Palas

34. "I feel her presence because it pisses me off."

My arms are wrapped around Harry. He's keeping me together in this moment while I hold on to him. Even in this intense moment where we race off to a possible acute situation, he keeps me sane. I wonder how different it would be if someone else was my buddy. If I would be as brave.

The possibility of running in to a situation as desperate as during my night shift scares me. Yet I am determent to save this person. The fact that Harry is here, taking off with the jet-ski towards the place he is anxious of. That gives me courage of another kind.

His face is set towards the rocks appearing from our left. The end of the strip is actually quite far away from the tower and it takes us a while to get there. Once we dabble underneath the large cliff, I understand the size of it. And I get that when you fall off, you're either seriously injured or dead. From the instructions we got, this person could be both.

We scan the wall of rocks to find where she or he can be and how we can reach them. Or more, if we can reach them. I have never climbed anything, let alone such a dangerous cliff. We both don't see a thing and Harry reports back through the walkie-talkie.

"The helicopter is coming to support us," Harry tells me over his shoulder and I shiver as I hold on to him. There's really no point in holding him because I can keep myself steady now that we are still on the waves. Slowly I let on hand go, but the other arm won't seem to move as I look up to the sky for the helicopter.

"Have you ever done this before?" I ask Harry who shakes his head.

"No, so I don't really know what to do."

"I could go up and see if I find anything, a sign?"

"I don't like that idea. Let's wait okay? The heli will be here soon," he answers and I smile a little. I have a feeling he either needs me as well, or doesn't want me in danger.

"Who's on the beach now?" I wonder suddenly, scared that maybe another drama is evolving there without us to react.

"Rosie came in at nine, didn't you notice?" He turns to look at me and I frown.

"How would I have noticed?"

"Well," he shrugs, "I feel her presence because it pisses me off."

I roll my eyes at his dramatic choice of words. "But seriously did she say hello?"

"She stood behind you, made funny faces and stuff."

"Really?"

"No of course not. I just know she had to start at nine. She always starts at nine. Or I wouldn't have left."

"There's the heli," I say and he turns to look in the sky.

"Got yah," I joke and he fakes a laugh.

"Weak attempt," he returns.

"But can she be alone then?" I wonder since Rosie isn't a 'real' lifeguard.

"At this moment yes, if anything happens she knows how to reach us."

"Oh... when will I learn the walkie-talkie and stuff?"

"Once you don't work with me anymore. Because if I'm at work, I have the walkie-talkie. It's as simple as that."

"So, will there come a day when I don't have to work with you?" I ask him, feeling slightly sad about that.

"Plenty," he answers and I hope the low voice means he's also down about that.

"There is the heli tough, no joke."