Drifting

Chapter 3

I imagine the cool ocean waves enveloping me, caressing every inch of my body like a warm blanket. Every part of me wants to jump in, just once. Maybe if I do it just once I'll be able to let go of this binding fear, this fear that had harassed me like a morning sun on the first day of school but then I imagine James and in an instant I am reminded of how brutal those crystal clear blue waters can be.

I arrive exactly ten minutes early that first day at Ohana Water Sports. Eberly is already there and couldn't be more happy to see me, "You have no clue how excited I am now that there's another girl around here, too much testosterone leads to me becoming way too manly. I even said something like 'I'm gonna get laid tonight' the other day!" My fake laugh must be absolutely terrible because Eberly just frowns and starts to un-stack more chairs.

"Are the boys always this late?" I ask while lifting a stained white lounge chair over my head. Eberly frowns again the corners of her mouth turning down slightly as she shakes her head, "it's Kota."

"What about him?" I'm actually curious about him and his pastel hair. Not wanting to seem nosy I quickly turn away but Eberly saves me from total embarrassment, "Somedays he just doesn't get out of bed so the others come and wake him up. That's the only time they're late, so I kind of need to understand ya know?"

I know the feeling, in the months after James's death when my dad was still around he'd come into my room and try to convince me that exercise would be a good solution to all my problems. I wouldn't move, often times he'd get so afraid of my slumber habits he'd tell my mom I was dying and that she should take me to the doctor. My mom would get so angry when he'd say that she'd throw chairs and threaten to kick him out. Little did she know that eventually the threats would become a reality, one that would only make things worse for my well being.

Thinking about Kota with the breaking glass and the lack of sleep he was probably getting over night made me wonder if he'd suffered through something like I had. The other two boys were such social butterflies it seemed hard to believe that Kota would even associate himself with them. Finally Shepp, Collin and Kota arrive at the beach almost an hour late.

"It's about time!" Eberly chirps, "This one wouldn't get out of bed... again." Collin playfully shoves Kota who gives a small but weak smirk before instantly shying away. Shepp who was probably only 5'8 but incredibly built trudges through the sand to lift all the jet skis and bring them closer to the water. "Kota why don't you show Reid the ropes?" Eberly suggests obviously trying to keep Kota's mind occupied and probably to prevent another incident, "I'm tired, I should lie down." Kota spoke with a thick Asian accent in a deep baritone voice unlike Shepp who was clearly of Asian descent however, you wouldn't be able to tell just by hearing him talk but Kota you could tell was clearly still learning some English.

"No Kota come on!" Eberly pleads pulling at his shirt, Kota suddenly gets defensive lifting his arm and widening his eyes, "i'm going to lie down." Kota shakes his head in annoyance flinging open the tiki hut's small door and disappearing inside. "Why we haven't fired that kid I'll never know." Eberly rolls her eyes before flipping the small rectangular sign to open.

I halfway expected customers to show up almost instantly but there was just an awkward silence between all of the employees and nobody came around to ask questions.

"How was your night?" Collin chirps in a happy voice that only strangers would use if they didn't know how to approach you, I got that voice from outgoing people a lot. "Good I just slept."

Collin smiles trying to think of something else to ask me, "Well why would you sleep if there's a huge party going on tonight at the harbor beach? It's a bonfire man!" Collin raises his arms above his head and arches his back being extremely over the top about this party.