Looking Through The Lens

http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/ryansylander/www/

Chapter 24: Thank You

Back Home

I was too excited to sleep.  It was still dark out when my eyes popped open, but regardless of the time, I knew I was awake for the day.  A check of my watch showed that I still had over an hour before I really needed to be up. 

Then again, sleep was just time away from Heather at this point.  She would be coming to pick me up after dropping her parents off at work, since they had allowed her the use of the car for the day.  I figured I could pack up my stuff now, so that I wouldn’t have to take the time to do it later.

Just as I was about to get out of bed, Lara came into my room.  I made a surprised face at her, although she probably couldn’t see it in the darkness.  She was never up this early, unless there was an unavoidable reason.

“What are you doing up?” I asked her.

“I went to bed early, right after dinner,” she explained, coming over to my bed.  “Move over.”

I moved close to the wall, and Lara got next to me. 

“What’s up?”

“What time did you get home last night?” she asked.

“I don’t know.  It was after midnight, though.”

“I got up to pee around two, and Frej was still here!” Lara whispered excitedly.  “He was out on the porch with our parents!”

“Damn!  I told them not to stay up too late,” I said with a laugh.

“Maybe they’re not just flirting.”

“Yeah, I don’t know what’s going on.  It’s kind of strange, since Frej seemed like he still missed his wife, when he was talking about her on the boat.  I got the feeling he missed her like crazy.  But he seems to like our parents.”

“But we live so far from each other,” Lara said.  There was a pause, and then she spoke again.  “Do you ever wonder if our parents want to find someone else?”

“You mean a man?”

“Yeah.”

I shrugged.  “Maybe.  It’s been a long time since Dad died.”

“What do you think of Frej?” Lara asked me.

“Frej?  He’s really cool.  I like him.”

“Me too,” Lara agreed.

“And obviously our parents do too,” I added.

“Well, I guess we’ll see what happens.  What are you doing awake, if you got in after midnight?” Lara asked me.

“Heather’s coming in a little while to get me.  I’m going to pack up my stuff so I’m ready.”

“Oh, cool.  What are you two going to do today?”

“We’re going to go out to eat tonight; other than that I’m not sure yet.  Heather’s got the car, so we’re just going to hang out, have fun.  You want to come along?” I asked.

“No, Matt, you should spend the day with her.  You’ve already been really nice to let me come on the fishing trip and stuff.  But you’re sweet for asking.”

“All right.  What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know, go into town, swim, whatever.  Maybe this year I’ll pack the day before.”

“Instead of the ten minutes before we leave?”

“Or something like that,” Lara said with a laugh.

“All right, move out of the way.  I’m going to get to work.”

Lara yawned.  “I might stay here.  Your bed is really comfy.  Next year I get this room.”

“We’ll see.  But I have to pack now.”

“Go ahead, I’ll just snooze.  Don’t worry about me,” Lara said, already turning around and settling into a snuggled position. 

I shrugged, and then climbed over her and out of the bed.  Packing took a little longer without light; but fairly soon, I had my clothes put away, and my Walkman and books in my backpack.  Lara was sound asleep again.

I was on my way to the kitchen to get a drink, when I stopped in my tracks, my mouth falling open.  For a few moments, I just stared.  Then I quietly but quickly crept back to my room. 

“He’s here!” I whispered urgently to Lara, shaking her shoulder.

“What?” Lara said groggily.

“He’s still here!”

“Huh?  What are you talking about?”

“Frej’s car is still in the drive!” I said quietly.

Lara seemed to come out of her sleepy state, and she sat up.  “Really?”

“Yeah.”

“No way…”

“Go look,” I challenged.

“No, I believe you,” Lara said, slowly.

There was a long moment of silence as we considered the meaning of this.

“Maybe they drove him home,” Lara said.  “He was pretty buzzed.”

“So were our moms, probably even more than he was.  But maybe they did drive him.  Either that, or he stayed the night.”

