by E. L. Todd
“Sounds serious,” Henry said.
“About time,” Nancy said. “We’ve been dating for months.”
“I wonder where he is,” Sydney said. “He’s usually the first on here.”
Derek appeared and placed a turkey sandwich in front of Nancy. “Is this okay?”
She smiled at him, her eyes clouded with emotion. “It’s the tastiest sandwich I’ve ever seen.”
He smiled then sat beside her, his own sandwich on his plate. Derek leaned toward her and kissed her on the cheek. “How are you?”
“Good. You?”
“I’m better now.”
Coen winked at him and Henry gave him a thumbs up.
Derek took a bite of his sandwich then looked at Nancy. “You coming to my competition on Saturday?”
“It’s this Saturday?”
“Yeah. Can you make it?”
“Of course, I’ll be there,” Nancy said. “I just didn’t realize it was so soon.”
“Yep. And I’m going to win,” Derek said.
She rubbed his back. “I’m sure you will.”
“We’ll all be there,” Coen said.
“Cool,” Derek said. “I appreciate it.”
Nancy ate her sandwich with a smile on her face, feeling happier than ever. This was exactly what she wanted. It took a long time to arrive, but it finally did. She spent the rest of her lunch with her friends, Derek whispering in her ear every few minutes. He kept telling her how much he loved not using a condom. She rolled her eyes and hushed him.
After lunch, she went to her microbiology class and waited for Dr. Drake to pass back the exams. When he came to her, he put it face down on the desk.
“You look better today,” he whispered.
“I’m a lot better.”
“I’m glad you solved your problem.” He left and handed the exams back to the other students. When she flipped her paper over, she saw that she got a B. Relief washed through her. She was so certain that she failed it.
She went to her art class afterward and talked to her friends about the art exhibit.
“They are accepting candidates today. Only today,” Shelly said.
“Only today?” Nancy said. “Good thing you told me.”
“So you’re going to do it?” Tiffany asked.
“I guess….”
Shelly patted her on the arm. “Come on. Don’t be scared. Art is about expressing yourself. There is no good or bad. There are only pieces that speak to people. You have nothing to lose.”
Nancy took a deep breath. “I guess you’re right.”
After her class was over, she went home and dug the painting out of the closet. When she looked at it, she saw the world she created, even if her dad didn’t see a single thing. She took a deep breath and steadied her nerves. She was going to do this. If they picked her painting, great. If not…well, she would worry about that when it happened.
She drove to J and K Showcase and parked outside. It wasn’t what she expected it to be. It was a Victorian style house with a large yard full of trees and flowers. The bottom part of the house looked like the art exhibit and the top floor seemed to be the residential area. She walked to the front door and knocked.
A woman answered and greeted her. “Let me guess. You’re here for the competition?”
“Yeah,” Nancy said as she held her painting.
“Come in and we’ll fill out the paperwork.”
The room was covered in hardwood floor with white walls. The lights in the center of the room pointed at the walls, highlighting them. The woman walked to the large desk and sat down.
“Can I have your name?”
“Nancy Erikson.”
“Is that the name you would like to use or do you have an alter ego?”
“No,” Nancy said. “My name is fine.”
“Okay,” the woman said as he wrote it down. “We’ll notify you if your painting is chosen. If not, you can come pick it up.”
“Thank you.” She placed the painting against the wall. “Does Thatcher Adams live here?”
“I can’t divulge his personal information.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry. Could you just tell him I’m a big fan?”
“Of course.”
“Thank you,” Nancy said as she left the house.
“And good luck, Ms. Erikson.”
Nancy came back to the car then drove home. It was late afternoon when she came back into the house. She decided to call Derek since she didn’t have any plans. She missed him and wanted to invite him to her place tonight. She knew her father wouldn’t be home all weekend.
“Baby?”
“Hey,” she said, a smile in her voice.
“What’s up?”
“Can I see you tonight?”
“Oh. Actually, I’m surfing tonight since the competition is tomorrow.”
“Oh, okay.” She didn’t even think of that.
“But…I’m probably ready for it. I want to see you too.”
The words moved her heart. “No, it’s okay, Derek. I know this is important to you.”
“You’re important to me too.”
“Can I come and watch you?”
“Sure,” he said excitedly. “I’m leaving now.”
“I’ll meet you there.” She hung up then left the house, driving down the road until she reached the right spot. She was sitting on the sand when he approached her, wearing his swim trunks.
“Hey, baby.”
“Hey,” she said as she stood up.
He kissed her then pulled away. “You’ll save me if a shark comes?”
“No. You’re on your own,” she said with a laugh.
He rubbed his nose against hers. “Good. I wouldn’t want you to get eaten anyway.”
“Do you always surf alone?”
“No. Some buddies are coming. They just aren’t here yet.”
“Oh okay. You scared me for a second.”
“I’m not stupid, despite what Coen and Henry may tell you.”
“And me,” she teased.
He kissed her again. “I’ll see you later.”
