Chapter 2
The beauty of unspoilt snow. The sparkle of the delicate frozen particulars, dancing in the low sun, burning orange as morning peeped its head over the horizon. Birds of this paradise island, fluff and shake their wings, flaking away their icy coats and calling to every other creature with ears to hear, that morning has come. The crisp sound of pressured snow followed Gordon's bare footsteps, followed by a relieving splash into the pool. It was 7. A bit late for his morning swim but with the nights lasting longer and the rise of the sun coming later, he too changed with nature. The pool was steaming, the heat of the water contrasting with the icy blows of air. Gordon's feet stung and itched but he knew it would soon go away. All things ease with time. That's what Scott always says. But Gordon wasn't Scott. With every stroke and every beat of his legs he drilled the words into his brain. I am not Scott.
He had learnt that the hard way.
It was drilled into him every time he forgot his 'place' on a mission; when he gave an order to his brothers, when he made a drastic yet life saving decision, when he 'could' have gotten hurt but never did. It plagued his life. His lack of team responsibility and leadership. He felt he could really do it, like it was being held back from him. But like the great Scott always said "You need to take more responsibility in other parts of your life to give people the impression that you are worth the leadership. It won't last forever sprout." He hated that, when his brothers called him 'Sprout'. He wasn't the youngest, Alan was, and that was his name for him. Even if he did act younger than his years in most areas of his life, he felt unfairly mistreated in others. He could be a man, but acting like one all the time stopped him from feeling free. Like being bond to an enormous weight of expectation, holding him back, making the journey all the more difficult. He enjoyed being unchained. He didn't want to be Scott. So formal, so well groomed and oh so particular. He wanted to flow as free and diverse as the water in which he was amerced in.
He was going to look forward to their trip to the main land next week.
It was nearly Christmas. The firey red head could feel the butterflies build in his stomach at the very thought of the world. It was his favourite time of year. He loved his swims in the warm pool, being surrounded by the beautiful snow. He loved how relaxed his family became, how fun they became. Scott became the older the brother he remembered from his youth; always making the extra effort to get things or make things that everyone really wanted or would feel excited about. John would be joining them this year, which brought a smile, even now to Gordon's face. John was fantastic at Christmas; he helped create the most delicious Christmas day, Boxing day and New year feasts and he would hardly be sober for any of it. Virgil would be back from England and they would all get to meet his very beautiful mystery lady. Gordon had been shocked at how beautiful Bethan was and to this day still can't believe how Virgil had gotten a girl so perfect.
Something struck him. A wave of sickness. He felt heavy and a dull thud against his brain. Like a heartbeat. But he carried on thinking.
Alan hardly annoyed him at Christmas. In fact it was the only time the two came together on purpose and helped each other get presents for everyone else. Although Alan's main priority every year was to get Tin Tin the perfect present, Gordon was quite good at shopping and helped the clueless Alan every step of the way. He felt quite good at that, girl stuff, he seemed to understand what they liked and how to treat them without really having much contact with them, apart from Grandma and Tin Tin, there was no one else who influenced his life about women, his brothers were pretty clueless with having more experience than him!
There is was again. The thud and the drag of sickness, pulling its way up from his stomach and filling his head.
Nothing could happen this year at Christmas then last. Jeff had nearly set fire to the whole kitchen when setting the Christmas pudding alight and pouring over a little too much brandy; needless to say the new curtains in the kitchen were much nicer the previous...but those were destroyed to ashes. Scott had moved the quickest out of all of them to get the fire safety blanket and sort the situation out. Gordon remembers the laughter afterwards. So hearty and uncontrollable. He never felt so happy since or before. He didn't hate Scott, in fact heis the closest with him but the envy he felt for him did block their relationship at times. He was jealous but he wouldn't let it get the better of him.
Oh god. I've stopped swimming. I was-I was under the water. Where am I now?
I'm-I'm breathing, breathing air.
"Gordon! Wake up!"
Scott? I'm floating- and it's very dark.
Hello everyone! I'm back! Sorry for the late update but I hope this chapter sets you up well for the more that is on the way! - LeahMaeLaugh (formally LeahMB95)
