CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Shannon was sure Taylor hadn’t stopped staring at that speck of dirt on the window for the entire trip. It was driving her insane. She was half tempted to reach over and wipe it away just to change his focus.

"Oh no, Shannon, fight it…you must look away from…window!" Zac groaned theatrically.

Shannon grinned, and kicked him lightly. Taylor turned his head to give Zac one of his characteristic death stares before turning back. Zac clenched his teeth and Shannon grinned a little at him. At least he’d gotten Taylor to turn away from the speck for a moment.

_ _ _

Taylor isn’t good-looking at all. Not even near. He’s so far beyond good-looking that it doesn’t even sound right anymore. He’s more up around dazzling. Maybe even up around the place where words have not been invented to describe the degree of good looks he possesses.

"Argh!"

Shannon came up coughing and sputtering. She hadn’t even seen that wave coming. She shook her head. She was going to have to focus more if she was going to learn how to surf. And with Taylor parading around topless, wet, and sun touched, with his eyes reflecting the blue of the water and blond wet hair falling appealingly across his face…concentration was most definitely not easy to come by.

She wasn’t afraid to admit that she was a really bad surfer. All the Hansons had the sport well under control, and even Lara showed highly promising skills. Shannon was just happy if her board caught a wave…whether she was on it, or not.

"Isaaaaaac I can’t do it." Shannon squealed from the ocean.

Zac, who was riding a beautiful wave, started laughing, and bailed out into the surf.

"Ohhh Shan, you made me lose a wave!" He exclaimed when he resurfaced.

Shannon giggled. Her eyes wondered. Where was Taylor?

"Uhhh ohhhhh!" A voice wailed.

Shannon whirled around to see a board coming straight at her. She squealed, and ducked out of the way. The surfboards collided with a clunk. Taylor flipped his board away.

"Omigosh, sorry. Are you ok?" He asked, flipping his hair behind his ears.

"Tay! You nearly took my head off!" Shannon joked.

"Shannon I’m so sorry. I just got caught in a wave and…"

She laughed. He stressed way too easily.

"Taylor I’m kidding, it’s ok!"

Taylor suddenly noticed something around her neck, and recognised it as the silver pendant he’d given her for her birthday so long again. Flattered that she was wearing it, he smiled, and relaxed a little. Shannon gazed at him. It was so nice to see him smile.

Isaac emerged nearby, beaming with pride.

"Woah guys! Did you see that wave I caught before?!"

"Nah sorry. Was it really good?" Shannon asked, smiling at him.

"Awesome!" He grinned. "Tay, did you see?"

"Nah." He said softly, glancing in the other direction.

Isaac didn’t react to his brother’s inanimate answer, and began paddling over to Lara.

Seeing Taylor and his family interact made her realise just how far off they were from normal. Taylor was so out of touch with them, and they were even further out of touch with him.

"I don’t think I have the guts to try another wave." Shannon stated, gazing out nervously into the roaring breakers. Taylor turned to face her.

"Sure you do!" He smiled.

What was with this smiling thing today? Shannon saw the sun sparkle in his eyes, and had to remind her jaw not to drop. Taylor didn’t act this cheerful. He just didn’t! This was highly irregular behaviour…

"Just chase a really good wave, not those chopped up ones, and just let it take you. It’s really fun once you get it, I promise." He looked around. "Look, I’ll pick one for you ok?! You’ll see…" He chirped.

Shannon almost let go of her board. She hadn’t seen this pleasantly cheerful side of Taylor for so long, and her heart was practically jumping out of her chest to proclaim its love. Why was he being so…wonderful?

"Ok, ok…this one, come on let’s go!" He exclaimed, and began paddling.

Let’s go? Shannon jumped from her daze, and raced after him, determined not to be left behind. Taylor was a great judge, and Shannon found she caught the smooth wave with perfect timing. Her adrenalin rushed as she rode the thundering surf towards the shore. She only heard the cheers when she stepped off the board and her intense concentration melted away. It had been her best ride yet.

"That was awesome!" Lara yelled at her, grinning and waving.

A wave came and knocked her over from behind. Shannon laughed. She was such a spaz sometimes. Isaac went over and scooped her up from the surf. She kissed him and then he dumped her back down. She squealed and they began splashing each other playfully. Shannon smiled at them. She hoped that she and Taylor could be like that some day. Carefree and light hearted and happy.

"Shannon!!" Zac exclaimed.

Before she could move there was seawater in her face.

"Oh ZAC! You…argh!"

He was already racing away from her into the deeper surf, giggling all the way. Shannon laughed, and began heading in his pursuit. She was having so much fun.

As she splashed through the waist deep water, she glanced back over at Taylor, and was surprised to see him staring straight back. He blinked his sombre eyes slowly as he watched their incessant happiness, sighed, and looked away tiredly. He began heading back into the surf despondently, his head dropped lonelily. Shannon fiddled with her hair uneasily as she watched him go.

She felt herself torn between her need to be there for him, and the temptation of the infectious fun that Zac, Lara and Isaac were constantly offering.

This was going to be hard.

_ _ _

"Lara, let’s go and have a break ok? I really need a break." Shannon sighed tiredly.

Lara grinned.

"From what?!"

"Everything." Shannon breathed, glancing out at the surfing Hansons.

Taylor and Zac.

