Palas

21. "Mad it is, Alex."

"Last night shift!" Harry exclaims falling down on the couch.

We just flatten the beach for the third time in a row. We're both tired to the max and I personally can't wait to fall in my bed. The only problem is that it is only three. In the middle of the night.

"Yeeh." I try to sound upbeat but fail.

"Haven't slept?" Harry asks while he lifts himself up.

I sit down in front of him on a lounge chair, resting my feet next to him on the couch. "Nope."

"Rosie?"

"Yup."

"What this time?"

"She refused to keep quiet. Kept talking or playing music. Every time I asked her to be quiet she moved herself to the balcony only to come back minutes later. I don't know what she's up to," I tell him putting my hair up in a ponytail.

"She is waiting for you to react," he explains.

"Does she know about those boys?" I ask frightened.

"Of course not. I didn't tell anyone, I assume you did the same."

"Of course," I lie feeling my cheeks flush. I only told James and wrote to my dad. "I tried to apologize to her but she cuts me off every time. She's acting so weird. As if nothing happened but I know I hurt her."

"She doesn't want your apology because then she can't torture you any further."

"You always make her sound as if she's plotting to kill me."

"No, but she is plotting to bring you down. Don't tell me I didn't warn you about her," he says very sure of himself.

"I still see no harm in her." I shake my head, my ponytail bobbing from left to right. "And she can torture me all she wants. I won't lower myself to her standards."

"Only if she brings up your father or mother," he says quietly.

My head snaps up to his eyes as I was focused on one of his tattoos on his hand. "What do you mean by that?"

"Just make sure she won't get to know your weak spot, or she'll break you."

"God Harry." The way he talks about her runs shivers down my spine. "You're scaring me."

"Good." He smiles, some of his grim expression disappearing. "Because you are naïve about her."

"Well I think she's just very childish and insecure. What could she possible do to me besides keeping from sleeping?"

"I hope nothing." He shrugs patting my shoes. "Do you want to sleep now?"

"If you don't mind." I smile sweetly to Harry.

"Of course not." He stands up to bring me the blanket and I lie down on the warm spot he just sat on.

"Why are there even night shifts?" I ask Harry as soon as I lay down, facing him as he sits down by the window.

"Couple of years ago someone died while he tried to swim. He was intoxicated. Drowned himself. His friends tried to save him but failed. They kept knocking on our door, but they used to lock up at eleven and open at seven," he pauses a moment before he continues and I try to picture those boys. Almost hear their desperate knocks.

"Since then they have night shifts. Not that we can see anything, but we can at least try if anything happens. With the jet-ski's. And of course the police and ambulance crew are happy with us being here all day."

I feel sorry for those boys who tried to help their friend and couldn't. I can only imagine what they went through that fatal night. Even though I am starting to dislike these night shifts, I am glad that we're here. To make sure something like that will never happen again.