Have a Little Faith

Dakota's POV

Dakota's POV

The air was strangely sticky and warm when I pushed the white linen off my body. The sky was covered in a thin layer of clouds that seemed to encase the brooding warmth of the coming day. The sun was only a dim circle through the white blanket in the sky and i rubbed my eyes across my tired face. I lay in bed and stared at the odd looking sky. Even though i had managed to sleep ten hours, i didn't feel energised. I sat up and pushed off the blankets completely from my bed, the humid air making my skin feel sticky.

I swung my legs out of bed and slowly padded to the bathroom where i turned on a cold shower and tried washing off the clammy feeling. It took me a good fifteen minutes before i felt relatively fresh and got out of the shower. I put on my board shorts and threw on a loosely cut shirt over my bikini, before trying my hair in a bun and slipping into my flip flops. Even though the sun was up and it was around eighth o'clock it didn't seem like it was really light.

i shook my head, trying to rid myself of the queasy feeling in my stomach that something was wrong. I grabbed my keys and phone and shut pulled the door shut behind me. A warm wind was blowing up the dirt road from the ocean, carrying a strangely strong stench and a lot of dust with it. i flicked my sunglasses on my nose and made my way down to the beach.

When my toes finally sunk into the warm sand i made my way over Levi who was standing with his arms crossed over his chest, at the water's edge, staring out at the choppy ocean.

When i came to a stop beside him he turned and smiled.

"Hey" i mumbled still tired.

"Hey to you too" he said smiling at me before pecking my lips.

"Weird day isn't it?" I asked, the feeling of unease ever present in my stomach, winding together like a tight knot.

"You feel it too?" he asked, his face morphing into a worried frown.

"Felt it as soon as i woke up. The ocean looks weird, all whirled up" i said, watching the rough waves as they hacked away at the shoreline.

"hmmm" he hummed in agreement, his eyes fixed on two swimmers that were still bravely- or ignorantly- riding the waves.

We stood in silence for a couple of minutes, Levi seemingly analysing the ocean, and me trying to settle my nerves.

Nothing was wrong, it would be fine. The sky would clear and the sun would cast it's warm rays down on us again.

Levi grumbled slightly and then walked over to the flag post, hoisting the yellow flag.

I frowned. He'd only hoisted the yellow flag once. It required all swimmers to seek advice before getting in- if at all- due to hazardous conditions. He came back to me and blew his whistle, indicating for the last two swimmers to get closer to the shore.

"That dangerous?" I asked.

"Not yet, but it's weird day and the ocean conditions are unstable. I don't want to risk it." he said, his eyes still firmly fixed on the nearing swimmers. When Levi gave them a thumbs up they turned and continued their previous activity.

I kissed his cheek and went over to the surfboard and other life guarding equipment, settling onto the towel. I wiped my moist forehead with my shirt and peered at Levi's tense back. The air was stuffy and lay upon us like a woollen blanket in summer. I sighed and lay back deciding to not worry about it. Everything would be fine.

It was around lunchtime where Levi's family- although without the parents and Theo, suddenly stood next to us. We had been watching the waves crash heavily in the surf and gave startled gasps when Mitch and Poppy clung onto our legs.