TAN SKIN // A Baxter Radic Story

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The air was perfect, the sun was just coming up, and I felt at peace. My feet in dangling in the warm water, and my hair blowing in the gentle summer breeze. I love Shorehaven, the people were great, and I could surf anytime there were waves. I couldn't do that in Queensland, there were to many tourists.

"Kaia, earth to Kaia." Poppy waved her hand in my face, then splashing my body with water. "Oh yeah, sorry Pops. What were you saying?" I questioned her, our boards were side by side. We were sitting there watching the beautiful sunrise like we did every morning. "I think I like Griff. I mean he's hot, and well nice to me." She whispered, looking down at the blue water. "Griff?! Are you crazy Pops!" I practically scream at her. "Oye! Knock it off Kaia. I'm serious!" She says back splashing water jn my face. "Poppy!" I yelled pushing her off her board. She grabs my arm, and pulls me down with her.

We both come up coughing and laughing. Poppy has been my best friend since I moved to Shorehaven nine months ago for my days job. When I moved I lost all my friends from Queensland, they all blocked me, or stopped answering any phone calls. I like to think Poppy saved me from them, because she showed me what a real friendship looks like.

I grabbed onto my board, and hopped back on it. "I better get back home" I laughed, then laid on my stomach, and started to paddle into shore. "Okay Kaia! See you later! My brother has big news for us." She mentioned swiftly, I watch as she paddles out towards to waves.

Poppy always pushes herself in surfing, I think it makes her feel connected with her mother. Poppy misses her so much.

I hop off my board once the water is too shallow to keep paddling. I make my up the beach to our towels, and water. I set down my board once I make it, I grab my water bottle, and practically chug it all down. It's just morning and it's already hot. I look at my phone, a text from Manu, 2 missed calls from mom, 4 from dad. Great. I sighed to myself.

My mother and father have always had an awful relationship. They fight continuously, then push that frustration on me. Meaning I get yelled at for the smallest things. This has been happening for years, well ever since my mom quit her job. We will just say my dad's job alone doesn't keep us very financially stable. He's a bank teller, he makes enough to get us a good house, and food on the table. I do help pay some bills, like water and electric sometimes depending on how wisely my father used his money that month. With that being said I have to pay for most of my own things, I work at a slushy place at night where all the tourists come. It's on the other beach, not this one. I love it, I get to meet so many new people from around the world. Plus the pay is really good.

I push my board over by Poppy's towel, since her brother comes and picks it up. It's mine but I like to keep it safe at Poppy's place. I pull off my wet suit and lay it on top of my board. Manu cleans everybody's wetsuits, he does mostly everything for us. Mostly me though.

My swimming suit was black with yellow flowers all over it. I hated this one, it didn't compliment my figure at all. But Poppy has the same one, so we always match on mornings.

I grab my water, phone and skateboard. I learned how to skate about two years ago back in Queensland. My boyfriend at the time taught me so we could skate together. I put on my helmet, that I wouldn't wear but Manu enforces it. So, I do. I walk to the road and start toward my house. The ocean air smell was definitely a favorite of mine. I loved this ride home; it was so gorgeous that I couldn't imagine living anywhere else. My house is five minutes away, it's small and white, with a hammock on the porch. My dad was laying in it, watching for me. I took a deep breath when I saw him.