The White Lie

Chapter 11

After spending some time kidding around in the waterfall, we finally decided it was time to drag ourselves out and set up camp. Shivering and soggy-clothed we made our way out of the heaven that was the waterfall and got to work, letting the warm heat of the sun dry us off.

After almost half an hour of setting up our campsite and gathering firewood under the heavy Australian sun, we were all itching to hop back under the cool water. When deciding to go camping in the middle of the Australian summer, it is essential that there is a cool body of water close by so that you can cool off on a regular basis. "Okay, who's going back in before dinner?" Scarlet called across the campsite. Her question was met with a chorus of "yes's", "no's" and a "yes but just let me put my swimmers on!" With only Austin and Sienna opting out of swimming, we all split off in the different directions of our tents to actually put some proper swimming attire on this time. As I strode towards the tents, I remembered my conversation with Indie this morning and that I was now staying in Alexander's tent for the rest of the trip. I clutched my bag tightly to my shoulder as I made my way somewhat nervously over to his tent. "Alexander" I called, just before he had a chance to duck inside. He spun around, flashing a beaming smile in my direction the moment he saw me. "What can I do for you?" He asked, looking me over, taking in the backpack clasped to my shoulder. "Is it too late to accept your offer?" I asked, shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot. Alexander's smile grew even larger. "Definitely not. Do you want to get changed first?" He asked, gesturing to the tent flap which he was holding open. I shook my head, internally breathing a sigh of relief. "You go, I'll just wait for you out here." Alexander nodded before stooping low into the tent.

It seemed like only seconds before Alexander popped back out of the tent, clad only in a pair of pale blue board shorts and a beach towel thrown easily over his muscular shoulder. He nodded to me. "Tent's all yours, see you in a bit." He gave a final wave before strolling over to the waterfall. I turned and ducked into the tent, desperately hoping Alexander hadn't seen the soft pink glow flood my cheeks or noticed that my eyes were unable to keep from roaming over his bare chest. Once in the tent I rushed to get changed, fixing my hair into a messy bun on top of my head and trading in my clothes for my pale pink and blue floral bikini. Once I was changed, I rummaged through my bag for my towel and kicked myself internally when I noticed the waves of nerves racking my body. You're being ridiculous. Get out there and show that boy you're a queen. I shook off my nerves and finally found my towel, throwing it over my shoulder much like Alexander had done just minutes before and forced myself out of the tent. I wandered through the campsite, pausing only to wave to Sienna before joining the rest of the group at the waterfall.

As I reached the water, 7 sets of eyes stared up at me. I covered my chest uncomfortably with my towel, eyes darting around the pool. "Girl, you look fine!" Alice catcalled from the water, earning her a splash from Scarlet. I laughed, my momentary discomfort instantly melting away. I dropped my towel by the side of the waterfall, before closing in those final metres to the body of water. I'd never been ashamed of my body, I'm not about to start now. Most of the eyes had turned back to what they were doing. Indie was on top of Nate's shoulders, trying to steer him around the pool with her thighs. Scarlet, Alice and Kai had returned to their serious-looking splash contest and the remaining two pairs of eyes... well... they were still on me. Blake and Alexander had paused their game of what looked like water-football and were still staring at me appreciatively. Well, that's an effect every girl likes to have. I made my way over to the side of the pool, crouching down and slipping in. I took the football from Alexander's hand, snapping both him and Blake out of their daze. Blake looked away awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck, coughing slightly, but Alexander held my gaze. "May I help you?" I asked, smirking. Alexander chuckled, "yeah. You can give me back my ball." I feigned anger as I held the ball away. "Well if that's how you feel..." I leaned back, clutching the ball in my hands and threw it as hard as I could onto the land. "Hey!" Blake called, huffing before giving up and swimming away from us. Alexander quirked an eyebrow, before giving me a slight smile and began to make his way to the side of the waterfall. I watched as he reached the water's edge, and placed his arms on the side, pulling himself out of the water, veins in his forearms bulging. I was only snapped out of my appreciative state when a figure crashed into the water next to me. "Naaaaate!" Indie screeched, and I laughed as she resurfaced, brown hair plastered to her face. She spun around to face her boyfriend, his face full of boyish laugher as he jumped out her reach. I turned back to the object of my attention, capturing the moment as Alexander leaped into the water, almost landing on me. I laughed as waves of water crashed over me. Before long, the rest of the group had taken Alexander's lead and an all-out splash war had ensued.

