Hey! So, I first posted this on YWS almost two years ago and since then I've taken all the comments that were given to me on board and I've tried my best to make it amazing. I know that it's still not the absolute best that it can be, but I would really appreciate hearing what you guys think of it, from a reader and a writer's point of view. *Braces herself for her pride of joy to be ripped to shreds* Enjoy!
As the crashing, blue waves retreated from the pebbled beach, I felt as if my life was drifting away with them.
My mind still ached from trying to take in what had happened over the last few weeks. None of it was my fault, yet it was my life that was being turned upside down.
I kicked angrily at the ground, causing a few loose pebbles to fall into the sea with a loud plop. Sighing, I felt the pent up frustration erupt, causing tears to blur my vision. I wouldn’t let the tears flow. That’s what he wanted and I wasn’t going to give in.
I turned abruptly from the foaming sea and almost immediately noticed a small, red haired figure coming towards me. The pink and green polka dot swimming costume was unmistakable: it was Pansy, my annoying brat of a half sister. Realisation dawning, I quickly tried to hide behind a cluster of fisherman, holding my breath so as not to gag on the smell of the fresh fish. Unfortunately though, she had already seen me and was making her way over with a scowl on her face.
“Mum says you’ve got to buy me an ice cream,” she ordered, coming to a halt in front of me and placing her hands on her hips.
“Liar,” I replied casually. “Mum doesn’t even know I’m at the beach.”
Pansy slid her hands off of her hips and folded them across her stomach, glaring at me intensely. She wasn’t about to back down.
“What?”
“I said, Mum doesn’t even know I’m at the beach,” I retorted, rapidly losing my patience.
Pansy’s scowl lifted and was replaced by a smile so broad it showed off her missing front teeth. “You’re gonna be in trouble.”
“Well I don’t care.” I shrugged impatiently. “I’m running away.”
Pansy gasped and put her hand over her mouth like the drama queen she is.
“I’m gonna tell Mum.”
“Whatever, I’ve made up my mind.”
With that, I spun around and made for the slope leading away from the beach. My calf muscles began to ache as I started to climb the steep, concrete road that was the only way to and from the beach. Beer was full of hills, even the beach was angled downwards towards the sea.
When I had finally reached the top of the slope, I turned my attention to the high street. The shops were buzzing with people of all ages, like bees around honey. It was always like this in the summer holidays. Being located on the south shoreline of England, Beer is a natural holidaying resort.
As I reached The Ship Inn on the corner of the street, I decided on taking the road to the right, which my house backed on to. I walked slowly, my mind reeling at Pansy’s abruptness. She was one of the only people who knew just what to say to get on my nerves and her recent rant had really gotten under my skin.
I forced myself to breath deeply and forget about it. It’s not like I have to put up with her for much longer anyway.
When I had gotten about half way up the hill though, I looked up to see that the gate to our garden was ajar. I walked over to shut it, but as I got closer I heard voices. I recognised the voice of my step dad straight away and could also make out the voice of Ralph Lowe, the landlord of The Ship Inn. I stood with my left hand resting against the splinted wood of the gate as I peered into the garden. I recognised the man standing on the other side of my step dad immediately. Mr. Peters, the owner of the gift shop next to the old tea room, was fiddling thoughtfully with his grey, bushy moustache. Ralph was shuffling about on his feet nervously.
I watched with wide eyes as Mr. Peters removed his bear-like hand from his moustache and placed it in the back pocket of his rather worn out looking jeans. A moment later his hand was back in view with a piece of paper in his grasp. He passed the paper to Ralph who seemed to read it with interest; he even stopped shuffling to frown curiously, forcing his black eyebrows closer to his eyes. Ralph then thrust the document towards my step dad’s out-stretched hand. Paul’s eyes scanned the paper slowly as if he were taking in every single bit of detail. When he finally looked up, Mr. Peters and Ralph stared at him as if they were looking for any sign of emotion, but Paul just shrugged effortlessly.
Ralph’s frown deepened and Mr. Peters looked impatient. My step dad on the other hand, looked calm.
Without warning, the two men turned away from Paul and headed towards the gate. Panicking, I launched myself behind a wheelie bin, only just crouching out of view as the two of them appeared through the gate. I watched them walk down towards the high street, neither of them talking. Convinced that they weren’t coming back, I stood up and peered back around the gate. My stomach dropped to my feet when my eyes fell upon an empty garden. My step dad was gone.
Moments later, having left the lane, I was leaning against the ancient brick wall opposite the front of my house. Looking over at the beach, I let my mind wander freely over the events of the past few weeks. I must have been gazing at the pebbled beach for about five minutes before my step dad raised his head from behind the wall. This caught me off guard and I almost tumbled over backwards.
He smiled, showing off his yellowing teeth. Smoking does nothing for your appearance. “Gotcha.”
“Not funny,” I said while straightening up. I fought the urge to pout and frown. He thinks he’s hilarious.
“Lost your friends, have you?”
“No,” I snapped.
“What’s wrong with you?” he asked, raising his uni-brow. Well, it wasn’t quite a uni-brow, but I’d always taken the mickey out of him for it anyway.
“Nothing,” I replied, “I’ve just had a rough day.”
“Me too,” he said, trying to sympathise with me, unaware of the fact that I had just seen him with Ralph and Mr. Peters.
“What have you been up to?” I asked, wondering if he was going to tell the truth.
“Just pottering around in the allotment mostly.”
“So you haven’t seen Mr. Peters and Ralph today then?”
I could see his face start to twitch with nervousness. “No. Why?”
“Well I saw you with them in the back garden just now.”
“So?” he said with an edge to his voice.
“They just looked like… well, you know… they… you know,” I stuttered anxiously, suddenly not knowing what to say. Any trace of confrontation that I’d been about to display had vanished.
“Well if you must know,” he interrupted, “we were discussing gardening tips.”
That lie wasn’t worth the effort. I had to bite my lip to stop myself from arguing back.
He ran his mud encrusted fingers through his crimson hair and bent down to pick up the trowel that lay on the seed littered earth. He then straightened himself up and turned to walk away.
“What are you hanging around here for anyway?” he asked abruptly, still facing away from me.
Huh, if he’s gonna be like that then I don’t have time for him.
“Whatever,” I muttered as I turned to walk away. I couldn’t be bothered to argue today.
Just as I reached the front door though, he responded by shouting across the road.
“I’m beginning to think that mine and your mother’s decision was the right one.”
At his words, my stomach knotted and my head started to spin. I felt winded. My breaths in short gasps. How dare he?
Thanks for reading!
