Riding the storm out
Waiting for the thaw out
******
A day at the beach. Shane sighed. From his reclined position in the sand, Shane watched Tori as she strolled down the beach with Blake. They seemed so close. He watched as Blake nervously slipped his hand around hers. Shane felt himself wince. In all of the years he’s known Tori…his thoughts drifted… He should be happy for her… He was happy for her… But… he should have told her… long ago. He should have told her before they arrived, and then he might have been the one making her happy.
His mind flashed back to random images. When he had picked on her for wanting to “be a girl,” for wanting to model for a magazine…. He was only trying to say he liked her better the way she was… He regretted the way his words had struck her as an insult, but his motive was pure. He wanted her to be only seen by him… He didn’t want someone else to notice how wonderful she was. How wonderful she is. How intense. How desirable. Does Blake know – really know how wonderful she is? Of course… he must, right? He’s been trying so hard, despite himself.
“Shane?”
Shane shook his head. Why did Cam always sneak up when he was having deep thoughts? “Hey, Cam. Wassup?” Shane looked up to where Cam now stood. Cam was looking out towards Tori and Blake.
“Just wondering why you were sitting alone on the beach… instead of hanging with Dustin.” Shane contemplated Cam’s mood… Cam seemed distracted. His voice didn’t hold its usual edge. Conversation could be difficult.
“Just sitting here wondering why you were even on a beach … Is ops out of power or did your dad kick you outside to play again?” Nothing like snapping a whip at the tiger to see if it’ll bite, Shane thought.
“Very funny.” Cam sat down beside Shane… “Blake and Tori’s connection seems to be improving.”
Shane winced again. “It’s called a relationship, Cam.” Shane saw Cam give him a sidelong glance, finally breaking his gaze from Tori and Blake. Was his own bitterness recognizable by Cam?
Cam's eyes locked with Shane. For a second... a very brief notion of a second... Cam seemed locked in an emotional conflict... and just when Cam looked liked he was going to open up to Shane and share, the look in Cam's eyes faded rapidly. Shane's brow furrowed. What was that all about? Shane thought to himself. "Is there something you want to talk about, Cam?"
Cam looked toward the skyline and shook his head. Shane turned his head to the skyline and tried to do what he knew Cam had to be doing, if he is really this upset - trying to meditate and look beyond the problems to see an answer. It was Meditation 101. Cam was a master at it. Shane once again realized he sucked at it. Then, as an afterthought, Shane tried to picture Hunter trying to do it, and his own image of Hunter forcing himself to meditate hit Shane, and he had to suppress a snicker. Then the image faded and the uncomfortable silence of two men sitting on the beach wishing they had something else better to do set in.
“Well, the relationship is heading our way.” Cam's voice broke the suddenly uncomfortable silence, and Shane’s eyes darted back to the couple and saw that they were indeed approaching. Shane buried his desires as best he could and smiled, mostly at Tori.
“Shane! Cam! Having a day at the beach?” Tori called as she approached.
“Those are the last two I’d expect to be chilling together at the beach.”
Shane forced a smile as he greeted his friend and his friend’s ever present sarcasm. “Dude, I didn’t bring him?”
“And I’m not one to be brought,” Cam chimed in.
“Yeah… That’s my point…”
Was Blake suddenly suspicious? It’s so tough to tell with those Thunders sometimes. Shane shook his head again.
“So we were about to catch a movie,” Tori interrupted the banter. Shane secretly thanked her for saving him from the Thunder 3rd degree. “Do you guys want to come?”
Shane watched as Blake rolled his eyes. A friend would know not to say yes. The guy wanted alone time with his girl. Cam also seemed conflicted. Shane wasn’t sure how his impish side was able to answer so fast. “Sure… Let’s go, Cam.”
(to be continued... )
Where now?
