I'm sad to say that this will most likely be the last chapter:'( *sob
I like how it ended and I really can't think of any way to continue, so yeah, this is it. I hope you guys like it! And thank you so much for reviewing and sticking with me as I wrote this story. It means so much:)
Enjoy!vvv
If there was ever a reason for Mack to feel anything other than happiness on her wonderful vacation, it would be at that moment. The small, thin notebook felt heavy in her hands. Running a finger along the spine softly, a tiny smile formed on her solemn face.
In her hands was her mother's old journal.
With careful fingers, she opened the pages and scanned her eyes along the neatly written words. Some were faded, while others were stark against the crisp, white sheet.
Her mother was brilliant, there was no doubt about it as Mack read her entries. Most of them were about her life with her husband and daughter. She wrote descriptively about her wishes for Mack to be successful in everything she did in life.
Mack slowly shut the journal, along with her eyes when she felt the first trickle of tears burning behind them. McKenzie Fox definitely did not cry. She shed enough tears back during the time when her mother died, and refused to let the memories ruin her perfect life at the moment.
"I miss you, Mom," Mack whispered, scanning the picture of the on her dresser across the room. She always wished she could go back to that time when she was so happy and carefree. She had nothing to worry about. Her family was complete and happy, and she was content with her life back east.
Now that her mother was gone, Mack wasn't completely positive she would find that same happiness again. Nothing would be the same, it was obvious, right?
And for a while, everything was different. Mack didn't smile as often, she forced herself to do as her aunt wished, and the news of her stay with her grandfather wasn't at the top of her bucket list.
Her eyes fell on the frame right beside the one with her mother, and the same smile she had all those years ago appeared right on her face.
It was a new picture, only taken a week beforehand. On it was a clear image of two teenagers; one with untidy blonde hair and sparkling honey eyes, a new blue rash guard on his torso. It was Mack herself in the boy's arms, a blissful smile on her face frozen in a loud laugh.
Mack had to thank Brady for giving her back her complete happiness. She never smiled as much, never felt as joyful, unless she was in his presence. He made this summer one she would never forget.
With a sudden yelp, Mack realized she was going to be late unless she hurried downstairs now. With one last look at the special journal in her hands, she placed it neatly on her dresser before grabbing her black and pink rash guard and rushing out the door.
Brady and her grandfather were waiting for her near the side door connecting to the surf shop. Her boyfriend was enthusiastically giving his best effort at pulling himself into his own yellow rash guard, but he was having a little trouble, much to both her and her grandfather's amusement.
"Mack!" he exclaimed, finally getting into his fitted shirt and turning to face her with a bright smile. He was barefoot, and dark blue and red swimming trunks adorned the lower half of his body. "You ready?"
"Obviously!" Mack replied with eagerness. She slipped off her loose hoodie to reveal a bathing suit top underneath. With practiced speed, she got on her rash guard to cover her again. "Let's go."
"Nuh uh, not yet, Mack," her grandfather stepped in, shaking his head. "You still have two minutes until exactly one week is up."
Mack groaned loudly, fisting her colorful swim shorts in anticipation. Her grandfather wasn't kidding when he had said she had to wait exactly a week for her to surf again after her concussion. At last, the day had come when she and Brady could finally have some fun on the waves.
And of course, her grandpa was trying to be funny and make her wait until the exact second.
"Grandpa! It'll be two minutes by the time we actually get to the water!" she argued, hopping in her place.
"Oh, alright," he decided. "You kids have fun. And no falling off your surfboards!" he warned, before getting a quick kiss to his cheek by his granddaughter and staring into an empty house.
"This is gonna be epic," Brady hollered into the breeze, grabbing Mack's hand between them as they jogged toward the ocean. "And look at those waves!"
"I'm probably going to be a little rusty," Mack grinned slyly, eyeing the blue water with a glimmer in her eye.
"Like your grandpa said, just don't go falling off again," he warned, shooting her a playful smirk that she caught from the corner of her eye.
As the cold water splashed against their running legs, Mack felt a sudden rush that she missed greatly. It left an excited pounding in her chest at the feeling of her own surfboard tucked under her arm, with Brady right at her side.
She felt at home.
