Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
ASH
I didn’t want our kiss to stop.
We managed to move from our spot under the pier, slowly kicking the sand between our toes in a half-arsed attempt to cool down.
I was about to go too far, and oh shit, could I have gone all the way with her, but my level head kicked in.
It takes every inch of my self-control to stop touching, although I kiss her every minute I can.
We stop again when I take her lips with mine, not giving her any warning this time but she isn’t complaining.
Her tongue lashes with mine while her fingers curl around the nape of my neck.
She pulls back, a final kiss to my lips before her heavy, baby blue eyes raise slowly to meet mine as if drugged with happiness.
Unlike a lot of the girls in our year group, Cal never thought she was better than anyone else and had no idea she was the most gorgeous girl I’d ever seen.
She still is. I didn’t make a move, knowing my best mate wanted her and what kind of friend would I be if I asked out his girl, although she never really was his.
Now Scott has left that shit kid behind him, I can finally tell her how I feel.
“What are you thinking about?” Cal asks, breaking my thought process.
“You,” I tell her honestly.
“Me?”
“Yeah. Just can’t believe my luck.”
“What do you mean? Your luck with me?” she laughs.
“Yeah, why is that a surprise?” My hands slide around her shoulders, bringing her close.
“Get out of here,” she bumps into my side as we walk along the beach, making our way to her place. “It’s just me Ash. The same girl, you knew at school.”
“Exactly. That’s my point.” Cal hasn’t changed a bit which makes this reunion all the sweeter.
“I still don’t get it,” she says, curling her fingers between mine.
Here I go, it’s confession time. “There’s something you should know Cal.
The stuff I felt for you back at school was more than just a crush.
I couldn’t say anything because it was common knowledge Scott was crazy about you.
Chances are he’d probably have kicked my head in if he found out then, or at least threaten to. ”
Her mouth opens, but no words come out. Is she shocked? “You okay Cal?”
“Yeah,” She blinks several times. “I suppose I didn’t realise what a hold Scott had over you and I just don’t get how you’ve been friends all this time.”
“Me too sometimes,” I laugh. “He was a total prick, but back then I thought he was cool. What did I know, I was a bit of prick myself.”
“I didn’t think so.”
“No?”
“Nope. I thought you were pretty cute.”
“You did, huh?” My voice is rising with surprise. “Why did I not know this?” I tease, spinning her into my arms.
“Scott was my friend, but I knew he wanted more when he kept asking me out. I just didn’t see him that way.
Can you imagine if I then told him I liked you instead?
Talk about rubbing salt in the wounds. Anyway, I couldn’t risk either of you finding out, especially as I wasn’t sure you knew I existed. ”
“Oh, I knew.” Holding both her hands in mine, looking directly into her beautiful blue eyes, I shake my head. “Fuck Cal, I’m so sorry. I should never have let him get in the way, but he was so totally into you.”
“I get it,” Cal smiles, “and who is to say we’d be together now if we were given a chance back then.”
“Too true,” I smile. “Look, Cal, I know you don’t want to hear it, but Scott has changed for the better; he’s solid.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” she says, not convinced.
“You can trust me on that, I promise. He’s been the bands biggest supporter.”
After a few steps she asks, “Will they wait for you?”
“What do you mean?
“Election Records. Will they wait for you to finish uni?”
I smirk to myself at her smooth change of subject, then I stop in my tracks. Blowing out a sigh, I answer, “To be honest, no. And before you say it, I know it’s a risk.”
“I wasn’t going to say anything,” she laughs. “But let me guess, your parents are giving you a hard time.”
I squeeze her hand. “Not sure my dad would give a rats arse, that’s if he knew anything about it in the first place.
” She looks at me, mouth wide open, eyebrows raised.
“I know, I know. I haven’t had a chance to talk to him yet.
For some reason, he thinks I’m too young to make my own decisions in life, but I think twenty-one is old enough.
I’m just happy my mum’s cool with it. Worried at first, but we talked it through, and Tommy had a word.
I don’t know what it is about Tom, but fuck me, he’s persuasive. ”
“He seems like a really good guy,” she says, looking to the pavement we’re now walking along. “I hope Angie doesn’t give him the brush off.”
“She seemed pretty into him when we left.”
“Yeah, but—” she shrugs her shoulders. “Angie has been hurt, so don’t be surprised if they get so far and she decides not to take it further.”