Again there was some silence.  The room seemed to glow ever so faintly due to the first morning light coming in through the windows. 

“What does this mean?” I asked.

“I guess they were horny,” she said, matter-of-factly.

“Lara!”

“What?  They do have sex, you know.”

“I know that,” I said emphatically.  “But with Frej?  Right after meeting him?”

“Why not?”

“It just seems so... fast.”

“How long until after you kissed Julie did you start having sex with her?” Lara asked simply.

“What?  I don’t know...  A week or something?  But so what?  I’ve known her forever.  Even with Heather, it took a year.”

“All right, true,” Lara admitted.  “But they’re adults.  We’re all leaving tomorrow.  Maybe they were just, you know, having some fun.”

I sighed.  “It’s weird.”

“Why?  I thought you liked Frej.”

“I do.  It’s not that.  It’s just so... obvious!  Too obvious.  They’ve never done anything close to this.”

“They don’t need our permission.”

“No, but...  How are they going to explain Frej still being here in the morning?”

“I don’t know.  It will be interesting to find out, though,” Lara said, sniggering slightly.

Right at that moment, we heard some footsteps in the house.  Clearly someone was trying to be quiet.  Then the front door squeaked, and closed.  The low rumble of Frej’s car coming to life came to our ears next, and then it faded away as he drove off.

“Sneaking out, that’s how,” Lara said, in answer to our question.

I laughed.  “I thought only we did that.”

“Guess not.”

“You’re not bothered by this?” I asked.

“It’s a little out of the blue, but whatever.  I think Frej is cool.”

I stood for a little while longer, looking around in the gloom, and then shrugged.  “Back to packing, I guess.”

“I’m going to sleep in a little more,” Lara said lazily.

“I thought you went to bed early last night?” I teased.

“Heh, maybe I wasn’t quite ready to get up after all!”

“Sleep well then.  I’ll see you later, sometime.”

“Bye!”

I got a drink from the fridge, and then went to the porch to collect my guitar, and a few other items that had gotten strewn around the house over the three-week stay. 

On the porch couch was a pillow, a couple of blankets, and a note.  The note wasn’t folded, so I took the opportunity to read it.

Sarah, Melissa, Thank you for the wonderful meal last night (and a place to sleep off the spirits).  Today’s clients are waiting, so I have to slip out early. 

Until later, Frej

Again I hurried back to my room.

“Lara, wake up!” I whispered.

“What!” she said, somewhat startled.

“Frej slept on the porch.”

“What?”  She seemed more asleep now.

“He slept on the porch, not in our moms’ room.”

“Oh, okay.”

“I think he just stayed because he had too much wine,” I added.

“Okay,” she murmured.

“Okay, bye.”

Lara had already drifted off.

Heather came by, shortly after that, and I let her in.  We shared a long, quiet kiss in the entryway before we said anything.

“That’s the way to start the day out,” I said, savoring the remnant of her lips.

“Mm hmm, definitely.  Are you ready to go?”

“Yeah.  I packed all my crap this morning, so I don’t have to do it tonight.  Except for sleeping, I can be with you until I leave tomorrow morning,” I announced proudly.

“Do you have to sleep?” she asked mischievously.

“Well, I guess not.”

She just smiled and gave me another kiss.  “Let’s go.  Bring your camera.”

“Oh, all right.  Let me get it.”

I went to my room and grabbed the camera bag.  Despite trying to be as quiet as possible, Lara stirred when I knocked something over on the dresser.

“Jeez, last time I ever sleep in your room,” she said, sounding annoyed.

“Sorry.”

“I was just kidding.  Are you out of here?”

She was not annoyed, after all.

“Yeah.  Heather is waiting in the living room.”

Lara got up out of bed.  “I’ll come out and say hi.  Might not see her before we leave,” she explained.

I followed her out into the living room. 

“Hi, Lara,” Heather said happily.

“Morning,” Lara replied.  She inadvertently yawned.  “Sorry!  I came to say goodbye, in case I don’t see you later.” 