Eventually, dripping with water and exhausted after my time in the waterfall, I dragged myself out for the second time today, spread my towel out in the soft, sweet smelling grass. I stretched out on my stomach, resting my head on my forearms as I glanced around the campsite. I'd noticed I was doing that a lot recently, sitting off to the side and just taking in the site of my friends mulling around. Well, you've always been a thinker. Scarlet was the only other person who had dragged herself out of the water and she was currently engaged in a serious game of uno! with Sienna and Austin. The rest of the group were still mulling around in the pool, keeping cool under the searing hot sun. I snuggled into the soft grass and closed my eyes dreamily.

I must have dozed off, as I was shaken awake with a rough jolt. I pushed myself up onto my forearms, shading my eyes from the sun as I looked towards whoever had awoken me. I stilled as I recognized crystal blue eyes staring at me.
"Hey" Alexander said softly, "You okay? You were mumbling in your sleep?" I squinted as I tried to recall my dream, vaguely remembering a hazy version of my mother yelling at me and telling me that I was never going to make something of myself. I groaned inwardly as I realised I had been dreaming about university. I plastered on a fake smile and turned to face Alexander.
"Watching me while I sleep were you?" I asked flirtatiously.
If Alexander was surprised by my forwardness, he didn't show it. He chuckled softly and fell laid back on his towel, resting on his elbows.
"I couldn't help myself" he joked softly.
I didn't respond, flipping onto my back and matching his pose.
A look of surprise flitted across Alexander's face and he stretched his arm out towards me. I held my breath in anticipation, slightly confused at where this was going. Alexander lowered his hand and placed it on my hip, his long fingers splaying out flat across my stomach, and stroking the pop of colour that was situated across my hip. Goosebumps erupted across my skin the moment his warm fingers made contact.
"So, tell me about it?" He asked, his fingers still stroking my hip.
"It's a tattoo." I said, mocking him.
My heart warmed as he erupted into a rich laugh, so different from his usual soft chuckle.
"Okay, well then I'll go first" he said, removing his hand from my hip and clasping my wrist. He pulled my arm across his body, placing my hand on the far side of his ribs. I turned to my side and leaned across him to see what he was trying to draw my attention to. Somehow, despite being unable to tear my eyes away from Alexander's toned, bare chest, I hadn't noticed the large tattoo trailing down the left hand side of his torso. Splayed across his ribs was a large inscription, accompanied by a small figure at the bottom. He let go of my wrist, and I allowed myself to softly stroke the tattoo, running my fingers across the thick black ink.
"It's a poem of sorts I guess," Alexander started, watching my fingers stroke soft circles across his side.
"If you are a dreamer, come in,
If you are a dreamer, a wisher a liar,
A hop-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer...
If you're a pretender, come sit by my fire
For we have some flax-golden tales to spin,
Come in!
Come in!" He read softly as my fingers followed along.
"Did you come up with that?" I asked as I traced the small sketch of a candle sitting just underneath the inscription.
This made Alexander laugh. "No, I'm not much of a poet" he said, smiling. "It's a poem by Shel Silverstein. I like it because it reminds me that I'm a dreamer, and there is beauty in dreaming and hoping and praying." I nodded softly, continuing to trace his tattoo. Alexander's eyes flickered closed for a minute, but before I knew it he had grasped me by the wrists and flipped me onto my back. He placed his hand again on top of my tattoo and began to trace. "Your turn".

I lay flat on my back and closed my eyes as his fingers traced the small tattoo of the globe etched on my skin. "Well, it's the world isn't it? This world of ours, full of endless possibilities. There's billions of different personalities out there, thousands upon thousands of cities and towns. There are cultures, religions, lifestyles to experience. There is endless ways to live this life and this is my reminder, my little bit of hope that there is always more. Every time I looked down and see my tattoo, I'm reminded that there is so many things I still want to experience." I paused for a moment before continuing. "Oh, and not to mention all the different types of cheese I just cannot go without trying!." Alexander burst into laughter, shaking silently, his eyes crinkling at the sides. "You're one of a kind you know that, insane, but one of a kind." He looked up at me, reaching to my face and tucking a strand of hair that had fallen out of my bun, behind my ear. Once again, this beautiful boy had rendered me speechless, I watched as if in slow motion as Alexander leaned forward a pressed his lips firmly to mine. My butterflies erupted in my stomach. No. I decided. These aren't butterflies, these are fireworks. I had barely had a moment to enjoy the feel of Alexander's soft, warm lips on mine or the small circles he was tracing along my hip, before it was over all too soon.

I do not own any of the rights to Shel Silverstein's poem 'The Dreamer'.