She sat down on the sand and watched him paddle out to sea. He rode the waves for a while until he found one he wanted. He swam into it then jumped up, riding the waves and shredding the water as he glided, making the sea obey his every command.
Nancy was mesmerized by the sight. She always thought surfing was cool, but the sport didn’t catch her attention. Now the look on Derek’s face caught her notice. He was focused and determined, almost in a trance as he worked the board. She had never seen him look so tense and serious. It was how she looked when she painted. Perhaps they had more in common than she thought.
A few other guys arrived at the beach and joined Derek in the water. He was out there for hours, never tiring or growing fatigued. If the sun didn’t set and brought the world into darkness, he would still be out there. When the sun was almost gone, Derek finally came back to shore.
“You’re going to win,” she said to him.
He pulled his wet hair out of his face and smiled at her. “You think so?”
“I know so.”
He kissed her then pulled away. “That means a lot to me.”
“I’m not just saying it.”
“I know.”
“So, you want to do something?”
He looked sad. “Baby, I should probably get to bed. I—”
“It’s okay, Derek. I understand. I know tomorrow is a big day for you.”
He breathed a sigh of relief. “I didn’t want to make you mad.”
“Don’t worry about it. Get some rest.”
“Okay. You’ll be here tomorrow?”
“Yeah. I’ll be cheering you on.”
Derek took her hand and walked her to the car. He threw his board in the back of his truck then kissed her hard on the mouth. “Good night.”
“Good night.”
“Can you text me when you get home?”
“Why?”
“I don’t know,” he said. “I just want to know when you’re home.”
She smiled. “Okay.”
He got into his car then waited for her to leave first. She waved before she drove away, leaving her heart behind.
6
“Wow. I can’t believe how many people are here,” Sydney said as she looked at the crowd on the beach.
“Derek must be so nervous,” Nancy said.
“That cocky asshole?” Coen said. “I’m sure he’s loving it.”
Henry kept his arm around Ren’s waist. “We’re never going to find him in this crowd.
They walked across the beach, pushing through people as they made it to the judges’ station. Derek was standing with his surfer friends, girls in bikinis gathered around. He wore his wetsuit and it was tight around his body. Nancy stared at him with a hungry expression.
“I don’t think we should go over there,” Sydney said. “It’s blocked off.”
“I think Derek is next,” Henry said. “Good think we got here in time.”
Nancy wanted Derek to know she was there. It seemed important to him. She pulled out her phone and called him but he never answered.
“He probably left his phone in the car,” Coen said. “Derek!”
Derek didn’t look over.
“Derek!” he yelled again.
“We’ll just seem him afterwards,” Sydney said.
Nancy sighed. “I want him to know I’m here.”
“I’m sure he does,” Sydney said. “There are so many people here that he probably assumed he just couldn’t find you. Now let’s get a good spot.”
They moved to a prime location on the sand so they could see the waves.
Coen looked at the contestants. “I thought this started at eight. Why are most of the contestants done?”
“It must have started earlier,” Ren said.
“I feel bad for Derek,” Nancy said. “Going last sucks. He really has to blow the judges out of the water.”
The judges held the scores for the previous contestant.
Coen cringed. “Yikes. That’s going to be hard to follow.”
“He can do it,” Nancy said firmly.
Derek was called to the front and the crowd cheered. Nancy screamed his name several times but he didn’t hear anything. She recognized the determined expression of his face. He was in the zone.
He ran into the waves then jumped on his board, paddling hard. Nancy held her hands to her chest, squeezing them as she waited in anticipation. Derek sat on his board, waiting for the perfect wave to come his way. Nancy shook in her spot, unable to stay still.
Derek finally found the right one. He swam hard and rode it, jumping up on his board. Once he was standing, he began to tear up the water. He rode the surf, turning and cutting in pivotal points so he wouldn’t lose the momentum. Derek didn’t’ seem nervous at all as he gracefully moved through the waves, taking up the entire front of the beach. Minutes trickled by and he still didn’t fall.
“Damn, he’s good,” Coen said.
“Of course he is,” Nancy said.
Derek finally fell but he paddled back out to sea and rode the next wave, using his second turn. He became the master of the ocean again, making it bow down to him as he moved. The crowd was whistling and cheering, awed by his ability. Now Nancy felt horrible for not believing in him when he said he wanted to go pro. She shut down his dream just like her father shut down hers. Derek finally fell in the water. Everyone screamed for him.
“He’s got it,” Henry said.
“We didn’t see the other contestants,” Sydney said.
“It doesn’t matter,” Henry said. “Derek kicked ass.”
Derek came back to the beach, carrying his board with him. His hair dripped down and he had to push it back. He joined his friends and his the contestants. They hugged him and patted him on the back. Several of the girls embraced him but Nancy didn’t let it bother her.
The judges finally held up their scores.
“Holy shit!” Coen said. “Derek got a perfect score.”
Nancy clapped her hands and jumped. “I’m so proud of him.”
“He’s getting some serious loving from you tonight,” Henry said.
“Hell yeah he is,” Nancy said with a smile.
