It is the tail end of another perfect Australian summer. The day, unusually hot and humid.
***
Charlie is bent double, one hand on the back of a bench, the other, clutching desperately to her side. She had woken agitated that morning, the heat of the night disturbing her sleep. Deciding to go for a run, she now wondered, as a stitched ripped through her, why she had pushed herself so hard. With the pain not abating, Charlie collapses onto the bench, resting under the shade of the tree, she absently watches the approaching bus, trying not to think about the pain she is in. Noticing the bus pull into stop, Charlie wonders who could possibly be arriving in Summer Bay.
As the bus pulls away and the dust settles, Charlie feels her jaw drop, she's mesmerized, unable to remove her gaze, it's nothing, but it's everything at the same time; Charlie watches the woman absentmindedly raising her hand, tucking a long lock of silky dark brown hair behind her ear and gently slide sunglasses onto what has to be the most beautiful face Charlie has ever seen. A small 'wow' escapes from Charlie's lips, her stitch is forgotten; a huge grin plays at her mouth. Before leaving the bench to continue on her run she becomes very aware of one thought: 'this could be very interesting.'
***
As her denim clad legs step gingerly from the grey hound bus, Joey's face is slapped with the overbearing heat of the midday sun; exhausting her. She feels delicate beads of sweat trickle gently down her back. The air conditioning of the bus, she now realizes, she had taken for granted.
"Welcome to Summer Bay" she half whispers to herself, looking around for any sign of excitement. It had been a very long, tedious, bus ride from Queensland, her legs are stiff and sore, having sat for so long.
She longs for the water; without so much as looking back or without removing her iPod, Joey reaches down, throws her backpack over an aching shoulder and thanking the driver, limps off in the direction of the beach. Finding a quiet spot under the overhang of a tree she flings her bags onto the sand, kicks off her trainers, and enjoys the feel as her toes curl, sinking deep into the sand. She raises both arms, letting her body stretch in a vain attempt to remove the lethargy from her limbs.
Glancing out over the water, she bends, rolls her jeans, exposing tight tanned calf muscles before sitting. Stretching her toned legs towards the water, she leans back and lets her head rest against her overstuffed backpack. Closes her eyes and lying very still lets the heat from the sand and the sun wash over her, her body relaxes; 'what now' she ponders quietly to herself. Her gold brown eyes open, vacantly scanning the horizon.
Moments later, oblivious to her surroundings, wrapped in her own thoughts; Joey is startled, when a soccer ball gently rolls by, knocking her feet.
"Sorry" a delicate, slightly raspy voice reaches her, "he's never been able to control his balls" the girl finishes, pointing blame to a sweaty, blonde boy off in the distance. Taking in the girl stretched before her, "What's with all the bags?" she enquires; "are you arriving or deserting the wonderland that is Summer Bay?"
"Oh, I, ahh; arriving I guess" Joey stammers, sitting slightly, resting on bent arms, pausing for a brief moment she gently shrugs, "I just got off the bus from Queensland, I guess, I guess I don't really know what I'm doing" she states, looking perplexingly around her.
Amused, leaning down, the girl allows a soft chuckle to escape the back of her throat, "Ruby, Ruby Buckton." she offers, stretching out her hand.
A little startled but appreciative of the gesture, the girl from the bus brushes the sand off her own hand and takes it. "Joey Collins. Pleased to meet you."
Their eyes meet, each watching a small smile play at the corner of the others mouths.
Ruby turns as she hears sand being crunched by jogging feet behind her. "And this, this is my boyfriend Xavier" Ruby offers; her hand swinging in the direction of the approaching blonde boy with the naked, sweaty, chest.
Jumping to her feet, Joey, again, brushes off sand before pumping Xavier's hand; she blushes, slightly embarrassed to find herself simultaneously running an appreciative glance over the boys chiseled face and chest.
"Pleased to meet you." Xavier's grip is firm, but not overpowering.
"So, we were just about to go to the diner for lunch; wanna join us?" Ruby offers, instantly deciding she likes Joey.
Starving, Joey happily agrees, she is pleased for the lunch offer, realizing she does not want to be alone right now. There is something distinctly comfortable about Ruby, Joey realizes, like they have known each other for years.
Xavier pulls on his t-shirt and being a gentleman, shoulders Joey's backpack, together they head off in the direction of the diner. 'Summer Bay may not be that bad' Joey feels the thought lodge in her mind.