DROWNING IN YOU // Rafe Cameron

1

    "So?" My mother asks, breaking me out of my trance.

    "So what?" I question. I was currently on the deck of a ferry, staring out into the calm waves that crash against the golden sunset.

    "So how do you feel? Did you miss it?" She continues, following my gaze out to sea.

    "Of course I missed it. People don't really surf in New York." I replied laughingly. "But I really missed Sarah." Four years, three states, three schools. Eighth grade and freshman year at Westminster High in Georgia, then sophomore year at Phillips Academy in Massachusetts, and finally junior year at Dalton High in New York. But before all the moving and transferring, there was Kildare County. Born and raised, I was devastated when my parents sat my brother and I down and told us how my Dad's business needed him to go to Atlanta. Not only did I lock myself in my room for the next few days, I also came up with a plan to somehow stay in the Outer Banks. I could simply live with my best friend and next door neighbor, Sarah Cameron. Despite the begging and promising to never misbehave, I was loaded onto the exit ferry 3 weeks later while all my friends started the summer surf season and built sandcastles. Sure I had matured a lot since then, but I still never felt at home in any of the houses we moved to. Everything felt forced. Forced to make friends, yet forced to leave them all eventually.

    "Are we gonna stay? Like till I graduate?" I asked, turning to face my mother. Her dark brown hair in a messy yet neat bun atop her poised head. I had always been jealous of her dark locks that my brother matched, yet I received my fathers dirty blonde color. She wore a casual summer dress matched with leather sandals and her favorite Prada sunglasses my father bought her for their 10th wedding anniversary. They had met in college at UNC, falling in love immediately and marrying after they graduated. My father started his company not long after, making him one of the most successful realtors in the Carolinas. Since he grew up in Kildare, he knew his way around, and knew what would make profit. My mother worked as a nurse until she had my brother, and never went back to work. She loved being a stay at home mom though, who wouldn't?

    "Yes baby we are going to stay. I hated the big cities as much as you." She replied, nudging my arm with her elbow. "Did you sleep okay on the flight?"

    "Yeah. I mean, as well as I could while Carter used me as his personal pillow." She laughed at my response as we both turned to look at the two men of our family sitting at the small bar a few feat away. My father in his casual jeans and grey button up while my brother wore a University of North Carolina hoodie with shorts and some slides. At 6' 3", Carter Dawson was the spitting image of my father. Strong, fast, and smart, he took after my father in athletics, and education. He had a hearty scholarship to Chapel Hill, making him even more admirable. I however was my mother's twin. With a lightly freckled face, and standing at 5'5", people said the only thing missing was dark curly hair like my mother's. I turned and watched as the sun slowly turned into a half circle, meeting the ocean as it said goodbye. The salty breeze blew my hair all around as I crossed my arms in front of me.

    "Everything is ready at the house. When we get home you can shower and sleep okay? Dad had everything finished this morning." My mom reassured me, knowing I loved a before-bed shower. My father had always been someone to prepare, so I expected everything to be as we left it at the house. I lied my head on her shoulder as I watched the small island come into view. I couldn't believe it was real. My old house and my old friends, yet I couldn't stop myself from wondering how different it would be. I mean, even Sarah. Sure we stayed connected through social media and texting, but the last time I actually saw her in person was 2 years ago when she came to Boston for New Years. I was worried everything would be different. What if they don't want me there? What if they think I'm some spoiled city girl now?