Vegas summers

18

Before we knew it it was the last two weeks of summer break I guess that's what I get for getting here halfway through summer.
" Guys what are we going to do we have two weeks left "
" I don't know "
Bax said as he shoved food into his mouth
" Could we go camping or something "
I suggested
" oh my god yes we could camp on the beach and surf all day "
Poppy said and I could tell that she was beyond excited. We decided what beach we would spend the weekend at and before I knew it we were on our way tents and boards in hand. That night I was so tired I would have been fine just sleeping next to the fire but Bax put up the tent and set up everything inside. We were all just sitting around talking and I was starting to fall asleep so I went in and I found that he set up an air mattress and a soft blanket on top and in the middle was a small stuffed brown bat. He strung fair lights around the top of the tent providing just enough light. I grabbed the bat and was just looking at it
" I remembered you said that you thought bats were cute that night we saw them on the walk back to your place "
" I like bats "
I looked up at him and I could tell he was proud of himself. I sat down
" Bax you're love language is gift given isn't it "
" what does that mean "
" you show affection by giving people stuff "
He looked down at his hands
" no no, it's not a bad thing I promise "
He smiled a little
" I think yours is physical contact you always have to like brush my arm or something "
" oh I-I guess that's true "
I smiled to myself he sat down
" Interesting "
That fake American accent again
" god were both really umm fucked arnt we "
I covered my face with my hands
" yep but we have each other "
He smiled at me. We fell asleep quickly and my dreams were filled with broken memories of good and bad memories. When I woke up my head was a mess and because of this, I surfed like shit.
" you alright there Kim "
" yeah I'm fine Ari just umm distracted didn't sleep well is all "
" ok just pay attention the waves are starting to get big "
" Thanks "
He paddled away and as I watched him go I was lost in a memory of my mom walking away from me one night when I was having a panic attack for the first time and she was laughing. Before I knew what was happening I was hit with a big wave and it wasn't letting up. I could feel a burning in my lungs and a stinging sensation on my face and my left ankle. When I broke the surface I saw blood in the water around me and I looked over and I saw Poppy and Bax trying to get to me and they were yelling something but I couldn't make out what they were saying. I was hit with another wave and the stinging continued and intensified. When I came up my board was right in front me of somehow so I grabbed onto it and started to pull myself up when Poppy appeared
" grab on "
She said and I grabbed her leash and held on for dear life. When I got to shore I saw the blood all around me still. I had scraped my left ankle really badly and put a gash on my jaw that peaked out on the left side next to my chin
"Poppy grab the first aid kit from my tent "
She ran off and I just sat there trying to get the blood to slow. After a while, I had a bandage on my face and my ankle. I looked at Bax as he sat on the beach with me watching the others surf
" you can go out there I'll just be here I'll start to make food here soon "
And with that, I was put on kitchen duty for the rest of the trip but it was ok because I was able to take pictures of them and read my book in peace.
In the next two weeks, my injuries started to heal nicely and before I knew it I was the odd American in school. I didn't know this before but Bax was home-schooled by his sister and without her he had to go to public school so we found ourselves in some of the same classes and the same lunch period.
It was nearing the end of the school year before I knew it and I was so happy because that meant that I was almost done with school and I would be able to get out and live on my own and not have to worry about the state others are in when they walk in the door.
As soon as all of our names were called we snuck out and went surfing and we all had smiles painted on our faces because we felt free Bax and I helped one another pass because we both felt like fish out of water. With that, I knew I'd be willing to follow him just to help him succeed.