She pulled Heather into a hug.

“Oh.  Well, I don’t work tomorrow morning, so I’ll come by to see you off,” Heather said.

Lara pulled abruptly out of the hug. 

“In that case, no hugs!” she joked, before giving her another tight squeeze.

Sarah appeared behind us, looking like she was still half-asleep. 

“Hi, Heather, I thought it was you.  In case I don’t see you tomorrow –”

“She’ll be here tomorrow morning, Mom,” I said impatiently.

“Oh, good.  I didn’t know if we’d see you today, since you’ll be out and about.”

“Yeah, I’ll come by, don’t worry,” Heather said.

“Can you pass the word, so everyone else doesn’t get up too?” I said exaggeratedly.  “Else we’ll never get out of here!”

Sarah chuckled.  She glanced at the porch suddenly, and then outside.  “Is...?”

“No, he left,” I said, before thinking.

“We didn’t feel good about letting Frej drive home last night, so we put him up on the couch,” Sarah explained.

“That’s cool,” Lara and I both said at once. 

Too quickly, perhaps, since Sarah looked at us for a moment.  “Well, I’m back to bed.  It’s too early to be awake,” she said.

“Yeah, me too,” Lara said through a yawn.  “Getting up early really isn’t for me,” she added.  “Don’t know how you two do it.”

I rolled my eyes.  I followed Heather out the front door, so my mom could lock up.

“That was quite the greeting party,” Heather said as she pulled out of the drive.

“Yeah.”

“So Frej stayed the night, huh?”

“Apparently”.

“On the couch?”

“Apparently,” I repeated.

“Sounds like they were partying late.”

“I think so.”

“You sound a little bit weirded out.”

“No.  I actually think it’s kind of neat,” I said slowly.

“Why?”

“When we were fishing with Frej, I really enjoyed hanging out with him.”

“I could tell.  You spent more time with him, than with me!”

“Hey!” I exclaimed, but then I noticed the grin on her face.

“It’s all right, I didn’t mind.  Plus I got to know Lara a little more,” Heather added happily.

“Mm.  Anyway, I like Frej.  I’m not saying anything is going to happen between my parents and him, but maybe.  I wouldn’t mind seeing him more.  And, there’s an added benefit.”

“What’s that?”

“If he comes to visit my parents...”

A large smile crossed Heather’s face. 

“I like that line of thinking, Matt.”

“Or we may come here more often than once a year...”

“Ooh!  I hadn’t thought of that!  Then again I didn’t know he had slept over, either,” she said.

“I’m probably just dreaming,” I said, waving my hand vaguely, “but if there is something going on, I don’t mind.  Where are we going, anyway?”

“Let’s go to the lighthouse, and get some pictures.”

“You know, I’ve never actually been here,” I said, as Heather drove up the short lane which led to the hilltop on which the lighthouse stood.

“Really?”

“Never really had reason to.”

“It’s cool.  We are on the very tip of the island, now.”

She parked and we walked around the side of the tower.  No other cars were present, and the surroundings were empty of people.  It felt like we were the only two humans on earth.

Despite the early hour and a slight breeze, it was quite warm.  The sun was just beginning to touch upon the grounds. 

“It’s taller than I thought,” I remarked, looking up the side of the red-banded white tower.  Perhaps ten stories high, it was surrounded by a few smaller buildings.

“They built this almost two hundred years ago,” Heather said.

“Damn.  Do they still use it?”

“Oh yeah, for sure.”

“I didn’t know if nowadays the boats all use radio or whatever.”

Heather shrugged.  “I’ve seen it on at night.”

“Ever seen it in a fog?” I asked.

“I have, a few times.  The beam cuts right through, and swings around through the night.”

“Neat.  It must be a relief to see that light if you’re out on the ocean at night,” I said, imagining myself standing on Frej’s boat in the pitch black, unaware of my location.

“I’d say.  Frej has seen this from twenty miles out.”

“Serious?”