Moments later, they were out far in the ocean, and despite what Mack said, everything came back totally naturally to her. She straddled her board beside Brady and they both studied the oncoming waves as they bobbed up and down with the current.
"See that one?" Brady pointed into the horizon. Mack squinted when the afternoon light reflected off the glittering ocean and into her watchful eye.
There. A quickly growing wave was coming in, and it looked extremely promising.
"Let's do it!" she cheered, turning around to time the wave with her standup. She paddled next to her blonde companion and abruptly felt the rolling waves build up under her board.
With careful balance, she got to her feet and surfed along the wave.
'Yes!' she shouted in her mind, undoubtedly a grin the size of Texas on her face.
With cheers back to Brady who was doing his own thing on the waves, Mack pulled off moves she never even executed yet. She blamed it on the rush and excitement of being back on the waves again, but never had Mack felt so free.
She completed the infamous aerial trick without any imbalance, a couple quick 360 degree turns, and even placed all her toes at the nose of her board. All the while, the familiar cold water splashed across her legs and face. Did she ever shred this well on the waves in her life? She surely hoped Brady witnessed her ride.
When the wave died down, Mack could feel the blood rushing through her veins. Her heart was pounding erratically against her chest in glee and she hopped off her board into the knee-high water.
Immediately, she was tackled into the ocean by a familiar body, making the waves plop around them suddenly. Mack gasped in surprise and spit out some of the salty water that got into her mouth.
"That was incredible, Mack!" Brady shouted in her ear, hugging her closely. "Holy crap, I never knew you could surf like that!"
At that moment, Mack could see the scattered surfers along the shoreline clapping and cheering for her. Funny, she hadn't noticed them at all.
"Oh, my God, that felt awesome!" Mack cried. "Did you see it?!"
"I definitely saw it, alright," Brady laughed, spinning her around in the frothy water.
Mack pulled back a little to share an ear-splitting grin with the wonderful boy in front of her. His white-blonde hair was soaked and sticking up all over the place adorably, and his honey brown eyes were twinkling with emotion.
It was obvious what that emotion was. It was pride.
And love.
"Brady, this summer has been the best one I've ever had in my life. You know why?" she suddenly spoke. Her arms were still wrapped around the back of his neck.
At the curious shake of his head, she continued with a boop to his nose. "Because of you."
He grinned at her statement, and unexpectedly leaned forward to kiss her fully. They stood there, completely wrapped in each other, oblivious to the rest of the beach, and in freezing knee-deep water.
Mack couldn't recall another time she felt this happy. Whether it was because of the beach, surfing, Brady, or all three mixed together, she knew she didn't want to leave for any reason.
They pulled away, goofy beams on both of their faces. Mack grabbed his hand and led him back onto the shore, briefly replying to the congratulations from the other surfers to a job well done on their boards.
Hand-in-hand, Mack and Brady strolled along the shore, the rising waves tickling at their feet. Their boards were tucked under their arms as they talked about nothing and everything on their minds.
The rest of the summer went perfectly, according to Mack. Every morning she'd wake up to the bright morning sun, occasionally smelling the delicious breakfast her sweet boyfriend would make for her. He never failed at making some kind of joke about her famous cat slippers every morning, however.
Most of her days were spent on the beach, or in the ocean to be more specific, with Brady right by her side. They spent hours together, simply having the time of their life surfing and doing whatever they wanted to do.
Like Brady mentioned a few weeks prior, she wouldn't want anyone out there surfing beside her, except for him.
Mack would help her grandfather out in the surf shop, and finally understood every surfing term and tool used on that California beach. McKenzie Fox was a surfer at heart, no doubt about it.
One particular August morning, Mack spent the time hanging out with Brady, like she always did. They surfed, relaxed on lounge chairs, surfed, goofed around, snuggled on the lifeguard chair, and surfed some more.
They even excitedly talked about the giant 40-foot waves that were planned to arrive!
Little did they know, their lives were about to change the very next day. But that was a story for a different time.
And to think, it all started with a few surfing lessons.
THE END3 I hope you guys liked it. Review what you think!
Oh...and how would you like this story in Brady's POV? ;) Tell me if it's a good idea, or if I shouldn't bother!
LOVE YOU ALL.