Surf

V

The next day I woke up to the sound of someone outside punching what sounded like a punching bag and cursing. I glanced at the alarm clock I had taken from my house it claimed it was 5:27 am, lessons didn't start for another three hours, I tried to fall asleep again but I couldn't. It was actually disappointing because for the first time I could remember my dream, I dreamt I was gliding through a clear ocean, I didn't need to breathe and stop, I just kept going and going, I passed scaly fish, seals with leathery skin, penguins with slick feathers and great large sharks that didn't do anything but stare back with their cool, black eyes.

It also had its own soundtrack, happy music with sort of an eerie vibe around it like, something bad would happen soon but for now it was all happy. I sat on the edge of my bed and decided I might as well get up since I wouldn't be going to sleep anytime soon. I was absolutely exhausted, though. We had all stayed up playing truth or dare during which, Gwen went skinny dipping and got caught by a police officer, thankfully he was young and she was able to talk her way out of it.

We literally fell asleep three hours ago, I decided to go for a swim to wake me up, after I hade brushed my teeth, put on deodorant, put my hair in a braid and clipped it to the side of my head I slipped on my bather (a one-piece, this time), grabbed my towel and flip-flops, slipped my goggles onto my head and headed out. I then found the source of swearing and punching, Damion. He was of course shirtless and in loose shorts. He was very tan and for the first time I realized how tall he was probably 6ft 3 or 4. I'm around 5ft 9 which makes it very hard to find guys that are tall enough to fit my standards (which are not that high, just be funny and tall enough for me to wear heels around). I approached him and called out, "Damion?!" He punched the bag once more and cursed before he turned to me. His eyes were blazing with fury, they were a shocking blue instead of light. "What do you want?" he spat out, turning back to his punching bag. "I just wanted to see if you were okay..." my voice lowered into a whisper and my sentence trailed off. "Why do you care?" he replied, sitting down. "No one cares," he whispered softly, so soft I'm sure I wasn't meant to hear it. I gently placed my towel down and ran into the ocean, ignoring Damion.

The cool water soaked my skin and allowed me to float, I closed my eyes and tried not to think of Damion. The ocean current was very weak and I just floated for about ten minutes peacefully. I pulled my goggles over my eyes and swam low, under the surface there was sand and crabs, I even say a family of penguins in the distance, the ocean is truly beautiful. I resurfaced because I needed oxygen, I took a large breath and just as I was about to go back down I heard a large splash and in seconds Damion was floating next to me. We floated next to each other, watching the sun rise over the sandy shores. "I'm sorry," said Damion. I ignored, not even opening my eyes, he was an ass he better have a better apology planned than two words. "It's just my parents, they're at it again," he said, "I'm just mad, I'm sorry," he continued. "They're at what again?" I ask, turning to look at him. He laughs a little and then sighs. "thinking they can fix what my day shot to hell nine years ago, their marriage." I don't ask anymore questions after that, not wanting to pry. I was thinking of a way to change the subject naturally when he continues, "It doesn't bother me, though. I left that hellhole when I was sixteen, it's my brother. He takes their divorce harder every time, he's as deluded as them, he thinks they can make it work," he sighs again, "Sorry," he says again. "For what?" I ask him. "For dumping my families' problems on you." "It's okay, how old are you?" "Seventeen," he replies, he then opens his eyes as if he thinks he's made a mistake. "Don't tell the instructors, they think I'm twenty-one."

"You're secret is safe with me," I tell him.

"Secrets," he corrects me.

"Secrets."

~

At 7:00am I head back to my room and slip on my wetsuit and take off my goggles. I am ready by 7:15 so I decided to wake up my friends so we can go get coffee and breakfast. They put on their wetsuits and tie their hair in messy buns, "you guys are so basic!" I roll my eyes at them, unclip my braid and slip on my flip-flops and they do the same, I wait an extra fifteen minutes for them so they can get done. When they're done we head out and go to a café called "that place" we all order a coffee except Morgan, "Not today, I can't afford to have my growth stunted, not all of us are 6ft tall." "5ft 9," I murmur. Gwen orders a coffee and blueberry waffles, I order a latte and cinnamon pancakes and Morgan orders hot chocolate and a croissant with cheese and an egg. 

We head back to the beach after all three of us attack the poor busboy with charm until he gives us our meal for free, I give him my number for fun, he's cute and has a goofy sense of humor. Outside the café I spot Damion and wave, Gwen and Morgan hurry away thinking I want some alone time with Damion. He smiles warmly, showing me his perfect teeth. ''I saw what the three of you did to that poor busboy,'' he says, smirking. "If I knew it was that easy to get your number, I would have done something about it," he says, jokingly. I laugh, "See you in the ocean Damion." I smile and walk away, and back to beach.

I turn a corner and Gwen and Morgan ambush me. "He totally likes you!" they scream at the same time. We walk back to the beach, me pretending to listen, them obsessing over the fact that we all have boyfriends now, I then argue that I don't, Morgan pats my shoulder and says,

"In due time, young one, due time."