“Yeah.  The lens is like three feet wide,” Heather said.  “Come on; let’s take some pictures while the light is soft.  I want some good pictures of you to look at while you’re gone.”

“Same here,” I agreed.  I touched my forehead.  “How’s my bruise today?”

Heather examined it, and grinned.  “Very cute.”

We set up our cameras and Heather took some photos of me.  I much preferred being behind the camera, since I felt a little self-conscious about posing.  As soon as the moment came to stand casually, my limbs felt like awkward props and my face could not find a relaxed position!  But Heather seemed satisfied with how I looked. 

I took some pictures of her, too.  I took my time, trying to remember the things I had wanted to correct, after looking at my last batch.

“Being methodical is the trick,” I said, as I snapped a well-composed picture of Heather.  “I think that was a good shot of you.”

“Cool.  Set up your tripod, and let’s get some of the two of us,” she suggested.

I realized we only had a few shots of us together, including the ghostly one at the swings.  “Good idea.”

Setting up the timed shots was a bit more challenging, but we managed to frame what looked to be good shots of us.  For the last one, Heather kissed me just as the shutter clicked. 

“I think I’m going to have a surprised look on my face for that one!” I said.

Heather grinned.  “Let’s go closer to the water.”

We gathered our things and made our way down the grassy slope to the top of the rocky seawall, against which the waves pounded. 

“What did you ever do with that roll?” Heather asked.

“Which roll?”

She raised a brow.

“Oh, that roll,” I said.  “I still have it, here in the camera bag.”  I patted the side of the bag.

“Are you going to develop it?” she asked innocently.

“How?”

She shrugged.  “You need to find a darkroom.”

“We’ll see.  There’s a darkroom at my school, but I don’t think I can just use it.”

“Now you have a reason to, though.”

I laughed.  “Maybe.”

“Come on, I know you’re dying to see what that picture looks like.”

I shrugged, smiling slightly.  “Maybe, maybe not.”

“Whatever!” she exclaimed.  “I want to see it too.  You have to get it developed.”

“Why do you want to see it?”

“It’s my first nude shot.  I want to see how it looks,” she said simply.

“You make it sound like it’s not your last,” I observed.

Heather giggled.  “That depends.”

“On what?”

“On you.”

“Me?” I said, arching a brow.

“Yeah.”

I watched her carefully for a moment.  “How’s that?”

“If you want to take more,” she said coyly.

“Now?” 

She looked at me expectantly.

I instinctively took a look around, before catching myself. 

“That’s a little risky, isn’t it?” I said, realizing how obvious my words were the moment they left my lips. 

“And that’s why you want to do it,” I added, in response to her mischievous nod.

I sighed, trying to calm the arousal that was threatening to take over from reason.

But why listen to reason, really?  We were both willing, and we’d seen each other naked.  At worst the pictures would sit on an undeveloped roll for years, in a suitable hiding place.  At best...

“Right now?” I asked again.

“Sure.”

I looked around again.  There was no one around.

“What about the lighthouse?   The operator could be watching us.”

“Nah.  They automated the lamp a few years ago.  I don’t think anyone is here.  Besides, I’m probably not going to strip totally nude.” 

“Probably?”

“Are you going to take them, or not?”

With that, she proceeded to take her shirt off, leaving her pink bikini top in place.  She walked to a rock and sat, stretching her legs out before her.  She hummed innocently.

“Well?”

I broke out of my stare and snatched at my camera, fumbling with the lens cap. 

“But the pictures that we already took on here...” I stammered. 

The pictures I had just taken of her clothed would be locked away as well, if I didn’t change rolls.

“How many left?” she asked.

“Four.”

“Take them,” she said.

It was hard to be “methodical” for those four shots.  I wasn’t sure if I even had the aperture set right.

Changing rolls took forever.  I started pulling out a color roll from its case, losing the grey cap forever to a crag in the rocks beneath my feet.  Then Heather reminded me to use black and white.  Then I couldn’t get the tongue of the film to engage the cylinder in the camera.  Then....

