Ocean Eyes *ON HOLD*

Chapter 1 - Hanging Ten

"No!" I shouted to Liam, who was running to meet me at the shore. I pulled my surfboard behind me, embarrassed at my surf attempts. "I will NOT do it again. I've already had my share of public humiliation for the day," I huffed.

Liam ran behind me to pick up the back end of my surfboard. "Harry, I told you not to drag it across the sand," he scolded. "But you gotta try again! You were SO CLOSE! You almost got up!" He smiled enthusiastically, waving his arms about.

"No, nope, nah, nuh-uh, not a chance," I said, placing my board in the sand next to Liam's. I sat down on my towel and laid back, trying to recollect myself after my multiple failures. Liam sat next to me.

"Harryyyy," he whined, making me sit up and glare. "Please, just try it one more time. I'm sure you'll get it," he pleaded, doing his pouty face and puppy dog eyes. I hate when he does that; how can one say no?

"Let me rest for a bit and think about it," I finally said, laying back down on my towel. "Yeah, okay, great! I'm gonna go get something to drink. You want anything?" he asked. "No, I'm good." I head him walk away, and let out a sigh.
I looked up at the blue Southern California sky. Barely any clouds, and a slight but refreshing breeze. Not typical for this area in June, so I'd read.

I closed my eyes and thought about my hectic schedule for the next nine months. The Where We Are Tour. Our third tour. A STADIUM tour. I still can't believe that we've come this far. There's a quote that the fans say... 'Lost the X-Factor; won the world', I believe. We wouldn't be anywhere without them.

I then think about the present: Liam and me enjoying a little down time in sunny Santa Barbara, California. Our friend Katy (yes, Katy Perry) let us use her house while we were here, seeing as she was away on tour. I do love Southern California, although I'm not exactly sure why. I sort of have this urge to come here, and, when I'm not doing something band-wise or with family and friends, I come here.
Liam walked up and stood over me, blocking my sun. "You're not a very good window," I said, sitting up. He just smiled and plopped down next to me. "So, you gonna try again?" he asked, taking a sip of his Pepsi.

I think, 'Why not? Might as well,' and turn to Liam. "One more try, ONE," I say holding up my index finger.

"Sweet!" he exclaimed, hopping up, pulling me up as well.

I grab my board and head towards the water. "Remember, keep your feet perpendicular to the board, and bend your knees," he instructs. "Yeah, I know, you've said it a billion times," I call back, jogging into the cold Pacific Ocean.

I paddled out past the waves, and waited for a good one to come. After when seemed like ages, I finally saw a promising wave. "That's a good one," I hear Liam yell from the shore. I give him the 'hang ten' sign and smile. I turn my board around and start paddling in front of the wave. I feel it catch, and pull myself up on the board. "Perpendicular feet, bent knees," I recite, steadying myself. I look up to see I'm heading towards the shore. Liam is jumping up and down, fist pumping the air.

I did it. I am surfing!

Suddenly I feel the water under me begin to shift, and I start to lose balance. I fell off my board, and was immediately sucked under the water, caught in an infamous Santa Barbara riptide. I feel the tether connecting my board to my ankle digging into my skin, so I reach to rip it off. I then tried to swim up for air, but I'm stopped by banging my head on something above me. 'The surfboard,' I thought, as I felt myself lose control of my body.

Unconsciousness was coming, and I couldn't even swim to the surface.
I felt the cold blackness start to take over my mind. I close my eyes, accepting my fate. 'Whoever said drowning was peaceful, was full of shit,' was my last thought before darkness overtook me.