The cabin in High Wood

Chapter 6

Rob leapt from the rocky edge of the lake, parting the water after a somersault. This was when he was at his happiest, flying through the water like a fish. He popped up amidst the others, splashing the girls around him.

"Fancy meeting you here," he said with a grin.

"You asshole, scared the shit out of me" Hannah berated him playfully.

He noticed Fran looking at him, but he was a little wary of her... the girl could certainly go through guys. He pretended not to notice her and dived underwater once more, swimming over to the shore where Jason and Tommy sat.

"I see Fran's got her eye on you" Tommy commented as he came out of the water, sitting down beside them.

"Maybe, but I don't want the hassle man. Besides, I don't think she's broken up with her boyfriend yet."

"She mentioned she'd been dumped, but who knows phone reception's kinda bad out here, so maybe he's been trying to call her?" Tommy postulated.

"Yeah, perhaps you're right. Still, I just wanted to have a good time with you guys before I leave... not gonna be a lot of meetups once I move to Australia you know."

"Please stop rubbing that in, it's bad enough I scraped into a piss poor college. Can't believe Trish is considering staying behind though" Jason said with a sigh, taking a deep drink from his beer.

Rob smiled, some might call it award-winning, all he knew was his talent for swimming had gotten him a scholarship to Sydney. Tommy shook his head, watching as Jason downed the rest of the can. He'd never admit it, but Rob envied Tommy. The guy was perfectly content to settle down, hold a regular job and stay with his high school sweetheart... Rob dived back into the water, swimming the length of the lake as his mind raced at a hundred miles an hour, did he really want this? Perhaps a simpler life was preferable, he touched the far bank and turned. No, he would never be content to live a mediocre existence, he'd be an Olympic medallist, and if not he would be getting a top-level education. He made his way back to the others, emerging from the water as Tommy lit the barbecue.

"It's like you can sense food nearing" Fran joked, her pretty smile disarming him.

Rob's mind suddenly went blank, he couldn't think of a witty response and started to go red.

"Leave him be, poor guy" Hannah chipped in, saving him from further teasing. Thank god for Han he thought.

They sat and drank together until the sun began to set, Tommy started to cook sausages, chicken and beef burgers, it smelled divine to him.

"I think you hit the jackpot with Tommy Han," he remarked, placing a hand on her shoulder gently.

Hannah smiled back at him, squeezing his hand gently. "Yeah, we'll be together forever. No more crazy Han from now on" she told him seriously... well, as seriously as a drunk Hannah could. It seemed sweet what she said though and he noticed Tommy smile, Rob was definitely jealous again.