Chapter 1
Moving Away Again
I have never really thought about how many times my mum and I had left a home, I just knew it was a lot. We have now ended up at Summer Bay. Mum thinks it is a time for new adventures and new aspects on life, I think I would be better to have stayed in Glenelg, where my Dad and my oldest sister Kate lives with her new boyfriend. Mum and Dad are still legally married but they don't seem to act like it. Mum now has a new man called Brett. My parents decided that they should just stay married until we all grew up to be mature enough to deal with it. In my family there is Kate, the eldest, Jake, me, Kylie and James. So until James, who is ten, grows up they won't separate. Dad is an athletic trainer and Mum is a make-up artist. I want to be a make-up artist soon. Mum said it would be a good part time job while I'm at school because I'm only 15. I am also a pretty good surfer so Mum is going to enter me in a professional surfing team. And in Summer Bay I should be able to catch some waves before school.
As I walked into my new school, once again, I felt very different. All the girls at Summer Bay high were talking away and so far I knew no one.
"Hey, you new?" I heard from behind me. I turned around to see a tall blonde haired girl staring at me. She was wearing her school dress with ballet shoes and she was holding a billabong bag. She was pretty and kind looking.
"Err yeah" I said nicely
'Oh I'm Indiana but you can call me Indy" She said softly and kindly
"Ok I'm Natasha but you can call me Nat or Tash"
"Cool, you can put your stuff in the spare locker near mine"
'Oh thanks" I said politely
"You are a surfer" she said
"How do you know that?"
"Your hair is shinny and only salt water can do that, plus your wearing bikinis under your school dress, and so am I, every surfer does"
"Oh you surf?"
'Yeah course" she said "Do you want to go shopping after school?"
"Oh err yeah" I said
"Ok I'll meet you at the car park, See ya"
"See ya".
I walked to my first class which was English I went and sat down next to blonde haired guy. He was pretty cute and didn't say much.
"Hey, are you new?" he said
"Yeah, I moved from Boston"
"Oh really, do you surf?"
"Oh yeah I'm pretty keen"
"Oh cool"
"Do you surf?"
"Yeah I'm pretty keen too" he said.
I sat there the whole lesson and stared at him. At the end I went to my locker, when I felt someone tap my shoulder. It was the guy I had talked to in English.
"Hey, Tash would you like to go surfing tonight?"
"Um"
"Zac"
'Oh um Zac I would love to, I am going shopping first but I'll meet you at the beach at 6"
"Ok see ya then".
I walked to the car park where Indy had said she would meet me.
"Hey Tash" she said
"Oh hey Indy"
"Sorry I'm late"
"No its ok I only just got here"
"Oh cool, um we can walk this way". We walked into town and brought heaps of stuff. I spent most of my money on three new pairs of bikinis. When we had finished we got a taxi and went to my house. Once we got there I got out with my shopping and said goodbye to Indy and the taxi left up the road and disappeared. I ran inside and wrote a note for Mum to tell her that I would be down at the beach. Then I ran upstairs to change into one of my new bikinis that Indy and I had brought when we were shopping. I put it on and slipped on one of my beach dresses and grabbed my board and ran down to the beach. Luckily we lived on the beach. Zac was waiting for me. He was sitting on the sand. I put my board down and sat next to him.
"Hey Tash he said
"Hey Zac"
"Well are you going?"
"Yep" We had a race into the water. I stripped off my dress and ran into the water. I paddled out and when there were some good waves. I stood up and took on the waves. Zac was still waiting for the right wave, he stood up and talked a few waves and then he disappeared. I saw him sitting on the beach watching me. I paddled back in and joined him.
"Hey you're really good" he said as I sat down
"Thanks, you're not too bad yourself" I said grabbing my towel and drying my legs.
"Thanks. Hey, where did you used to practise in Boston?"
"I didn't really. My family is long and confusing and we lived about thirty kilometers away from the beach. I only went to the beach for parties really. The whole time I was there I would surf and the rest of the girls would tan. They thought I was from another planet. But here nearly everyone does. I wasn't going to wear my bikini to school today because I thought it would look strange. But here it's like part of school uniform"
"Yeah, I was new last year. My mum made me wear the full school uniform and everyone here was wearing board shorts and their school shirt. It was quite awkward for me. But the school gets over it and now all the girls love me". I looked at him weirdly. Did he think I loved him, is that why he asked me to the beach with him? "Sorry, I didn't mean you loved me. I was just saying" I stood up, grabbed my towel, bag and thongs and walked away. "Tash, look come back" He chased after me and put his arms around my waist and pulled me to the sand. "If you were really leaving the beach you would have grabbed your board" He turned me over and kissed me "The thing is Tash, I love you. You're beautiful, sexy and funny. You have only come today and it feels like I have known you for ages"
"Get off me you idiot. My house is just up there what would my mum say if she saw me out here like this in a public place. She would kill me and eat me for dinner"
"Well I doubt she would do that to you. I will see you tomorrow then?"
