It Was All Leading Up To You

Chapter 4:

Before I can catch my breath I see Pheobe and Josh running into the water Josh diving straight in with Pheobe walking and standing while the water is at her knees. I see Ross come up behind her and push her gently into the water so she emerges completely soaked with an annoyed look on her face. Cole and I begin laughing again this time with tears rolling down our faces and our arms clenched to our stomachs. 

Ross and Josh both end up surfing while Pheobe begins to tan her already beautifully coloured skin. Which leaves Cole and me at the rock pool hunting for sea shells and pretty things. I almost trip and fall off one of the rocks but Cole is there to make sure I don't. Also snapping pictures of me collecting shells and another photo of his now bleeding hand (he cut it on the edge of a rock.) We both end up finding some really pretty shells and after we scoured the rock pool one last time we find ourselves with nothing to do. I knew we both didn't want to go back but we didn't want to leave either. So we walked up the side ramp to the main street stopping by a small ice cream shop. We ordered and I used pay pass before Cole took out his money to pay. We sat down to eat and Cole was giving me little dirty looks. He was annoyed I wouldn't let him pay. 

He got over it and eventually we finished eating and then went back to the spot on the beach where Pheobe had fallen asleep, Josh was on his phone and Ross was building a sand castle. 

"How old are you?" I ask jokingly at Ross sitting down next to him. 

"20, but that doesn't mean I can't make sand castles miss I'm 17 and I think I'm 70." He says jokingly sticking his tongue out at me inviting me to sit down next him and help. 

I sit down helping Ross with his castle feeling the eyes of jealousy piercing my spine from Cole's direction. I attempt to ignore it. 

"Hey guys, want to go to Royley's for dinner?" Josh asks everyone

"What's Royley's?" Cole pipes up from behind Josh. 

"Only one of the BEST restaurants in Denson. Formal attire but delicious food." Ross pipes up as he begins digging a river near his sandcastle. 

"Sounds good, I'll ask Dad if Pheobe and I can come," Cole says jumping up and dialling his dad's phone number. 

"I don't think we'll ask Mum or Dad, they don't care anyway," Josh says packing up his bag.  

I follow suit packing my sunscreen and headphones into my beach bag. After everyone is packed up we head home to get ready for dinner. I say goodbye to Cole and Pheobe and let them know I'll be seeing them in a few hours. I get inside and run up the stairs two at a time into my room. I dump my clothes and run straight to my wardrobe ready to pick out an outfit for dinner. I search around and decide on a short black number, strapless with lace detailing. I pair it with my black doc martins and some stockings. I run into the shower taking my time to wash my hair and shave. By the time I'm ready it's about 6 pm and I can already hear Josh and Ross playing Halo downstairs waiting for me. I check my outfit, hair and makeup one last time before agreeing to it and running down the stairs. 

I arrive at the landing just as the boys are finishing their game and both of them turn around to look at me. Ross's eyes go up and down my body a few times before stopping at my face. Josh looks at me once and smiles putting down his controller.

"You look amazing Laney." He says coming over to hug me. He's sporting a navy blue suit with some brown polished shoes. Ross is still staring but wearing the same thing as Josh just in Black. His eyes are still wandering all over my body. But this time instead of wanting to stay there and let him look at me. I feel violated like I want to get out of there as soon as possible. I open the front door and see Pheobe on the front steps waiting for Cole most likely. She's dressed in a beautiful canary yellow dress complementing her skin perfectly and she's wearing a pair of black heels making her about 5cm taller. I walk outside towards her and when she see's me she makes her way towards me hugging me. 

"You look beautiful." We say roughly at the same time sending us into fits of laughter. 

"Are we waiting on Cole?" Josh asks irritated as he waits for Ross to pull the car around. 

"No, we're not." A voice says behind Pheobe as it makes its way closer I see Cole's hair and know it's him immediately smiling his way. He's cleaned up wearing a suit similar in style to Josh's but the same colour as Ross's. I walk over to hug him as his eyes travel up my body this time I want to be looked at. 

Ross pull's the car around and we all get in Josh offer's to drive and Pheobe sits in the passenger seat. I jump in the middle and end up having Ross and Cole on either side of me. We begin the 30-minute drive to Royley's with Pheobe and Josh chatting up a storm in the front seat with an awkward silence resonating in the back. 

Cole can sense how uncomfortable I am and reaches for my hand taking it from my lap and pulling it onto his holding it with his thumb exploring the surface area of my palm. My stomach begins to churn and my throat gets's dry making my breathing a little less steady. The back seat remains silent the whole way there with Cole's hand clutching mine in the darkness of the night.