LA to The Bay

Chapter 41: Bass Lake (1)

Bass Lake, California

The sight of Bass Lake, our location for the next two nights, is striking. In complete contrast to the feeling of despair which was generated upon our arrival at Motel Hell, the view of this lake, hidden and cut off from the rest of civilisation by a never ending forest of trees, is like a diamond that I just found in my pocket, and it's immediately up lifting.

For the first time I can't help but smile wide, especially when Leah announces that we will be staying in the cabins which line the shore of the lake and that the swimming pool is located in immediate view of our cabins. Why this is almost like a living, breathing, real life holiday and I am giddy with happiness and anticipation for it.

I race through dinner, desperate to get out for a swim in the lake before the sun goes down, my excitement at the swimming pool now kicked to the side as soon as I learned that you can actually swim in the lake and that there is a huge pontoon in the middle of it for sunbathing.

I still can't believe that I've got nearly a day and a half here for just swimming and sunbathing; that's no excursions, no hot air balloons or helicopters and certainly no Elvis impersonators, it's just lying down and getting a tan and at last I get to show off the full breadth of my bikini collection. First up it's an aqua purple triangle bikini with tie strings and sparkles on the bust. Beat that Models Inc.

I stand on the balcony of the cabin which I am sharing with Ana, wearing just my bikini, and let out a deep sigh. The view of the lake in front of me, the late afternoons sun reflecting on the water like the gentle rolls of some satin fabric, and the heat warming my nearly naked body and soothing my bones, is epic.

'Nice bikini Niamh.' I hear Harry whistle before nudging Louis, giggling. Great, so we're back to acting like a buffoon just at the sight of a girl in a bikini are we? I remind myself  not to be mean because he probably can't help it, it's a bit of a disability really, and I actually should pity him for having so little self control.

Of course they're being trailed by Lottie, Marty and Juno who are all wearing the same push-up bikini, purchased during one of their many trips to Victoria's Secret no doubt? I stare at the three of them, each suddenly sporting a pair of super pumped up bosoms and I feel down at my own small breasts, overcome by yet more feelings of inadequacy.

'First swimming in a pool and now a lake too, you're getting brave.' Louis offers me a smile as I lay my towel down on one of the sunbeds which line the man made beach running along the lakes shore.

'People change.' I speak at him flatly.

What does he expect me to say, "well whoop dee doo, that's a great observation Louis, but what about you hey, first Lottie and now Juno too, and remember when you told me that I was the only girl for you? What a guy you are." Followed by a big fake smile.

I had planned on not swimming in the lake until the sun had baked me hot enough that I needed to desperately cool off, but that idea has been ruined by the fact that the gang of them are lined up in a row on the sunbeds next to mine.

Why can't they just bog off to the other end of the beach; there are plenty of sunbeds and I sincerely doubt that they have any reason to choose beds so close to me other than for pure annoyance.

I dip my foot in to the edge of the water and shiver. Great it's freezing, just how am I going to get in here without causing an episode, and why do I have to be the first one to do it, why can't I just let another moronic civilian go ahead and embarrass themselves before I do?

But no one is jumping forward with the offer to save me and so I edge millimetre by millimetre further in to the water, breathing deeply with each step and forcing myself to keep smiling, because if I can just keep smiling I can definitely do this, I can really swim in it.

'Just get it over with already.' Harry's voice speaks behind me before I'm suddenly knocked to the side by the force of the wave he has created by barging passed me. He's such a show off, clearly marching in to the water like this as a display of his bravado. He sinks down in to the water and covers his head before re-emerging and standing back up again.

'See, easy.' He gestures at me like it really is the simplest thing in the world, but I'm distracted from any further action by the sight of him standing in front of me. I'd not noticed before, being too consumed with envy at the girls, but he's not wearing a t-shirt. Of course he's not wearing a t-shirt, he's swimming; what did I expect that he'd be wearing a full body wetsuit? As much as I loathe it I can't help but gulp down at his image, the sun sparkling on his wet chest, and the way his board shorts are hanging low and clinging to his legs.

Before I have chance to process what to do next he turns around and dives forward, continuing on his swim towards the pontoon. I breathe out a sigh of relief that he isn't going to keep heckling me to jump in. But I'm going to have to do it, otherwise the only option is turning back and admitting defeat to the others. I'm literally stuck between going back to the mean girls on the shore or joining Harry on the pontoon. I look back and forth considering the two options.

Holding my nose I lunge in to the water and squeal. It's freezing but I have no choice, there is no way I'm heading back to the beach in surrender. As the water covers me I push through the pain and begin to swim, acclimatising surprisingly quickly to the temperature of the lake. But the pontoon is further than I thought and I'm starting to struggle at only the half way point. I momentarily stop and tread water, looking back at the others still on their sunbeds. I'm almost shocked that they didn't come in right after me, as soon as they saw that I'd done it and was on my way to meet Harry.

Regaining my breath I start swimming again, determined to make it to the finish line. I cover my mouth, trying to disguise my gasps as I finally reach the steps of the pontoon, now struggling to pull myself up to climb on.

'Do you need a hand?' Harry casually offers with only one eye open from where he is lying in the sun on the pontoon.

'I'm fine.' I scoff before staggering onboard, collapsing face forward and scratching my face on the rough surface. My breathing is still coming in gasps and my body feels heavy due to its sudden removal from the water and back on to land. Fortunately the sun soon relieves me and I roll from my position on my stomach and on to my back, assuming a more traditional sunbathing pose of arching one knee and pushing my chest out and shoulders back. If I regain my composure quickly then no-one will notice that I nearly drowned.

'So are you coming to the karaoke tonight?' Harry asks but he's still got his eyes closed. How does he know that I'm even here since he can't even be bothered to open his eyes?

I lean on to my elbow and look at him. He's so long stretching nearly the length of the pontoon. His chest has now dried and is warming up in the sun. I note that it's smooth until a few inches above his waist band when a strip of dark hair begins to trail, first lightly before turning thicker. I don't let me eyes linger on his shorts but move quickly on to his tanned legs, the hairs of which are still wet but the muscles of his thighs and calves are perfectly defined.

'I doubt it.' I gulp down, finally answering his question.