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Riding the Waves By: Sean Roberts
-- Chapter 1 --
The hazel eyes caught Dylan's attention and made his heart start pounding. He felt his new suit tighten around his body as the other boy looked back. He was suddenly feeling warm and unable to move. The feeling he had, looking into those eyes, made him remember Jack. Dylan heard the pop of pot being lit in a glass pipe. The noise of the party around him began to fade as the boy across the room smiled briefly and turned away. Dylan had been in Jack's apartment. Not unusually for Vancouver, it was raining, and Dylan was sparking a joint while Jack was carefully sealing more product in an air tight container.
Jack wrapped the containers into bags, changing his latex gloves frequently, moving with a surgeon's precision so that not even a trace would get on the outside. He wrapped it in three plastic bags and stored the package inside the bedroom, where the smoke would not reach.
"Remember," Jack had said. "Take off a couple of these bags before you pack it." Jack had sat down on the couch. Dylan passed him the joint, watching Jack place it between his lips. Dylan started to think about Jack's wispy beard touching his face as they kissed; he was imagining the kiss they would never share.
"Why did you let me come here again?" Dylan asked. In his line of work, Jack had to keep his personal and professional lives apart. Almost none of his clients had ever seen his apartment; Dylan was an exception.
"You're a good kid," Jack said. It was not the first time Dylan asked the question, and he preferred hearing the answer without the word "kid". "What time's your flight tomorrow?"
"I don't know. Early." Dylan's parents moved every few years. Dylan's father was a business consultant, sometimes doing strategy, other times working on mergers. This time they were going to California. "By the way, do you know anyone down there? For when I run out?" Jack wrote a name and a phone number on a piece of paper. "Thank you Jack, for everything," Dylan said. Dylan was not really thanking Jack for the supply of grass (he knew he had paid a premium for it) but for being the first person with whom Dylan ever fell in love. He could never say anything; he was just a kid after all.
Dylan's parents were downstairs watching television when he got home. So much for sneaking past them. He had gum in his mouth and had used enough body spray that they would not smell him. Irrationally, he was more worried about them finding out about his feelings for Jack. They called him over.
"My new computer is here," his dad said. Paul Lewis was a large man with an even larger voice, which made him always sound like he was yelling. "Can you get it setup for me?"
"Just on time," Dylan said. "What would you have done if they hadn't delivered it?" Paul shrugged. "Where is it?"
"In the hallway, outside your room."
"Sure dad." Dylan went upstairs and took the laptop out of the box. His father always bought new equipment before a new job. Dylan turned on the computer, then heard a knock on the door as his mother came in.
"Are you alright honey?" Maggie Lewis said.
"Yeah, why?"
"No reason. You've just been a little distant. You really don't want to go, do you? We can tell you like it here."
"Yeah," Dylan said. He did not necessarily like it there more than any other place they had lived, but Jack was there. It was only Jack he did not want to leave.
"California will be nice. It will be warm all the time and it won't rain so much. Plus you love the ocean, you'll be able to go to the beach any time."
"I know mom. I'm fine, really."
"Okay," she said. "Good. Dinner will be ready in an hour."
"So dad," Dylan said when they were at the table. "I was doing some research on St. Augustine's. Turns out they don't have the best swim team."
"It's the closest school to the new house," Paul said.
"I know. They have one of the best academic records though. I'm not thinking of changing, it was just a bit disappointing."
"Well just do your best," Maggie said. "The team you're on doesn't have to win everything." Dylan nodded. He was an excellent swimmer, and had been on the team for every school he attended. He was not worried, but he wanted to be at whichever school would win the most meets.
"What about a car?" Paul said. "Have you decided what you want to get?"
"I'm leaning towards a blue Camaro," Dylan replied.
"Better get the convertible. At least you can take advantage of the weather," Paul said.
The new house was bigger than it looked in the photos. Dylan went straight to the back, where the long edge of the house ran along the rectangular pool. Instead of unpacking, he found a pair of trunks and dove in. He swam the length and back, finding it to be the perfect size for training.
His father had started working right away, and though Paul came home in a bad mood, he took Dylan car shopping as promised. Paul aggressively negotiated the price of the Camaro. Dylan wished his father would calm down sometimes, but he smiled to himself when he saw how effective his dad could be. They went out for dinner, Paul sitting stiffly at the table, relaxing only after his scotch arrived.
"That idiot Jonathan Harris is screwing everything up," he said.
"Who's that dad?" Dylan asked disinterestedly.
"Jonathan Harris owns the company I've been hired to take over. He isn't negotiating fairly, and he's making everything personal so that this deal will fizzle out."
"And all this happened on your first day?" Dylan said.
"It'll be alright, honey," Maggie said to Paul. Paul looked at her and smiled. Paul only ever needed Maggie to bring a smile to his face. Dylan thought about the times he had visited Jack after a hard day at school.
"Which reminds me, Harris is throwing a party this weekend. You'll need to wear a suit Dylan, a nice one."
"Sure dad," Dylan said. It was at times like this he wished he had friends. He was definitely too old to go shopping with his mom. He always made a friend or two wherever they lived, but he did not know anybody here. He relied on the salesman, and it was ready for him just on time for the party.
He stood outside the house, wearing a pair of sunglasses, waiting for his parents. He had wanted to take his new car. They programmed the GPS and Dylan sped off. Jonathan Harris' house, almost unbelievably, was twice as large as Dylan's. He handed the keys to the valet, and they went into the party.
