by Allie Burton
“Where do your parents live?”
“Why does it matter, Frank?” I used his name, adult to adult, but the sass at the end was all teen angst.
His friendly expression morphed into one of authority. His lips firmed. His gaze drilled into mine. “It’s unusual for an eighteen-year-old to be completely off the grid.”
* * *
“You okay?” Chase put his arm around me.
I stood in silence as Officer Clayton got in his car and drove away. I normally would’ve had a reaction to Chase’s touch, but my entire body stiffened like a surfboard totally water logged. I’d distracted the cop for now, but how long before he figured me out? Figured my situation out?
“Yeah.” Too shocked, I couldn’t decide whether I loved or hated that Chase cared.
My first thought was to pack up and run. That’s what I did best. When Clayton realized I’d lied on my Boardwalk application, he’d be back. He’d have more questions. He might even contact Bill and Carlita.
“Why were you so antagonistic?” Chase had been eavesdropping.
Chase was getting too close. If, no when, I had to run, I’d leave him behind. Not tell him when I was leaving or where I was going. Our whatever-type-of-relationship would be over.
I pulled my shoulders back and let my mask fall into place. The façade didn’t seem to fit. “Because that’s who I am.”
“No, you’re not.” He dropped his arm and stepped in front of me blocking the light from the sun, blocking the warmth. “It’s who you pretend to be. You pretend to act so hard, but not only did you care enough to save Brandon but the sea otter, too. You’re so independent, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but I can see you’re lonely.”
I jerked my head up trying to decipher how much of that speech he believed. His glare pierced into my soul. Insecurities fumbled in my chest. Defensiveness was my shield. It kept people from seeing the real me. I couldn’t let people guess. I couldn’t let Chase guess right.
“I am pretending.” Pausing, I let the silence add weight to my words. I steeled my nerves. I didn’t have a choice. My decision was best for both of us. “I’m pretending to actually like you.”
Chase staggered back. His lips narrowed so thin they looked like cracks on the sidewalk. His blue eyes became slits of frozen ice. “Then you’re an excellent actress. Because I believed you were vulnerable and caring.”
“You’re wrong on all counts.” If Chase saw the real me, he’d discover all my lies and half-truths. I hid my trembling lips behind a smile. The rasping from my chest I used to put force in my voice. “Except for the actress part.”
Because I was putting on the show of my life.
Although I hoped he believed the acting had been when I’d been with him, when I’d shared the information at the campground, when he kissed me.
I didn’t need to worry about that happening again. The coldness in his glance told me how angry he was. He believed I’d used him.
“Then, I guess I don’t need to worry about you anymore.” His tone tried to convey nonchalance.
I wasn’t sure I believed it. But his next sentence slashed through my heart.
“Cold-blooded actors do well in Southern California.”
* * *
After my long and lonely shift was over, I headed back to the campground, where I found Mr. Plankson prowling around my tent. I didn’t like his questions from the other day, and I hated his inquisitiveness. “Why are you snooping around?”
He stood in front of the tent opening with an air of innocence that I didn’t believe. “Looking for you.”
The zipper pull swung back and forth. There was no breeze.
“Inside my tent?”
“Just knocked on the canvas.” He held up a fist like that was evidence. “You’ve been gone since this morning.”
“I was working.”
“Where?” Plankson didn’t even fake concern like Officer Clayton. Who did Plankson think he was? My father?
“Boardwalk.” I answered to end the conversation. “How do you think I paid for your bribe.”
“About that.” Plankson grabbed a strand of his longish, distinctive-grey hair and twisted it around his middle finger. He looked like a well-aged rock star. “Since I’m breaking the rules for you, you’re going to have to do a few things for me.”
I didn’t like the way that sounded. “I paid you.”
“Forty bucks?” His laugh warbled. “That’s not enough to cover my cigarettes.”
I’d never seen the man smoke.
I placed my hands on my hips and tried to sound tough even though my knees shook. He was a creepy old man and I was alone. Maybe I should’ve kept Chase around a little longer. As a friend. “What do you want?”
