Chapter 6

" Thank you" I placed the towel over my arm and turned around to go down the beach. I couldn't swim, but I could always splash in the water, like the children. I would still have fun.

The moment my feet touched the hot sand, I felt relieved and happy that I finally got to spend some time sprawled on the sand baking under the summer sky.

I glanced over my shoulder, but Mason had already left. Maybe he didn't like the water, hence his reaction the other day. That thought fueled all sorts of crazy thoughts in my head. And the hurt that I felt the day before and in the morning subsided. I was back to fantasising about Mason and the things I wanted him to do to me.

I spread my towel on the sand and placed my bag on it and went in the water. The cool water was refreshing on my hot skin, and I sat down where the water met the sand, letting the water ebb at my feet. The sparkling giggle of children running around and splashing water on each other breathed new life into me. Maybe that would be Mason and me someday. No matter what I did my thoughts gravitated towards him.

" Hey Lily," David jolted out my thoughts making me look up.

" Hi, David," I beamed and pushed myself up and noticed the girl standing behind him, smiling at me.

" This is my sister, Laira, " David shifted to his side, allowing me to see his sister. They looked alike, same dark brown hair, hazel eyes, Laura was slightly shorter than David, but David was shorter than me.

" Nice to meet you, Laira," I smiled and reached my hand for her to take.

"Likewise," Laura let go of my hand, shyly grabbing her arm. She sort of reminded me of myself before I moved to Morston.

" Should we sit down?" I pointed towards my towel, and since they still had their bags on their shoulder, I figured that they wanted to sit with me.

" Yeah, sure," David followed me along with Laira.

We went through the usual platitudes, that I went in the morning with David. I was extremely surprised that Laira was the same age as me and that she would be attending the same academy as David. After speaking with David for hours on end in the morning, it didn't take a genius to realise that the duo were gifted.

" What are you doing this evening?" David broke my thoughts. I had stopped listening to what he was saying and sort of sought refuge in my thoughts.

" Uhmm... I'll be going home for dinner and then...and then the usual, sleep" I replied with a frazzled smile.

" We are going out later. Us two and some friends," He pointed at Laira and then looked at me " There is a club in town, and we always tried to get in, but I met this guy at the academy his dad is big money in Morston and he can get us all in." David grinned ear to ear, excited " We can come and pick you up," David added, beaming like a child.

I froze, I have never left the house after nightfall ever, not in Lamport, or Morston. I wanted to go but I wasn't sure if Mason would agree to let me go. Or maybe he would, he'd always told me to go out and get familiar with Morston.

" I'll have to speak with Mr Kinnaird, first. I'm not sure," David's brows quirked up surprised at my words, and glanced at his sister.

" Mason Kinnaird is your father? I had no idea that Mason had children. He is too young to have children your age." The shock on their faces was more than obvious. That was the last thing I wanted to hear. I was pinning for the man for goodness sake.

" He is not my father. I'm his ward" I mumbled, awkwardly smiling, a little worried.

" Wow," David chuckled " I didn't see that coming" David chuckled, in disbelief.

I sort of shifted my gaze to the sea waiting for David to come to his senses. The sun was slowly sinking into the sea.

" I should get going," I took a deep breath, to clear my thoughts. I had no clue what would happen once I walked through the front door, but I knew, that Mason had relented way too easily, earlier.

David stood up " I'll call you later then." David said as he offered his hands to me and his sister to help us get up.

" All right. What time are you going to go to the club?" I asked as placing the towel over my shoulders, shrouding myself in it, pondering whether to change or not.

" Jude said around eight-ish" David paused for a brief moment " So, knowing Jude, I'll have to say more like nine" Daving chuckled as we made our way up the steps, onto the esplanade.

" Well, we usually have dinner around half past six, seven. I should know by then if Mr Kinnaird is alright for me to go," I frowned, as we slowly made our way towards the town centre.

David nodded " We will come and pick you up." David halted his footsteps and smiled " Here is where we part ways. We live further up the road" David pointed to one of the houses on the beachfront, overlooking the sea.

" Oh. Alright then. I'll speak to you later. Do you need my address?" I knew where they lived, but they had no clue where to come and pick me up.

" No. Mason is very well known in Morston. We know where you live," David amusedly added. I was clueless about who Mason was.

We said our goodbyes and I rushed towards the house. After a good half an hour of walking, I found myself in front of the house, pondering what was awaiting me, apart from dinner.

With a heavy heart, I pushed the front door, open and scooted through the corridor to my room, to change.