No Salt

23- Torn

"You ok hot stuff?" Kia asked running over effortlessly.

I nodded my head yes still trying to catch my breath.

"Yeah, I just haven't been in a real practice for awhile." I explained

She looked at me with understanding, putting her hands on her hips as she looked around at everyone else.

"Well that's alright, aleast you're keeping up with the 7 years."

I looked up at her, surprised that she was basically calling me a grom.

She look unbothered, "what? Just telling the truth." She said with a slight laugh behind her voice before running away.

God this was awful.

"Why are you even here man?" Alex asked taking a drink out of his water bottle.

"What do you mean?"

Alex shrugged looking around.

"In with the brookies, being forced to hang out with Kia's little army of Kooks." He explained, "I know I would chose to be anywhere else if I had a choice."

"I want to make my name in the surfing world." I told him, "like Nora."

Alex kind of scuffed at that.

"You're living in Ocean bay, no matter where you go you'll make your name. As for Nora, sure she made her name but she regrets it every day." Alex said looking out at the ocean like he was debating another surf session.

How he felt fit enough for another one was beyond me, I felt as if I could drop at any minute.

"Just stay away from Josh, Kia, and their friends, to the best of your ability. They're the reason I wish I could get out of this shit hole, otherwise it's not so bad."

I nodded my head, not arguing. Getting that advice from inside the brookies was alittle disturbing.

I picked up my surf stuff and began walking back to the house, following the same routine I'd grown accustom to.

Rack board, shower, dry off, and hang wet towels.

Walking inside I went into my room and changed into some dry clothes. Digging through my drawers I pulled out a pair of shorts and a billabong hoodie.

I exited my room and passed by Phelps in the hallway, who let out a large sigh like he normally did.

It was his way of saying, hey I'm down here, pet me.

I bent down and pet him for a few seconds before making my way to the couch to sit down and watch TV

I only was able to watch for a few seconds before Nora burst out of her room, leaving her bedroom door wide open which she never did. She must have thought she was still home alone.

I couldn't see into it but I could see the crazy amount of natural light flowing out of it into the hallway.

Nora walked down the hallway bare foot wearing practically nothing but a bikini and holding a pickled jar.

I scrunched up my face in confusion to this, but she gave me no explanation.

We'd returned to our awkward faze after our discussion on Friday night, she would speak to me, only if she had to. But she spent most her time away from home and away from me.

She walked into the kitchen and began banging the top of the pickle jar on the counter before trying to open it again.

The jar pressed tightly to her boobs and it made me shift in my seat as I watched her struggle.