Tuesday, August 5th, 2014
Seven Months Before Not What He Seems Premieres
"Alright, here we are!" sang Mr. Krimms as they pulled into the parking lot.
"Thank god," Jocelyn moaned, spilling out of the car and stretching, cracking all of her joints. "I was about to throw up. I get so carsick on long rides."
Hazelle laughed. "Good thing you didn't, I would've killed you."
"So which boat are we taking?" Jocelyn asked, leading the way to the pier. Hazelle sighed and grabbed her friend by the back of her sweatshirt, yanking her back to the car.
"Hey!" Jocelyn protested, massaging her neck. "What was that for?"
"One: you don't know where you're going, because you've never been here before. Two: you've never even been on a boat before. Three: we need to wait for my parents."
Jocelyn rolled her eyes, but stayed put as Mr. and Mrs. Krimms gathered the sunblock, sandwiches, and sodas into a large canvas bag.
"Okay, crew," cheered Mr. Krimms. "Lets roll out!"
The group made their way towards the docks, with Hazelle's parents commenting on the weather and the water, and Jocelyn pointing out every single dog to Hazelle, who could clearly already see them.
"Look! Haze, there's a Dalmatian! I love Dalmatians!"
"Jocelyn, you said that about the Border collie, and the golden retriever, and the husky we just saw."
Jocelyn grinned. "I love dogs! I would trade my siblings for dogs."
"There she is!" announced Mr. Krimms, cutting off Hazelle's response. "The Bay Lady."
The sailboat sat in the harbor with all the other boats, the sun glinting off of the sails. Hazelle wasn't a huge boating enthusiast, but she had grown up on her parent's obsession for sailing. She knew a nice looking boat when she saw one.
"BIRD!" Jocelyn yelled, pointing at a seagull on a nearby pole, breaking the Krimms' family's reverie of the boat. Hazelle sighed. For having a 4.0 GPA, and being in the top ten percent of their class, Jocelyn acted like a giant five year old.
"Are we sure she doesn't have ADD?" Mrs. Krimms murmured to her daughter. Jocelyn was a nice girl, really, and smart too. She was Hazelle's best friend. But sometimes she could be a little… much.
Hazelle offered her mother a small smile. "Lord knows."
"I don't think he even knows!" Mr. Krimms joked. "Now let's board!"
"C'mon, Joss," Hazelle called to her friend, who had stopped to pet yet another dog.
Jocelyn quickly gathered her drawstring bag and hurried to catch up with the rest of the group.
The gangplank swayed as the Krimms family, Jocelyn, and the other boarders made their way onto the sailboat. A breeze ruffled Hazelle's hair, and she caught the scent of the ocean. She breathed deeply, taking in the smells of her childhood.
The group quickly found their own section of seats on the boat to occupy, and Mr. and Mrs. Krimms immediately spread out.
"Hazelle, Jocelyn, do you want your sandwiches?" Mrs. Krimms asked, cracking open a can of Coke Zero.
"I'm not really hungry now," Jocelyn replied, pulling her curly brown hair up into a bun. "Thanks though!"
Hazelle gratefully accepted her tuna sandwich, hungry after their long car ride up to Cape Cod, Massachusetts for the day.
Once everyone had boarded, the captain stepped up onto a box at the back of the ship. "Hello, everyone, my name is Captain Bob, and I would like to welcome you all today to the Bay Lady. Today we'll be cruising around the Cape. Now, before we begin, we have some safety measures to share with you. So, if you'll all turn your attention to Chris…" The captain motioned to a deckhand standing at the front of the boat holding a lifejacket.
As the lecture continued, Jocelyn sniggered. "His accent is so funny," she remarked. "I can barely understand what he's saying."
Hazelle shushed her friend, because the information being given was important. But she had to admit that the man's thick Boston accent was amusing.
"Alright, folks, if you'll all sit back in your seats, we'll be on our way!"
Jocelyn, at this point, was practically bouncing up and down in her seat with excitement.
"Joss."
Jocelyn looked up at he friend, puzzled.
"Calm down," Hazelle insisted.
"But, Haze. This is exciting! I've never been on a boat before!"
Hazelle's dad leaned in to their conversation. "Well, then, Jocelyn, you're in for a real treat. There's nothing like the feeling of being out on the sea. The wind in your hair, the salty breeze in your face, it's a simply exquisite experience."
Jocelyn nodded, and turned around to look out at the water, her hands tapping the wood of the seat back.
Hazelle considered slapping her palm over Jocelyn's overexcited hands, but reconsidered. This was better than her bouncing, so Hazelle once again turned her attention to the water. There was a beautiful breeze, and the sunlight glinting off the water was simply gorgeous. She wanted to capture the image forever.
Once the boat made it out of the harbor, the captain announced that all were free to move about the boat.
Jocelyn hopped up right away. "C'mon, Haze!" she exclaimed, kicking off her shoes and climbing up onto the bow. "We can take some really cool pictures in the front!"
