plot twist

c h a p t e r t w o

I guess it isn't even that weird that two men share the same cologne. It was a pleasant smell, I had always thought, but the second it entered my nose, I was reminded of him.

I had always found it kind of crazy how strongly a memory can be tied to a scent. Peter's face changed, and I was facing the one man I was trying desperately hard to get over; to forget.

I leaned backwards, so my back was pressed against the rough, cold stones, and my hair was fanned out around my face. I let my eyes close, feeling like I was seconds away from drifting away, but I knew that wasn't the case. Tonight had been fun. We had walked to the club in our little group, Soph and Leo running ahead, Gabe doing cartwheels. When he had fallen over, he let out such a high-pitched squeal I couldn't help but laugh.

'You think this is funny, huh?', he had asked me, jokingly angry. Still laughing, I nodded my head. He had looked like a baby horse, long, gangly legs buckling as he collapsed dramatically. My eyes were half-closed with laughter, so I didn't even register him coming towards me until it was too late.

He came close to me, making my heart beat faster. My breath caught in the back of my throat, but then he burst into a grin.

'You do one then', he smirked indignantly. I could tell by the look on his face that he expected me to say that I couldn't. A little spark inside made me want to prove him wrong.

'I don't think this dress is made for cartwheeling', I laughed, but he retorted quickly:'THat sounds like you're making excuses to me.' I gasped and turned around, ready to show him.

I lifted my hands in the air and then leaned forward, kicking my legs up in the air and holding them taut, until I lowered them back to the grounds and stood up straight, repositioning my dress and lifting my arms with a flourish.

I turned to him with a smug look on my face;' Told you I could do it.' He laughed again in response, and it sounded so joyful and happy that he made me smile too.

'I think we're about equal in skill', I said, and even though I could tell he didn't, believe me, he nodded his thanks.

The others had been watching, but now they had started to walk.

'Hey, come on, we should catch up to them', I told him, already starting to walk forwards.

His long legs quickly brought him into step with me. 

'I wouldn't have thought this was your scene', he remarked as he turned his head to talk to me while we walked. I was surprised he had picked up on my behaviour.

'I guess not. It used to be, but-' my voice cut off, as I thought about what the answer tho that sentence could be.

That the last time, I went out, got drunk and dressed up sexily it was with; it was for the one person I was trying to forget. That the reason I was here was to finally try and take my surfing seriously and replace memories with different things. I liked getting drunk and dancing, but I was afraid to relive old memories. That was heavy. Gabe knew that my impulsive trip here was because of a particular, negative reason, but he had never asked to know more, thankfully.

'But, um, I just got a bit bored of going out every night.', I finally said. That sounded plausible, right. 

'Yeah,  I get what you mean. Our last year of school, Leo would drag me to parties every night. It's nice to take a break.' I nodded my head at that. He continued, 'I'm glad you came out with us tonight, though.'

'Me too', I responded.

  That seemed so long ago. My heart was getting back to normal now. I felt humiliated. Pathetic. So weak that a smell makes me crazy.