Advantage In

EXCERPT:

They continued driving along the highway until Robin found a nearly deserted beach dotted with a few on-shore fishermen. Offshore, a handful of surfers floated on the water awaiting the next big wave. Robin pulled the car into the parking lot, took off her red high-tops and grabbed a windbreaker from her backpack. Madison followed suit and soon they were walking along the water’s edge away from the Triple T’s. . . away from school. . . away from society’s rules. . . away from the rest of the world.

            The cool, steady breeze was typical for April on the beach. Robin assisted Madison into her windbreaker as they walked along the wet sand. Stopping occasionally to gaze at the gulls floating above the waves, they walked shoulder-to-shoulder without words.

Madison’s hand reached out quickly to grasp Robin’s shoulder as a receding wave pulled the sand out from under her feet. Robin instinctively turned and grabbed Madison at the waist to steady her. Madison’s other hand reached up to firmly grasp Robin’s other shoulder. They stood face-to-face for the first time. Robin could feel Madison’s breath on her face. Madison’s look of surprise softened just as Robin’s look of concern eased. Surrounded by the agitated surf, they held securely onto each other, their eyes fully absorbed in a newfound connection.

In that moment, Robin’s initial terror of being so close to Madison in public quickly receded with the waves. She suddenly became aware of the look on Madison’s face. It was questioning, yet sure. Madison’s eyes no longer flashed with anger. The creases in her forehead multiplied as her eyebrows arched in wonder. Her clenched jaw relaxed. Her face eased into a smile. At first puzzled, Robin soon felt relieved, as if Madison had opened a window and released all of Robin’s anxiety and fear to the wind.

Madison, flustered at first by her proximity to Robin, felt the security of Robin’s hands at her hips. It felt natural to have Robin so physically close to her. It was as if every neuron in Madison’s body fired simultaneously. She felt heat ignite and expand throughout her body. She felt comfortable standing there with Robin in the cool, sea breeze.

Madison had discovered the hidden drawbridge to Robin’s fortress.

            The push of another bounding wave against their legs, jolted them back to the beach. They each staggered slightly away from the grasp of the ocean and each other. Though the encounter was momentary, the imprint it left on each of their hearts was palpable with each pounding beat.

            “We should probably head back,” Robin took one last look along the shoreline, “You have tennis practice and I have some film to develop for the newspaper.” With that, they both turned away from the churning sea.