Disclaimer: I own nothing. Enjoy.
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That Endless Summer
Chapter Nine: When temptation comes your way
"Everybody's playing the game, but nobody's rules are the same Nobody's on nobody's side.
Better learn to go it alone, recognise you're out on your own.
Nobody's on nobody's side."
- Nobody's Side, Chess
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"Honey, I'm home." Ric yelled into the darkened room as we dropped out keys onto the bench, and waited for Maddie and Cass to surface. I hadn't seen them leave the club and neither had Ric, but we had both assumed that they'd grown tired, and didn't want to bother us as they left. That's how Maddie and Cass were, they would leave us at any stage, knowing that we'd be fine on our own… and nothing bad would happen either.
"Cassie?" Ric said a little quieter, heading down the hallway towards his room.
I walked slowly towards the door to our bedroom, and opened the door gently, to find Maddie fast asleep, curled up in a little ball, hugging the quilt tight. I smiled at her before quietly closing the door and walking back out into the lounge room.
From his position on the couch, Ric looked up and asked "Maddie asleep too?"
"Dead to the world" I replied as I sunk down next to him.
"Weird" He mused next to me "Unless they are completely smashed, which happens more often than not, they are up till all hours of the morning chatting and stuff. Usually long after we've gone to bed."
"Maybe they were just tired?" I suggested "After all, they had a strenuous day yesterday and stuff…"
"Yeah" Ric said as he rubbed his eyes tiredly "That's probably it." He pushed himself up off the lounge "Night dude."
"Night" I replied, before getting myself up and walking towards the bedroom.
I was careful not to wake Maddie as I entered, changed and crawled into bed next to her, snaking my arms around her belly and pulling her to me. I felt her relax instantly into my embrace and my own eyes began to close sleepily, knowing that I felt at home lying with her like this.
But the next morning, I woke up to feel my arms empty, and Maddie missing. I rolled over and looked at the clock, which flashed 9:38 at me, and groaned before pushing myself slowly up and wandering out to the kitchen, my head in my hands.
"Here mate" Ric said as I reached the kitchen, handing me a steaming cup of coffee.
"Thanks." I mumbled before taking a long sip. "I didn't realise it would hit me so hard."
Ric snorted into his coffee and it took him a few moments before he could regain his composure enough to speak.
"What did you expect? When was the last time we didn't have to worry about Maddie or Cassie?" He asked, raising an eyebrow, daring me to take the bait.
"Okay, so we mind our girls a fair bit. You were watching Cass last night, waiting to see whether she needed you or not. Don't even deny it, because I was doing the same thing with Maddie."
Ric nodded in agreement, and we fell into a comfortable silence until I remembered that Maddie was missing from the bed.
"Any news from the girls?" I asked, as Ric nodded and pushed a piece of paper towards me.
"Gone to find a good sun baking spot." It read "Have fun surfing, see you tonight. Love Cass and Maddie, xoxo."
"Huh" I said, sitting back, slightly puzzled by the note. "It is only almost ten, right?"
Ric nodded.
"And they left before you got up?"
Again, Ric nodded.
"And you got up at?" I asked, waiting for Ric to supply me with an answer.
"Bout twenty minutes ago. Around ten minutes before you got up." He replied, sipping his coffee.
"So that means they must have been out of here around nine." I said, as I worked out everything in my head.
"More or less." Ric agreed with me.
"Huh" I said again "Maddie and Cassie willingly up before ten in summer? Did we miss something?"
"Dunno" Ric said, obviously into the short answers this morning, and much less concerned about Maddie and Cassie going walk about early in the morning.
"So Parker and Lily invited us to go surfing with them today" Ric said as he sat down next to me "Parker said they knew an even better spot that would be off the hook this afternoon."
"Mmm" I replied "Do you think the guys will be there?"
"Who cares? Maddie and Cassie trust us, and I just wanna surf." Ric said happily.
"Yep" I agreed with him, "We should go, we won't get many opportunities like this when we get back to Summer Bay. Besides, the girls are making the most of their time here, we should do the same."
"Yes!" Ric said, high-fiving me before walking to his bedroom to get changed. "We can take the girls out to dinner again tonight." Ric continued, yelling so I could understand him "That way they won't feel the need to pull the threatened act. And, I have a plan for something we can do on Friday." He said, as he walked out in his boardshorts.
"Why do I not like the tone of your voice?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Just you wait and see Lucas, it's going to be brilliant."
