Page 59 of Summer, in Between
‘Ya dick!’They wrestle to the edge of the rocks, Ant bracing his whole body before flinging Tom over.Ant wobbles, corrects his balance, overcorrects and then dives into the water.As he surfaces for breath, Tom pounces on him, pulling him back below.
Beside me, Paul’s lips are salt crusted.
‘And you wonder why I call them Neanderthals,’ I mutter as the two boys wrestle each other back to the cliff face.
‘That’s not very nice.They think you’re the best.’He wanders across the rocks to chat to Cavey.
‘Come on, Cat,’ Ant says, wiping his face of salty water.I’ve found a perfect spot, a rock ledge that could double as an armchair, and I’m nestled into it, the sun at my back, the rocks still cool from the night.He pulls me to my feet, ignoring my protests.‘Let’s go.’
I’m dragged to the edge.My throat tightens and I’m covered in a layer of sweat.
‘You’re gonna love it.’Ant nudges me forward.Droplets from his wet hair land on my bare skin like needles.
‘Don’t push me.’I look down into the water.
‘Of course not,’ he says.
‘What if I land on the rocks?’Tears cloud my vision and the ribbon of the road far above the beach wavers.
‘You won’t,’ he says.‘I’m coming with you.’
‘I got it, Scampo.’Paul takes my hand and I grip it with both of mine.
‘Sorry, mate, I didn’t mean anything,’ says Ant.
‘Don’t let go of my hand.’Paul’s eyes never leave mine.‘We’ve got this.’
‘You sure?’
‘On three.’We’re standing side by side and far across the Bay there’s a car at the lookout.The sun glints off it, a giant blinding light.‘One, two...’
‘No!’I shout, but I’m laughing, and as I hear three, I’m in the air and it seems like a lifetime that I hover in space before the water is all around me and my mouth is open and I’m happy.Light reflects off a million bubbles.As I gasp for air in the sunlight, Paul is still holding my hand.
I let go, kicking towards the wall and hear Ant cheering my name from above.Paul grabs my foot and pulls me under, and then pushes past me to reach the wall.He clings to the side and gestures for me to go first.I make sure my bikini is where it should be and start climbing.I hate the thought that he’s looking directly up at the place where the sun doesn’t shine, but I’m more conscious of the boys at the top with a perfect view straight down.Paul must have the same thought: he scrambles up the rock face past me.When I reach the top, he holds out his hand.He grabs me and for a moment I’m hovering mid-air again as he pulls me to stand on the rocks.My legs manage to keep me upright despite my trembling.
‘That was amazing.’I wrap my towel around my waist and grab my sunglasses.
‘Let’s go again.’
‘Never again as long as I live.’He laughs and flips off the platform.
The thrum of my heartbeat roaring through my ears fades.I stand facing the sun, my eyes closed behind my sunglasses, feeling my breath return to normal.They snap open when I hear a high-pitched giggle.