Being with one girl for too long isn’t exactly Tommy’s style, but I decide now is not the time to drop that bombshell. “Girls. I don’t understand them full stop,” I laugh out.
“Oh, we know what we’re doing. Do you think we want to make your life easy? We’re intent on making you work for it.” Her brows raise over the half-smile on her face. She’s full of it. “So, what’s next Ash? What have you decided?”
“About the band? Not sure. Brett and Max are chomping at the bit, it’s just Tommy and me holding back for now. Between you and me, I want to take the contract. I want it so badly; I can taste it.”
“Then the degree should take a back seat. Don’t let it stop you doing what you love most.”
“It’s not as simple as that.”
She tilts her head while her eyes narrow. “Why not? I don’t get it. What’s the point of taking a degree if you’re not into it?”
“I am into it, but it’s not my first love.”
“Then what’s the problem?
“I’ve got commitments.”
“Like?”
“Like my mum.”
“Your mum? But you said she’s cool about it.”
“She is, but that’s the problem. She isn’t thinking of herself.
I worry about her all the time. My dad’s a difficult man and I’m sure he gives her a hard time.
Bernie was saying, if we go ahead, we could go into the studio to record our first album by the end of the year, then touring next summer.
If we’re travelling, it means leaving Mum behind and I don’t trust my dad anymore. ”
“You think he’d hurt her? Physically I mean.”
“No…at least I don’t think so. He’s just not the easiest to live with. Mum puts up with a lot. I’m her escape, you know?”
“Yeah,” she nods, her eyes glazed over. “I kind of do. If I didn’t have uni, I don’t know what I’d do. My mum and me, we don’t get on too great either. She’s about as unbearable as she can be.”
“Well, maybe this year, I can be your escape.”
“Maybe you can,” she smiles.
“So, what about you, Calla. What is it, you want to do with your life?” She looks a little pink in the face while her long, dark hair, waves in the gentle wind blowing from the evening sea.
“Oh, nothing as exciting as making music and going on the road.’
“Then what?” I ask, but I’m pretty sure Calla could do anything she wants.
“Promise not to tell?”
“If you don’t want me to.”
“Okay, then. I’m hoping to run my own business one day.
Don’t ask me in what, I have no idea, but I like the thought of working for myself and building something up from scratch.
The problem is, I’ve only just completed my placement year, so I need more work experience first. I’m not sure I’ll find what I need around here.
I love Braebeach, but sometimes you have to spread your wings. ”
My heart sinks at the thought of her going one way and me the other.
I’ve only just caught up with her again.
I notice her shoulders drop as if she’s feeling exactly the same way I do, so I dip my head and try to catch her eye.
“Hey, while we’re both still here and have the summer, there’s nothing to stop us from having a little fun together? ”
She answers straight away, “We can do that,” then she smiles, sparking my own smile back but inside, there’s an ache to my gut. It would be better if we could have a little more time.
I can’t stop thinking about her.
Cal and I spent the whole of last night together. Our decision to head for The Daisy Bar in town was last minute. It’s one of the few open until the early hours, plus we can get in for free—a perk of working there.
We entered into a crowd of clubbers which was hard to resist and we kept dancing until the sun came up. Then we wandered the streets until we found ourselves back at mine.
Her love of music spoke to me more than I knew possible. When we got back to my room, her face lit up at the sight of my vinyl records, and she took her time picking out her favourites.
“I can’t believe you love The Waterboys too,” she said, her voice all high pitched.
“Most people haven’t heard of them,” I told her.
“You know who I have to thank for introducing them to me?” she said, her face glowing. “It’s someone we both knew well.”
“Not Mr Williamson?”
“The very same.” She was referring to our old music teacher.
We played their album, A Pagan Place in its entirety—kissing, in-between singing, in-between talking until we both fell asleep.
Cal was spooned against me as we lay on top of the duvet.
Now, I’m waking up by myself. There’s a note on the side table explaining she had to run.
There’s no number for me to call—again—but there is a casual invitation for lunch at the Rosie Lee Café where she works.
At least now we both know where to find each other at work or home.
Maybe that’s her appeal. Cal is easy-going.
Always has been, at least, that’s the way she came across at school.
A bang at the door has me up and out of bed. Taking the stairs two at a time and nearly sliding on my arse, I realise I didn’t need to rush. Tommy is there first.
“Jesus Mrs C. Are you alright?”