Chapter 4

I fell asleep as soon as my head felt the pillow. My dreams were not memorable. For some unexplainable reason, I was sweating all night. I hadn’t had any nightmares, the air conditioning was on and I certainly didn’t have a fever. I woke up in a pool of sweat and I was like I went swimming and I came back drenched and hoped straight into bed.

What would I do today? I wonder if mum had anything planned. I hoped out of bed and drew the curtains. The sunlight was blinding and I had to put on my sunglasses to see properly. The beach looked inviting, but I knew if I wanted to get a good spot I’d have to go now. Like right NOW.

I slipped into my bikini and put some light clothes on top, grabbed my havaianas and matching towel I got last Christmas. Taking my iPhone just in case I wanted to get some good snaps of the water, they’d be worth around 20+ likes in instagram. Walking down the hall alone, I felt a sense of maturity. I knocked on mum’s door. It opened smoothly without a creak.

“Mum, I’m off the beach okay?”

“Okay Mati but don’t take too long. I need you back here at 1pm.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be here.”

I was already half way to the lift when she called out for me to come back.

“I forgot your sunblock!” She lifted up my chin and started rubbing kilos of sunscreen on my face.

“Muuuummm!” I moaned. I felt like a stupid little kid again.

“Oh come on Matilda. We can’t have you getting sun burned. You’re already too red as it is.” She rubbed her hands on my towel. “There. Oh wait…” She took out a bucket hat from behind her and plonked it on my head. “All done. Have fun!”

Groaning, I made my way downstairs into the foyer. As soon as I was out of the hotel I grabbed the hat and threw it in the nearest trash can. I wish I had some petrol and a lighter too.

I almost got run over by a bus when crossing the road to the beach. The driver stuck his head out of the window and swore at me in Spanish while the school kids at the back laughed and pointed. Not to forget to mention that one of my thongs broke because I tripped on the side walk. I just bought them a few weeks ago! So much for good quality Brazilian made.

The sand was dangerously hot, there had to be lava under there or something. I sprinted as lightly as I could along the sand, intimidating Usain Bolt with my arm movements. I’m pretty sure I saw some smoke rise when I stepped into the water. Everything was immediately cool again.

Dumping all my stuff at the water’s edge, I raced back into the blue. I have to say, the ‘refreshness’ effect is not as good as that of Cronulla or Bondi, but it did the job. I swayed by pretending to be some coral and splashed myself maniacally until other tourists started to stare. Deciding that this might be a good time to tan, I strolled up to my little spot and lay down on my towel. Someone once told me that squinting gives you wrinkles, I cursed to myself because I forgot to pack my ray bans. Looks like I’m going to go back to school looking like a 70 year old.

It must have been about 20 minutes before I heard something plonk into the sand to my right. I opened my eyes to find a sea of curls looking down on me. I could only help but laugh to myself.

“Hello! Thought I might come and keep you company. You looked awfully lonely, just you and that sun.” That grin. Does this kid ever stop smiling?

“Well thank you for your consideration but I’m fine. You really didn’t have to Harry.” I squinted up to him.

“Oh but I really did. Here take this…” He handed me his black wayfarers. “You might need those. Someone once told me that squinting gives you wrinkles.”

“Funny that…” I put them on and looked around. I can see properly again.

Some old funny memory must have popped into his mind because he started laughing.

“What? What’s so funny?” I was so confused.

“Nothing! I just love your accent. Aussie accents are awesome. Can you say something for me?”

“Like what exactly..?”

“Umm… I want you to say… Struth!” I wondered if he had ADHD because he was jumping up and down in the sand like a little kid.

“You realise no actual Australian says that in an everyday conversation…” I stared at him with dull eyes, hoping that he’d take it back.

“Oh come on! Please! Just once?” Clasping his hands together and looking at me with those sea green puppy dog eyes.

Sighing, I gave in. “Fine… Struth! Happy now?”

He started pounding his fists on the sand and rolling around, getting sand in his curls. “You… You sound like such a d****e AHAHAHA!”

I rolled my eyes and got up off the towel.

“Wait, I hope you’re not mad at me… It was just a joke, honest!”

“No I’m just going into the water. Are you gonna come with me or not?” I gestured with my hand for him to come with me.

“I thought you’d never ask…” He took of his tank top and raced after me.

I plunged into the water, head first and as I rose I looked around towards the beach. Harry was coming into the water slowly, pretending to be dramatic like in Baywatch. I have to say, and without being creepy, he looked absolutely fit. Obviously he worked out, A LOT.  He dived in after me, pretending to be a squid under the water. Suddenly, out of nowhere, some seaweed came flying at me. Only did I realise it was Harry wearing seaweed on his head.

“You are awfully upfront to people you just met aren’t you?” I lifted to seaweed off his head as he sat like a cat in the water.

“I like to make friends, and anyway, we hit it off as soon as we met.” He pretended to lick his hand and pranced off on all fours in the water.

I followed, wadding through the water towards him. “You are also very strange I thought you’d like to know that.”

Now he is lying on his back like a starfish, chin up towards the sky. “Yes I’ve been told that one before. You are definitely not the first.”

Something told me to stay where I was, to not go any further near him, but I ignored it and lay down, chin up, next to him. Just floating on the water, staring up at the pure blue sky. Serenity filled the atmosphere. For the next few minutes it felt like it was just us, on the whole beach. Just us.

“Harry I was thinking that maybe…” I turned my head to face him. My blood ran cold. He lay face down in the water; I couldn’t see any sign of breathing. For a few seconds I was stuck, unable to move or accept that this was happening. What was I doing? Harry was drowning right in front of me and I was doing nothing.

I began shouting for help and flailing about in the water, but there were no lifeguards on the beach or no one understood what I was going on about. At this moment, I was panicking beyond belief. I dragged Harry to the shore and flung his body on the sand. If no one was going to help me I would have to help Harry myself. My P.E teacher told me that CPR rarely works to revive someone, but it was worth a try. He looked so helpless and discoloured. I followed the procedure, putting his head back and opening his mouth, this was it. My mouth moved downwards towards his while I squeezed his nose. Abruptly, my hand started to vibrate and I realised that his chest was moving quite rapidly up and down until a sound that came out of his mouth which sounded like he was choking. This was when I started to really freak out. Only when he rolled over did I realise he was concealing a smile, that choking sound was him holding back laughter.

It was either shock or anger that hit me first. I really don’t remember. He sat up to look at me, expecting me to laugh with him but I just kneeled and stared. I hope he knew he deserved the slap I gave him, because it left a big red print on his lightly tanned skin. I could not come up with words to say so I stood up and stormed off across the sand without looking back.

“Tilly!” I heard him call out from behind me. “I’m so sorry it was just joke. Come back, please?”

There was no way I was turning back to talk to him. I can’t even describe how I am feeling.

“Tilly please…” He grabbed my wrist gently as I was trying to rush away. Wow, he is a fast runner.

I turned around; planning to give him to most spiteful look I could conjure up. What I turned to look at did not belong on this planet. I just wanted to shake my fist up to the sky and tell them that they have cursed me with this angel. I wanted to forgive him, but then again, I really didn’t. “Just leave me alone Harry. You gave me a heart attack you know.” My eyes tried to avoid his.

“I know I’m really sorry, please don’t leave now. I shouldn’t have done that. It was all a joke.” Both his hands were now on mine, squeezing in desperation.

I shook my head and gazed down at my feet in the sand. “I’m really not in the mood anymore. Just please, let me go…” Wriggling out of his grasp, I raced off across the road and back into the hotel. I didn’t care that I was half naked, still in my swimmers, I just wanted to hide in my room and cry.