The Final Wait

Chapter 18

Song: Why Does My Feel So Bad?

Artist: Moby

Chapter 18

Monday morning Octavia woke up to a bunch of text messages from the group Reagan added her into. They planned to go to the beach later that day. She hated that she opened it. Now they'll know she's seen it and expect an answer. She hated the beach. The sand sticking to her skin, sun every second, so windy that belongings blew away, and she didn't want to think about how her hair would smack in her face. People everywhere half-naked and having to watch out for things in the ocean. 

She'd be more comfortable in her own swimming pool. At least there, no one judged her. She was certain Cressida, Teresa, Doe and the other girls from Augustine Academy going with all wore bikinis or one-pieces. Octavia didn't own a bikini, and she always wore a pair of shorts. If she walked out of the water, her one-piece would cling to her unattractively compared to the others. The beach was out of the question. She made up an excuse that she had to attend a family event, and they must've bought it because no one replied.

During breakfast with Lucca, she scrolled through her Snapchat stories to find Wahid posted a video of him in Bechett's car. Frederic was next to him and they both wore sunglasses. Part of her regretted not going now that they're there but she shook that feeling away and shut off her phone before she saw anyone else's story.

Lucca had friends coming over today. Octavia had nothing planned, so she helped Dustin set up for the playdate. They had a range of activities planned and made snacks that would look appealing to six-year-olds. 

When Lucca's friends arrived, Dustin had to look after them, so Octavia was alone. She couldn't help but look at everyone's stories. Cressida's started off with a selfie in Reagan's Jeep. Teresa was in the back, along with Zuri and Sasha. At the beach, they set up close to the water where everyone stripped. All the girls wore bikinis that flaunted their bodies and showed off their smooth skin. If Octavia couldn't be there, she could at least make herself believe.

She changed into a downward stripe one piece. As told by Eirene, downward stripes made the body appear slimmer and longer. Yet when Octavia looked into the mirror, she couldn't help but squirm. A pair of swim shorts would have to do. She set off for the pool house before Lucca and his friends got to it. 

It's been a while since she's been in the water, but five minutes in and she was doing laps. She wished Nikolai was here, and they'd race like old times. Lucca would've been by the shallow side with his floats, Dustin joining in after he served drinks while Eirene laid on a beach chair and told their father to put sunscreen on her. Nonno would've sat in a Hawaiian shirt and played his records for the family. Ajax would've jumped in because he thought one of them were drowning. Those times were no more. Everyone seemed lost and distant without Nikolai. As if Saint Beaurage was temporary. Something to fill the void, the wait until he awakens.

Octavia dove into the pool and swam underwater. It was her favourite thing to do in the water. To disappear in the moment of reality and stay in a bubble. No sound, just the crystal blue water ahead. She came up sooner than she expected when she noticed something at the other end of the pool. That something towered over and waited for her to reach the surface. Ezekiel King stared at her when she came up. His backpack hung over one shoulder while his other hands shoved in the front pocket of his khakis.

'Family event, huh?' he looked onward at the rectangular pool. 'You lied and instead swam in your own pool. What? You think you're too good for the beach?'

Ezekiel shook his head and turned to the glass door. Octavia swam to the edge of the pool and pushed herself up on her elbows. She called out to him, and he finally stopped after the second call. 'It's not what it looks like. I... I didn't want to go to the beach. It's not my thing.'