“Help around the camp.” His smile showed even white teeth but there was nothing friendly on his face. In fact, the grin seemed sinister. “I need you to pick up litter by the rocks at the edge of the cove this evening.”
“But—”
“You want to stay?” He picked up a metal stick with a sharp end and pointed it at me. “Pick up garbage.”
I yanked the stick out of his hand. He had me. If I wanted to stay at the campground for a little while longer, I’d have to do what he wants. “This is dirty blackmail.”
Dirty in several ways.
* * *
I’m going to be known as garbage-girl. Stabbing a yellow hamburger wrapper, I shoved the paper in the plastic bag I carried. Grit clung to me like a second skin. Beer bottles and dirty diapers littered the rocks near the cliffs, either carried by the current or partying people.
The phenomenal view would definitely be a draw. The rocks jutted out at the end of the small cove surrounded by water on all three sides. You could see for miles.
But it was a dangerous spot for stupid people doing stupid things. I’d slipped several times on my climb to this point.
The waves crashed close to where I stood. Spray showered me. I licked the sea water off my lips tasting its saltiness. While I’d love to jump in the ocean, diving at this spot would be idiotic.
Stabbing a plastic water bottle, my feet slipped on the slick rocks again. I almost lost my balance. Now I understood why Plankson didn’t want to do this job—it’s dirty and dangerous.
The sun rode low in the sky. A group of seagulls gathered on a nearby ledge. There must be hundreds. The birds cawed arguing with each other. Their beady eyes watched me tread from rock to rock, careful where I put my feet. The birds should be happy, not suspicious of my actions.
Balancing on a rock near the edge, I poked my stick at a crushed Styrofoam container. Waves washed over the garbage and pushed it around the small pool formed by the rocks. I jabbed again.
A thunderous sound, louder than the waves, caught my attention. I jerked my head up. The blue sky had turned white and grey from the seagulls taking flight at the exact same time. Their wings flapped and flapped, covering my view of the sky. They flew toward me.
No, correct that. They flew at me.
I ducked covering my head, fearing their sharp claws. Hunching my shoulders, I tried to become tiny. My exposed skin seemed to screech waiting for the bird attack. Dropping the stick and garbage bag, I hunkered down.
The crazy birds swooped. They were like a bird battalion attacking their target.
And their target was me.
My heart pounded faster than their flapping wings. Wings and webbed feet fluttered hard at my head, my face, my shoulders. Bright orange beaks pecked at my arms.
“Get away.” I swatted with my hands at the birds, trying to scare them. My futile attempts did nothing.
The sharp points of their beaks tore at my skin. Sharp pain pulsed from the open wounds. The birds attacked in tandem as if they’d planned the entire thing.
I shifted my feet to get lower. My foot slipped and I tumbled. My stomach tumbled, too. Reaching out, I tried to grab hold of a rock but a seagull nipped at my fingers. Pain pulsed in my hand. I released the rock…
And fell.
Off the jagged edge.
Into the churning water.
Chapter Seven
Intended Interference
A wave crashed and shoved me against the jagged rocks beneath the surface. I covered my face with my arms. My body scratched on the sharp rock edges. Pain stung my arms and legs. I uncovered my face and took note of deep gouges on my skin. Blood—my blood—trailed into the water.
A second wave crashed into me. Before being sliced again, I dove deep. The waves were less strong further down. The force wouldn’t be as powerful. Soft algae clung to the rocks and cliff bottoms cushioning the blow against my body. Kelp wiggled with the waves creating a natural break, and an underwater forest.
Using my strength, I swam away from the rocks toward the sandy bottom staying far down from the surface, and the birds.
Spiky anemone jutted out between crevices. A school of silver fish darted past. A group of mussels clustered together on the bottom.
The view below fascinated. It was like another world. A world where I belonged, even though the fish probably didn’t think so. The current caressed my skin. The warmth enveloped me.
