Ecstasy

Chapter 49

Calla:

It was hot. I was standing in my room looking at my half full leather backpack on my bed. My ceiling fan was working up a hurricane but it did nothing to ward off the heat wave that had invaded the northern part of the state. All the chocolate eggs had melted yesterday in the Easter egg hunt we did for Sylvie and today I was meant to be off camping.

I put my hands on my hips and puffed at the strand of hair that had fallen into my eyes. I heard the crooning of a song voice and it took me a moment to realise it was my phone and the ringtone Mitchie had programmed when she rang me. I looked around for my phone, following the pop song that I hated but she loved. I finally found it under the mess on my desk.

"Hey."

"What are you packing?" I heard her voice come down through the line.

"I don't know." I groaned wiping the sweat from my brow. "It's too hot for camping."

"I know. But we're on the beach so it shouldn't be too bad. Are you excited?"

I chewed on my bottom lip remembering the last day of school. I don't know how he did it but Sam convinced Tyson to come and for some reason I was nervous.

"Calla?"

"Yeah?"

"I just asked if you were excited."

"What? Yeah I am."

"Then what's wrong?"

I sat myself down on my bed and sighed. "I don't know. What are the sleeping arrangements?"

"Aw honey," she called through the phone, understanding me instantly. "Don't worry yourself. The boys are all sleeping in the big tent and I think we have two pop ups. But Sam and I might hijack one." She giggled and the sound of her laughter eased the tightening in my stomach.

"You won't have to do anything you don't want. Chill girl. Now I have to go and finish packing the kitchen sink." She laughed again. "Make sure you're ready at two, 'kay?"

"Okay."

"Don't worry Calla this will be fun."

I hung up, hoping she was right.

***

"Calla! Your friends are at the door."

I did a last minute scan of my room hoping I hadn't forgotten anything and slung my heavy backpack over my shoulder. I picked up my beach bag before running down stairs.

I found Sam and Mitchie at the front door standing on the threshold and mum standing in the door way.

"Have you got everything?" Mum asked.

"Yep," I peered over Mitchie's shoulder and eyed Phoebe through the back seat window of the car. I could see Cade next to her, but I couldn't see Tyson.

"Sunscreen, hat, towel?"

I finally spotted his shoes. Those old scuffed up maroon vans with the black laces sitting up on the centre consol. I looked back at my mum and hoped she didn't notice the two feet without a body.

"Yep, yep, and yep."

"Okay then." She pulled me into one of her rare hugs. "Have a good time."

She released me and turned to Sam. "You look after my daughter."

"Sure thing," he gave her one of his cheesy smiles.

"Bye Mum." I started to walk towards the car and Mitchie and Sam followed.

I chucked my bag in the already crammed boot and went for the side door. As I expected Tyson was sitting there ducking behind Phoebe. I gave him a broad smile before climbing in over him to sit in the middle.

"Okay everyone wave to Calla's mum, she's still watching." Sam put the car into gear and cranked the air-con and we were off.

While Phoebe was exclaiming her excitement to the world I felt him pull a strand of my hair, something which was becoming more of a habit for him.

"Hey Goldie." Tyson smiled when I turned to him. His eyes were light and he looked as happy as he acted for once.

I smiled at the nickname, before leaning more into his arms. "Hi."

"So how long does it take to get there?" Phoebe asked no one in particular.

"Uh not that long actually." Sam answered her, "It's surprising we live so close to the beach."

***

We turned up at the camping grounds Sam knew of, and I guess we didn't think about the Easter holiday makers, because the grounds were crowded. We walked around for a little bit looking to see if there was any space. But there wasn't. It was packed.

"So what do we do now?" Cade asked.

"I don't know. I seriously didn't think it was going to be this crowded. Dad and I came here last year at the same time and there was only two other campers." Sam was looking guilty.

"That's because it rained last Easter." Mitchie poked him in the ribs.

"Well I don't know where else to go. If this place is crowded then the whole damn coast will be."

We were all silent for a moment. Standing in the middle of the sweltering carpark under a big pine tree.

"I know a place that will be empty." We all turned to Tyson standing beside me. He was resting his elbow on my shoulder like an armrest. "It's not on the surf though. It's a lake, but it's guaranteed to be empty."

I looked back at Sam. He was our driver and our leader on the matter.

"How far away is it?"

Tyson combed his fingers through his long hair. "Probably another forty minutes."

"Ugh, can we please just get into the car and the air-con." We all turned to Phoebe, who was sitting on one of the wooden barricades separating the car park from the dunes of the beach, fanning herself with her hands.

"Okay then. I don't think we'll have another choice."

***

"Yeah stop here, this is it."

The car pulled up, the car tires crunching on old gum leaves. All six of us leaned forward to look out the windscreen. The lake was big, but not huge. It wasn't circular as it disappeared from view around the bend of trees. The ground surrounding it was dirty white sand, glistening with broken shells. It looked like there were two other campers here but otherwise the huge flat grounds were empty.

Sam was first to pop his door and step out. The smell of Australian bush rushed in, all hot dirt and eucalyptus with a hint of salt from the water. We all scrambled out and followed Sam.

Sam walked to the waters edge. "You did well Ty, this place is perfect."

"It'll do." Cade corrected.