3. Beachy Feels

We arrived at the beach house just before dawn. I told Sam to get back to the city and rest.

"I won't be needing you here Sam, but I think mom needs to check on the Vineyard Villa for her charity thing, so she would probably ask for you."

"Very well." He said as a goodbye speech for me.

Thinking I could never change his behaviour, so I just let him be. He had been working for me, for almost a year now. Myra was the one that suggested the idea, she was all about the socialite lifestyle. Sam was actually the only good thing that comes out of my failed relationship with her.

I took my bag inside, and leave everything on the kitchen floor and headed to the master bedroom. Stripping off my clothes, I sighed when my naked back touched the cool sheets.

Sam had already arranged for the maid to come clean the house and also stocked the fridge. I didn't actually have to air the house, I just need a day for my head to get back in the game before my training.

My thoughts were back to the brunette, Louise. I took my phone and finally couldn't hold the urge to text her.

Good morning...Have a nice dream. (Allen)

I finally fell asleep, after waiting for her text back for a couple of minutes.

She must be sleeping.

It was almost noon when my stomach growled for attention. I lazily got up and do my morning thing, or noon. I was going to lounge all day and maybe swim or surf later, before I start my routines tomorrow morning.

The kitchen has always been the most use part of the area, whenever I was at the beach house. I would always cook my own food to fulfill my dietary needs. Winston was right, being an athlete is a hard work.

And obviously eating healthy was one of them. That was the first thing that I learned after I got noticed, and signed by my agent. She said that diet and exercise will get more wins, she was quick in grooming me and hooking me up with a nutritionist.

When I was little we used to have a very lavish lifestyle. Dad was still alive back then, and he was building a very big and extravagant beach house. Winston was still five at that time.

Then the economy take turn for the worst, and dad lost his job. He tried to go out his own for a couple of years, but all the money was sucked into the build of the beach house.

And since it was too big of a house and still wasn't finish, he couldn't get it sold. Then all four of us were living on a trailer by the beach or at one of our neighbour's backyard, since the house was eventually foreclosed by the bank from all of our debts.

I would see mom cry and dad started drinking. At that time we were living from food coupons, charity, and the kindness of their friends. I was fifteen and Winston was ten back then, and we were all crunched together sleeping in a trailer that dad managed to buy with the last of the money in his savings.

That was when I started surfing to get away from it all. A friend of dad's left his board with us, and he never bother to get it back. And that board had became the escape of my everyday life.

Then a year later dad passed away from a heart attack, leaving me at sixteen as the head of the family. Mom had started to get into depression, and Winston was just still being a kid at eleven.

I was working any job that anyone was offering, I even strip for some bachelorette's party when I needed the money for Winston's school trip and mom's upcoming birthday that year. Obviously I lied about my age, cause I needed the money.

But every time I was at sea, I feel the vastness of the world. The moment I started to paddle into the ocean, my smile would grow as I watched the endless shoreline that promised me freedom and a short escape from the dreadful reality of my life.

Dude. Sorry I didn't get to say goodbye last night. Just call me if you're bored I'll bring back up to the beach. (Winston)

My phone buzzed with a text from Winston, he just stop my walk down to memory lane. Being at the beach is a relaxation but at the same time also a reminder, and my little brother would sometime worry about me being at the beach house alone. 

It's okay Winnie, I'm having lunch everything is good. I'll see you in the city. (Allen)

I pressed send and continue on eating the steamed chicken, while drinking cold lemon water. I was scrolling my phone, still waiting for a message from her.

I guess she's busy. I should really forget about her. I'll just go for a swim after this.

I was down by the beach an hour later, the air was cool and cloudy at the same time. The wave was calm, I dropped my towel on the sand and do some stretching before I start walking into the cool sea water.

Swimming further into the ocean I could feel my body started to relax. My mind was at ease as I start to focus on my strokes, and my breathing and continue on pushing my strength to the limit. Then when exhaustion took over my body, I decided to swim back to the beach.

The rest of the afternoon was spent by continuously checking on my phone for her text. 

She really got me hooked. 

Trying to keep my mind from her, I decided to go to Novelty and visit Archie. It has been awhile since I saw him. He had texted me last month that he had just renovate the place, and he had invited me for coffee. 

"Archie, man...I swear everytime I see you, you keep on getting younger and younger." I greeted the older man, the bookstore owner.

"Ah...my favorit surfer, come in Allen. Have a seat, I'll make you a cup." He said, welcoming me in his hug. I had worked for him in my early teen years. He was one of the coastal locals, who knew about my family. He had took me under his wing and thaught me the wonderful world in books. I used to read for hours before I ended my day cramped in our tiny trailer. 

"Wow...this place, this is very nice Archie. How have you been? wait.. is that a wedding band? you lucky man..." I said hugging him again, he laughed and hugged me back.

"... Congratulation Archie! so...who's the lucky lady?" my smile grew in anticipation.

"Ahh...my sweet young Allen, that would be me..." her voice was heard before I could even see her. 

"Oh! Alice! no way!!" I quickly hugged her and twirl her, making her laughed at me. 

Alice was also one of the lovely townspeople, who would give me her left over from her cake shop. There were days when we would only eat her cakes, and rationed them for our daily meals. I would help her out carrying boxes, and in return she gave me money for our daily needs. 

"You two are my favorit people, congratulation you guys! oh...I'm so going to spoil both of you with the wedding gifts." I laughed and give them a big group hug. 

We talked for hours and Alice insisted me on having dinner there, so I was back to the beach house just before nine with my full belly. My hands were carrying her desserts and several books that I had Archie pre ordered for me.

I was reading and relaxing with my stack of books just before I go to sleep, when my mind wonder to Louise.