Catching Waves

Interlude

Baxter didn't really know why he decided to help Summer.

Perhaps it was because he knew it would annoy his sister. Whatever it was that compelled him to help her, he'd forgotten all about it as soon as he'd looked into the wave pool. He'd heard them call her Adriana Sousa. That name played through his head for hours after. Bouncing around till it gave him a headache. Something about her wet hair, the water clinging to her pretty face  - like it didn't want to let go of her - looking up at him, was engraved into his mind. Baxter had craved having just one conversation with her. That's all he'd allow himself, then he'd carry on with Nationals. But then he saw her surf, and he wasn't sure if just one conversation was enough. When she said his name for the first time, even sneering at it, it sounded lovely coming off her tongue.

The second time he saw Adriana Sousa, she had this pretty summer dress on, and he thought it might've been his undoing. Every time she looked at him, it was followed with a quick scowl, but he was glad. Glad that she couldn't seem to keep her eyes off him, either. The first time his skin met hers, he was certain there was something very wrong with him. He did not get hung up on girls. Yet a simple caress of skin had him reeling. Maybe he'd had too much to drink. That must have been it. Adriana Sousa had then pleaded with him - something he liked very much - to tell her if she was on the team. He couldn't help but to touch her again, to pull her close and whisper in her ear.

Unfortunately for Baxter, he then didn't see her until training day. He didn't want to admit it, but the thought of seeing her was the only thing that made him even go to the stupid thing. He strolled in late, because even Adriana could not convince him to turn up on time. When he saw her, he thought he'd magically go back to normal, and this whole time he'd actually just been really ill and delusional. But as it turns out, he was perfectly healthy. The third time he spoke to Adriana Sousa, it wasn't quite as lovely. He learned that she had a sharp tongue and a short temper. Surfing meant everything to her. A team you don't deserve to be on. She had said. Baxter would have been lying if he said the words didn't cut deep. Didn't leave him aching. At least this crush he seemed to of developed would go away now she had broken the mystical bubble that seemed to surround her.

Of course, it wasn't really that easy. When Griffin had shoved her, he'd nearly dropped the weight he was lifting and stormed over there himself. It took all his restraint to let it go and convince himself he wanted nothing to do with her. Nothing. The rest of the training day had gone by slowly and when he was finally released from the stuffy gym, he just wanted to leave. Escape the bad mood the beautiful Brazilian had put him in. Then, because his sister had worked her power over him, he stayed to go surfing. Thinking maybe it would do him good to get out on the water. Chase away his worries.

Baxter had decided he was a weak man. He'd stayed on the shore, settled down in the sand and watched her. Standing with the water, desperately trying to crawl towards her and touch her. The wind making her hair billow behind her. Her back was to him, but he'd never seen a more perfect sight. He relished in the sound of her laughter, watching her surf with her brother. Both looking at perfect ease with each other. For a moment, he had felt jealous. Jealous that he could not be like that with his sisters. That they would always resent him.

Marlon and she had drifted towards the small group he had found himself in. When her brother had brought up the kiss between her and Blondie, he felt another bought of jealousy wash through him. Then he reminded himself of what she had said and he resigned to being angry and confused with himself and her.

Fate, however, had decided it wasn't going to make it easier on him. To try to forget her. His sister's innate ability to let things go, had meant the girl he hadn't been able to stop thinking about, was sucked under the water. When she hadn't surfaced for several seconds, he, along with the others, had started to panic. Poppy held tight on to a panicking Marlon. Desperately searching for her among the rolling water. Baxter spotted her for all of a second before she disappeared again. But he was already rushing towards her, nearly swallowing gulps of water in the process. He had plucked her from the ocean, feeling relieved to finally have her against him. Baxter was exhausted by the time he'd lifted her against him, her warm hands slithering up to rest against his pounding heart. Nearly tripping over himself. He was reluctant to let her go when they finally touched dry sand. Baxter sat with her as she coughed up water, never once unwrapping himself from her. When her brother had thrown himself at her, the pink-haired boy thought it best he had a word with his own sibling. He'd never felt so angry with her before. If you knew Wren, you'd know she made it very easy for one to be angry at her.

Baxter felt in that moment that he knew he was well and truly doomed when it came to Adriana Sousa.