My father was saying he didn’t know me. It broke my heart. Because if anything, I was the easiest of his daughters to get to know. I sat there, watery eyed, staring at him, wondering when he lost touch with me? Or if he ever was in touch with me?
“Say something, Arya? Please?’ He begged.
I tried, but the words escaped me. The tears, however, did not. They found the floodgates as they spilled onto my face., and finally, after a few minutes of lonely sobbing, because he couldn’t even reach out to consul me, the words came, “I don’t know why it is that you don’t know me, when I’ve been right here all along. I’m Arya, your youngest daughter, who asks for little to nothing. And in case you hadn’t noticed. I do love to swim. Just not in a pool. I love the ocean. The saltiness of the sea. The waves breaking against my back. The sand squishing in my toes. The sun beating at my skin. You would’ve known this, except, you were too busy being my coach instead of my dad.”
The words were harsh. But he’d hurt me too.
4
Lilly picked me up in her brand-new convertible. Her parents had taken her hostage for the day under the guise of a family event, when in fact they were taking her car shopping, and she couldn’t had been anymore happier. She deserved it.
“Is it too much? It’s too much, isn’t it? Oh my gosh, maybe I should have driven my mom’s car today. Do you think people are going to talk? I can’t believe they bought me a new car!” Lilly said nervously.
I laughed, my best friend seriously had the ability to get in her head sometimes, “it’s not too much. Besides, are you kidding? You deserve this car. After driving that beater truck for as long as you did, and quite proudly I might add, I’d say you’ve earned the privilege to throw a little weight around.”
“You know what Arya, you are so right. Okay, so we have our schedules and we are going to rock junior year! Besides, now that you aren’t doing swim, you’ll have all sorts of time to join different clubs with me. Eek! This is going to be so exciting!”
I looked out the passenger side as she pulled into the junior parking lot. A new school year filled with new possibilities. There had been no closure with my father the night before, we left things at an impasse. I believed he thought he might guilt me back into wanting to swim at that meet, where I learned through him that he and the coaching staff had arranged for one of the Olympic trainers to be.
There was no remorse on his part. It had all been a ploy.
I left Lilly behind when a few people stopped to compliment her new wheels. I needed the extra time alone so I could clear my head before my first class.
“Arya! Wait up!” I heard Drina say. I’d almost forgotten about Drina. She was the second to the last youngest and a senior. Also, the funniest of my sisters, almost never taking anything too serious.
“Hey,” I said.
“You look really cute today,” she said taking in my short white lace skirt and light seafoam green blouse. My red fiery wavy locks were loose for a change, with a strand pinned at one side held up by my favorite flower, a Lilly.
I wasn’t one to wear makeup, but I promised Lilly I’d try junior year. So, I put on a little mascara which made my green eyes pop, and just a tad bit of tinted gloss on my lips. Although I was red head, my skin wasn’t as pale as most, with as much sun as I soaked in.
“I’m sorry about the mess at home. I wish I could do more. I suppose all of us can, but we’re too afraid,” she said, her eyes drifting off in sadness.
“Drina, I get it. Between dad and Tina. It can be a lot. I don’t really blame any of you. If anything, I don’t blame anyone. Not even dad, really. I imagine being a single parent has a lot of disadvantages and with as many children as he has? And all girls to boot?” I said laughing, hoping to lighten the mood, “trust me, no one family is perfect. We’ll get through this. Okay?”
She leaned in to give me a hug, “thank you for me the best little sister a family could ever wish for. I really don’t get it? But then again, like you said, no one family is perfect,” she said looking toward the main entrance.
Justin, a guy she’d kind of been seeing at school was waiting for her. It was nothing official, because our father didn’t allow for those types of distractions, especially with swim. So, she kept it very low key, and Justin seemed to respect her wishes. It didn’t hurt that my sister was stunning.
Unlike me, most of my sisters had my father’s ashier blonde to light brown hair. Tina had darker brown hair. But they all shared his blue eyes. I was the only red hair green eyed of the bunch, just like our mother.
My morning classes had gone quite uneventful as expected, until I met up with Lilly at lunch, “okay, there are a few clubs we can sign up for. What do you want to do? Sky is the limit!” She bellowed in my ear.
“Lilly! Seriously, I’m standing right next to you, there really is no need to scream at me.”
She laughed, “my best friend is finally going to have a high school life. I’ll scream all I want.”
I rolled my eyes, turning to find our usual table when I bumped into a chest as hard as the wall, “excuse me!” I said in pain, swearing under my breath.
“I’m pretty sure it should be, I’m sorry.”
Looking up I found myself staring into the eyes of the most beautiful human being I’d ever seen. His mesmerizing honey eyes stared down at me with such condescension, that I didn’t even care, as he tossed his messy dark locks around when he looked up to his buddy after his snarky comment.
I could smell the ocean on him, as I closed my eyes, picking up the distinct scent, even though his typical preppy boy shorts, t-shirt, and opened button shirt, wearing sneakers without laces. Yep. I knew his type all too well. Yet, I’d never seen him around campus.