--
"Paul!" cried out a familiar sounding voice. Jonathan Harris had the same commanding voice as Dylan's father, and Dylan could feel Jonathan staring into him as they shook hands.
"Starting at St. Augustine's in a couple of weeks, aren't you?" Jonathan said.
"Yes," Dylan said.
"Good for you! My son Tyler is your age and he's captain of the swim team. Your dad tells me you swim very well."
"I guess," Dylan said.
"Well, we'll certainly have to see. I have no idea where he is though, he's around here somewhere. Oh, David!" He called another three people over.
"David and Linda Bennett, this is Paul's wife Maggie and his son Dylan." David Bennett called his son over.
"This is my son, Ethan," David said. "He's going to Augustine's as well. Ethan, this is Dylan." Ethan's long, blonde hair looked out of place with his black suit.
"Hey bro!" Ethan said. Ethan's voice made Dylan smile; it put him at ease. "Do you surf? You will, anyway. Come on, there's some other people here from Augustine's. Let me introduce you." Ethan led him away quickly.
"Thanks," Dylan said. "Thought I was going to have to stand here and meet the world."
"No sweat bro. Come on." Ethan took him over to the bar and poured some whiskey, topping it up with coke. "If anybody asks, it's just coke. So you're the Lewis kid, huh? Cheers." They clinked their glasses. "Before I introduce you, you do know what's been going on right? It's probably better if you're not expecting a warm reception."
"Uh, then I have no idea what's going on," Dylan said.
"My dad's hired your dad to take over Tyler's dad's company. Tyler's dad and Alice's dad have actually been trying to go into business together, and this is screwing it all up. Or so I'm told. I really don't understand how this business stuff works. Anyway, my dad apparently wasn't getting anywhere until your dad showed up. So he's being blamed for everything. Tyler and Alice both want to inherit the businesses one day, so they take it pretty seriously too."
"I'm sorry?" Dylan said, barely following that train of thought.
"Tyler Harris and Alice Hastings think your dad is trying to fuck over his dad."
"And this is captain of the swim team Tyler?"
"Yeah," Ethan said. He took a big sip of is drink. "He's a good guy, honestly. I've been friends with him my whole life. But, well, he isn't a big fan. He's around here somewhere with Alice. Just thought I'd give you a heads up."
"I appreciate it."
"Anyway, they haven't really been talking to me either for the last little while, but I'm sure they'll get over it. So don't take it personally."
"Yeah, thanks for the heads up." It was supposed to be a party; Dylan had not anticipated having to worry tip toing around people. "Hey listen, do you smoke up?"
"All the time bro," Ethan said.
"Awesome. I had a good hookup when I lived in B.C. Is there somewhere around here we can go?"
"Shit man, definitely!" Ethan took Dylan to a relatively remote area of the backyard, around the large pool which Dylan looked at enviously. Dylan pulled out a joint from his breast pocket. They sparked it and smoked while sipping their whiskey.
"Man, this is good stuff," Ethan said.
"I know, right?" Dylan said, taking the joint back from him. He took a large hit, exhaling slowly. Ethan offered to get them another round, and after he walked away, Dylan saw the boy with the hazel eyes.
--
"Cheers," Dylan said to the clink of glasses.
"We should find Tyler." Dylan was not convinced that this was a good idea, but he went along with it. "There he is," Ethan said, leading Dylan up to him. "Hey bro."
"Eat shit," Tyler said, turning around. Dylan's breath caught in his throat. Above the well cut suit was a head of wavy, dark brown hair. It had been styled well, but it looked like it could escape the bonds of hair product at the slightest touch. Tyler's hazel eyes caught the light, then caught Dylan. The boys exchanged a knowing glance.
"Hi, Tyler Harris," the boy said with a smile, holding out his hand. Dylan took it.
"Dylan Lewis, nice to meet you." Tyler's smile disappeared like a dog about to get a bath, and he took his hand back.
"You're the Lewis kid?"
"Yeah," Dylan said. Of course the first person he met that excited him would be someone who was destined to hate his guts. Tyler adopted a serious expression and looked at Dylan, as if sizing him up. The party around them disappeared as they looked into each other's eyes, neither of them knowing what to say next. The girl beside Tyler nudged him. He cleared his throat, snapping back into the moment.
"This is my girlfriend, Alice," Tyler said. "And, uhh, welcome, I guess. Make yourself at home." He walked away abruptly.
Dylan had a final drink with Ethan, knowing he would need to get sober before driving home later. He was surprised that Ethan had warmed up to him so quickly; he had not made friends easily in new places.
Ethan's girlfriend, Jessica, arrived late. Ethan left to get them both drinks, but before Dylan could string together two words, Tyler appeared beside him, ushering him away.
"Come with me," Tyler said sternly. Dylan followed him through the party, winding around the guests and the pool until they found a secluded spot. "My dad tells me you swim."
"Yeah!" Dylan said.
"Well let me make something clear. You and your family are not welcome here; not in my house, not in my school, and not on my team. Stay the hell away from me Lewis, and we'll get along just fine. Is that clear?"
"Crystal," Dylan said in a deadpan voice. Tyler walked away again. Dylan found somewhere to sit until his parents were ready to go home. The next morning, he got up before the sun and swam as hard as he could.