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"Cass, can you pass the sunscreen please?" Maddie said from her seat beside me.
I reached over to my left and grabbed the large bottle we'd brought with us and handed it to her, before adjusting my sunglasses and lying back down into the chair.
No matter how hard I'd tried this morning, when I woke up feeling Ric's arms around me, his body pressing into mine, I couldn't relax into his embrace. I stumbled out of the bedroom around six thirty and was surprised to see Maddie already up, curled up on the couch sipping coffee.
She offered me a seat after I'd gotten my own coffee and we sipped in silence until I couldn't stand it any more.
"Couldn't sleep either?" I asked, as Maddie sighed and nodded a little.
"It was just so surreal. Did that really happen last night?"
"Yep" Maddie said quietly "Every single part." She added bitterly.
Another silence fell over us, and I could tell Maddie was dwelling over the night's events just like I was. It was on loop in my head, running over and over, Ric with Parker; Ric laughing and having fun with someone whom was more like… more like him… Ric telling her he'd had an offer for an apprenticeship, and didn't know what to do.
Sharing stuff with her he'd been too afraid to tell me.
And that, that was eating away at me, at my heart, wondering why on earth my own boyfriend couldn't share something that important with me.
"We can't do this to ourselves all day." I said finally, jumping up from the couch and pulling a groaning Maddie up with me.
"Do what?" She moaned as I pulled her towards the bedrooms.
"Go in there and get your swimmers and towel and stuff, we're going sun baking for a day so we can clear our heads."
"But…" She began
"You can sleep too." I said as I walked towards my room that I shared with Ric. "Don't wake up Luke either." I added in hushed tone before I opened the door softly and padded across the room collecting everything I'd need.
Ric's sleeping form was hugging a pillow tightly, an innocent, blissful look on his face and instinctually I sat down on the bed and let my hand wander across his face. He smiled into my hand and I pulled away quickly, gathering my stuff and throwing on my white swimmers quickly before leaving, shutting the door softly behind me.
We'd left early that morning and driven around for a while until we found a secluded beach, where we'd set up camp, and hadn't moved since. Small talk had been made, but neither of us had really wanted to discuss the nights events, not until we'd figured them out in our own minds.
Around midday, I heard Maddie shuffle next to me, and I looked over to see her remove the headphones from her ears as she said "Can we just, hang out together for the rest of the trip and pretend like last night never happened?"
"And ignore the boys?" I asked as she nodded her head "Luke and Ric might be a bit slow on the uptake about some things, but if their girlfriends ignored them for two weeks, I think they might notice Maddie."
She sighed in agreement before adding "Do you think we can avoid them for at least a couple of days? I'm sure Parker and Lily will keep them busy." She said spitefully.
"What did we learn from last summer?" I asked patiently.
"Not to play truth or dare drunk, not to let Henry worm his way back into my life, not to go to raves, not to get drunk when Henry is on a date with another woman, and not to have baths in the same room as Lucas because… well, I think that one is pretty obvious." Maddie said as she rattled off all the trivial things that we'd learned last summer.
"And not to jump to conclusions until we know the full story." I added gently.
"But they didn't even want to tell us the full story." Maddie cried loudly.
"Yeah, and it's up to them to tell us, which is why we can't avoid them." I told her, and began to add something else, but was interrupted but the noise of two guys who were walking down towards the beach.
The blonde one looked up and caught my eye, which caused him to change his direction immediately, as he walked towards Maddie and I, his mate in tow.
"Oh no." I groaned under my breath, as Maddie looked up to see the two of them walking towards us.
"Why?" She asked, as she looked up to the sky "Why do you hate us so?" She pleaded mockingly with the heavens.
"Now, why would two beautiful girls such as yourselves be all alone on an empty beach?" The blonde one asked as soon as he was close enough.
"Gee" I said sarcastically "Maybe it has something to do with wanting to be left alone." I deadpanned.
"Well that wouldn't be very nice of us, would it?" The blonde one replied as he sat down next to me.
"No," I sighed, looking at Maddie as I rolled my eyes "No, it wouldn't"
Life was just too cruel.
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"I wonder if the girls are okay?" I asked Ric, as I checked my phone for what seemed to be the millionth time that morning.
"They both know how to take care of themselves Luke" Ric replied mockingly "They aren't kids any more."
"Yeah" I mumbled "That's half of what I'm worried about." I continued as Ric pulled up at the end of the dirt road.
