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After what feels like too long, the pull subsides and I’m able to regain enough composure to kick my way to the top, breaking the surface just moments later, sputtering and gasping for air.
“Elara,” Kam says as he paddles up next to me. “You okay?” he asks, concern apparent on his face.
“Okay?” I cough, hoisting myself up on my board despite how exhausted I suddenly feel. “I’m perfect.” I smile, not missing the surprise that flashes in his eyes.
“Okay,” he says slowly.
“That was incredible. Did you see me?”
“I did. You did amazing. But are you okay? You were under for a while.”
“I’m more than okay.”
“Did you hit your head down there or something?” He looks at me like maybe I’ve lost my mind a bit. Hell, maybe I have.
“You were right. I just let go and let the water have me. It was incredible.”
“You really are something else. You know that?” He chuckles, finally relaxing a bit.
“Can we do it again?” I ask excitedly, ready to give it another go.
I don’t even care that I got pulled under. In fact I think that’s what made the whole experience that much more of a rush. Now I just want to prove that I can do even better the next time.
“If you’re sure.”
“Absolutely,” I say, lying down on my board. “Race ya.” I laugh, taking off before Kam even has a chance to settle onto his board.
“Oh hell no.” He laughs behind me.
****
“Do you ever think about the future?” Kam’s gaze is locked on the water as the waves roll in.
After spending the afternoon and most of the evening in the water, Kam and I walked over to Piers, a small little outdoor food stand that sits right on the beach, and got hot dogs and sodas before making our way to our favorite spot in the sand. We’ve been sitting here for nearly an hour, enjoying the quickly approaching sunset.
“I mean really think about it,” he adds before I have a chance to say anything.
“Sometimes,” I answer his question after a long beat. “Why do you ask?”
“I thought I’d be more excited, you know?” He shifts next to me, wiping a chunk of sand from his leg. “I mean, it’s our last year of high school. I’ve been looking forward to this since elementary school. But now that it’s here, I don’t know. I guess I feel differently than I thought I would.”
“It’s scary.” I admit, leaning my shoulder against his. “We’re going to be closing a chapter that’s practically been our whole lives up to this point.”
“It’s not just that though. I think I’m afraid that once it’s real I’m going to end up disappointing everyone.”
“What do you mean?” I stare at the side of his face, my eyes tracing the lines of his profile, my fingers resist the urge to reach out and touch him.
“I don’t know. I guess I think there’s no way I can live up to Kane.” He lets out a slow breath, his gaze finally meeting mine.
“Why would you ever need to live up to him?”
“Because he’s the shining star. The apple of my father’s eye.” He kicks at the sand beneath his feet. “I’ll never be able to match what he’s done and I’m afraid that’s what my father expects.”
“You’re not him. From what you’ve told me, you and your brother are nothing alike. Do you really think your parents expect you to follow in his footsteps?” I swivel in the sand so that I’m facing his side.
“Maybe.” He shrugs.
Reaching out to take his hand, I cup it between both of mine and wait until he’s looking at me before continuing. “You may not be a scholar, Kamden Joseph Thaler. You may not travel abroad or earn a full scholarship to some fancy school. But you don’t need to either. You are uniquely you; perfect in every sense of the word. And no matter what you choose to do, no matter how big or how small, you’re going to rock the hell out of it.”
