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Riding the Waves By: Sean Roberts
-- Chapter 12 --
They all got up early to celebrate Dylan's Harvard acceptance. Alice had whispered in Lisa's ear that they should celebrate—she could not say it out loud because of her and Tyler's parents being with them.
Though Tyler and Dylan had completely stopped talking, Alice made Tyler come. Ethan drove them out, all of them half asleep for most of the trip; it was a long drive to Ethan's perfect spot.
This time, Dylan was not going to get pushed off his board. He paddled out with Lisa next to him. He was nervous, but she was comforting. Dylan was ever conscious of Tyler's presence each time Lisa kissed him, touched him, or called him "hun" and "babe".
The waves in this particular spot were huge. As the sun began to creep out from behind night's covering, they stood watching the waves of which they would soon become a part. As the smoke filled their lungs and their heads, the world around them, except for the water, disappeared. He thought he heard, at the back of his mind, Lisa telling him to get ready to jump. He did, slowly, catching the wave. It was pure bliss, being high and riding a wave. It was probably dangerous too. He felt the rush of the current in the vibrations of the board. Through his feet into the rest of his body he felt a connection with the ocean. They surfed for hours, the six complicated friends, as they let go of the world and allowed the water to exhilarate them.
As they were drying off, Dylan pulled Alice away from the group to thank her.
"You're welcome. I hope you had fun."
"I did. And really, thanks for getting everyone to come out."
"It wasn't hard," she said. "Well, mostly." She laughed.
"Has he said anything to you? About me, I mean?"
"He's said a lot of things about you. None of which I really care to repeat."
"Gotcha."
"I just don't get it, you know? I thought things were getting better; that we were all moving past whatever was happening with our parents."
"It's got to be hard for him, being my friend. And then, you know, being forced to spend time with me, helping me with school of all things. He's frustrated and I can't blame him. And now we're all hanging out and he has to put up with me—"
"Nobody's putting up with you, Dylan," Alice said. "Everybody treated you like shit. You put up with us, and Tyler's just going to have to deal with it. And he's going to have to deal with it soon, because it's a beautiful day and I'm starving. Why don't we all meet for lunch?"
Dylan did not want to impose himself on Tyler any more than he already had, but he did not have a choice but to agree. They put on suits and dresses and went to one of the most expensive restaurants they could find. The waiter took Tyler's order last.
"Just get me a salad," Tyler said.
"And for the main meal?" the waiter asked.
"I said salad," Tyler snapped, slamming his menu on the table.
"What's the matter?" Alice asked him.
"Nothing," he said irritably. "I'm just not hungry." Alice sighed and looked at Dylan. Dylan shrugged.
"What are you two on about?" Tyler asked Dylan.
"Nothing," Dylan said, defensively.
"Tyler, we're all having a good time together. Can you just get it together?" Alice whispered in his ear, loudly enough that the rest of the table could hear them. Ethan was used to this by now, and did not appear concerned. But he did see Jessica's expression, and he put his hand on her leg and kissed her cheek.
"You're having a good time. I'm going."
"You're my ride," Alice said.
"Get your boyfriend there to drive you home." Tyler walked out.
"I'm sorry guys," Alice said.
"Don't say sorry hun," Lisa said to her. "Listen. We can go. We'll drive you wherever."
"Yeah, sure," Dylan said. "If you want to go talk to him or—"
"No. Let's just eat." She put on a smile, and both she and Lisa barraged Dylan with questions on what he expected Harvard to be like.
--
After Monday's practice, Dylan sat in his car watching Tyler's Mustang. Tyler ignored him and drove off quickly. Dylan started his car and followed, keeping a close distance. Tyler caught on quickly, shifted gears, and turned the corner. They were dangerously above the limit, and making turns much too quickly. Horns blared as they cut people off. Pedestrians were almost run over at crossings; there were some close calls through red lights. Then Tyler gave up and pulled over.
"Lewis, what the fuck do you want?" They were standing on the side of the road, between their cars.
"Nothing," Dylan said casually. "I'm just out for a drive."
"Well fuck off and go drive somewhere else." Tyler turned around to get back into his car.
"I want to talk to you. But not here on the side of the road. Where can we go?"
"What do you want to talk about, Lewis?" Tyler asked, sounding defeated.
"Just stuff. You know, school, college—"
"Want to rub it in my face even more?"
"Yeah, but not college," Dylan said, smiling. Tyler did not even crack a smile.
"There's nothing to talk about."
"Sure there is. How's that private tutor working out?"
"None of your business. We're supposed to be leaving each other alone, remember? But you decided instead to start hanging around with my friends and following me around after school. On top of which you and Lisa—what the hell is that?"