She couldn’t be there for them both, she simply couldn’t…

Yet everyone was beginning to see Shannon as the only way into Taylor, and he knew it. His mind was starting to yell ‘betrayal’ when she wasn’t by his side, and Shannon could feel him subconsciously shutting her out and withdrawing deep into his own isolated world. It was scaring her more than she dared to admit.

Lara put her hand to her forehead in mock horror. She had already guessed what the problem was…

"Oh that must be so terrible for you! Taylor and Zac Hanson are relentlessly fighting for your limited attention…oh, I’m sure all the girls of the world will send you their deepest sympathies, you poor poor wretched girl!"

Shannon rolled her eyes, and splashed her friend.

"Lara! I’m serious!"

"Ok, ok, come on let’s go." Lara laughed.

It was refreshing to have a girlie discussion. Both girls openly seized the opportunity to enthusiastically over-analyse and strip down the unsuspecting guys riding the waves before them.

"So how is Taylor anyway?" Lara asked after some time, rolling over in the warm sand with a sigh, "You’re the only one who seems to know anymore!"

Shannon shook her head and shrugged.

"He’s not that great." She sighed.

"I think he needs to see a psychiatrist. To help deal with heartbreak and death and…"
"He wouldn’t go." Shannon interrupted, "In fact I think that’d make it worse."

"I don’t know…."

"No, trust me. He’s got all these huge complexes that really mess him around. At the moment, all he seems to connect with is…"

Shannon paused.

"…you?" Lara suggested softly.

Shannon shook her head a little.

"Yeah, maybe."

Isaac came running up to join them on the sand.

"Hey!" He exclaimed.

"Well Shan, I’m sure glad I’ve got my Ike! Yours is waaay too much for me." Lara grinned as Isaac kissed her cheek.

"I assume we’re talking about Tay here?" He asked, smiling.

Shannon rolled her eyes.

"Yes." She muttered.

"Oh, don’t worry Shan. You guys are destined, I can just tell."

Why did Isaac have to be so wonderful? Damn she was jealous of Lara sometimes.

"Hellooooo!" Zac hollered, emerging from the surf. "I’ve come to join your beach party!"

"Where’s Taylor? I don’t want him to drown just yet." Isaac muttered in concern.

Everyone looked out to sea, and spotted him bobbing about.

"Why is he surfing by himself?" Lara questioned.

"Was he ever surfing with us?" Zac stated, sitting down beside Shannon.

"Good point."

"Someone should go out with him. We’re not meant to be out alone." Isaac mentioned.

All eyes turned to Shannon. She smiled shyly.

"Ok fine!" She exclaimed, and grabbed her board.

_ _ _

"Hey!" She said cheerfully.

Taylor looked at her, and offered a forced smile. Shannon paddled closer.

"How are you?" She asked carefully.

He shrugged, and looked out across the surf. Shannon didn’t try again. He looked up suddenly.

"Uh, um, there’s a um, um…"

The swollen wave flopped over Shannon’s head as Taylor used his board to top it. She came up spluttering, and looked incredulously at him.

"…a wave coming." He finished, pointing after it feebly.

He bit his lip and tried not to smile.

"Oh, thankyou Taylor so much for the warning." She exclaimed sarcastically, pulling pieces of hair out of her eyes.

He laughed.

"I’m sorry!"

Shannon just smiled dreamily. It was so good to hear his laugh. She found herself gazing at the others on the shore. They were laughing and joking noisily.

"Why don’t you come back to the sand with the others?" She asked.

Taylor looked away.

"I don’t think so." He muttered. "Go, if you really want. I’m fine here."

Shannon shook her head.

"No! Taylor you dork, I’m not gonna just leave you."

He looked up, his mouth in the perfect pout. She could see some kind of appreciation in his eyes, and it was enough. He said nothing.

"So um…are we going to try and surf or just float here?" Shannon said after some time.

Taylor shrugged again, but with a relaxed smile this time.

"Maybe we should go deeper and catch some bigger waves?" He suggested.

Shannon’s cheerfulness faded, and Taylor noticed.

"Oh come on Shannon, it’s not that hard! It’ll be fun!"

He turned and splashed away. Shannon rolled her eyes. Why did he always assume that she’d follow? Probably because she always did…

With a sigh, she splashed after him. Her stomach was hurting a little, but Taylor was worth the pain.

It was nice in the deep. The waves rolled more smoothly and the water was much clearer. She gazed down into it dreamily. It reminded her of her pool at home, and the time she sat with Taylor there…

"It’s so awesome here, isn’t it?" He said.

She looked up, and he offered a smile. His head was rested on his surfboard, letting the waves lull up and down. He looked so great when he smiled.

"Yeah, it is." She answered, gazing out into the horizon.

But all of a sudden, something was wrong with the perfection. Something pierced it. Something grey. Something pointed. Her heart bled panic, and she grabbed her board with both arms.

"Taylor I saw something." She exclaimed, her eyes racing across the surface of the water.

"What? What is it?" He said, coming closer to her.

Shannon’s fear was quickly infecting him. She gasped.

"There. There. What is that?" She cried, pointing.

Taylor saw, and his eyes grew wide.

"Oh no," He said, glancing around, "Oh no this isn’t good. This is not good."

"Taylor." Shannon whispered, staring at him, her eyes wide. "What? What is it?"

He was blunt.

"It’s a shark."

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