Meanwhile, Heather took a last look around, and then removed her bikini top, draping it neatly on the rock next to her.  She hummed contentedly, wearing a little grin, while I hurried to advance the blank frames.  Her arms were folded across her front, hiding her breasts from view. 

For a moment, I forgot about the camera, and just looked at her.  I took a deep breath, trying to etch this moment into my head.  She looked beautiful!  Her soft, smooth skin was set off against the dark, jagged rocks of the seawall, with the whole scene surrounded by the blue background of the ocean. 

I didn’t really need a camera to capture this moment.  I knew I could not ever forget it.

“You look amazing,” I said.

Heather smiled a little more. 

“Thanks.”

The soft light and the privacy were not going to last forever, so I readied the camera.  Heather leaned forward a little, putting her arms to her sides.  I told her to put them in front of her again.

“Some things are better imagined,” I said.  “Give me your sweetest smile.”

She did.

The photo shoot had been exceptionally arousing, but only after I took the last frame on the roll.  During the shoot, I had been trying as hard as possible to keep my mind on my work, and make Heather look as good as possible in the shots.  Afterwards, though, the excitement of the event flooded through me.

When we returned to the car, we kissed long and hard, and spent a long time in the parking lot making out.  When our lips grew tired, we’d talk, or drive to a new location, and then make out some more.  It was a beautiful way to waste the day away.

For dinner, I was taking Heather out to the restaurant at one of the hotels where Hans gave lessons.  He had suggested the place, since it was top-rated and frequented by rich city folk when they vacationed here.

After a brief stop at my house to put on some long pants and to drop off my camera, we went to Heather’s so she could change.  While she was up in her room, I chatted with Mairead, who had just returned from work.

“That was great fun, last night,” she said.  “Your parents are wonderful, and Melissa is such a cook!”

“Yeah, she does pretty good,” I said modestly.

“Pretty good?” she echoed, with a twinkle in her eye.

“Were you there very late?”

“No, we left shortly after you did.  Frej stayed a little longer, I think.”

I suppressed a grin and simply nodded.

“He was really enjoying himself,” Mairead continued.  “I haven’t seen him that merry in a long time.”

“Good, I’m glad everyone had fun.  You always hear about stories when parents meet each other and...” 

Where was I going with that statement, I suddenly wondered?   I felt my face heating up.  It’s not like we were getting married!

Mairead’s bit her lower lip to keep from smiling, but fortunately rescued me.  “Yes, but your parents are a barrel of fun.  We look forward to coming to visit this winter.”

“Oh, really?”  My heart leapt at hearing that.

“Yes, I guess you had left already, but your parents formally invited us to stay with them when we come up for skiing.”

I nodded wholeheartedly, and then was distracted by footsteps behind me. 

Heather was ready.  She had put on a sundress.  The sundress…  I stared, open-mouthed.  It was the one she had changed into that night on her porch, when… 

She knew what I was visualizing at that moment, and she didn’t let the opportunity go to waste. 

“Do you like this dress?” she asked.  “I just got it, and I’ve only worn it one other time.”

“Yeah, I like it,” I said as evenly as I could manage.

“Okay, let’s go then!” she said cheerily.  “Bye Mom!”

Mairead gave us each a kiss and a “Be safe!” and then we were on our way to the resort.

Over the course of the day, Heather had been teasing me, and the car ride to dinner was no exception. 

“Do you remember this dress?” she asked, well aware that it was still consuming my thoughts.

“Of course!  Are you kidding?” I sputtered.

“Just checking.” 

She pulled on it a little, letting it ride up her thigh some.  She drove in silence, eyes on the road.

“What are you looking at?” she suddenly asked.

“What?” I replied innocently.

“You’re staring.”

“How do you know?  You can’t see my eyes,” I said.

“I can too.”

“So what am I looking at then?” I asked.

A smile spread across her face.  “My legs.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because you like them.”

I reached a hand over, but she glanced at me sidelong with raised brow.