“Whatever,” I said stepping around him, but not before noticing an interesting necklace hanging loosely under his t-shirt. I thought it glowed from beneath, yet I couldn’t be too sure. When he caught me do a double take, he quickly turned around and walked away, making me feel like a fool for staring.
“What was that all about?” Lilly said as she joined me.
“No idea. Who is he? I don’t remember seeing him here before?”
“I heard he’s new. A transfer. Senior, I think. You should ask Drina for sure.”
He and his friend sat a few tables away and for whatever reason I found myself drawn to this new kid on campus.
Great! That was the last thing I needed, and just as I was about to turn away, mister tall dark and handsome looked in my direction and gave me a smile.
Lilly noticed me looking and followed my line of sight, “Oh boy. I sense trouble,” she said as she turned back at me, “you can’t be serious Arya? You just got out of swimming? A boy right now after breaking your dads’ Olympic dreams for you? That’s like swimming with sharks.”
She was right, “this guy was definitely like swimming with sharks. And I’m feeling a bit dangerous lately,” I smiled coyly at him, “why not.”
She shook her head, “don’t say I didn’t warn you,” she sipped her soda and shoved a piece of her sandwich in her mouth without mercy, causing me to laugh uncontrollably for no reason other than I didn’t know how else to react.
Yep, I was in trouble. I just didn’t know how much.
5
The first couple of days back to school had gone quite uneventful. The new boy and I had played this song and dance of staring at each other from across the lunchroom, but that was as far as we ever took it. Lilly got bored and dropped making commentaries and was starting to put pressure on joining clubs, whereas I scolded her about the whole pressure thing. I felt bad, but the truth was, I didn’t want to join anything. She pouted for a half a day, but she could never really be too mad at me. And the feeling was mutual.
“What are you doing this weekend?” She asked as we made our way to the lunch room.
I gave her a dead look, “the beach, of course! I mean, what else would I do?”
“Yeah, but we can’t hang at the b
each all day.”
“Speak for yourself. Because I plan on heading out early in the morning and staying until they kick me out.”
She looked away, unimpressed, “we should find out if there are any parties. Maybe crash a party.”
“A party?” I could hardly believe what my dear friend was saying. She hated parties, further, she hated the entire concept of the high school experience as it related to the social experience outside of clubs that would further her educational agenda. I was intrigued by this new Lilly suggesting we crash a party.
“Why do you look so surprised?”
“Because in all of the years I’ve known you…” I stopped myself, “you know what. I’d love to crash a party. I’ll go to the beach in the morning. You find out any details about a good party to go to and I’m game.”
“What are you doing up so early, Arya?” my father asked as I surfaced from the pantry. An encounter that was starting to become a regular occurrence between he and I.
“I’m heading to the beach for a few hours, before the beach-combers infiltrate the area to get in a few laps. Then I’m hanging out with Lilly later in the evening. Not sure what we will be doing, but we probably will be home a little later.”
I walked by him to stuff my bag, taking notice of his watchful eyes.
“How far out are you swimming?” he asked.
I stopped to think, “past the rocks and the buoy. I’d like to head out to Tesoro Island, but Mike, the head lifeguard said to wait until he can be out there on one of the jet skis. It’s in the works.”
“You really like the ocean that much?”
“yes. I do.”
He sat on stool, “you remind me so much of your mother. She was forever going out for swims. It’s funny. She hated the pool as well. And did you know, she was probably one of the only women on earth who wasn’t impressed with my Olympic medals or swim times? In fact, nothing about the Olympics impressed her.” He said with a sense of sadness that I wasn’t sure if I should pursue the conversation or simply let it die.
“It’s hard to explain, dad. Swimming in the pool is like a fish in a tank. I feel trapped. Confined. And the chlorine? Forget about it. It irritates my skin. It’s only been getting worse. I just haven’t said anything. But when I’m out in the ocean. It’s natural. It’s like I belong there. Free. And I can hold my breath for what seems like forever. My vision seems sharper, and I know it sounds impossible, but I swear I swim faster.”
My heart was racing with excitement. It was all true. Every last word of it. I wish he would take a moment and for once head out there and join me so he could to feel the rush.
“well, I won’t keep you. Here,” he said pushing a few bills my way. “don’t say anything. Just take it. I want you to have a little cash on you.” He winked.
“thanks dad,” I said leaning in to give him a peck on the check before rushing out the door so I wouldn’t miss the bus.
This time, I wanted to get a couple of dives in, before swimming. I knew a couple of the guys who were going to be out there, they’d added me to a group text, which I rarely replied to. But now that I didn’t have club swim, I was free to join in.
“Oh hey! Look what the cat dragged in,” one of the guys said as soon as I stepped off the bus in the parking lot.
They all started greeting me, “nice to see you around here on a weekend. Bout time you come out when the big boys are out to play, and when the diving is at its best.”
“You know it!” I said hi-fiving a few. “Hey, can I leave my things in your car?” I asked one of the guys I knew.
I hadn’t realized just how many people gathered on the weekends, plus there were a lot of girls, accompanying their boyfriends. Or there in hopes of finding one?
