Though the Monsters

Chapter 4

Hidden Wonder

Hadlee rolled over in her bed and stared at the ceiling. Everything was starting to wash over her in waves. More emotions, more realizations, more pain. She'd cried herself out at the peak and had slept basically the whole way home. Now though, she was regretting her decision to nap at all. It was nearly three in the morning and she had yet to fall asleep. Hadlee groaned and sat up in bed.

"Okay, this is ridiculous." Hadlee groaned, pushing herself up.

            The rain had finally let up and Hadlee craved fresh air. Quietly, she slipped out of bed and pulled on sweats and boots over her pajama shirt and a sweatshirt over her shirt. She had to tip-toe down the stairs because Harrison had his door cracked and he woke up at the smallest noise most nights. When she finally pulled the front door closed behind her she exhaled heavily. There was a stretch of sand not far from her home that she loved to go to after it rained. There was no sand, but small rocks that made up the shoreline. After a long rainstorm the rocks would be dark to the point where they'd almost be black and Hadlee wanted to run her hands over the smooth stones again, just for a little while. When she got to the fence-line she easily found the broken posts and slipped through them. At first glance, the fence seemed to be perfectly fine, but after years of goofing off and looking for secret spots, Hadlee had found many hidden wonders.

            As soon as Hadlee's feet hit the rocks her whole body relaxed. The salty air, tinged with the smell of rainfall, filled her lungs and it brought her home. She walked along the rocks slowly, her hands buried in the front pocket of her sweatshirt as she watched the water play with the stones. Tears filled her eyes as a memory began to play in her head.

"What did you do to fill your time back in New Zealand?" Jethro asked.

            Hadlee laughed.

"What do you mean? I was always doing something," She said. "I was a very popular person, you know."

"Oh really, so I'm dating a celebrity." Jethro teased.

            Hadlee laughed.

"That's one way of putting it," She said. "I mean, I was very popular with the book store owner."

            Jethro nearly chocked on his water.

"Okay, that makes more sense," He coughed. Once he caught his breath again he cleared his throat. "But seriously, what'd you do to kill time once Harrison left?"

            Hadlee smiled and shrugged.

"I spent a lot of time alone. Reading mostly. There wasn't a whole lot that I could do. After I finished school I played around with the idea of going to University but I guess it just didn't appeal to me. Which, my parents were not happy about. I've taken some online courses here and there, all related to child development but I just can't see myself standing in front of a classroom." She explained.

            Jethro shrugged.

"I was the same way. I never really wanted to go to University so lifeguarding fulfilled everything I ever wanted," He said. "So reading and avoiding school. Anything else I should know about your home life?"

            Hadlee laughed.

"I went to the beach a lot." She said.

"Well, I would never have guessed that." Jethro laughed.

"Well, I mean I couldn't very well stay inside all the time could I. Besides, I loved finding little hidden spots. I've found coves and private stretches of sand that I would spend hours at. My parents would always text me asking where I was because I'd disappear all day," Hadlee smiled, remembering some of the first times she'd disappeared and nearly scared her mother half to death. Once she'd even come home to find the police there. "There was this one spot though, there's nothing like it. Just a stretch of beach that is so peaceful and secluded. It's not even sand, it's made up of these small stones that that the water has eroded. I could spend forever there."