Life Changes

Chapter 8

Jessica's POV:

Beep! Beep! Beep!

I groaned as I rolled over in my bed turning my alarm off. Taking the charger out of the phone, I unlocked it, and saw that I had two messages from Harrison: "Good morning beautiful! Hoping you got your beauty sleep... supposed to be scorcher out there. But nothing can beat you, cause you're hotter than the weather ;)" Rolling my eyes, I texted him back, "Good morning handsome! Haha I did... but now that you're saying that I'm hotter than the weather, I'd say you're cooler than the hot weather :)" Putting my phone down and going to the bathroom, I grabbed my toiletry bag and started getting ready. Hearing a knock on my door, I went to the door and saw uncle Hoppo standing there. "Wow! You're up bright and early; I thought I would have to pour a bucket of ice cold water over you." "Haha very funny! I'm just getting ready." "Jessica, before we go, I would like to talk with you. I'm super happy for you and Harrison, but now that you guys are also working together, I need you to-" "To be professional and not put our relationship in public display." Hoppo looked at me shocked, "Yes. You're right! Well, I guess that's all I need to say.. be downstairs in a few. We're leaving in half an hour." Ushering him out the door, I sighed a huge breath of relief and went back to the bathroom to get ready.

Hoppo's POV:

After Jessica shut her door and I went back downstairs, Karen was standing at the counter, with a warm cup of coffee in her hand. Handing it to me, she asked how Jessica took the news. "She took it pretty well; she literally took the words out of my mouth and finished my sentence." Smiling, Karen got a couple bowls out of the cupboards and plopped some cereal boxes and milk on the counter. "Listen Hoppo, we got invited to our cousin's wedding in New Zealand. I was thinking it would be a good opportunity for the both of us to get out for a little bit." Looking at Karen, I knew that she would win this battle. "I don't even know your cousin! Is he the one who kept calling me Hop at your family reunion?" Laughing out loud, Karen came to me and gave me peck on the cheek, "We leave in two days. Better ask Harries or Azza to cover for you." Sighing, I went to the counter and grabbed some cereal. In the meantime, Jessica had come down and heard part of our conversation. "So, uncle Hoppo and aunt Karen are going out on a little date! Woot woot!" Smiling at Jessica, I ignored her and kept eating until it was time to go. Grabbing the keys and my hat, we went into the car and enjoyed the sunrise on our way to Bondi beach.

After arriving at the beach, Harries and Maxi were the first ones there. After catching up with each other, Maxi and I went on the rhino to put the flags up for the day. Harrison was right; even though it was 7:30, I could feel the sun's warmth slowly warming up. We were in for a scorcher today.

Jessica's POV:

After putting the signs up with Maxi, Whippet, Reidy, Bisho and Chappo made their way down and took their posts patrolling the beach. Maxi and I took the rhino down to backpackers' rip and patrolled the section there; even though it wasn't too busy, I could see more and more people filling up the beach. "So Jessica, what does it feel like being Harrison's girlfriend?" Looking over at Maxi, I couldn't help but smile. "It feels great! He texted me the sweetest good morning message so I'm all ready to go! I mean, every time someone mentions his name, I get butterflies inside my stomach." Laughing, we both looked back at the water and saw someone who was struggling against the rip. Standing up, I took my shirt off and grabbed my board, just in case I needed to rescue him. "Tower to Backpackers. Jessi, I see that you're ready to go, and I think you need to go in. He's having more trouble staying afloat." After hearing the message, I ran towards the water. Having the cool water splash me made me feel energetic for the day ahead. Helping the boy up on the board, I told him to lay on his stomach and we rode the wave back to the beach; going back to the rhino, I was greeted by Harrison talking to Maxi. Seeing him standing there made my heart skip a beat; his tanned skin and contagious smile made this professional relationship even harder to keep under wraps. All I wanted to do was run up to him, jump in his arms and give him a big kiss; but knowing that we had eyes watching us, I contained myself. "Good morning Harrison! How are you?" Smiling sheepishly at me, he replied, "I'm good! You still hot? ;)" Blushing like crazy, I looked away before Maxi could see me. Maxi soon caught on and started bugging us. Eventually, Maxi went to the other end of the beach to relieve Reidy, so Harrison and I sat in the rhino and kept our eyes on the water.

Maxi's POV:

As I saw Jessica and Harrison sitting there, I wondered when I would have a girlfriend. I broke up with Michelle three months ago, and the boys have been setting me up with dates; so far, I haven't found the one. Walking over to Harries, he saw me thinking deeply, "Hey why are you so down? Smile! It's a nice breezy, yet warm day!" Looking over at him, I debated whether or not I should tell him. "What do you think of Harrison and Jessica?" Harries looks at me, surprised, "Well, I've gotta say I'm not surprised they're together! This is the happiest I've seen Harrison in a long time, so he's gotta keep his arms around her!" Thinking back, I remembered how happy I had it with Michelle; we were about to get engaged when she ran off with one of my best friends. We haven't spoken since then; I did see her walking with my 'friend' a couple days ago, and it took all of my energy to not walk over there and punch him in the face. "Maxi, Em has got really cute friends who are around your age; want me to ask her to set you up?" Looking at Harrison and Jessica smiling and laughing away, I looked at Harries, "Yes."

Well, I think their first day together as an official couple went pretty good! As for poor Maxi, Harries and Em are going to try to set him up with someone; keep reading to find out what will happen for Harrison and Jessica. As for Maxi, let's see what Harries and Em can pull off.

Cheers!