Day at the Beach - One-off

I didn’t plan to be up to my waist in salty ocean water, chasing after a blow up boat that got caught in a rip for a bunch of human’s I’ve never met on my one day of peace.

Screw the Ocean.

Screw the beach.

Screw me for being big and fast and apparently the only option to save this person.

ESPECIALLY screw this stupid girl for being a nob and getting caught in a rip and her dumb friends that are too blind to NOITICE their friend‘s boat being swept out to sea.

Screw- no, - FUCK this all together. I should have stayed home to read.

~~~~~~~ A few hours earlier ~~~~~~~

“ahhh.” I moaned as my car tires hit the sand and I switched my Ute into FWD. I could almost feel my manly testosterone spike at the feeling. I loved coming here, to Skeeter’s Island. It was far from remote, but if you came here mid-week, hardly anyone was around.

Skeeter Island is weird. Not only because its literally not even an island (the humans just call it that because they have to use a barge to get across the water that surrounds it; it is a peninsula) but, while its pretty small for me, like the rest of the world, it's sand stretches really far out before the ocean touches it, so while the landscaping is only as tall as I am, the beach is me-sized (almost a small desert for humans) and it makes me feel like less of a giant freak. Also I can lay down completely and the water would still be at least one (human-sized) kilometre from my feet.

So, now that you are up to speed and are probably confused as hell, let’s get on with my story.

So, I drove along the giant-side of the beach, not having to be painfully wary of small human set ups close to the water. I stopped after driving for a good 30 minutes and was just about at the border of the human side (they were split for obvious reasons; fact, it’s incredibly hard to see humans on the sand)

I liked it at this particular spot because most giants wanted to be away from the gawking humans, and most humans wanted to be away from the 'scary, dangerous' giants - SO they both kept clear of the border, which means I was pretty much isolated.

Is it obvious I don’t like people? Well, I don't. Too annoying and loud. Oh and emotional, very emotional.

So I got out of my car, set up my awning, pulled out my beach chair, esky and book bag then sat down. My chair sunk deeper into the sand as I plonked into it.

“Mmm this is the life” I sighed and pulled out my newest book and started reading, easily slipping into the fantasy world of Carter O’Neill, the crime-fighting detective. Cheesy, I know, but it is damn good.

I must have been sitting there reading for over an hour and a half and was in the middle of chapter 5 when I heard a faint sound. I easily ignored it. Probably just a bird.

“FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, HELP US!”

With my head still in my book I glanced upwards. Nobody there. I looked back down and started to read when I heard the sound again

“DOWN HERE! PLEASE! HELP!”

This time I moved my book slightly to the left and looked down. To my complete surprise (and by complete surprise, I mean my jaw became slightly ajar) there was a small heard of humans huddled on the sand by my foot. Can I say that? A heard? Is that like, politically incorrect? Probably. Oh well.

“Uh…can I help you?” I winced. I did not want to help them.
To my dismay, all 4 of them started to yell and scream all at once, pointing every which way and flailing about like a bunch of loons. When they noticed my look of complete confusion and disgust they stopped and one of them, a frantic looking guy, stepped forward

“Our friend was in a blow up boat in the water and got swept out to sea and we need your help to save her! Please! She’s my sister!” He panted. He looked terribly worried and something else….. But all I could think was...

“How did you not notice her being swept out to sea?” I put the book mark in my book and placed it on my chest reluctantly and crossed my arms over it. Guess O’Neill was going to have a gun pointed at his head for just a little while longer.
“I-I don’t know! We were just hanging out and...And…” as he fumbled for his words I noticed why he looked so dishevelled. It also explained why he was wearing only underwear.

“You were fooling around with someone? That’s why you left your sister alone in the ocean to get swept out to sea? Jesus Man…” I scoffed judgementally at him and his face, plus the girl behind him when bright red.
“Please,” one of the other girls frowned “she’s probably terrified, she didn’t even want to come in the first place, she can’t swim. Please, we can’t swim out there, we need your help” she begged.
She looked genuinely concerned but I couldn’t help but notice her messy attire too. Same as the guy holding her hand. Damn. They were all going at it.

I really didn’t want to do it. I mean, I knew I obviously had to, I’m not Satan, but I wasn’t even wearing boardies. I didn’t even have a spare pair of clothes, let alone a towel. But alas, my testosterone kicked in again and I let out a manly sigh.

“Okay. Where is she?” I said as I stood up, causing the gaggle of humans to fall backwards in fright.

Heh.

All they could do was blink up at me for a few moments. The two guys were obviously too emasculated to talk so one of the girls squeaked out “over there” and pointed diagonally to the right. As my eyes scanned over the sand I noticed there little set up of tiny cars that I hadn’t seen or heard earlier. Shows just how breath-hitching O’Neill is. I looked out into the water and could vaguely make out the blow up boat they spoke of. It was really far out. For them.

~~~~~~~~

So that brings us back to the start. Me, wading through thigh-deep Ocean to rescue this girl. The boat was about 3 me-sized meters away and her voice was finally in ear’s reach. Except she wasn’t speaking. She was…what was she doing?
“Are you okay? I’m here to bring you back in” I assured her. No response. I looked more closely and realised something.

