Secrets

Chapter 1 ✧

Since I can remember, my family and I have spent the summer in Havens Bay, a beautiful little town by the water, a total escape from the boiling pressures awaiting people back in the city. A lot of families like mine have been coming here for over seventeen years and because of it we've become quite close with the returning vacationing families. Unlike myself, my parents are quite the social butterflies, which means constantly having to keep up with appearances like the local carnival held on the second last Sunday before the summer ends, before everyone flees back to their boring desk jobs and higher education.

I pull back the curtain just enough to peer outside the window without being noticed to see groups of people walking in the direction of the carnival down by the pier. Pressure begins to build up in my chest knowing that everyone in town will be out tonight and that my parents will force me to socialise with the other kids my age.

"Juliana," my mother breathes out and I immediately pull myself away from the window standing up to hear her request. "How come you're not dressed yet? We're going down to the carnival shortly so hurry along."

I dash upstairs and open the door to my room to see it in consumed in smoke, I look over to the windowsill to see my older brother Theo with a cigarette in hand blowing smoke into the air. "Theo, you best put the cigarette out before mum and dad catch you."

"Don't worry Juliana, they're clueless. As long as they are with their Havens Bay friends all and any consideration for me goes straight out the window," Theo explains taking another puff of his butt.

I ignore Theo's remark and make my way over to the closet pulling out my baby blue floral knee length skirt and a white fitted collared top to match.

"Juliana, please tell me your not wearing that to the carnival," Theo remarks looking at the clothes placed in my hands. "You dress like mum."

"I like my clothes very much Theo, but thankyou for sharing your opinion," I sneer before closing the door to our adjoining bathroom.

As I slip into my clothes I look into the bathroom mirror and notice the foul state of my hair. I take the baby blue scrunchie from my wrist and use it to tie my long brunette hair in a high ponytail to disguise my greasy roots. I pull out a few strands of hair letting them hang down by the sides of my face hoping to disguise myself from people at the carnival tonight.

I exit the bathroom slipping on white flats and observe Theo's change of outfits. An electric green short sleeved shirt hangs loosely off his body, the first two buttons undone exposing his perfectly manicured chest, pairing it with some light washed jeans and white sneakers. To me his outfit is outrageous, but it's the 80s so it's acceptable.

We make our way down stairs to see our parents waiting in the foyer by the front door. I can see my parents eyeing off Theo and his choice of clothing, their facial expressions consumed with judgement and disapproval. Unfortunately Theo's wild clothing and stubborn nature doesn't fit in with their picture perfect nuclear family image, that's why it's just easier for me to conform to their expectations.

We file out the door one by one reuniting together to walk down to the carnival as a family to keep up with our image. "Oh look David it's the Freemans, we should go say hello," my mother instructs my father. "Kids you go have fun," she says handing us a bag full of coins before scurrying along to meet up with their friends.

"So I'm going to go meet my friends, ill see you later Juliana," Theo says before running along to meet up with his friends.

Even in Havens Bay Theo is popular and clearly way too cool to hang out with me. Despite Theo and I's close age proximity we have never really been that close, I guess were just too different from each other.

I look around at my surroundings noticing the many games on offer when I spy the huge brown teddy bear up for grabs at the ring toss. I motion towards the ring toss before being stopped in my tracks by someone grabbing my wrist. I instantly turn around shocked by the mystery person's action and touch to see a tall boy with dark chocolate eyes and wavy brown hair sending shockwaves through my body.

'I think you dropped this," the mystery boy says with a devilish smile and my coin bag in his other hand.

I feel my throat go dry and close up preventing me from saying anything to the boy who was clearly waiting for a response. Wanting to save myself from further humiliation and embarrassment I grab the coin bag from his hand and wriggle out from his grip. As I walk away from him towards the ring toss booth I silently pray to myself that he won't follow me.

"So I don't get a thankyou?" the boy repeats and I turn around mortified by his words and persistence to talk to me.

"thanky-you," I mumble softly yet hopefully loud enough for him to hear.

I continue to walk to the ring toss focusing my attention back on the beautiful and large teddy bear waiting to come home with me. I reach the ring toss booth handing the man behind the stand the fee to only be surprised again by the same boy. "I'm Easton by the way," he says while leaning against the booth, staring at me with his soft, dark chocolate eyes, yet they are so intimidating to me.

I let out a short breath beginning to feel overwhelmed with nausea by the boy continuing to talk to me. I take the time to look him up and down from the corner of my eye noticing his black leather jacket and tight white t-shirt; I'veonly ever seen Tom Cruise wear a leather jacket.

"And your name is?" he questions in a low soft voice sending shivers down my spine.

"Juliana," I manage to get out before the man behind the booth interrupts our conversation.

"Son you playing?" the man questions with a set of rings in his hands and in a swift motion he grabs the rings from the man's hands and passes him the fee.

I begin to throw my rings aiming them over the nails hoping that this boy would catch on that I'm not much of a talker and to leave me alone. From the corner of my eyes I see him continuing to stare at me, looking me up and down with that same devilish smile and I feel the nauseous feeling in the pit of my stomach heighten. He proceeds to the game in front and tosses the rings into the air landing all 6 on the scattered nails and I look at the sight in amazement considering I got zero rings on the nails. I look up and meet the boy's eyes to see a cocky smile planted across his face, I feel my eyes widen at the sight and with that I grab my coin bag and proceed to the next game.

"Wait Juliana!" a familiar voice says from behind me and I turn to see him...Easton, with the teddy bear I wanted in hand.

"I-I can't take that," I say with a stutter, taken aback by his actions as he holds out the teddy bear for me to grab.

"Well, what am I going to do with a teddy bear?" he queries with amusement laced through his voice. "Please, take it..." he insists and I grab the teddy bear from his big hands. "I hope to see you around Juliana," he says with a wink and before I can even thank him for the sweet gesture he walks away leaving me in complete and utter awe.

I turn around and watch him as he walks towards a group of guys all wearing the same leather jacket as him, huddled around their motorcycles. He turns around catching me staring at him and he flashes a smile before greeting his friends and I internally thank god that he is too far to see my fiery red cheeks.

I shift back around and resume walking around the carnival trying to find another game to play and think nothing more of the mysterious and strange Easton. Easton, I've never heard anything quite like it. It's different, unique...a little strange but I guess the name is fitting then. Despite his surprisingly sweet nature his demeanour seems reckless gathered by his will to ride a motorcycle. My father always does say to never trust a boy who rides a motorcycle, that they only cause trouble. That's my father's old school philosophy, however it is his philosophy that I must abide by to stay in my family's good graces.