The Beach House 🌸Rachel

 

It was like staring at a blank wall even if Rachel was staring at her phone. She wasn't sure what she should actually do. 

Of course, it had been a whirlwind of something after that little fiasco with Lenny. Yes, it was tight quarters now. They might as well be lost in the hull of a yacht at sea waiting for the monster. Actually, it was only two monsters and only one of them turned out to be a merman. The other was a bit of an old dude who admired both Lenny and Heath who was from someplace down under. 

Rachel winced hard, remembering she and Huck had to share a room with them.

"You know, I hate this, don't you?" She said right away in a whispered shout that night when they crammed into Huck's bed. 

"It's only for the weekend," he practically growled back. 

"It better be." She snapped.

She yawned now at the counter in the surf shop and Cobie pointed a finger at her as he walked by. "You better quit that." He went off to the back, like usual to make his phone calls and probably played a game or two on his phone. She yawned again and got herself a NO SUGAR energy drink from the glassed-in fridge next to the counter.

Before she knew it, she woke up to Heath who was holding the pink drink she was about to drink. "These are awful. You shouldn't be drinking this. They'll make you old."

Rachel looked up at him. It seemed everyone wanted to tell her what to do. It didn't matter how pretty he was, he was possibly full of himself.

Just then the door jangled and it was a woman with a limp. She was quaint but Rachel was certain she'd been through something and with a cane. 

"I've come to rescue you," she said ever so pleasant as if she might be her fairy godmother.

Rachel looked at her wide-eyed. She thought she might laugh. What else could happen? The shop was barely open.

"Heath, why don't you show her around. I bet she couldn't find the grocery store on her own if she had to."

"Yes, mam," Heath gave her a salute with a smile.

Rachel only winced.

"Go ahead," she waved Rachel on her way.

"Don't be gone for more than two hours, 'cause I know you better be ready for the lineup." She told Heath.

"You know, I was up at the crack of dawn out on waves." Heath winced with a laugh. 

"I already know who the winner is," she smirked.

"Thanks," Rachel managed to say. This was practically unreal. She wanted to ask who she was, but the woman was already settled in Rachel's seat with a crossword puzzle.

"Oh, we just call her, Sheila," He looked back at Rachel to follow him. "She's Cobie's ex," Heath told her once they got into Lenny's white Jeep. Rachel couldn't imagine where they might be going. After all, Heath was just in his swimming trunks and flip-flops.

"Where to first, missy?" He looked at her as if he might be her chauffeur.

"I don't really know," Rachel felt happy to be in the sunlight. Her hair blew around her face so crazily.

"How about tacos?" He asked if she was hungry.

"That..that sounds great," she smiled back. So that was the start of their journey at the boardwalk. And then to the used record store and on to the used book store. It was such a pleasant lull. And she was thrilled to know all these little places.

It felt nice to be out and about. And of course, the skateboarders took turns weaving about those on roller skates. It was then she found Huck with a group of guys and they weren't even near the surf.