Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
T hey weren’t the only ones who thought the pool was a good place to cool off on a hot summer’s day. Sissy was elated when they arrived to find the drummer, Stoner, from the band she had been talking about, and the rest of the band, swimming naked in the pool. The group of men were older, maybe in their twenties, and Evie tried not to stare at the five of them standing up to their chests in the clear water. They waved as Evie and the others emerged from the rainforest. By now her senses were overloaded, and her feet felt as if they were walking above the ground, almost as if she was gliding over the earth.
Thankfully her new friends didn’t take all their clothes off. She followed what Peace and Sissy did, taking off her shorts and shirt, and leaving her knitted bikini on. The two girls wore similar togs to her, although their bodies were tanned which made hers look white in comparison. She was grateful the men stayed at a distance, although it didn’t take Sissy long to swim over to them so she could talk to Stoner.
The others didn’t appear to have any qualms about the men’s nudity. Although the effects of the marijuana had dulled her senses, she still did not feel comfortable being close to five naked men, talking and laughing just like this was a normal thing to do.
She turned her back as the men got out and put on their shorts, before sitting on the edge of the pool. They dangled their legs in the water as they passed a bong back and forth. Sissy swam over and was soon hanging onto Stoner’s leg as he bounced her up and down in the water. Eventually, he slid back in beside her and started kissing her. Evie looked away, aware that Stoner’s hands were moving all over Sissy.
Perhaps Peace sensed she wasn’t comfortable with the situation. ‘Sissy loves him,’ she told Evie. ‘I reckon she knew they were coming here.’
The two girls floated on their backs in the middle of the pool, giggling and making up stories about the clouds that floated above. Evie relaxed again, the water cool and refreshing on her skin. A couple of times she looked at the other men who were still sitting around the edge of the pool, smoking and talking. Who would have thought that, after leaving Beaudesert, she would be at a rock pool with new friends, as well as five naked musicians? And smoking dope.
One of the men dived back into the pool. Thankfully, he was now wearing shorts. His name was Bob, and he swam toward her and Peace. He was older, with long hair that hung down to his shoulders. He also had very blue eyes that looked straight into hers when he introduced himself. There was a rough edge to him and he spoke in the typical north Queensland drawl. Evie asked him about the band, and he talked about where they played and what their plans were. They had a regular booking at the main pub in Cairns, and in a month’s time, they had some gigs a bit further south in some of the bigger towns. ‘We’re on our way to the top,’ Bob said. ‘We’re going to be famous you know. Bigger than Pink Floyd. One day you’ll be saying, I know that band.’
Bob was paying Evie a lot of attention, and Peace soon became bored. She swam to the edge and soon she was lying on a big rock, sunbaking with her bikini top off, her tanned breasts bare as she shared a smoke being passed around.
Bob reminded Evie of Chris. His eyes and hair were the same, and although he was skinny and not as tall as Chris, there was something about him she liked. He was hot, and definitely flirting with her. Fancy someone of his age wanting to do that? Chris would get the shits if he knew someone was hitting on her.
The water was up to her waist and she ducked down a couple of times, cooling her body from the heat of the summer sun. ‘You know, you’re real pretty,’ Bob murmured. ‘I haven’t seen you before. Are you new here?’
His voice was deep and husky and she tried to keep her words even, averting her gaze as she adjusted her bikini top to make sure it was in place. His eyes followed her motions and she flinched as he reached over and picked something out of her hair. He laughed. ‘You’re jumpy. Just a leaf in your hair.’
She giggled, the effects of the marijuana still flowing strongly in her blood. ‘I’ve moved here with my mother.’
‘How old are you?’
‘I’m nearly sixteen. How old are you?’
He purred like a cat and took a step towards her. ‘Well, I’ll be. Sweet sixteen and never been kissed. I’m Bob Billa and I’m twenty-six. What’s your name?’
‘Evie.’
‘Wow. Evie let your hair hang down. That’s a song.’
‘I know.’
‘Maybe one night you’ll let me sing it to you.’
‘No way. I hate that song.’ Her words came out with a vengeance before she could stop them, and she watched as a look of insult crossed his face.
He scowled. ‘How could anyone hate that song?’
Ducking under the water, she tried to control the nerves jingling in her stomach. When she came to the surface, the water streamed from her hair and face.
Bob moved closer and lowered his voice. ‘Maybe you’d let me sing you something else.’
His face was so close to hers, her voice barely audible when she replied. ‘Sure. You can sing anything but that song. ’
Before she could say anything else he moved closer, his lips brushing against hers, his hand running across her stomach. It was only a quick kiss and a soft touch, but the feel of his fingers on her skin sent pleasant shivers through her body. They stared at each other, and once again she thought how much he looked like Chris. ‘Did you like that?’ he asked.
She nodded, unsure of whether she should be having such an interaction with someone older.
He smiled, and she relaxed a little. ‘Maybe Sissy will bring you to the party on the weekend,’ he said.
She didn’t know what to say and stared at him like a stupid kid. Peace yelled out from the banks, ‘Evie. Come on, we’re going.’
‘I have to go,’ she said as she bobbed down, then swam through the water towards the others. Bob followed, standing in the water up to his waist as she got out. She could feel his eyes on her and she quickly put on her shorts and shirt. Older guys were forward, she thought. Cute, but forward.
As she followed Peace and the two boys away from the pool, she turned back to see what the men were doing. Stoner had disappeared with Sissy somewhere, and the other three boys were sitting on the rocks, sharing a smoke. Bob was sitting cross-legged, a ragged leather hat on his head. He waved both arms at her, then blew her a kiss. She lifted her arm and waved back before following the others out through the rainforest.