Beaches, Booze and Falling
Chapter One
Dawn was just breaking in crimson and blue, the birds were chirping a happy 'good morning' tune both of which usually called for Finn to hide deeper in his blankets and slam his pillow over his head. Yet Finn was uncharacteristically and willingly awake at an hour he usually termed to be 'ungodly.' Although, to Finn any time before four in the afternoon was 'ungodly.' He could have claimed he was jetlagged from the flight the day before but he knew that wasn't true. The waves had been calling to him whispering his name and the warm sand was crying to be between his toes. It was almost like a slow, powerful seduction; so tempting and dangerous.
The tips of his fingers lightly grazed the underside of the wave as he glided across the surface of the ocean. Finn retracted his hand and shifted his body weight forward on the surfboard causing the direction to change. He turned into the wave the front of the board cut through the water creating space for him to pass.
He smiled, satisfied, to himself as he completely a trick he hadn't performed in a little less than a year. He hadn't been privy to such a vitalizing and fortifying experience since August, before he left Australia to go back to school in America. For now though, it would be a ritual like shampooing; lather, rinse, repeat. But maybe those words were too bland a choice. Surfing was exhilarating and stimulating yet most of all Finn felt it was freeing. He was able to let go of his inhibitions—not that there were many to begin with. He threw both his arms up in triumph then scrupulously lowered himself until he was lying flat on the board.
He was now no longer "in the zone" as his friends called it when he was surfing he never heard anything but the waves. Now, though, he was acutely aware of noises that had not been there before. He heard the calling of his name from afar so he looked toward the shore. It seemed like a dream for standing there were his childhood friends, beckoning him towards them. His face split into a gleeful grin as he started for what he was sure was a mirage.
"Finn! I didn't know you were coming home for break, mate!" a tall male vociferated as he stepped towards Finn as he came ashore. He looked much like Finn except for his eyes, which were blue while Finn's were green.
Finn chuckled. "Neither did I, actually," he said vaguely.
"Dad's going to kill you if you're in shit again," he said.
Finn had always been the rebel in the family, the defiant one. As the second born son—first being James, Finn's "look alike"—he was given more independence. Independence being a nice way to put that he was ignored and less loved by his father since he wasn't needed, he wasn't the heir. As kids they were pretty much treated as equals but as they entered their teens James was presented as the poster child of the family and Finn was pushed aside.
During his "rebellion" Finn had been shipped off to boarding school to redeem himself and he had only come home once or twice a year since then which was nearly seven years now. Behind his older brother stood a group of people from his past from before his life went down hill.
"Finn, you remember everyone, I'm sure," James said motioning to those who stood behind him.
His face broke into a charming smile. "How could I forget?" He approached the group. "Did you all miss me?"
"Oh, honey," a small, dark featured girl by the name of Talia Hurley, cooed, "of course we didn't."
"Nice seeing you too, love," Finn retorted sardonically.
No one, not one of the few there, replied to Finn's comment. And he knew why. After he was sent away for his misbehaviour he didn't keep in touch. Not a quick phone call on his way to class or even a postcard. When he was sent across the world, away from everyone he knew to attend a school he didn't want to attend Finn had been beyond furious. To him it felt like he had been dropped off at the kennel for humans only to be called upon when needed. He missed everything about home, even his father believe it or not. After his first few visits home—whenever he got expelled from a school he would go home for a few days until they found a new school—he realized he needed to stay far away. The longer he was away from home, the less pain he felt. By keeping in touch with his friends he would have created a want, a longing to be back home. A longing he felt he was better off without.
"Look," Finn said, "I know I'm an asshole…" He went on to explain why he never called.
"You've always had strange logic," Jarrah Hurley, Talia's twin brother commented.
"I resent that! My logic isn't strange, it's unique!"
"Same difference!" Talia interjected laughing.
"Hey," Finn said looking behind the twins to a blond haired blue-eyed boy. He was tanned and built. He held a surfboard under his arm.
"You didn't suck too bad out there," Ryan Templeton said in greeting, nodding towards the ocean.
Finn shook his head smiling. "Well we all can't be as talented as you."
Ryan had been in surfing competitions since he was little. From what Finn had read in newspapers, he was now being sponsored by Billabong or some other major sporting brand, which he wasn't quite sure.
There were only a few other people on the beach other than them. A while down there was a group of giggling girls ogling the men surfing and a brunette girl sitting crossed legged in the sand reading a book and sipping on a Styrofoam cup.
"Finn!"
He was barely able to register blonde hair in a female form before he was knocked backwards. One of the giggling girls had just jumped into his arms.
He dropped her and took a few steps backwards. He was completely bewildered.
"Oh, Finn," she said with a pout, "don't you remember me?" She flipped her hair flirtaciously. She was clad only in a skimpy bikini that left nothing to the imagination.
He cleared his throat. "Of course I do," said Finn uncomfortably. "Uh—"
"Sabrina," she supplied helpfully. "I can't believe you don't remember, Finny."
"I do, I remember," he insisted. "The last time I came home, right?"
She smiled, "you do remember!"
Someone snorted from behind. He didn't need to turn around to know it was Jarrah. He shot his friend a glare to which Jarrah returned a grin.
"You really know how to pick them, don't you Finn?" Talia muttered in an undertone as she tried to hide her smile. The girl, Sabrina was draped around Finn's neck and was sending her a death glare.
"Finny," Sabrina grinned wickedly. "Why don't you and I go back to your place and I can…refresh your memory?" She pulled herself up to his level and brought his face down to hers.
When they pulled apart Finn said, "I would love to continue this, darling, but my friends are waiting for me, doll."
She pouted her sultry lips again drawing his eyes to them. "I'll catch up with you later then."
"We most definitely will," Finn assured her.
She kissed him again before rejoining her tittering friends.
He turned to rejoin his friends but was stopped by an incredible sight. The brunette girl was wiping sand from her legs as she stood to leave. Her legs seemed to go on for miles. She was wearing a pair of jean shorts and a t-shirt featuring the band The Clash. He outfit certainly did not scream native. She was a tourist, he was sure. Probably American.
The girl turned sensing his eyes on her. He flashed her a grin. She raised her eyebrow.
"Would you like me to turn?" she asked. "Curtsey maybe?"
He heard laughing from his friends. She was sharp that was for sure.
"The view of the front is perfect, thanks for the offer though, love," he retorted.
She rolled her blue eyes; her deep ocean blue eyes. She turned and began to walk away. Most girls would have taken that as a compliment.
Finn followed her. "You don't like me." It wasn't a question.
"I don't know you," came her response.
"Well then allow me to introduce myself," Finn said smiling a million watt smile.
"No," she said and flashed a sinful smile of her own. She picked up her pace.
He jogged to catch up. "Why not?"
She stopped walking. "Are you five?" she demanded.
"Seven actually."
She rolled her pretty blue eyes again before once again turning heel and leaving.
"Hey wait!" He jogged after her. "Why don't you want to know me?"
"Manor born," was her puzzling response. This time when she left he let her. He didn't understand what she meant but he was going to find out.
Author's note: It seems short, doesn't it? Oh well, I tried.
Okay, so I need a little help deciding something.
The question:
Why is Rory in Australia?
Possible answers:
A. She is with her grandfather on a business venture.
B. Chilton school trip.
C. With her father on vacation.
Review!