After The Storm

Part II

After the storm, they made their way back to shore. Jay scrabbled onto the sandy beach and cried out "Argh, cramp!" whilst dragging his leg.Lucy was still dazed from what happened in the water - She had known Jay for so long he was like a brother to her.

Their families were so close that she couldn't remember a party or social gathering where they didn't see the Redgroves. She had always seen Jay as just an annoying sibling, never before did she think she would feel a spark...

Lucy picked up her things and went back to the house leaving Jay stretching at the beach, not giving her even a second glance. Did she imagine it? As she reached the verandah, she knew she should shower off the sand and saltwater, but in some strange way, she didn't want to wash off the feelings from the storm.

Dodging her way through the house to avoid as many people as possible, Lucy eventually made it to her room. As the middle sibling, Lucy often got forgotten when it came to things like choosing rooms, and she remembered when they bought the beach house, her siblings endless fights over the spacious, bright bedrooms filled with bunkbeds.She crept up the attic steps and found the perfect spot - a small room, barely big enough to house her desk and bed but a space away from the fighting and noise of her family and a space to call her own. Even after the numerous renovations the house had undergone over the years, her little bedroom remained - her sanctuary in the chaos. Lying on her bed, Lucy gazed through the window. She could see Jay stumbling through the dunes on his way back to the house with her younger brother, Will. Pushing and shoving each other, he looked just like the Jay she had always known - that slightly arrogant grin playing across his face as he kicked up the sand. 

She sighed and picked up her sketchpad - not knowing where to start, her hand slid across the paper before she focussed in, recreating the scene from the storm, shading the bouy floating in the rough waters of the storm. Drawing had always relaxed her and as she concentrated on her work, the confusion she felt about earlier in the day seemed to dissipate with every line. She placed her sketchbook down, and looked up. Day had turned to evening and the golden hues of sunset flooded through her window. Her back ached from being bent over the small desk for what felt like minutes (but was actually hours.) 

She stood, realising she was still in her swimming costume from earlier, so after hopping into the shower, she got dressed and made her way downstairs to see what she could do to help with dinner. Her job tonight was salad, so she opened the fridge looking around for inspiration. Pulling out vegetables and grabbing an armful of ingredients, Lucy had a plan. She was going to make this salad the star of dinner, something she managed to do often, as just like drawing, she found it was all about building textures with light and shade. 

Excitedly, she spun around. And straight into Jay's chest.