Oxygen

Chapter 38 - Grassy fields

I opened my eyes and hazily blinked away the sunlight. I looked around at the field, the soft grass tickling my bare skin. I turned my head to the side and looked up at the brown slates. This is my home, but it won't be forever. I sat up and took a quick gulp of my orange juice, carrying the empty glass to the back door while unplugging my earphones. 

I shut the door behind me, placing the glass on the kitchen counter as I headed upstairs. The summer heat was beginning to get intense, as it was now October, and the weather would be getting nicer. I was excited for the end of year, but for the next two weeks we had NCEA exams to take. 

I swung my bedroom door open and laid out my books across my cream duvet. I spent a few hours trying to rummage through my brain for answers to maths questions, but the summer sun was too much to handle. I tried looking up the answers, but was out of luck. So I did the only thing I could do.

The phone rang it's classic tone as I dialed the number. "Hey Fern" the scruffy voice on the other end began, groaning as the man sat up in bed. "Hey Jordan, are you only just getting up?" I asked curiously. I'm not a morning person, but I could never sleep for that long. "Uh, yea, well I was planning on sleeping for another hour, but I guess I'm up now". He moved around clumsily on the other end of the phone, standing up and leaving his room.

"Sorry. Hey, I was thinking maybe we could go swimming today?" I really needed some time out from school, and with the start of exams tomorrow, I needed a break now. And what better way to take a break than cool off in a pool?

"Oh, yea, that sounds good. Come to my house, meet you at one?" The sound of Jordan's voice showed that he would need at least a couple of hours to wake up properly. "Okay, see you then pancakes" I said, smiling as I headed to my wardrobe. "Pancakes?" Jordan asked. I laughed and put the phone on my bookshelf as I rummaged through my clothes. "Yea, well I just figured since you aren't a morning person that a breakfast food would suit you". Jordan took a moment before laughing tiredly through the phone.

"Oh, I see" he said, groaning again as he moved things around. Probably looking for food. "Okay, it sounds like you need time to wake up and everything, so I'll see you later". I smiled to myself as the thought of Jordan combing back his scruffy blond hair came into vision. "Bye, love you". "Love you too" I blew a kiss through the phone before hanging up. It was supposed to reach thirty degrees today, so I looked through my clothes for a bikini, and a summery dress to wear over top.

My phone rang as I pulled out a turquoise and white striped bikini, the one I use the most. "Hey Evelyn" I said surprised, lifting the phone to my ear. "Hey Fern, I hear you're going to Jordan's for a swim later" she says matter of factually. 

"How did you know, we only just organised it" I sat down on the edge of my bed. "Word travels fast. Jordan texted Nik, and Nik texted me. We're both coming too. If you weren't planning anything in particular?" Evelyn hinted, laughing to herself down the phone.

"No, it's great that you're coming. I was just considering asking you about what dress to wear". I heard a loud gasp from the phone, and moved it away from my ear suddenly. "You're wearing a dress?" I sighed, "Yes Evelyn, I am wearing a dress, now will you help me or not?" "I'll be there in five" and with that, I hung up the phone. I went back to my wardrobe and pulled out five possible beach dresses. After laying them on my bed, I waited for Evelyn. 

I heard a loud bang from downstairs before a slight figure pushed my bedroom door open, carrying several bags into the room. "Hello" I said, looking oddly at the bags. "Hey" Evelyn said, throwing her things on the floor. "So I found a few that I can choose from-" "Nope, you're wearing this" Ev pulled out a dress from one of the bags. It was a very elegant dress. The chest was a simple black, shaped as an upside down V just above the waist. The bottom half had pretty black and white patterns on it, with a thin material which shined from the light.