He sighed, then said, "We trust them yes?"
"Yep." I halfheartedly agreed.
"And we know none of us ever want a repeat of last summer, right?" He said sternly.
"Point made." I agreed with him, not wanting to further the conversation any more, when I could see where it's heading.
"Good. Now can we please surf?" Ric pleaded with me as he opened the car door and quickly stepped out.
"Yeah." I sighed, as the door slammed shut. I started wondering just how Ric could be so unconcerned by the girls behaviour. I couldn't remember the last time I hadn't woken up with Maddie's body snuggled into mine. There was something… unnerving about not waking up with her by my side. Like one day I'd wake up and she wouldn't be there any more.
I was feeding my own paranoia. That was never a good thing.
Maddie and I are in love. Maddie and I trust one another. Maddie and Cassie are those girls who simply sun bake all day long. Ric and I have done nothing wrong.
That became my mantra.
I hopped out of the car and pulled my surfboard off the roof racks. Ric was already about ten meters ahead of me, walking over to where Lily and Parker were waiting for us. Strangely absent was the large group of guys who had practically killed us yesterday.
"Bout time you guys showed up." Parker said as she smirked at our slightly hung over expressions.
"Sorry." Ric said apologetically as I just stood back, wondering why Ric felt he should apologise about being five minutes late.
"You'll have to make it up to us." Lily replied slyly as she sauntered over to me.
I had to try really hard not to roll my eyes at their flirtations, they knew we were taken, yet they were still trying… what was the go?
"And how do we do that?" I sighed, sitting down on the beach and looking out over the ocean.
"Dinner." Lily replied simply as she sat next to me.
"We can't" I stated, just as Ric answered "Sure."
I whipped my head around and looked at Ric in shock and confusion.
"You can't be serious." I said disbelieveingly, "Are you serious?"
"Why not?" he shrugged, picking up his board and walking to the surf.
"Oh, it's on." Parker, said, racing him down to the surf.
"Maybe because we've got girlfriends who we haven't spent proper time with since before yesterday and this trip was supposed to be about the four of us spending time together, the all time summer." I muttered after Ric, as he and Parker hit the water.
"You are strange." Lily said, standing up and looking at me, kind of like I was the dirt on her shoe.
"Yep" I replied, smiling brightly at her retreating figure. "Get used to it." I yelled, as she scurried faster to get away from me.
"Thank god." I said to myself, as I threw my board onto the sand and walked towards the car.
As soon as I opened the door I pulled out my mobile and prayed that there was reception. I held one down and knew that the speed dial would connect me straight to Maddie's phone.
After three rings, she picked up.
"Luke?" she asked, as if she was slightly confused as to why I was calling.
"Hey beautiful" I said, smiling into the phone and climbing out of the car, making my way to the sandy beach once more.
"Hey yourself gorgeous" She responded, sounding happier this time. "I thought you'd be surfing."
"Not really in the mood." I replied, lying down on the sand. "Guess what I'm doing." I asked mischievously.
"Getting a manicure." Maddie mocked.
I made a face, and I knew Maddie would know I'd made it.
"Nope. I'm sun baking."
"No way." She practically screamed into the phone.
"Mmhmm yep. It brings me closer to you." I said, in what I hoped could come across as a sweet tone.
"Aww Luke, that's sweet. I'm about to gag, but sweet."
"Knew you'd appreciate it girlfriend." I replied, settling into the conversation. "We missed you guys this morning."
"Yeah" She sighed. "Cass and I decided we needed some quality girl time. So we're out here on this lone stretch of beach sun baking. Not another human in sight. It's really beautiful Luke, maybe tonight we can come back here for a moonlit swim."
I knew that tone. That was Maddie's suggestive tone. Like hell I'd miss out on that tone.
"I like the way you think Miss. Hunter."
"Thank you Mr. Holden. So when do you guys think you'll be back?" She asked curiously.
"No later than six. Hopefully we'll be able to see the sunset, then go for that swim." I said contently.
"Okay Luke, Cass and I will be home about five, and that should give us enough time to get ready. See you tonight lover boy." She said happily.
"Will do lover girl." I replied, blowing a kiss into the phone and hanging up.
Ric was going to kill me.
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Cassie was going to kill me.
"Maddie this is Josh and that's Kaden." Cassie said in a bored tone.
"Nice to meet you pretty lady." Kaden said, taking my hand in his and kissing is gently, before I snapped it out of his grasp.
