TAN SKIN // A Baxter Radic Story

-009-

I wake up drenched in sweat. It had to be at least ninety degrees in my bedroom, I push off my blankets and grab my phone. My phone reads 2:38 a.m. I sigh wiping sweat off my forehead. I know, gross.

I sit up in my bed, yawning as I look at my notifications on my phone. I have like a million snapchat notifications, texts from Manu, Poppy, and Baxter. Manu and Poppy just reminding me we have no practice tomorrow due to Poppy's sponsorship meetings. And I have decided to not read Baxter's text at all. I work today too, a one to nine shift, which is my favorite shift to work. It is easy, and I love my coworkers. Pushing myself off my bed, I open up my closet and grab a t-shirt. Pulling it over my sweaty body, I then open my bedroom door, walking through my dark, and empty house. I turn my phone flashlight on, making sure I can actually see.

Realizing I never brushed my teeth before I went to bed, I make my way over to the bathroom. I close the door and flick on the light. I grab my tooth brush, put some toothpaste on it, and put it under the water. I hum 'Happy Birthday to you.' three times as I brush my teeth, my mother always taught me to do that. When I was done, I turn off the bathroom light, and open the door. I walk out, taking a left towards the kitchen. Passing my mom's and dad's room I peak in, since they never close their door at night.

I see my mom, sleeping peacefully, without my dad by her side. My dad usually did come home after a fight, so it is weird that he is not back yet. He would come home around midnight and slip into bed with my mother. I make it to the kitchen, setting my phone down, and turning on the light. Opening the cabinet with our cups in them, I grab a plastic purple one. Turning on the facet on cold, I put my plastic cup under the water filling it up. I watch as the cup fills, and then bring it up to my lips. The cold water feels good, due to me being so hot. I put down the cup after I finish the water and grab my phone. I turn the kitchen light off, grab my phone, and as I start to head back to my room, I see someone pull into our driveway. I walk over to the front door, locking the deadbolt quickly, and then walk over to the window in the kitchen to see who it is.

I watch as my dad steps out of the passenger seat, walks over to the driver's side, and opens the door. A lady steps out with short dark hair, pulling my dad into a hug. I start to feel dizzy; there is no way he is cheating on my mother. Also, where is our car? I walk over and take a seat on the couch, flicking on the lamp light. I am doing exactly what he does when I get home a little too late. I cross my arms and wait for him to unlock the door. The door handle rattles, before my dad stumbles in, stopping in his tracks when he sees me. "What are you doing up?" he asks me, taking off his shoes.

"Who was that?" I ask, ignoring his question. He is drunk, I can smell the alcohol radiating off of him. It is rare for my dad to drink, honestly, I have not seen him drink a beer since we left Queensland. He looked at me wide-eyed, because he knows he just got caught red handed. "Dad, who was that?" I whisper yell, trying to not wake up my mom just a couple rooms away. "Go to bed." he orders me sternly, walking over to the kitchen. I sit there for a moment, debating if I should call Poppy, or Marlon. I do not want to be here anymore, even if they do not understand. They definitely are sleeping, and I do not want to wake them.

I stand up and follow my dad into the kitchen. "Who is she?" I question softly, he turns around to face me. Tears form in my eyes when he does not answer me. "Kaia, she drove me home because I drank tonight. That's it." he responds to me. I cannot stand him; I would not be surprised if he cheated on my mom, they fight a lot. They rarely agree on anything, the only thing that can agree on is my surfing. I am good, and they know it. When I was getting sponsors back in Queensland they fought less, since I was bringing in tons of money. When we left Queensland my sponsors dropped me, due to the whole romance scene with Baxter disappearing. Manu is getting me a meeting for sponsors before state team tryouts to up my chances to get the sponsorships.

I maintain eye contact with my dad, as a tear falls. He is lying, I can tell. "Don't tell your mother." he whispers, taking a sip of water. Do not tell her what? That there was another woman dropping him off? or that he is cheating? I do not understand. All I knew was that he was trying to keep whatever I just saw a secret. I shake my head at him, turn around, and put my Birkenstocks on before rushing out the door of my house.