Haunt You x Conrad Fisher

Chapter Twenty-Three

Conrad

I pulled the wetsuit up to my waist and zippered it right below my belly button leaving my abdomen and bare chest out. I didn't feel like zippering it entirely up until I got to the beach. My mom bought this for me two years ago but didn't take into account the muscle gain I have had since then so it fits me a little tighter now. I rather walk normally until I get on the board in the water so unzipped it is.

I know it's dangerous surfing at night but it's the best time to catch the waves alone and most importantly, get some time for myself. My sacred ground and the only place I have control of my life. The one place where constant reminders of death looming is buried deep in the back of mind like the depths of the ocean.

I grabbed the duffle bag from my bed containing a black tshirt, boxers and some basketball shorts. In the side zipper of my duffle, laid my flask filled with vodka from my dad's, now almost empty, liquor cabinet. It's not like he'll ever notice. I drank almost the entirely of his collection seeing as he's never around the beach house for the summers and this summer won't be any different.

I wasn't going to drink before hitting the waves, I'm not a complete idiot. But a drink or two after wouldn't hurt to help with the anxiety I felt this morning and without having Daniel around.

I grabbed my surfboard from beside the outside showers on the right side of the beach house when I mentally cursed. "Fuck. I forgot to get the mail," I said to myself. Mom had been bugging me all day since I got back from the Medina's this morning to grab whatever was in the mailbox but I ended up taking a nap and then playing video games with Jere and Steven that I completely forgot.

I made my way around the house towards the front. My duffle bag hung off my right shoulder as I gripped the surfboard underneath my left arm. Our mailbox was outside the fence by the driveway at the front. When I got there, I opened the mailbox and raised an eyebrow in confusion. It was empty. I guess mom or Jere must have gotten the mail earlier because I forgot.

I heard a quiet rustle of leaves from across the street and I turned quickly. To my surprise, I saw Elena tip toe across her lawn and onto the street walking north. She was only in black bikini top and black Levi jean shorts. A low deep groan rumbled in my throat. I don't know where Elena was planning on going this late at night but I wasn't going to let her go off on her own.

"Medina!" I yelled and she jumped stopping in her tracks. It was almost midnight. There was no way Sebastian would let her go out by herself, especially if she was walking alone. He would have lent her the car.

Elena turned to look at me, her hand clenched in front of her chest. "Oh it's just you, Fisher," she sighed in relief, releasing her grip. She stared at me for a minute, her mouth agape and her eyes slowly traveling down my body and lingering on my chest and abdomen. A small smirk formed on my lips as I noticed her cheeks tint red and her eyes slowly rising back up towards my eyes to look at me. I forgot my wetsuit wasn't fully on and my bare chest was on full display.

She cleared her throat and waved her hand for me to leave. How dare she dismiss me like nothing more than an animal. "Run along, nothing to see here," she said.

"Where are you sneaking off to?" I demanded. She raised an eyebrow at my demand and ignored my question. Elena turned around and began walking down the road. My breath hitched as I realized she just ignored me. I get we're not friends but I've felt the last couple days have changed that a bit between us. Especially after her asking me to stay last night in her room. I guess she was still being difficult, as always. Luckily, my legs were longer and in a few jogging steps I stepped in front of her blocking her from continuing to walk.