I had never dreamt that I'd end up in this situation. I'd never even expected that I'd feel this happy and secure, and I'd never expected for a group of people, a group of five amazing people, would actually value my company.
It all happened three months ago. I'd gone to see my friend Amanda in the states, and we were hanging out on the beach. Her brother was surfing, and we were sat on the sand chatting and catching up. Since I lived in the miserable United Kingdom, I was relishing the fact that you could actually relax on a beach without other people yelling or screaming or throwing remnants of sand castles in your direction, and that it wasn't raining or overcast. LA was truly the most relaxing place to be.
"So, Noelle, how's life treating you?" Amanda asked, taking a sip of water before offering me some.
"Yea, it's alright I guess. I mean, exams are really stressful but I haven't got any more till October, and its August now, so I can relax for a bit," I said, lifting the water to my lips.
"Oh, that sucks! I've not got my finals till next year!"
"Lucky you!" I said, laying back and putting on my sunglasses and smothering myself in factor fifty sun cream. I didn't really want to tan, I quite liked my pale complexion. Plus I don't tan, I burn, then peel, then go back to being milk white. We sat on the beach for a while, just talking, until Nathan, Amanda's brother, came out from the sea.
"Hey, Amanda, you gonna come in? The waves are great and you should really try out your new board!" He said, before looking at me. "You surf, Noelle?"
I paused. I had never surfed before in my life. But I didn't want to seem really dull and boring, plus I did want to go in the sea. "Yea, a bit. I'm not brilliant but I guess I could try."
Amanda stood up and grabbed her board from the sand. "Great! You can use my board after me, we'll take it in turns!"
We walked down to the sea, and I stood at the shore while Amanda and Nathan swam out. I watched as the pushed themselves up onto the board, waited till the wave was behind them and then stood up, balancing themselves as the wave carried them towards the shore. Right, I can do this. Its not that difficult. Amanda walked over to me and handed me her board. She then took her brothers, and paddled out with me. I copied her exact move. We waited till a wave came up behind us. I did what she did as she pushed herself up onto the board and stood up. I just about got my balance, when I felt the board quiver beneath me. I leant forwards and the board tipped up, sending me into the water as the wave broke over me, pushing me further down under water. I hadn't expected it to be this deep. I tried to swim towards the surface, but as I reached the top, another wave broke, pushing me down again. I tried to hold me breath, but my lungs began to feel tight. I scrambled about, my body flailing. A sharp pain seared through my skull, and I blacked out.
My eyes felt heavy and my head was throbbing. I lifted my eye lids, but I couldn't focus. I could make out three shilouettes of people looming over me.
"Noelle? Noelle can you hear me?"
"Her heads badly hurt, she needs a doctor!"
"Neither of us are old enough to drive. She needs to get to the hospital!"
"It's ok, I can. Keep her warm and keep pressure on her head while I go get my keys. I don't think she needs to go to hospital, but if we take her back to mine I can get a doctor to come and check her out. I live just over there." A man said. I recognised his voice, but I couldn't tell who it was.
"Ok, thank you! We'll try and get her to stand up," said Amanda, who lifted my shoulders as Nathan pulled me to my feet.
"Amanda, where am I going? Who's that guy?" I mumbled, trying not to fall back onto the sand.
"I don't know, I didn't get his name. But he dragged you out of the water, and he's getting a doctor for you." She said, holding my arms. I heard him run over and felt his warm hands wrap around my waist as I stumbled up the beach. My vision was still blurry and my head was throbbing. I could feel blood trickling down over my right temple, and I grimaced as the breeze blew stands of my hair into the cut.
The man laughed as we reached the edge of the sand. He grabbed my waist and carried me up the steps onto the path at the top of the beach. "Sorry, I didn't introduce myself. I'm Ashley Purdy."