Derek moved to the stage, smiling like he would never stop, and he received his medal. He waved to the crowed, who cheered for him with whistles and shouts. He left the stage and everyone moved in on him.
“I want to see him,” Nancy said. “Let’s go.”
They moved through the crowd, trying to get to him. When they were in sight, they saw him talking to older men, who were conversing with him in private.
“I bet those are scouts,” Coen said. “Let’s just wait.”
Nancy sighed. “Fine.”
Girls in bikinis would come over and take pictures with him. Derek smiled at the camera and looked like he was enjoying it a little too much. A few of them asked him to sign their bikini tops. Nancy tried not to let it bother her but it did. When a girl took off her top and asked him to sign her bare tit, he did.
Coen shook his head. “Lucky bastard.”
Sydney elbowed him.
Nancy tried to stay calm but she felt like she would explode.
Henry caught the look. “Nancy, he was put on the spot.”
“Why does that matter?” Sydney said. “Coen would never do that.”
“That’s different,” Coen said. “I’m married.”
“You still wouldn’t have done that if we were just dating,” Sydney said.
“I don’t think comparing Coen to Derek is fair,” Henry said.
Nancy wasn’t listening. She was just looking at Derek, watching him act as the king of the moment. One of the girls handed Derek his bag. He opened it and pulled on a shirt and took out his phone. When he looked at it, Nancy expected him to call her back. Instead, he put the phone back in his bag, ignoring her call. That made her feel even worse.
“Derek!” a cute blonde girl said. “You were amazing. I knew you would do it.” She jumped in his arms and he caught her in midair. When she kissed him on the cheek, he didn’t pull away or put her down.
Nancy stepped forward so she could slap him hard across the face.
“No,” Henry said as he grabbed her. “Leave him be.”
Nancy glared at him. “I’m just supposed to put up with this?”
Henry looked at her. “I admit Derek is being an ass right now, but the scouts are standing right there, people are taking pictures…talk to him tomorrow.”
“You’re unbelievable,” she snapped.
“He’s right,” Sydney said. “Don’t make a scene.”
“Fine,” she said, pulling her arm away.
The afternoon went by and Derek remained where he was, talking to his friends and laughing, taking picture after picture. Nancy watched him, seeing the happiness on his face. After everything they went through, he was just back to his old ways. She sat on the beach, watching him. He never came over to her, never even glanced.
As the sun went down, Nancy and her friends sat down in the sand and drank their beers. Coen and Henry walked away and started talking to friends from school. Sydney and Ren gave Nancy worried expressions, knowing there was a fire of despair burning inside her.
Booze was brought around, and Derek started doing body shots with the girls, licking the salt off their chests and downing his drinks. Girls wrapped their arms around him, hugging him to their chests.
Sydney gave her a sad expression. “I hate him now.”
“He’s an ass, Nancy,” Ren said. “Dump him.”
“Dump him tomorrow,” Sydney said.
Nancy stood up and brushed the sand from her clothes. “I’ll see you later.”
“Where are you going?” Sydney asked.
“Just leave me alone,” she said as she walked away. She marched up the sand, her eyes downcast. She was so stupid for believing that Derek
would ever change. As soon as he was in the same environment, he became the ass he always was.
“Excuse me, I’ve misplaced my keys. Have you seen them?”
“Huh?” She looked up from the floor, seeing a tall man in front of her. He was a least six feet, the same height as Coen, and he had dirty blond hair and blue eyes. His mouth was stretched in a smile while he looked at her. He was shirtless, wearing blue swim trunks. His muscled chest caught her eye for a moment in time. Then, she disregarded it.
“My keys. I left them over here. Now I can’t see to find them.”
“Oh. Uh, I’m sorry. I can’t help you.” She knew she was being rude, but she turned and kept walking.
“Wait,” he said as he jogged to her and stood in front of her. “Where are my manners? My name is Thatcher.”
“Okay.”
He waited for her to speak but she was too upset to engage in a conversation. “Can you do me the honor of telling me your name?”
“Nancy.”
He nodded. “Nancy, let’s forget about the keys for a second. Is everything alright?”
She wasn’t sure why this stranger cared. “I’m fine. Good luck with the keys.”
He stepped in front of her again. “Wait. Can I help?”
She sighed. “I’m sorry to be rude, but please get the fuck out of my way.”
His eyes widened and a smile stretched his face. “Wow. Having a bad night?”
She walked around him then headed up the beach.
“I hope it gets better, Nancy.”
She ignored him and kept walking. She didn’t give a shit about anything at the moment.
7
Nancy slept in late the next day. She woke up but never opened her eyes, choosing to lie in bed rather than be productive. Her phone rang around noon. When she looked at it, it was Derek. She ignored the call then went into the kitchen, making some coffee. Her dad wasn’t home but it didn’t feel any different. Whether he was there or not, it felt the same.
Her phone went off again and she looked at it.
Baby, talk to me.
Her eyes narrowed in anger. Fuck U. Don’t call me baby.
I need to talk to you.
Instead of bothering with a response, she ignored him.