All my fears about the fall and my injuries floated away. I spun around and the water circled with me. I made my own mini-friendly whirlpool. Nothing like the other night. Fish and bubbles floated around. Sand twirled from the bottom. Strands of grey mixed with the green and brown seaweed. Rocks swung by my kaleidoscope of underwater colors. My gaze caught on something in the blurry kelp forest. An oval-shaped, pale something.
A face.
A human face.
I stopped spinning and turned in the direction of the kelp and stared. Nothing was there. I thought I saw someone. Something.
I shivered.
Probably nothing. Just my spun-out imagination.
Still, I needed to inspect the area. A bit dizzy, I kicked my feet and headed to where the seaweed grew from the bottom like upside down streamers at a birthday party. I parted the strands and peaked inside to satisfy my curiosity.
It was darker under the seaweed where the sun doesn’t penetrate the growth of kelp. The green and brown fronds crisscrossed and tangled with the current. It was like entering a jungle. Good thing I knew there were no lions, or tigers, or bears.
Of course, there could be sharks.
Or whatever else I’d seen.
But I found nothing. Exiting the kelp forest, I gave up my search and swam closer to the surface. The face had probably been a rock cut and worn over the years. Or a large fish. Not a person at all.
A plunging sound disturbed the peacefulness of the water. The shadow of a small boat and an anchor sinking to the bottom of the ocean nearby. A guy dove from the boat and into the water.
Chase.
I recognized him by his muscular legs, his taut abs, his wavy hair, and his expression of fear and determination on his face.
Letting the seaweed float back in place, I swam to him. Better for me to find him then for him to find me.
He took hold of my arm and pulled me into a loose hug. My chest tightened from the contact and my heart stirred. With the way we’d left things he shouldn’t want to come near me.
Together we surfaced, Chase believing he’d rescued me.
Breathing heavily, he grabbed hold of the edge of the rowboat. “I can’t believe you’re all right.” His other arm tightened around me. “I saw you fall.”
“You did?” Uh oh.
He huffed out another breath. “I saw you on the rocks and the birds attacked and then you went off. You never resurfaced. I thought you were dead.”
I glanced around racking my brain for a way to explain. For a normal person, I’d been under the water way too long. Plus, the fall had been nasty, possibly not survivable. “Let’s get out of the water.”
“I’m an idiot.” He shook his head and drips fell from his hair. He rolled his eyes. “You’re probably hurt, exhausted, and cold. And here I am having a conversation.”
I wasn’t any of those things, but I couldn’t tell him.
“Hold onto the boat. I’ll get on board first and then pull you up.” He let go of me making sure I held on tight. Then, using his arms, he lifted himself and swung his legs over the edge of the row boat. “Now you.”
He leaned over and put his arms out. I lifted myself, and he seized my waist and carried me up and into the boat like I was precious. A feeling I’d never had before. I’d been used, abused and ignored for as long as I remembered. I wanted to act helpless so he’d continue to care, and then I wanted to kick myself for pretending to be needy.
“Did you hurt yourself?” He scanned my body lighting a small fire inside me. “A few of those scratches seem deep.” He probed my head with a light touch. “Did you bump your head? Lose consciousness?”
I was tempted to say yes so he’d continue touching me. “No.”
“Does anything hurt?”
The cuts might burn later, but right now they felt fine. “No.”
“You’re probably dazed. Lack of oxygen, possibly hypothermia. Relax and I’ll row to shore.” He sat down on the center bench, took hold of the oars and rowed. “I don’t even have a towel to give you.”
I wasn’t cold or in shock. Unless you count my shock at Chase’s rescue. I’d been so mean before. “I-I didn’t mean what I said this morning. About acting.”
He stroked with determination and speed, the muscles in his forearms bulging with the effort. His mouth gritted together focusing on his task of making sure I didn’t faint or die. “I realize that now.”
I wasn’t good at apologizing, but Chase understood. No need to actually say sorry. My shoulders relaxed at the idea of not having to say the words.
