twenty feet in front of me was Justin. Just as handsome as ever, his skin more tanned than the last time we had seen each other. I immediately regretted driving here with my dad, I was officially stuck. I felt frozen; I didn’t know if I should turn around and immediately hitch-hike back to Portland, or if I should bite the bullet and try to handle it. Before I could make the decision myself, my dad saw me.
“Ells! You’ll never believe who surprised us! Come on over and say hi.”
I walked over as slowly as humanely possible without seeming too weird. “Hey, Justin. That’s nice you could make it in the end.” Those 10 words were the hardest thing I’ve ever had to make come out of my mouth while keeping my cool. Inside, I wanted to die. It hurt so badly to see him.
“Nice to see you, Ellie. It’s been too long,” He approached me and I tensed. I wanted to drop dead right then. He gave me a side-hug. It was the most brotherly thing in the world, and yet it made me feel like I was about to catch on fire. I found myself once again wanting to both burst into tears and jump his bones at the same time.
“Want a hot-dog, Ellie?” My step-mom cut in, “they’re ready,” she said, extending her arm with a plate of food towards me.
“You know, I’ve had a long week and I think all of that sun got to me. I don’t feel so great, but I think just a good night’s sleep will do the trick. Sorry to be a party pooper,” I said all this while slowly backing towards my tent, and brushing off everyone’s expressions of concern. Thankfully, I had a tent all to myself. I waved goodnight to everyone and zipped myself inside.
Chapter 4 - Time for a Swim
Of course I didn’t sleep that night. I stayed up all night listening to the sounds of everyone enjoying a good time, and the sounds of all my family and friends getting progressively drunker. Good, I thought, I can have the morning to myself. I stayed up into the late hours of the night, alternatively trying to read and trying to not think about the fact that I was stuck with Justin for the next week. I kept breaking into bouts of silent tears. Exhausted from so much crying, I finally dozed off to sleep.
A few short hours later, I woke up when the first rays of the sun entered my tent.
I decided that a cold dip in the river would refresh me, and maybe make my puffy eyes a little less so, so I donned my bikini, grabbed a towel, and made my way out of camp. Just a little ways up the river there was a little cove, a place that had long been my favorite secret swimming hole and place to think. It was for the most part hidden by trees, but it got its fair share of sun and was hidden to all but the most observant. Sometimes while I was in the city I would even think about it, closing my eyes and envisioning the clear, cold water and imagining that I was there instead. I put down my towel, peeled off my sun-dress, and looked around. It was just before six, and I was sure no one would be around for a good hour or two. I decided to let myself bathe nude, hoping that the river water would maybe heal my inner wounds just a little bit. I untied my bikini top, slipped out of my bottoms, and laid them on top of my towel. I walked up to a rock just about fifteen feet above the water, and took a swan-dive into the swimming hole. I dived deep, using my momentum from the dive to swim into the depths of the profound little pool. I emerged, already feeling more clear.
The cold shock was amazing. I could not think of anything besides the frigid water that was touching every inch of my person. I treaded water, then floated on my back, my eyes closed. I was still freezing, but could not imagine getting out of the water just yet. I slowly opened my eyes, and as my vision came into focus, I saw him. Somehow, I was not the least bit surprised. He was standing up on the same rock I had jumped from just five minutes earlier, and he too was entirely nude. Somehow, I didn’t feel anxious.
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