"Yeah, sure, whatever" I started to walk along the beach again
"Hey, you forgot your board, even though I mentioned it to you before"
"Oh, whoops". Zac brought the board up to me and kissed me on the cheek.
"See ya"
"Bye". I walked up the stairs from the beach and opened the sliding door to my house. My mum was sitting on Brett's lap on the couch.
"Ugh" I said disgusted as I walked up the stairs.
"Oh Tash baby, Sorry" my mum yelled.
"Sorry Natasha" I heard Brett yell after mum had. I leant my board up on the wall and dumped my stuff. I wasn't going back downstairs to put my board in the garage; mum was probably still slobbering over Brett. I laid on my bed and stared at the ceiling. Zac liked me, I couldn't believe it. I went to my computer and signed on msn. I was still in my bikini but I didn't care. Kate was on msn so I started a convocation.
Kate babe says:
Hey baby girl. How are you?
Surfer girl says:
Great. How are you? How's dad and the family?
Kate babe says:
Yeah, we're ok. Jake has a girlfriend I think. Wish you here so we could tease him.
Surfer girl says:
Haha, he probably has. Are you at dad's?
Kate babe says:
Yeah sure am. We are over here for tea
Surfer girl says:
Oh, cool
Kate babe says:
Ohh, I forgot to ask you, How was skwl? xx
Surfer girl says:
Great. I met two awesome people. Indiana and err Zac.
Kate babe says:
Oh, that's awesome. Wait… Zac?? Omg a guy... tell me, tell me!!
Surfer girl says:
Well… he invited me to the beach. We went surfing, he said he liked me... all that stuff =)
Kate babe says:
That's awesome Tash. How cute. Get a pic sometime and email it to me.. I love gossip. And pictures of my baby sisters boyfriends.. haha I have to go now. James wants me to play cars with him. Oh James says hi Tashie
Surfer girl says:
Ok. Hey Jamesie. Say hey to all the family and especially dad. Tell him I'm missing him and I wish we were a family again. Enjoy playing cars guys… Talk soon xx
Kate babe says:
Ok gorgeous I will. Say hey to mum too. Look after yourself and be good. Tata xx cars awaiting. Love you xx
Kate left the convocation and I exited the window. Down the bottom of the screen I saw Indiana had come on. She must have noticed my address on my diary. I waited for her to say something, but she never did. Soon after Zac came on to, he sent me a message.
Zac loves Tash says:
Haha, did you notice my name… funny huh?
Surfer girl says:
Hilarious, Seriously, I'm actually laughing sooo much… Jokes… not funny.
Zac loves Tash says:
Well too bad. I'm not changin' it. So you better get used to it. So are you gonna tell me this confusing story bout your parents?
Surfer girl says:
I might, when I get to know you better. I have only been going to school with you for a day in case you didn't notice
Zac loves Tash says:
Yes, yes I noticed that. I'm not blind, well if you won't tell me that then at least tell me who is in your family! Plz xx :)
Surfer girl says:
Ok, I have two parents obviously, an elder sister Kate. She is the eldest in the family, 19 this year I think. Then there is my eldest brother Jake, he's 16 now going on 17 soon. Then there is me, I'm 15 going on 16 this year. Then there is my youngest sister Kylie, she turned 13 last month. Then my youngest brother James, he has just turned 10 recently as well.
Zac loves Tash says:
Oh awesome. So… What's your relationship with your older sister like? Surly you could live with her instead of here?
Surfer girl says:
It's good, she's my best friend. She is just starting her life with her boyfriend. I wouldn't want to intrude on her life. That wouldn't be fair, plus when mum said that where she was moving there would be a beach, I basically jumped at the idea.
Zac loves Tash says:
Oh, right. So are you glad you came here? Or was that a mistake?
Surfer girl says:
Oh, ooh, dunno. Don't think so yet, except if my whole family moved here it would be better. My mum and I have moved six times before now, We started in Glenelg where I was born, then we moved to Perth, then we moved to Queensland, then we moved to Hobart, then we moved to Devonport, then we moved to Boston. Now well here I am.
Zac loves Tash says:
Whoa, that's sad you know. Why didn't you stay with your dad? Glenelg has a beach!
Surfer girl says:
Umm, well when you're little you think that your mum is a better option coz, well she's your mum. So I left and my family stayed. I thought dad would eventually come back to mum and we would be a family again but… it didn't. So I missed my dad and my family and when mum met Brett it was obvious that she didn't want anything to do with dad. I wish they would stop pretending to be together and that mum and I are travelling. That's what they told James, they reckon he's too young to understand.