"I like Lisa. And I have every right to see her. I let you make the decision Tyler. I was ready to choose you. You expect me not to move on?"
"I have no problem with you moving on. That's why it's hard for me to understand why you're here pestering me."
"I'm here because you're clearly upset about something, and I want to help."
"Can you build a time machine, Lewis? That would help immensely. I was very happy before I fucking met you." Dylan felt like he got hit by the last car that drove by.
"So it's my fault that you're being a jerk to all your friends?"
"Of course it isn't. But they're my friends, Lewis, not yours. And this is my life, so I'd appreciate it if you could let me deal with it the way I want to."
"You can deal with it any way you choose! I just want you to let me help you. You're not doing a great job on your own."
"You sound just like Alice! Why the fuck can't I just have a girlfriend who minds her own fucking business?"
"Let's get one thing straight Harris," Dylan said. "In this relationship, you're the fucking girlfriend, not me." Tyler looked up at him like a deer in headlights. Then both boys burst out laughing, which came to an end quickly when they heard a siren.
They explained to the police officer that they were just talking, but they were told to move it along anyway. "Coffee shop!" Dylan yelled out, before climbing into his car.
He was not sure that Tyler would agree to come. He ordered two coffees and sat down, and was relieved when Tyler walked through the door.
"I only came to tell you to mind your own fucking business," Tyler said as soon as he sat down. "You fucked everything up for me, Lewis, and—"
"Tyler, do you remember the first time we saw each other?"
"Do I remember you cheating your way onto the swim team, Lewis? Of course I do."
"No," Dylan said slowly, his fingers caressing his coffee. "At your house, when we saw each other for the first time."
"Lewis what does that—"
"You fucked everything up for me too," Dylan said sternly. Tyler sighed and sat back in his chair.
"So what do you want from me?"
"I want you to deal with school, Alice and your parents. I just think that if you tell them that you aren't getting into college, or at least not into an Ivy, you'll feel a lot better."
"Wow Lewis, you're really full of some great advice."
"What's your plan then?"
"To keep doing what I'm doing."
"I don't think that's going to work."
"You're probably right. Tell you what. Give me some time to think about it, and then let's talk more. Come to the beach house on Saturday morning. At least it'll be quiet." --
At school the next day, Tyler apologised to Alice and Lisa, in front of Dylan, for the way he had been acting. Dylan was happy that things had started to take a positive turn, and he was grinning from ear to ear as he approached the front door of Tyler's beach house. Dylan's subconscious had him throw an overnight bag in the trunk of his car before going.
Dylan rang the bell, which Tyler answered wearing nothing but a pair of boxer shorts. His skin was pink and moist and his hair was artfully mussed. Dylan's heart skipped a beat.
"Dylan!" Tyler said happily, smiling.
"Hey?" Dylan replied. He had not been expecting this kind of reception. Tyler's face suddenly fell.
"Hey yourself," he said. Tyler punched Dylan, hard, just below the eye. Dylan grabbed his face and fell backwards, his head hitting the pavement. Tyler reached out his hand and helped the poor boy up.
"Why the hell did you do that?" Dylan asked.
"It felt amazing," Tyler said. He hit Dylan again. Dylan swore, but recovered and threw himself at Tyler. With no real plan of attack, Tyler was able to quickly step aside and get another one in. Dylan fell down again and hit his head for a second time. He stood up, and Tyler put his hands up in the air.
"I've got it out of my system, I swear," Tyler said. At least Dylan could still see. He was not sure if the back of his head was wet with sweat or blood. Dylan walked past Tyler into the house and sat down. Tyler shut the door and stood in front of Dylan, looking down at him.
"You have some fucking nerve coming to my house to talk to me about my fucking life after you fucked Lisa!" Tyler stormed away. Dylan tried to wrap his head around what Tyler had just said. Tyler came back and handed him ice cubes wrapped in a tea towel. Dylan held them against where his head was smarting.
"Who told you about Lisa?"
"Alice did. Lisa tells her everything—but you should know that by now. Thanks to you, Alice used that to ask me why I won't fuck her."
"So that's why you've been acting this way? Not because of that night at your house?"
"You thought I was mad because you were sticking your nose where it doesn't belong when Alice and I were fighting? I got used to you doing that a long time ago, Lewis."
Dylan swung the towel with the ice cubes and hit Tyler hard in the side of the head. Tyler had no right to be angry with him either. He stood up quickly and did it again, even harder, to the back of the head. Tyler passed out. Dylan sat on the couch and used the ice on his head again, trying to figure out what to do.