The Taste of Sea Salt

Chapter One

"Oh cra-" I gasp as the box falls straight out of my hands and onto the hardwood floors of the bach. It lands with a thump but more importantly the sound of glass breaking. "Oh no, no, no, no,no" I chant leaning down and hesitantly opening the flaps of the box which have 'Fragile' written in my own handwriting. Out of all the boxes I could have dropped it would have to be this one. I hear footsteps rushing down the hall, probably Abby coming to see what mess I had made.

"You know for someone who works with plants and pots all day you would think you would be less clumsy?" I look up to see Abby with her arms crossed, leaning against the door with a smirk on her face. I tear my eyes away from her and back to the damage I had caused. My 'Summer' globe that she gave me for Christmas one year has smashed, its water and the little surfer overflowing and drowning the rest of the contents of the box. Damn. I loved that thing. Abby gave it to me when we were 10 and just becoming friends. Its pretty damn special to me considering I used to stare at it until I fell asleep. Maybe it was because the surfer inside looked exactly like me but I was very attached to it.

"You don't even want to know how many pots ive smashed." I say, straightening up, swallowing the ridiculous tears that threatened to bubble up and put on a smile for Abby. Out of the two of us shes the least comfortable with emotion and I know she wouldn't understand why i was upset about this.

"I cant believe you still even have that." She says with an incredulous laugh and I know i made the right choice. I look back at her and Im struck by how much older she looks. Its like being in the house has already freed her. When I was younger I was super jealous of her. Abby has pale blonde hair that only goes lighter in the summer, the classic blue eyes, perfect teeth and the body of a girl with a fast metabolism. She also got boobs early and they continued to grow whereas mine still haven't even begun if im honest. She is also of average height, not a 6foot awkward giant like me. Her parents are still together and very much in love. Mine not so much.

"You know Im sentimental" I say with a laugh. Abby reaches down and grabs out the biggest piece of the globe and disappears from the room informing me that shell wrap it in newspaper and chuck it in the bin. I yell out a thanks that almost refuses to come out.

I carry on sorting out my room and boxes while I assume Abby does the same. Finally nearly two hours later and my beds made, clothes hung up and room in a vague sense of order. I walk out into the lounge of the small bach and smile. Its one of those typical pale wood walled houses with all those cliché beach quotes. I glance at Abbys door which is closed and wonder if shes finished setting up too.

"Hey A-B, you finished? Wanna go for a walk on the beach?" I yell out. One of challenges was to walk on the beach every single day of the summer and either take a photo or maybe a shell . I didnt want to fail on the first day, especially when there was money to be contributed to my trip.

"Ill head out on one later Ive got a headache. You go though!" She yells back. She is notorious for her headaches. The fake ones and the real ones. Ive seen her get out of Pe more times than I can count based off of a 'super bad migraine.'

"Ill probably go for a swim to be honest too be back after five." I say quieter and to her door. Five minutes later in a bikini, wrap around skirt, sunglasses, sunblock and a adidas hat I head out the door. No sandals needed as per every single cliché beach sign. I cant help but smile. Seeing the beach in front of me with its crashing waves and sweet salty air. Its home through and through.

Ive been walking along the soft sand for three minutes when i hear someone call my name. I look up and theres a figure with vibrant red hair running towards me. I only know one girl with hair as gorgeous as that.

"Emma!" I yell as she crashes into me for a hug. Its probably pretty dramatic considering the last time I saw her was last week at graduation but thats just how we are. She hugs me and Im reminded of how she is our schools fastest female swimmer by the strength of the hug.

"How are you doing? This Summer is going to be freaking awesome!" She says and hooks elbows with me. We start chatting animatedly about our plans for the Summer and eventually both head for a dip in the ocean.

I surface from beneath the waves with a laugh. "wanna come hang with A-B?" I ask her. Emma's smile falls and I know its because shes not Abby's biggest fan. With good reason in all honesty. A couple of years ago Abby got caught hooking up with Emma's boyfriend of the time. She's lucky that Emma even hangs out with her still these days.

"Sure. Might as well hey, last summer and all." She says with a shrug. I smile brightly hoping to spread my positive energy to her. I hated when they weren't talking. I felt stuck in the middle. Emma was probably my next closest friend. After Daniel and Abby of course.

"She has changed you know?" I ask. She was drunk that night and I know she feels a bit lonely sometimes. Its one of those things where it doesn't matter how many friends you have or how many people youre around. You just feel it.

"I know. I wouldn't be coming If i didnt think she had. But anyway how is lover boy?" Im happy for the change of topic especially to things about Daniel. I love him so much. We always kind of had a thing. Sometimes we would hook up at partys but we weren't in a relationship. Still he paid no interest to other girls and I did not even want to look at other guys. No one was surprised really when we finally announced we were dating. At that point it was just how we were. In a week we will have been dating for a year. I booked him a sky diving trip for his birthday as a surprise. Hes always wanted to and frankly I wanna video his handsome face when he jumps out.

Ive been chatting Emmas ear off about Daniel when I open the sliding door to the bach. I freeze and I feel Emmas hand grab my arm tightly. I didnt notice Daniels car parked out back of the house but I did see something Im never going to forget. Stumbling out of the doorway to Abbys room, shirtless and barely managing to get into his jocks is MY Boyfriend. He looks up like a deer caught  in headlights at the sound of me and Emma. My breath which has been used talking about how much I love this boy is sucked back into my lungs. Im trying to think of possible reasons for his lack of dress and why he was coming out of her room. Maybe he was surprising me and needed her help. Maybe he went into her room thinking it was mine. I was nearly accepting one of those answers until Abigail exited her room in underwear and no top or bra.

"Eden." She whispers in horror, her face mirroring Daniels. She makes no move to cover her breasts but instead starts to move towards me. I feel tears slip down my face onto my arm that is still holding the door handle.

"Baby this is definitely not what you think!" my head whips to look at Daniel and I can't breathe. I cant handle this. I just cant. I don't even remember Emma or her hand on me, i just turn around and push past her. Stalking back in the direction of my haven, my beach. My best friend and my boyfriend.

My best friend and my boyfriend.

Abigail and Daniel.

What the fuck.

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Hello! So sorry for any mistakes. I actually dropped English this year because the teacher and I do not mesh well together. I hope you enjoyed this dramatic chapter. Poor Eden