The Water Is Better Down Under

Chapter 3

Hate the last chapter. Hate it with a passion. So I'll be re-doing it soon... I don't know exactly when.

Anyways, enjoy!

~Parker--Mudblood~

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Chapter 3

•Kennedy•

The pig headed jerk! Kennedy thought as she entered her house. Questioning my love for Ben. Who does he think he is? And he doesn't even like WATER, he lives next to a fucking ocean for crying out loud! Fucking dumbass!

"Wow, Tara tells me you have an okay house. In what world is this okay?" Jennifer marveled, looking at the architectural beauty that was Kennedy's house. Kennedy smiled.

"Yeah, Dad built it just for Mum. He lived to build things for her, and he loved to build things for her too." kennedy said. "Of course, now he can't.." Kennedy tried to not get choked up in front of her guests.

Jennifer offered her a smile-a smile filled with pity. Kennedy hated it when people showed pity for her.

"So if we go upstairs, we have the rooms that you'll be staying in. The first and second door on the left hand side, and the last door-nearest to the attic- on the right hand side." Kennedy said, changing the subject quickly. "I'm sure you won't have too much trouble deciding your rooms."

"Not at all," said Jennifer, "thanks, dear. Now, when does your mum get home?" Kennedy filled Jennifer in on the details of Tara's schedule as Josh and Piper took the bags upstairs to their accommodations.

"Thanks, Kennedy. I'm just going to go to my room and get changed then take a nap before Tara gets here. The kids'll find some shit to do- Uh, pardon my language.." Jennifer said, embarrassed. Kennedy laughed.

"You know mum. She doesn't mind swearing. I don't either. Honestly, I don't want some boring old nana living with us. I'm actually happy you swore, now I know you're not some fuddy-duddy that doesn't care for a little cussing." Kennedy told Jennifer and she laughed.

"Damn, that's good. I can't go without letting a few f-bombs drop here and there." Jennifer confided in Kennedy before they went upstairs.

Kennedy showed her down a hallway where she would be staying. Jennifer decided she wanted the room nearest to the kitchen, Piper wanted the one next to her, and Josh wanted the one by the attic, as far away from them as possible.

But, unfortunately for Kennedy, as close to her as possible. Kennedy's room was the attic, which had an entrance through Josh's closet.

Kennedy walked into Josh's room to find him standing awkwardly by the closet, while Isabella shamelessly flirted with him. Kennedy laughed.

"And here I thought the tough guy could stand a little flirting. Even if it's coming from a thirteen year old."

Josh turned his head to the doorframe, looking reluctant. His eyes plead, Help me!

"Oh, Kennedy! I was just talking to Josh here about the water down under. He was just telling me how he's a surfing champ, and that's why he has so many MUSCLES! Wait till he sees the surprise we have in store today!" Isabella said, still in flirt mode.

"One, Izzy, he's WAY out of your league. Two, scram, I need to talk to Josh."

Isabella rolled her eyes before leaving the room, allowing Kennedy to walk in and sit on the bed. Josh sighed and sat next to her. Her lips were pursed and her eyebrows were knitted; she was obviously pissed off.

"Listen, Kenn, I can explain-"

"What's there to explain? You lied. You said you hated water. You even made some stupid crack about me and Dad playing in the water.." Kennedy trailed off as her voice cracked. Josh looked at her to see she was trying to hold it in. He put an arm around her.

"What's wrong with your dad?" he asked, "I know it's not my business, but why is he such a tough subject?"

Kennedy looked up at him. "My dad died when I was five years old. We were swimming one day, and he was trying to teach me how to do the butterfly. He was a champion swimmer in his prime, by the way. So, he was teaching me to do this swim, and I decided that I didn't want to. I wasn't good enough at it. So I told him that I quit.

He made me a proposal. He said that if he could swim to the little island about 500 meters out, I would try and learn the swim. I thought he would go about 350 meters and come swimming back, so I agreed.

He hopped in the water and that man swam. He did the butterfly. But something happened in the water. He was about 450 meters out and I thought he was going all the way. But... A.." Kennedy choked. Tears spilled down her cheeks.

"It's okay, you don't have to tell me. It's okay." Josh soothed her. She shook her head and sniffled.

"No," Kennedy said, "I want to go on." Josh nodded. "This is the first time I've ever repeated the story. I need to go on."

"Okay. But stop any time you need too." Kennedy nodded.

"So at about 450 meters out, a shark came. Big white shark. It came along and it... It.." Kennedy took a breath, "It bit him. Bit his legs off at the knees. All it bit was the legs, but they couldn't get to him in time. By the time they got him to the hospital, he was almost dead. But.. He said something to me before he died. He told me that no matter what happened to him, I would never stop swimming. I told him I wouldn't dream of it.

You know what he did then? He held up his pinky. He smiled, and he asked me, 'Do you promise?' and I took his pinky with mine and locked them. My last words to my daddy were 'Promise.'" Kennedy finished, holding in the tears.

Josh looked at her, tears in his own eyes. She'd witnessed her own father die, and he was making jokes about how she should go swimming with him.

"Kennedy, I'm so sorry. I didn't know."

"That's just the thing," Kennedy laughed cynically, "nobody ever does."

"I really didn't mean anything by it, I was just making some stupid joke-"

"Calm down, Josh. I'm over it."

Josh looked to his right and saw Kennedy smiling, tears rolling down her cheeks.

Josh hugged Kennedy close to him. Although they'd met that same day, they grew closer to one another by sharing that.

"Josh?"

"Yeah?"

"Could you not lie to me again?"

"Only if you never lie to me."

"I promise I won't. Do you promise me?"

Josh held up his pinky to Kennedy. She smiled and locked hers with his.

"Promise."

+*+*+*+*

So, now you know why she got so upset about the 'swimming with your daddy' remark!

But, my dear reader, the secrets only get bugger from here! More intense, more gruesome, more EVERYTHING.

K sorry got a LITTLE carried away there ... :S

The next chapter will he up ASAP.

COMMENT. VOTE. READ.

I thought I'd try a little quote before I end the chapter ... Same thing for every chapter, just spicing it up a bit (;

May the odds be EVER in your favor!

~Parker--Mudblood~