"Have they been like this the whole time?" I asked Cassie under my breath as she rolled her eyes and muttered "Yep. Losers." under her breath.
"We'll its been swell boys but I'm afraid I've got to borrow Cassie for say, the rest of her life." I said, as I pulled her towards me away from the boys.
We'd gone about five meters before I heard a strangled "But pretty girl, we've yet to show you the best sun baking spots for a goddess such as yourself."
"You've got to be kidding me." I moaned, "You think they'd take the hint."
"You talking to me?" Cassie said as she turned to face the one she'd said was… Jake… John… Josh? Like it actually mattered, I had more important things to tell her.
"Okay, let's clarify something here boys." Cassie said firmly, obviously not comfortable with the pet names… and other implications. "We're both in very heavily committed relationships. The rings are practically on our fingers."
"So a little chat won't change anything, will it?" Kaden said, smirking towards Cassie and I.
"I guess not." I groaned, looking towards Cassie who appeared to be just as helpless as I was. We had nothing. We'd just have to continue to be sarcastic and roll our eyes and emphasise our boyfriends…. Got it.
"I'd love to chat." I said brightly, dragging a confused Cassie over to the boys and whipping out my phone.
I flicked through a few settings until I found what I was looking for. My own personal portable photo album.
"This is me with Cassie last at the end of last summer." I began, happily "There's a funny story that goes with that…" I said, trailing off on a tangent.
"And that was taken two nights ago." I finished, about an hour and a half later. "There's also a great story that goes with that, but" I said, as I looked at the clock on my phone, which flashed 3:53 "It's time for us to get going. Well it's been grand fella's, nice chatting with you."
I said, pulling Cassie up from her lying position that she'd been in for the last hour and a half, while I'd entertained the boys with many, many stories about how wonderful Luke and Ric were to Cassie and I throughout the year.
"No way. That's not fair." Josh said, standing up and following us towards the sun baking spot we'd originally picked out.
"We chatted. That was the deal, right?" I feigned innocence as I rolled my eyes at Cassie. Some people did not get when they were unwanted.
"Yeah but…" Kaden began, before Cassie cut him off.
"But nothing. We fulfilled out part. Now don't you boys have something to do? Or somewhere to go?" Cassie said sternly, getting really annoyed at their 'give up or die' attitude.
"Yeah, with you two. How about a night out on the town?" Josh asked, sidling up next to Cassie and causally throwing an arm around her shoulder.
"Did you miss that entire speech about how we're practically engaged to our boyfriends?" Cassie replied and she shrugged his arm off her shoulder.
"Besides, we've already got dates. With our boyfriends." I threw in casually, hoping for dear life they'd give up.
"We do?" Cassie said, looking towards me, slightly confused.
"Yeah, Luke rang before and suggested we come out here for a moonlit stroll tonight." I replied, not thinking about the consequences until it was too late.
"Tonight, ay?" Josh smirked "Well, it sounds like a date then doesn't it girls. See you later on." He finished, as he blew Cassie a kiss, and Kaden bowed to me like he was some kind of suitor in the tug of war for my affections… as if.
"Not good." I muttered as I watched their back retreat.
"Not at all. What happened to just having a simple night minus the boys, who, may I remind you, had those kinda huge revelations that they didn't tell us?" Cassie moaned as she sat back onto the sand.
"I know, but Luke called and he said some sweet stuff and you know I can't stay mad at him like you can with Ric. I'm just a big old softie." I cried as I sat down next to her.
"Tilly, they told girls they'd met for five minutes stuff they couldn't tell their girlfriends of two years." Cassie said softly from beside me.
"Sometimes telling strangers something as huge as that is easier." I replied quietly.
"Why?" She asked.
"Because that way only one heart gets broken in the process." I said gently, as I pulled her up from the ground.
"Come on, if tonight is going to be as painful as I think it is, we at least need to look stunning." I said, flipping my hair over my shoulder, causing Cassie to giggle momentarily.
"Painful. Oh god, Josh and Kaden will be here." She groaned, as it finally hit her.
"But at least we can entertain them with even more stories of our fabulous boyfriends." I said, giggling next to her.
Hopefully tonight would make everything better.
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AN: Jade, you are awesome. Thank you a million red M&Ms for proofing. Yay, drama, tension, and boys who just don't know when to quit! I love the smell of trouble in the morning. And guess who's coming to dinner? Find out next chapter.