Oh, it’s just a bag. Durr.

….

…

OH. OH SHIT. SHIT SHIT SHIT.

I hadn’t realised how fast I was wading through the water and the waves I caused must’ve flipped her clean out of the boat. But when?! How long had she been under?!
Without hesitation I dove under water and even though it stung like Hell I kept my eyes open, scanning for her. I felt bile rising in my throat, when suddenly, I saw her flailing body just meters (human sized) from the surface. I quickly reached out and cupping my hands around her and quickly stood up, bringing us both out of the water.

She was screaming.

“Hey! Hey, shhh, it’s okay!” I tried to calm her as she flailed in my dripping palms. Suddenly she stopped moving and was clutching for dear life on my middle finger. I could feel her heart beating as she pressed her skin into mine. It was like a jack hammer. I slowly raised my hand up to my face.  I could tell she could feel my breath on her skin because she froze, only moving to snap her head sideways to look at me. She was still heaving. Her blonde hair clung to her face and her blue eyes pierced mine. She looked like one of my sister’s dolls.
“You’re okay. You’re safe. I’ve got you. Just breathe” I whispered. Yes, I know. I have a heart and it happens to be soft towards tiny terrified things okay? Shut up.

“I-c-can-t-t s-top” she said between gasps of air. For some reason it made me frown, and made me want to punch her idiot brother and friends. She looked only 17 when the others looked about 23.

“Just take deep breaths okay? Tell me your name” I said softly
“C-cassie” she hiccupped and took a big breath in and out
“okay Cassie, just keep breathing like that. I’m gonna take you back to your brother, okay?” I smiled assuringly at her and she softly nodded her head.

With that I lowered her and cupped her to my t shirt, which, in hindsight I should have taken off because it was soaked from me heroically diving underwater. Oh well. I felt her small, wet hands grasp handfuls of my skin and her bare legs cold against my palm. Poor girl.

With one last glance I waded back to the shore. I hadn’t realised how cold the water was until now. This is why I fucking hate the ocean.

When I got back to the shore, the little assholes – I mean humans - weren’t even waiting there to see if she was okay. They were back at their camp. I Groaned and walked the few steps up to their set up and looked down menacingly at them.
“Hey.” I said shortly and they all jumped up to their feet, nearly bending over backwards to look up at me. Since I’m not a complete asshole I took a step back and lowered myself to my knees, then lowered my hand to the ground and all of a sudden her doofus brother grew a pair and ran over.
“Cass!” he pulled her right out of my palm into a hug and for half a second I wanted to pull her back. My hand felt naked without her.

Suddenly all her other friends gathered around her, cooing over her.
“Thanks man” the other guy pat me on the finger and I couldn’t help but curl my lip in disgust. He quickly pulled away and went back to fussing over Cassie. Who, by the way completely forgot about me and was crying to her brother.
Whatever.

I stood back up, not bothering to be cautious of my movements and sauntered off back to my car. I cringed as I peeled off my soaking shirt and hung it over the bulbar of my Ute. Having nothing to use as I towel I tried to ignore the fact that my feet were caked in wet sand and that it was grinding in between my toes and I sat back down in my chair, soaking it immediately. I shook my head like a teenager in boyband but it didn’t stop it dripping down onto my face and in my eyes and mouth. It clung annoyingly to my face too. Y.u.c.k.

I couldn’t do much else about it, I didn’t even have anyone I could complain to, and so I picked up my book and started reading again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*Cassie’s perspective *

I turned around to thank the giant that saved me but he was already gone. I watched him walk away, take his shirt off and sit back down in his giant chair that he seemed to engulf. Soon enough he was back into his book. What book is so good that he hadn’t pulled his head out from the time she arrived with her brother and friends till he got up to fish her out of the sea? Which, by the way, was the most terrifying things she had ever experienced and was 10/10 never coming back to the beach ever again. But, the only thing worse than nearly drowning was being a 5^th wheel to the company of Mr, Mr, Miss and Miss Lets Have Sex In Front of Everyone Inc.

Why the hell did David, my BROTHER invite me here if this is what was planned? I think he realised his mistake when Michelle started biting his ear while he was talking to me. That’s when the grand suggestion of me lazing in the boat in the water 40 metres away came up.