Zac loves Tash says:
If I was James I would want to know the truth. Anyways I have training in the morning for surfing so I better hit the sack. You should honestly look into club surfing, you're really good, trust me! Goodnight xx
Surfer girl says:
Yeah, yeah whatever, I might, sometime. Goodnight sparky. Sleep well xx enjoy training while I'm still tucked up in bed xx tata
I smiled at my screen as I exited the convocation. I signed out of msn and shut down my computer.
I heard a knock at my door "Tash baby". It was my mum "Unlock the door please"
"What do you want?" I asked not moving from my seat by the sliding door that looked out on the beach and ocean
"Just let me in please". She continued to knock so I walked and opened the door.
"Oh Brett not here now" I said poking my head out the door pretending to look
"Don't be silly Natasha" she said angrily "Why can't you just be happy for me, I am happier than when I was with your father and I know you know that"
"I wish you would stop worrying about yourself, maybe I'm not happy moving all the time. Maybe I would rather you were with dad, and maybe, just maybe I don't like Brett either"
"Well Natasha…"
"No mum, just leave me alone please. It's all I ask, shut the door on the way out". She left and I opened my sliding door to let in the sea breeze. My white thin silky curtains blew in the breeze. I slipped out of my bikini and put on my undies and bra. I walked into the bathroom and dried my hair with the towel. I pulled down the blue doona and sheets off my bed and got in, the bed was cold at first and then it warmed up. My mind drifted and I fell asleep.
I woke up to see someone standing in front of my bed "Go away mum" I said pulling the covers over my head.
"Hey, hey, hey ,hey" the voice said ripping the covers back off me "Whoa, look at you"
"Zac" I screamed, he put his hand over my mouth
"Shhh, it's only four thirty, you'll wake your mum"
"What are you doing in my bedroom?" I whispered
"I'm coming to get you so you can try out for our surfing team, Now get up and get ready, you can't train in that" he said looking at my bra and undies
"Oh, right. Give me a sec" I said jumping out of bed and slapping him on the shoulder. I walked into my bathroom and shut the door; I picked out a silver pair of bikini's and a yellow beach dress. I threw it all on and put a hair tie around my wrist. I put on my lucky silver chain anklet that my dad had sent to me when we first moved away. I found a pair of thongs and walked out "I'm ready". He pointed to the sliding door "What?" I asked unsure of what he meant
"Out" he said
"What? Whoa, not out there, I'm not jumping off the deck" I screamed
"Shhh for god's sake, I'll help you" he walked out and lowered himself down using the railing
"Ugh". I threw my bag down after him and got over the other side of the rail. He grabbed my legs once I dangled down; I took a deep breath and dropped. He caught me and I landed flat footed on the ground. "Whoa, that was mind blowing" I said turning to him and picking up my bag "Well done" I smiled and walked away
"Oh don't I need my board?" I stopped and turned round
"Nope, we provide boards. I wasn't gonna have you throw that down at me" he laughed and walked in front of me along the beach. I ran after him and jumped on his back, he piggybacked me all the way to the beach house. Where I was told they start training from.
I tried out for the team, the coach; Aarron said that he would get back to me later today. Zac walked me home and helped me back up onto the porch.
"So what did you think?" he asked. We were looking out onto the beach; he had his arms round my waist and his head on my shoulder
"It was good, I'm tired though". I looked at my clock, it was only six o'clock
"You could go back to bed you know" he said smiling
"Yeah, I might. Would you join me?" I asked
"Ok, I don't have anything to wear though; I only have my wet boardies"
I walked into my walk in robe and grabbed a pair of my black boxers that I usually wore to bed "Here, these should fit"
"Oh, lovely" he said grabbing the shorts off the bed.
"I'll be in the bathroom, make yourself at home"
"Great" he said getting into one side of my bed. I went into the bathroom and put on my bra and undies that I had on before. I came back into the room and Zac was asleep on the other side of my bed. I sighed, locked my bedroom door and joined him. I put my arms round his waist and went to sleep… again.
I woke to a knocking on the door "Nat are you still in bed? It's time to get up sweetie…" I ignored the rest of her words and jumped out of bed.
"Zac, Zac" I said shaking him
"Mmm, what?" he said sleepily
"It's quarter to eight, we have to get to school"
"Shhh, we don't go to school the days we train, shut up and your mum won't even know you're still in bed. Now get back in and sleep". He pulled on my arm and I fell onto the bed, he wrapped his arms around me and we went back to sleep. I had never missed school before, well unless I was sick. My mum would be furious if she knew I had skipped school. I would just pretend I felt sick and I thought it would be better if I stayed in bed. Zac said that they don't go to school the days they train so maybe the school encourages surfing. I don't know, my mind was racing even though I was asleep. I kept thinking of all the bad things that could happen from missing school, maybe I would get sent to the principal's office. That was something else I had never done, I had never been inside a principal's office ever. And I didn't intend to ever either. How would the school know I wasn't sick.