Surfing Days

Chapter Twenty-Two

Raymond Elliot

I stand up to the sound of a really loud shout and yell. I was just sitting in my room, on my phone, texting Summer. I head out of my room and into the direction of the source and see that it leads me to Jessica's room. I pop my head over the side of the door, to see my sister put her phone down on her bed with so much force. She looks up suddenly, and spots me.

"Oh, sorry. I just heard a shout so.... I.... I'll go now." I say, turning around.

"No, it's fine." I hear her say behind me, and I turn around. She pats the seat next to her, and I walk over to her bed slowly. I sit down on a chair, and look at her. "Sorry. I just...." She sighs. "My stupid boyfriend."

"Oh. What happened?"

"He cheated on me. I heard it from one of my friends, she saw him making out with a girl that obviously wasn't me. And I called him and asked him if it was true and he admitted it." She sighs. "Only when I find out from someone else that he had cheated on me. And so obviously he wants to break up with me. He's so stupid I don't even know why I went out with him in the first place." Jess says, her eyes ringing with tears.

"If he cheated on you, then he doesn't deserve you. You deserve someone much better than him." I say. Jess gives me a small smile.

"Thanks, Ray. You know, it seems weird talking about this to a guy, but it doesn't. It really seems like you're a sister to me sometimes." She laughs.

"Yeah, I guess." I say, nodding. We talk for a bit, just about random stuff, and after I think she's feeling a lot better, I say, "I better get going. I've got to go compete at nationals now." I stand up.

"I'll be going too, but I'll be going later with dad. And in case I don't see you," she walks up to me, and gives me a quick hug. "Good luck Ray." She says, and pulls away.

"Thanks." I say, and head out the door.

***

"Hey, Raymond." Sophie comes up to me, with her surfboard in hand.

"Oh hey." I say, turning away from the sea, to face her.

"You nervous?"

"A bit." I admit. "So many people here though."

"Yeah, it's like this every year. People just go crazy, you know?" Sophie says.

"Yeah..... Any last minute advice?"

"Well, I guess just the fact that you should maybe block everyone out, pretend that you're just having a practise, and you're training." Sophie says, stepping closer to me. "You've got a little...." She reaches up, her fingers making contact with my forehead, brushing my fringe aside. "There. All better." She says, removing her hand but not stepping back.

"Um, thanks?" I say uncertainly, stepping back myself, opening the gap between us.

"There they are!" A voice says and both Sophie and I's heads snap around to face the voice. They were some photographers. They rush towards us, pushing each other in the process. When they finally make their way towards us, one of them gushes, "Hi. I'm a journalist from Addersdale Newspapers, and you're both from the regional championships of surfing near Addersdale right?"

"Yeah...." I say at the same time Sophie says,

"Yes."

"Well then, I came here today to take some news back, so, how is the young couple going to compete today?" The journalist asks.

"No, we're not-" I start but it seems as though that the journalist has no intention of listening to me.

"You two are going to pose for a photo for me okay? I need something that is worth the front page of the newspapers." The journalist continues. "Hm, any good pose will do, just do anything."

"Um," is all I can manage.

"Come on, do anything. Let's start off with something simple, stand next to each other, and hold your surfboards." The journalist says, and we do as we're told. I hear the camera make a few clicks. "Maybe arms over each other's shoulders? No, that won't do. Um, maybe stand sort of facing each other, but face towards the camera a bit?" He groans in frustration. "I just need one, good pose...."

"Kiss!" Someone from the crowd yells, and I freeze. No way was I kissing Sophie. I mean, she's nice and everything, but I have a girlfriend. Summer might take it the wrong way. She might think I was cheating on her, when I was just posing for a photo. Wait, she probably will take it the wrong way. I mean, if I saw her kissing another guy, then yeah, I would think that she was cheating on me so...

"Yes! Perfect!" The journalist claps his hands together. "A photo of you two kissing would totally make the front pages."

"I don't think we should-" I stutter, but before I know it, Sophie has her lips on mine, and I hear the fast click of the camera and I pull away fast, stepping back. Oh man, this was sure to make the newspapers.

"Thank you, you two, that was-" the journalist starts, but I interrupt.

"We're not dating." I say.

"You're not? Then I think a new love has just been born! I hope it goes well, thanks again and-"

"I've got to go." I say quickly, and walk away.

***

"Hey." I say as I approach Connor. "Have you seen Summer?"

"No, last time I saw her was when she was with Jake, and they talked to me a bit, then they went off. Why?"

"Oh, no reason." I say. "Just wondering."

"Missing her already are you?"

"Connor-" I start but the speakers blares to life.

"Hello everyone, welcome to the national championships of surfing for this year! We are very excited because there are a lot of very talented surfers this year, and we just can't wait for them to surf. So without further ado, please welcome....." The announcer says, and says a name and names of surfers who were due to surf after the first contender.

"You excited?" Connor asks me, as we watch the first surfer, heading into the water.

"A bit I guess."

"Nervous?"

"Yep. That's definitely there." I say.

"I'm sure you'll do fine. It'll be a breeze." Connor says, crossing his arms just as the surfer in the water falls off his board and straight into the water. "Well, maybe not a total breeze. But I'm sure you'll do great." He assures me.

"Ooh! A nasty fall there!" The announcer says, as the next surfer heads into the water. For what seems like forever, I just see surfers going in, and out, in and out. "And the next surfer after Sophie Reels will be Raymond Elliot, and after that, Summer Danvers. we hope you're all ready, it'll be your turn before you know it!" The announcer says, and I mentally ready myself. Okay, just surf like how you normally surf. Just block everyone else.

"Oh no! Five-time-nationalist Sophie Reels has just fallen off her board!" The announcer cuts through my thoughts, making me face out into the water. I see Sophie there, treading in the water. "Ooh, I'm sorry to say, but Sophie is disqualified from the competition! We hope to see you next year, Sophie." The announcer says and Sophie shouts,

"Oh you sure will!" As she walks out of the water. Then reality hits me. It's me next. I'm surfing next.

"And the next surfer, is Raymond Elliot!" The announcer says. "And next up is Summer Danvers and after that-" I block the announcer out completely.

"You'll be great." Connor assures me, with a hand on my shoulder. I give him a slight nod and walk towards the water, with my surfboard in hand.

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