I looked at the orgy happening before me and back over to the giant. I wish I came with him. That book looked a thousand times better than this. Maybe I will go over there when he puts his book down, so I’m not interrupting. Yeah, that’s exactly what I’ll do.

~~~~ 40 minutes later ~~~
I didn’t realise how long I had been staring at – no, through ­– a stick when I finally looked back to the giant. It felt like hours I had been waiting for him to put that damn thing down. But, to my luck, it was sitting pang –down on his chest.

That was my cue.

After crossing what felt like the freaking Sahara desert, half an hour later I reached the shade of his awning. I let my body collapse and took a few heaving breaths before standing back up and clearing the rest of the distance it took to stand somewhat beside his chair and in between the stray beer cans.
“Uh-excuse me?” I called up to him, and when he didn’t respond, I realised. He was asleep. I walked half an hour in the blazing sun to try talk to a sleeping giant. Great. Because my brain wouldn’t let me give up, I continued to talk anyway.
“S-sir? I just wanted to thank you, you know…for saving me? But…I can see you’re asleep and can’t hear me so maybe…maybe I’ll come back later, okay? Still asleep? Okay, okay.” I slapped/dragged my hand down my face trying to wipe off the pure stupidity that seeped through my lips.

I turned around, feeling defeated, about to walk away when…
“Don’t call me ‘sir’, I’m not that old” his smooth but gravelly voice filled the air.

~~~~~~~

*his perspective*

I was never asleep. I was just resting when I heard small sand-scuffs approaching me. I thought it was her idiot friends in more trouble, so I didn’t move. I was surprised to hear her soft voice.

When I heard her walking away I couldn’t stop the quip that escaped my lips. I didn’t open my eyes yet, though,

“you-you’re awake?!” she squeaked like a mouse. I didn’t have to have my eyes open to see she was red.

“I wasn’t asleep” I smiled. I didn’t make any other movement. Mostly because I didn’t want to scare her and sort of because it made me look macho. Okay, maybe the other way around. I looked dope AF.

“o-oh.” She said softly. “Well, I don’t think you’re old. You only look-“
“26” I interrupted her. “I’m 26”
“oh, well I’m 18…” she mused
“I didn’t ask” I joked, but it came out a bit too seriously
“oh”

she sounded upset. Crap. I cracked open my eyes and scanned for her, finding her perched in the sand somewhat near my waist. She was rubbing the back of her neck nervously with one hand and the other tugging on her Disney-inspired braid. She looked like freaking Elsa.

“So what’re you here for?” I asked. My voice obviously startled her and she jumped. She looked surprised to see me looking back at her when she looked up
“oh, I…well they’re all…so I thought I’d come apologise and I did so…I guess I’ll go now…” she frowned and looked back over to her friends. I did too and even from here you could see what they were doing. I looked back to her
“I don’t care if you stay” I said, catching her attention
“w-what? You don’t?” she squeaked. She was a squeaky girl.
“Sure. You don’t take up much space. And honestly, I don’t really want you to see what your brother is doing over there” I frowned to make my point.

She stared at me for a while, looking from me, back to her camp and back to me.

“Well?” I asked impatiently
“o-okay” she squeaked again but I smiled, which seemed to relax her a little. Remember how I said I don’t like people? The main reason is because people find me blunt and rude, so to make someone feel relaxed is an achievement unlocked for me.

With that, I nodded my head and picked up my book and began reading again. What I assumed was that she would just make herself at home and just chill out but no. she just stood there, staring at me.
Do I have to ask her what she wants to do? Is that the right social etiquette? Jesus I already regret this so much. I looked back and noticed she wasn’t eying me she was eying my book. Ding Ding Ding.

“Do you want to read with me? I’m half way through but-“
“yes! Oh…I mean, okay. Please?” she took a few excited steps forward and bit her lip. I smiled and she smiled back. Damn this girl.

I reached out and wrapped my hand around her, eliciting a gasp from her plump lips
“sorry?” I mumbled with confusion as I continued to lift her up and onto my chest. The moment her skin hit mine she went crimson red. I chose to ignore this.

I picked up my book again and started reading. I was half way through chapter 10. I tried to continue reading but her skin was so hot against my sternum it distracted me. I looked down and she was already entranced. She didn’t seem to mind I was half way through the book which was good because I wasn’t planning on starting it over just for her. Or maybe I would have. Just for her.

I smiled a stupidly goofy smile and much to my disapproval, I was blushing. Good thing she wasn’t looking.

But wait. She was. Shit.

I quickly cleared my throat and wiped the smile off my face.
“Keep reading” I huffed at her with furrowed brows. Instead of being afraid, she just smiled more and ever-so-slowly caressed her fingertips along the bare skin of my sternum as she turned back around. I shuddered. Hard.

Damn this girl.

We didn’t move for what seemed like hours. But, alas, her brother drove his stupid puny car over and barked for her to get in.
“will I see you again?” she frowned as she held onto my finger, still perched on my chest.

“Probably not” I sighed, pulling my finger from her grasp and wrapping my hand around her, picking her up and placing her back down on the sand. Now it was my chest felt naked without her. Besides the fact that it was actually naked.
“I didn’t even get your name” she pouted up at me.
“GET IN THE CAR CASSIE” her brother road for the 5^th time. He was going to get out and grab her if she didn’t leave now.
“Mr O’Neill” I smirked, obviously joking. I wish I was O’Neill.

She smiled softly. Disappointed but still happy.
“You’re an ass, you know that?” she smiled, turning around to walk away
I didn’t reply, I just smiled back at her. Like, genuinely smiled.
Then she turned around and ran to her brother’s car, got in and he drove away.

All I could think for the rest of the day was