How We Met

Chapter 8

Etho's Perspective-

Etho smiled fondly as he tore off the sticker on his jacket that Joel had left.

He put it in his journal when his mother walked in.

"Oh- hey mom." Etho said, "You look excited, what's going on?"

"Well, remember how when you were little me and your mama would take you to sailing camp when you were in second grade? You took them during Spring Break?"

"Yeah, I remember. Those were fun, but I think I'm too old for it now, right?"

"Well, I reached out to them, and they said that you are actually old enough to help coach the campers!"

Etho blinked and he smiled, "Wow, really? That- that sounds great! I would love to!"

"Great! I'll give them a call now. Oh- and did you have fun with your new friend?"

Etho glanced over at his journal and smiled before turning back to his mother and nodding.

"Yeah, I did. Thanks for asking."

His mother smiled and kissed his forehead before leaving.

Etho smiled and then turned back to his journal.

He stared at it for a bit, thinking of the time he had with Joel before putting it back on the bookshelf.

One Week Later-

Etho was at the sailing camp and was helping teach some of the little kids how to sail.

He smiled as he did, sailing had always been his escape from reality. It was just so calming for him.

Just floating on the peaceful ocean, feeling the wind against your face. It really helps you see the world at a different angle.

-

Etho helped the kids take the sails off the boats and chuckled as he watched the kids talk about the dolphins that were swimming next to them when they were sailing.

He took off his life vest and grabbed his bag. He opened it and took out his phone, shocked to see that he had over 50 unread messages.

"What the- "

He cut himself off as he saw they were all from Joel.

He smiled and he opened his phone, reading through the messages from Joel, which were all complaining how bored he was over the break.

"Hey Etho! Who're you texting?" Dallis asked. They were also a coach at the sailing camp. They preferred working at the art camp over the summer, but their father works at the place that hosts the sailing camp, so they normally get dragged along.

"Oh, er- just my mom." Etho said, switching out of Joel's tab and texting his mother that the camp was done.

"Mhm. I saw you switch out a tab, who was it? Or do you not wanna chat about it?"

"Nah, it's fine. It's just a new friend of mine."

Dallas raised an eyebrow and I chuckled.

"Yep! A new friend of mine."

"Good for you! What's their name?"

"Joel. He's...well he's alright."

"Yeah? Just alright."

"Well...well he's funny. He's got quite an interesting way to have fun." Etho said, fidgeting with his phone case as he thought about what he and Joel did when they hung out last week."

Dallas smiled, "Sounds like you two had fun."

"Yeah...yeah we did."