“No touching,” she said.

I pouted but withdrew my hand, instead caressing her skin with my glance. 

“You’re mean,” I said jokingly.

“Mean?”

“Teasing me, and getting me worked up all day.”

Heather laughed.  “Aw, poor baby!”

“Hey, you don’t know how hard it is not to jump you, right now!”

“I’m driving,” she warned.

“Yeah, that’s about the only thing keeping me from it,” I said with a grin.

“So you think when I’m teasing you, I’m not getting excited myself?”

I frowned.  “Hadn’t thought of it,” I admitted.

“I’m about to burst, I’m so excited right now,” she said quietly.

My body lurched in response.  “Really?”

“But it will feel so good, later, when I’m alone with you.”

“We’re alone now,” I said.

I put all the hope I could manage into my voice, but she crushed it anyway.

“No, let’s wait until tonight.  But just don’t think I’m not suffering too.  Here,” she said, taking my hand.   She drew it up between her legs, pushing the dress’s fabric to her waist.  She pressed my fingers against her panties, and I felt a dampness there.  She moved my hand slowly, rubbing herself with my fingertips. 

“That’s...”  Heather shuddered slightly.  “That’s what I’m dealing with over here,” she said huskily, before withdrawing my hand. 

“Why do we wait and suffer, then?” I asked, adjusting my pants to accommodate my arousal.

Heather looked at me with a special smile.  “Because waiting will make it even better.”

I nodded.  “Can you imagine how we’re going to feel after being apart for three months?”

“You just better have somewhere to be alone.”

“I think I can manage that.”

“For a long time,” she added, looking at me with a suggestive smile.

Dinner was delicious.  The meal was on the level of quality that Melissa had cooked for us the evening before.  We were easily the youngest couple in the restaurant, and I felt older than fifteen as we ate our food. 

I wished I could stop the clock, or at least slow it enough to spend the next twelve years with Heather, instead of having to leave in less than twelve hours.  Eventually, though, we were finished with dessert.  Despite wanting to linger and look out over the water, holding hands across the candlelit table, we knew there were other things to do before sleeping. 

I was slightly anxious as we rode back to her house, in silence.  Last year, I had blown my final evening with Julie by getting overly excited about it.  And last year’s excitement paled in comparison to how I felt now!  Was I just going to get to Heather’s house and tense up?  Feel awkward and pressured?  I had only brought two condoms.  Was that going to be enough?  What if one, or both, were broken?

I felt my heart rushing a little.  What if I messed everything up tonight?  Then Heather would not be as excited to be with me.  Might she drift off over the next few months like Julie did?  What if...?

I felt Heather’s hand find mine in the darkness of the car. 

“I’m a little nervous,” she said as she approached her house.  “Our last night together, you know.”

I opened my mouth, but didn’t know what to say for a moment.  Heather was nervous?

That statement changed my world.  The anxiety was swept away, and the voice that had been speaking softly – and until now unheeded – in the corner of my head came to the forefront.

“Don’t be nervous,” I said, saying aloud what my thoughts told me.  “Everything I could possibly want in a friend, I have in you, Heather.  You’re beautiful, exciting, sweet, and kind, and so smart.  Even a tease!  And yeah, I’ll admit I like it.  But I have so much fun with you.  I was feeling a little nervous too, but I don’t know why.  I just want to be with you, and not worry about anything.  It’s our last night, but just our last night for today.  We’ll still be the same friends tomorrow, still have shared everything we’ve shared these last weeks, and we will still...”

I left the next few words unsaid, hoping she understood. 

Heather squeezed my hand in response.  The motion sensing light on the side of her house came on, and she took a deep breath as she turned off the engine.  I looked over to her, and a few shiny streaks had wet her cheeks.  After a moment, she turned to gaze at me.  An emotional smile was on her face. 

We hugged for a time, feeling each other’s tensions relax away. 

“...and we will still love each other,” she whispered into my ear.