“Okay, I think we’re going to do a few draws to see who goes first. There are a lot of divers here today.”
I was tossing my towel and shorts off to the side when I saw him. The guy from school, with a few others. He didn’t see me, so I tucked out of view. Not exactly sure why I did that, but I did.
“Listen up, everyone. If you plan on diving, gather around me so you can take a number. You are free to exchange whatever number you draw amongst each other, so long as you are ready by the time the number you are holding is called. Or you forfeit that round. Once down there, please swim out of the way as possible. Our window this morning is short, so we have to keep a good pace.”
We all moved to take numbers, “hey, I’ve seen you at school. What are you doing here?”
“The same thing as you.” I said rather irritated. How dare he assume anything less.
He smiled, “I’d heard rumors you dived. I’ll be honest, I didn’t believe them. My family and I moved out here over the summer. I’ve been here every weekend, and not once had I seen you.”
“Well, I’m here now. So, you can put those rumors to rest.”
“I guess I can,” he said giving me a one over.
I reached for my number, seven. Yes! I thought to myself. My lucky number seven.
“What’d you get?” He asked showing me he had six, so I showed him mine. “Sweet. I’m Mason, by the way, and you are Arya if my sources are correct.”
He knows my name? I nodded. “You don’t like to talk too much, do you?” He quizzed.
“I’m trying to get in the zone.”
“I see. Well, Arya. I’ll see you down there,” he said, retreating to his group of friends. From the looks of it, he was the only one diving from his group.
When I returned to my group, one of the guys asked what number I was and one proceeded to tell me how great of a diver Mason was, “I believe he moved here from one of the islands of the Pacific. I would say Hawaii, but I’m not sure. All I know is he’s really good.”
Sounded to me like he’d grown up around the ocean, made sense that he was good. Nothing wrong with a little healthy competition.
We watched patiently as each diver took to the ledge. Nothing too over the top. Seventeen feet. But it was a sharp drop and the water below was deep. The waves tended to crash into the opening making the perfect pool of suds. This created a vacuum that most inexperienced divers would get sucked into, fatally.
The climb back up was bit lumbering, but once you’d done it a time or two, you’d figured out the smartest footing.
It was Mason’s turn. I stepped up, knowing I was next. Also, because I wanted to get a good look at his dive.
He turned on the ledge, facing the crowd, creating a momentum I’d never witnessed there before. Except, that was how he dove.
His back arched perfectly for his blind entry. Arms outstretched, just so, that it almost looked like he was flying. He circled in the air, then twisting his body, once, twice, three times. How many more? Five! Five summersaults, until he made a clean dive straight into the water, barely, and I mean barely causing a ripple.
My jaw dropped open. How was I supposed to follow that?
“Seven.”
Crap.
I stepped up to the platform, knowing very well what had just taken place before me. I couldn’t do what Mason had only performed. But I would be damned if I didn’t try my absolute best to pull a few tricks out of my own sleeve.
In my typical departure, I outstretched my entire body, elongating from to the tip of my fingers to my toes, jumping off the ledge. Pressing my legs perfectly straight against my chest for a second and releasing, I immediately went into one, two, three simultaneous twists. There was no time for overthinking. I only had time for one more quick stunt, so I found my core, rolled out to enter the water blindly. And it worked!
The ocean welcomed me into its embrace, as I swam toward the exit point where Mason waited.
Maybe my dive wasn’t as impressive from the takeoff as Mason’s, but it was still up there.
“Nicely done. I suppose I can put those rumors to rest now,” he said with a wink.
“Gee, thanks.”
He attempted to give me his hand to help me out of the water, �
��no thank you. I’ve got this.”
“Suit yourself.”
I watched from behind as his toned body took to each movement with an ease that only came with training. Wondering if he participated in any other sports.
“Hey, what else do you do? You know, besides cliff dive?” I asked.
He looked back, his eyes brighter in the sun, “swimming.”
“Wait, you swim? Club swim?”
“Heck no. Swimming for leisure. In the ocean. Diving. Snorkeling. All for leisure.”
I laughed, a bit relieved.
“I heard you swim. Club swim,” he teased.
“Used to club swim. Now I’m just a normal high school student.”
“That cliff dives.”
I smiled, “that cliff dives.
6
“He was there, and you talked to him? And you didn’t think to call me? What is wrong with you?” Lilly asked overdramatically stretching out her hand to check my temperature. “Something is wrong with you. The guy talks to you. From what it sounds like he was flirting with you. He’s been asking around, referring to his sources, and you don’t pick up on any of this? Honey, there is something clearly misfiring up there.”
I couldn’t stop laughing. When Lilly would carry on the way she was, her Asian accent became a tad bit pronounced. Of course, if I told her so much, she would take it to an extreme, and go full blown Asian to the point I couldn’t understand her, until I was begging her to stop. Just another reason I loved my best friend. We could talk about anything. Behave however we wanted and be who we wanted. Because at the end of the day, who we were at the core was what mattered most.
Kingdom of Salt and Sirens Page 23