Searching the rocks where I fell, I spotted the garbage bag stuck between two sharp points. The seagulls were gone.
What had set the birds off? Maybe I’d encroached on their territory. Maybe they were nesting. Maybe they just didn’t like me. Another abnormality I’d need to ponder.
When we reached the surf, Chase jumped out and pulled the boat to shore. He acted like my champion and guard. The wall around my heart, the one I’d tried to rebuild, crumbled at his thoughtfulness. Not even my circus parents cared like this. They hadn’t cared at all.
Never a gentle touch. Never a hug. Never an encouraging word.
Instead I heard, “Practice again.” “Make it perfect.” “Stay underwater longer or you won’t get dinner tonight.”
They’d never showed love. I bit my quivering bottom lip. Maybe because my circus parents weren’t my real parents. They kept a million secrets from me, controlled me, and lied to me.
Mr. Plankson entered the surf and helped Chase pull in the dinghy. The binoculars he wore around his neck got caught on the oar. “What the heck were you doing stealing my boat?”
“If I stole it, I wouldn’t be returning it.” Chase yanked on the rope. “It was an emergency. Pearl was drowning.”
I sat straighter and glared at Plankson. “I fell off the rocks.” The rocks he’d sent me to clean.
“Should’ve asked permission.” Plankson’s gruff voice sawed on my nerves.
“No time. She was underwater forever. I thought she’d drowned.”
Plankson examined me. “How long?”
I waved my trembling hand in a fake careless move. The last thing I wanted was Plankson getting suspicious. “Not long at all. Just seemed like forever.”
“It took me at least five minutes to row out—”
“Chase.” I grabbed my arm in pretend pain. “My arm hurts.”
“We need to get you to emergency.” Concern immediately lit his face. He splashed over and held out his hand. “Can you walk?”
I wanted to shut him up, not create a new problem. I didn’t like the way Plankson watched me, or the way he’d been snooping around my tent. “I don’t need a doctor. The scratches only sting.”
“I’ve got antiseptic in my office.” Plankson’s offe
r to help raised my suspicion higher. Did he feel an ounce of concern for my accident?
Chase took my arm and helped me walk up the path from the beach, following Plankson. “Are you sure about the doctor? You almost drowned.”
“Shh.” My gaze drifted to Plankson’s back. I swung my head back and forth. “Not now. We’ll talk when we’re alone.” My terse toned tried to convey the urgency.
“But?”
“Please, Chase.” I gave him a pleading look. “Later.”
When we reached the office, Chase settled me on a lawn chair on the porch while Plankson went inside. He came out with antiseptic and bandages and handed them to Chase. Then Plankson locked the door, and mumbled something about breathing and bleeding, before walking away.
The man’s actions contradicted. One minute angry for stealing his boat, the next helpful. He’d sent me out on those rocks. Unease shivered across my mind. Something didn’t add up.
Chase kneeled beside me, his dark head bent over my left leg. I wanted to run my fingers through his wet hair. Wanted to wipe away the worry he’d had. About me. Wanted to tell him that there’d been no need to risk himself to save me. I wasn’t going to drown.
“This is going to sting.” He poured antiseptic on one of the larger cuts.
I winced.
“Did that hurt?” His eyes were the deepest blue I’d ever seen, out-coloring the sky and the ocean.
Honest eyes. Chase had no hidden secrets or agenda.
Unlike me. I swallowed the knot in my throat, almost choking on my frequent lies. “No, but it should hurt more. I deserve it after what I said about pretending to like you.”
He continued to clean my wounds, one cut at a time. Every spot he touched, my skin tingled. “No one deserves to get smashed against the rocks.”
I skimmed his shoulder with my fingers, unsure of his reaction. Sure, he thought he’d saved me, but any decent guy would do that even to a girl they hated. “I shouldn’t have been so mean. Especially to you.”
The one person in my life who’d been nice with no ulterior motive. Who liked me for who I am, not what I could give him. Who cared about my well being.