That Beautiful Thing Called Life

Her First Day

Annie

Annie woke up filled with excitement and anticipation. Today was her first day, her first shift on the beach. She pulled on the blue long sleeved shirt over her bathers and shorts. As she passed her full length mirror, she couldn't help admiring it. It was certainly the right colour for her. She grabbed her packed lunch and work bag and headed out the door. This was the best thing about living near the Pavillion...she could walk to work. And the beach was her office.

As she approached the tower, a thrill of nervous energy ran through her. What if she was terrible? What if she stuffed up? What if someone died? She pushed all the what if's and negative thoughts aside, took a deep breath and put a smile on her face as she pushed open the door. She was met by cheers and whistles of congratulations and welcome from the boys on the early morning shift.

"Morning, boys," she grinned as she stowed her gear and grabbed her radio and first aid pack. "Can't wait to get out there!"

"Well seeing as you're so enthusiastic, you can go help Deano put the flags up," laughed Kerrbox. 

Annie's eyes briefly searched the tower, looking for one person in particular. Her heart was a little disappointed when she realised that Chris wasn't there. More than one of the boys noticed, and smiled inwardly. 

"He'll be in a bit later," grinned Jesse.

"What? Who?" asked Annie in a startled panic. "I didn't say anything."

"You didn't have to," laughed Maxi. "Everybody knows Chappo likes you. And you clearly like him."

Annie blushed a deep shade of crimson. "You...what? I...I...never said..." her blurted out incoherent sentence was enough to send Maxi, Jesse and Harrison into fits of laughter. 

"Hopeless, the pair of them. Utterly hopeless," muttered Jesse through his laughter.

Annie put her hands to her flushed face and promptly fled the tower for the relative safety of the shed to help Deano pick up the flags. Surely the boys weren't right. She didn't have feelings like that for Chris...did she?  

She turned her attention to the flags.

Chappo

It was 9 am when Chris walked through the door of the tower. He had asked for the early morning off for personal reasons. Hoppo hadn't asked questions, for which he was thankful. He would have told Hoppo, if the boss had asked, but he hadn't, so he didn't. He didn't need everyone knowing that his mum was dying and he had to go sit with her in the hospice to feed her breakfast. He didn't want the pity. He paused at the tower door and put his brave face on. His work face. The face that everybody saw, but never realised it was covering a broken heart. 

"G'day, boys," he said chirpily as he entered. 

"Chappo, mate, how's it going?" said Reidy through a mouthful of bacon.

"Fine." There it was. The automatic response. When  what he actually wanted to say was "I'm not fine, I'm drowning, I need someone to talk to, but I don't want pity." But why say that many words when you could just use one? Fine. 

Chris searched the tower with a quick gaze. "Annie was supposed to be working today wasn't she?" He tried to keep his tone disinterested, but it definitely did not have the desired effect. 

"She's down in the south corner mate. I'm pretty sure you're on the roster for north, but I can swap you, if you like," offered Deano with a grin.

"Yeah Deano, get the lovebirds together already," yelled Maxi from his vantage point with the binoculars. 

Chris felt his face flushing. "Actually, Deano, if you wouldn't mind, that'd be great," he said, inwardly cringing at the ribbing he was going to get from the boys for wanting to be posted with Annie. But in all honesty, he didn't care. He just wanted to talk to her. 

Deano picked up the radio. "Bondi Central to Rhino, Annie are you there?"

"Yes mate, loud and clear. What's up?"

"Chappo wants to know if it's alright if he comes down and keeps you company in the south corner," he said with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. There was a few seconds of radio silence. Then the crackle came back.

"Sure. I could use some company down here. There's nothing happening." Chappo felt himself breathe again and before any of the boys could comment again, he was off like a bride's nightie. He wasn't hanging around for the shellacking he was going to get. There'd be time enough for that later.

Annie

Annie watched the water diligently. Her heartbeat was faster, her colour flushed, her pulse raised. Chris was coming to join her down south. And she discovered that she couldn't wait to see him. But the happiness was short lived when she remembered one small fact. Everybody she loved died. She couldn't bear to lose anyone else. As her inner conflict raged, a voice broke her reverie.

"Hey Annie."

She turned and took in the ruggedly handsome face before her. But...something was wrong. He was even quieter than usual. His face was pale, and he looked tired. No, not tired. Exhausted.

"Chris, look at me. Did you get any sleep last night?" Annie's concern was genuine. 

He didn't answer her. He just stood rooted to the spot and began to sway. Annie saw tear stains on his face. 

"Chris. Chris. Talk to me, please. What's going on? Are you feeling alright?"

He collapsed. She did her best to try and catch him, but she struggled under his weight and lowered him to the sand as gently as she could. Her heart was in her mouth. "Chris? CHRIS!" She radioed the tower urgently.

"Boys, did you see that? He...he collapsed. Please, help me, I don't know if he's okay, I think I'm going to need the oxy down here...he doesn't look good."

The distress in her voice brought lifeguards running from everywhere. Jesse stayed in the tower to watch the beach. Quiggers grabbed the oxygen supply and sprinted with it to the south corner, where Maxi, Whippet and Gonzo were already trying to revive their friend. Annie sat behind him, clutching his shoulders and holding him tightly. 

"What happened, Annie?" 

"I...I don't know. He was just standing there, pale and still. He wouldn't answer me. He just swayed and then...then he fell...and I don't know what's wrong with him." Her voice was agitated and beginning to sound hysterical. 

"Annie, he's going to be fine, he's just fainted, it'll be okay." Quiggers soothed her with his calm words. She breathed deeply and slowly and felt instantly better. She nodded, and held the oxygen mask over Chris's face. She felt her heart beat semi normally as she saw the colour come back into his face.

"Chris?" she asked softly, "are you with us? Are you alright?"

His deep brown eyes opened, and looked straight up at her. And the first thing she saw in them was pain.

But he replied with his standard answer.

"I'm fine."