Hazelle sighed and followed her friend, grabbing her phone as she went. Being careful to keep a tight hold on her phone against the swaying of the boat, Hazelle made her way to the front point, where Jocelyn was already sitting, ready to pose.
"Look out, world," Jocelyn announced. "Here comes my new profile picture!"
Hazelle smiled and snapped several photos as Jocelyn struck goofy poses. After their mini photo shoot, they made their way back to their seats.
The two sat in silence, which was odd for Jocelyn. But Hazelle enjoyed the quiet, taking in the sounds of the sea, and the feel of the boat rocking back and forth.
After a while, Jocelyn spoke up. "Haze, I don't feel good."
Oh, God, Hazelle thought. "If you're gonna hurl, don't do it on me."
Suddenly, Jocelyn stood up and scrambled to the rail of the ship, where she began to puke up her breakfast.
Hazelle took a second to take a deep breath before making her way over to her friend's convulsing body. The other passengers had realized what was happening, and had consequently moved away from the scene.
Hazelle smirked slightly. At least she could go on a boat.
"So let me get this straight," Hazelle began when Jocelyn's stomach decided to take a break. "You can jump through physics defying portals every night, but you can't handle being on a boat?"
"Shut up, Hazelle," was all Jocelyn could get out before heaving over the side again.
Once Jocelyn's stomach had effectively emptied itself into the northern Atlantic, Hazelle helped her friend over to their seats, where Jocelyn lay down across several seats.
"Do not come near me or speak to me unless the boat is sinking," she moaned.
Hazelle laughed again, and went back over to the rail to watch the water go by. Moving to the railing, Hazelle joined her father. While he was never a man of many words, the time that Hazelle had spent on a boat with him were some of the best memories she had.
"It's really something, isn't it, Haze?" he asked quietly, a far-off look in his eyes.
"Yeah, Dad," Hazelle replied, following his gaze out across the large expanse of water. "It really is."
The two were quiet for a moment, taking in the sights and sounds of the open sea.
"It kinda makes you realize how small you are, being out here like this," Hazelle murmured.
Mr. Krimms nodded. "Really puts things into perspective too." He chuckled. "I have a waterproof phone case, but you won't find me dropping it into the ocean. It may still work on the bottom of the ocean, but I sure won't be getting it back." Then the two were silent once more.
Hazelle felt like she'd been kicked in the gut. Even in her happiest times, she was reminded of Lucy. She couldn't help but imagine her floating through an oblivion as vast and deep as the sea. How scary it felt to know she was out there, somewhere, and yet after months of searching, Hazelle and Jocelyn still hadn't found her. The scariest part was just what her father had said. Even though Lucy had the tools to survive (i.e. making portals), there was still a chance they'd never get her back.
While the other passengers on the boat were captivated by a pod of seals sunning themselves on some rocks, Hazelle was stuck in a worried daze that was only broken by the captain asking all passengers to retake their seats for docking.
Hazelle helped Jocelyn up, and the two joined Mr. and Mrs. Krimms by the gangplank. The group made its way back up onto the docks.
"So how did you two enjoy the ride?" Mrs. Krimms asked.
"It was really nice!" Hazelle chirped. "What a nice day to go sailing!"
"What about you, Jocelyn?" Mr. Krimms asked warily, taking in Jocelyn's silence and sheet-white complexion.
"I got seasick. Not too much fun," Jocelyn intoned.
"Well, if you felt sick, you should've gone to the back of the boat, instead of staying in the front!" piped Mrs. Krimms. "I thought everyone knew that!"
Jocelyn threw her hands into the air. "This is my first time on a boat. Why didn't anyone tell me?"
The Krimmses exchanged a look. "Well… you'll know for next time!" Mrs. Krimms took Mr. Krimms by the arm. "Now who's ready for a fun day in Provincetown?"
Hazelle hung back with her friend.
Although seeing the great and mighty Jocelyn seasick was amusing, Hazelle still felt bad for her friend. She'd had her fair share of seasickness, and it wasn't fun.
"Do you want your sandwich now?" Hazelle asked tentatively, pulling her bag up higher on her shoulder.
"Maybe later," Jocelyn replied. "But thanks."
Hazelle considered. "The first time I got seasick, I nearly threw up all over Kate."
Jocelyn shot her a look. "Your little sister? She couldn't have been more than five!"
"You know, she might have been four," Hazelle mused. "Anyway, here this little four-year-old was, having the time of her life, and I'm the one to get seasick."
"Sucks," Jocelyn snorted.
"What I mean to say," Hazelle emphasized, smiling, "is that you don't have to be embarrassed. The sea is a mighty fiend, that one. Her wiles are extraordinary."
"Oh, don't go sounding like some weirdo sea captain," Jocelyn groaned, giving Hazelle a slight shove. "But thanks, I guess," she added with a small smile.
"Anytime. Now, ready to hit P-town?"
Jocelyn grinned, the color slowly beginning to return to her cheeks. "You bet!"
The two then hurried to catch up with Hazelle's parents, and Hazelle pushed the thought of Lucy floating through space out of her mind.