Darkness turned into golden shadows, as a single candle flame flickered to life in the breeze from the open window.  The perfect night air circled through the room and filled my body as I took deep breaths of it.  It was so quiet that I could hear the candle’s wick burning.

Heather turned to face me.  Without taking her eyes off of mine, she grabbed at the hem of her dress, and smoothly pulled it over her head.  She then reached behind her back and unclasped her bra.  The tension slackened, and the cups fell away.  Then the black straps slipped off of her shoulders and down her arms.  The bra fell, unnoticed, to the floor.  Heather hooked her thumbs under the waist of her panties, and wiggled out of them.  One leg slipped out, and then the other. 

I wasted no time in removing my clothes, though I made sure to keep my movements quiet.  I watched her eyes roam over my body as I exposed it to her.

She guided me to her bed.  Her eyes glistened in the candle’s glow, and her hand was soft and warm.  In one smooth movement, she lay back on the sheet and pulled me down over her.  My chest pressed against hers, and my legs went between hers. 

A delicate kiss let me explore the softness of her lips.  Her tongue glided against mine, as she pushed and pulled me into her.

The passion from our kisses began to spread downwards, as hands and then legs began rubbing slowly across bare flesh.  Our bodies writhed against each other in an inexorably slow dance.  The desire to ravish her was checked only by the need to be quiet.  In turn, this made every movement all the more sensuous.  Each stretch of her leg against mine sent shivers through me.  Each touch of my lips on her nipple sent a quiver down her body.

Inevitably, I entered her.  It was part of the dance.  Slowly, I moved up and down, along her flesh, and then I was in just the right place to meet her rising hips with mine. 

Heather gasped as I moved into her as slowly as I could.  The first stroke took forever, and I stayed deep when I arrived there.  Our kissing became heated, and more abandoned. 

As I began to move, I remembered I hadn’t put on protection.  Reluctantly, I slipped out of her, and took care of it.  It was an interference, but a necessary one. 

Heather waited, a sultry look on her face.  Her hand softly stroked my lower back.

It took no time to return to the moment.  I pushed into her again, and this time we didn’t pause.  Her breathing was quickly increasing in rhythm.  I buried my face in her neck, as I tried to find the pace that felt best, yet didn’t move the bed too much.  Long strokes were the answer.  She liked it too, hanging onto me like I was all she had in the world.

In those moments, as I hung on to the plateau, I realized how much I did love Heather.  I was going to miss her, incredibly. 

The year was going to be difficult, being away from her for such long stretches.  She was so much fun, in so many ways.  Over the past two weeks I had gotten to know so much about her, and still she surprised me at every opportunity.  Sometimes I felt so amazed by her, I even wondered why she was with me. 

She was perfect.

I returned my lips to hers, as I felt her tighten up.  She welcomed my kiss heatedly.  We shared the passion of feeling each other climax, her first, and then me.

As we lay together in her bed, we were very aware of each other.  The breeze had finally succeeded in putting out the candle.  The moon had yet to rise, and only summer starlight and a few distant ships lent their faint illumination to our window on the world.  We were only silhouettes, and barely at that.

My hand stayed clasped around hers, and our legs were still intertwined.  Our breaths were taken in unison. 

“Do you have to go?” she whispered.

“No.”

“Stay, then.”

Heather turned and cuddled against me, murmuring contentedly.

Time passed so slowly, and yet so quickly.

The sun was barely cracking the eastern horizon when I arrived at the empty pier.  I set my stuff down, and leaned against the railing.  It was the last opportunity to take in the ocean, the sea air, and the red sun rising, before leaving for the mountains of home.

The time had gone so fast.  Three weeks ago, I had come to Montauk full of hope and of love.  After a considerably difficult year, I had planned to make things better.  Despite having taken an unexpected turn with Julie, things had worked out in the end.

“Any luck?”

I turned slowly, unable to keep a smile from spreading across my face.  Heather was standing before me.  She was dressed in the same overalls she had worn the first day I had met her, over a year ago.  She was radiant, even in the early morning light.

