine," He complained, placing the basked down onto the floor with a sigh.

"D'you want me to come?" I offered. "I could show you some things?"

"I'll be alright, Gare. But thanks though."

I slumped my shoulders slightly. Natty seemed to pick up on this, and quickly jumped to my rescue.

"I wouldn't mind a tour guide," she requested, dusting the sand off her jeans. We began to stroll along the beach, and I pointed out small areas, full with memories from when I was younger. Messing about with my brothers, my father teaching me how to sail, and countless family picnics, to name a few. It was strange, showing my friends to a place so close to the heart of my family.

"Garreth," Natty said suddenly.

"Yeah, what?" I asked, a little confused.

"Can you put me out of my misery and admit it?"

"Admit what?"

"Lina."

I frowned before I felt my stomach drop. "I-"

Natty cut me off, shaking her head. "It doesn't take an idiot to figure it out, Weasley. You're in denial."

"I am not in denial!" I argued, opening my mouth in disagreement.

"For Merlin's sake!"

"Just because she's really pretty, and has a great personality, and is super clever and helps me with homework doesn't mean I have to think of her like that."

Natty slapped her hand against her forehead. "Aargh! Just make a move already. You're in love with Lina, and everyone knows it except from her."

"I- I can't. We're best friends."

"Best friends dont look at each other like that."