In Orange County

Chapter five

I wake up to the smell of bacon and eggs. I don't know how I can smell it all the way up here, it's so far from the kitchen.

After putting on my cloths and brushing my teeth, I find my way downstairs and to the kitchen. On the table is four plates and platters piled high with bacon, sausages, hash browns, eggs, toast, mushrooms, and ,my god, black pudding! How in the world did she get black pudding in california? Who the hell cares, I'm eating it.

Everyone else is sitting down by the time I'm in my seat and piling on the food. I shove the hash browns and sausage in my mouth before even realizing that they have brown sauce too. This is just like what dad used to make when I lived with him. I love English breakfasts!

Halfway through breakfast I start thinking about the girls in the photo. Sophie looked so happy. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. How can someone so bitter possibly be that happy once? I look over at her and try to picture a smile on her frowning face but I can't. She hit seems like a completely different person than the elated girl I saw on the wall.

"umm, why are you staring at me?"she says, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"oh, what? No reason."I say returning to my food.

"asshole."she says while rolling her eyes. Lucky for her, mum is deep in conversation with George.

"so sophie,"days mum.

"yeah,"she replies.

"I was thinking you can take Logan to that party this weekend." she suggests." you could have a lot of fun, find some friends for logan."

"oh, no way!"she blurts.

"why not, he doesn't know anyone and you could use some fun."mum states.

"fine but he makes his own friends!" she says glaring at me. I just shrug and finish eating.

"so what do you want to do today?"George asks me.

"I don't know, I was thinking I would go down to the beach and swim a bit."I say.

"oh that's sounds great, we can all go and I can make us a picnick!"mum exclaims in an excited tone.

"yeah that sounds great!"I say. I think today is gonna be fun.

After breakfast I go upstairs and find my swim suit. I look through my bag and find my sandals but I can't find my sunscreen. Oh well, they probably have some.

The walk to the beach is short because the cliff has a staircase leading to the sandy ground below.

There's a cool mist blowing in from the ocean but the sun is boiling and the sand burns my feet. The smell is sweet and fresh and I cant help but stand and breath in the fresh air for a second.

After applying my lotion, I stand up And wade in the water until its about waist hight. I feel something tickle my leg and notice a fish swim by. Then another one, and the another one. There's tonnes of fish. When I reach down to touch them, they quickly swim away, leaving the water fish-less.

The sun is getting really hot by the time I arrive back at the blanket that we set out. I decide that maybe I could take a nap under the cover of the umbrella.

When I wake up the sun has moved so that it's shining on me and no longer in the shade. I get up and walk over to the basket and find a fresh apple and take a crunching bite. Sitting watching the wakes and listening to the birds is very relaxing and soon I find myself in another nap.

This time when I wake, it's early evening and Sophie in rolling up her towel.

"are we leaving?"I ask.

"what's it look like genius?"sophie replies.

"why don't you like me?"I ask.

"why do you think?"she questions.

"look I'm done with your attitude! Just fucking tell me and I won't bother you anymore okay!"I say. I am done with her. Just tired of this shit.

"because your a damn pussy."she says with a slight smile." ever since I first saw you I could tell that you didn't know how to stand up for yourself. But now I don't know. You jut need some encouragement that's all." she said and walks away, leaving me utterly surprised.

At supper I keep on thinking of the photo again. This time I work up the courage to ask.

"so, um, I saw a picture upstairs with Sophie and two other girls in the photo, I was wondering who they are."I say looking around at each of them. Sophie drops her fork and knocks over her chair in her mad dash to leave the table and run upstairs. I look at mum with a really confused expression and notice her eyes are glassy.

"I don't think now's the right time to tell you."says george.

"oh,"I say."okay."I answer. The rest of dinner is completely silent and when I'm done I help clean up and go to my room. I have a feeling that was a sensitive subject.