“Yeah,” I said.  “Definitely.”

We eyed each other a moment longer, and then she dropped her stuff to the pier deck and rushed into my arms. 

“Oh, I’m going to miss you so much!” she said, voice full of emotion.  “I’ve had the best time with you.”

“Me too, Heather.  Me too.”

“Fishing just won’t be the same anymore.”

“I know.”

“I still will come here as often as I can, and remember our times on the pier, though.  You’ll still be with me.”

“And we’ll see each other soon, I promise.”

“Where did the summer go?” she asked, eyes brimming with tears.

“Wasn’t it just yesterday I had you over for dinner?  And now...”  I couldn’t say the words.

“I know the time won’t go as fast after you leave, but I hope it does.”

“Me too.”

Heather took a long, deep breath, and then kissed me gently.  Her eyes were so soft and beautiful.  The life I had always seen in them was deeper and more complex than ever. 

“Do you still have time to fish?” she asked.

“Yeah, we’re leaving in an hour or so.”

There was no keeping score, that morning.  We each had one hand on the same pole.  Our other arms were wrapped around each other.  There were no words to say, except for those we shared through our eyes as we looked deep within each other. 

The grey-red of the pre-dawn morning faded away.  The serenade of the waves washed over us.  Tethered through our hearts and our gazes, we passed the hour nurturing and growing that connection, so that it would hold fast over the coming distance, and the long days apart.

I love you...

The car ride home was as quiet as the previous year’s, though for completely different reasons.  I missed Heather as soon as we rounded the first curve on the winding beach road that took us away from Montauk.  The difficult mix of sadness and optimism was unexpectedly overwhelming.  Lara hugged me more than once when she saw the tears in my eyes.

When the soft sands turned into hard concrete, so the endless ocean turned into human harbors; and where the concrete turned into verdant trees, the harbors became majestic rivers; and where the trees became round-topped mountains, the rivers became cool streams...  That was where my body was, while my heart had been left behind.

When we pulled up to our house, the exhaustion of having slept only minimally the night before was suddenly weighing heavily on me, and it threatened to become overwhelming.  I simply walked to our creek, leaving the banality of unpacking the car for later, or perhaps to those who were more up to the task. 

I could tell Lara was with me, but I didn’t have the strength to look at her.  Already my eyes were tearing up. 

The deep pool was the same as ever, cool and inviting.  The silvery water was still there, playfully falling over the little ledge.  The round boulders off of which we had jumped for so many years still stood in place, and the fallen log that traversed the stream still offered tenuous passage to the dark wilds on the other side.

Lara took my hand as we stood at the edge of the bank, watching the flow of time, as nature wound her way around and through us.  Each little splash measured away one less instant that I had to wait until I could see Heather again.

This very water was on its way to her now, taking in reverse the same path we had just traveled.  I sent a little wish of love to her, attaching it to a splash of water and watching as it lightly swam through the pool, and then over the next lip.  Soon it would be in the Hudson River, and then in the Atlantic. 

And then, one morning at the pier, Heather would dip her line into the ocean and catch my wish, instead of a fish.

“Are you all right?” Lara whispered.

“Yeah,” I managed to get out through a tight throat.

She put an arm around me, and we hugged for a long time. 

There was so much to look forward to.  And even though waiting for Heather to visit was going to be difficult, I had my sister with me.

“Thanks,” I said.  “For everything.”

Lara just squeezed me a little tighter. 

It was going to be a good year, I decided. 

I was going to make it a good year.

Author's Endnote:

Thanks for reading. This was the first long story I wrote. This version was expanded and revised in 2009. It also benefitted from the editing of pcb. I'm always looking to improve my writing, so please let me know what worked and what didn't. I welcome all feedback and critique, and if you leave your email, I'll write back. It only takes a minute or two to tell me what you thought of the story! If you are looking for information on a sequel, please join my yahoo group below, or send me a comment.

Thanks!

Cheers,
Ryan Sylander

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