An T�s Don Stoirm (complete)

Why wouldn't they just leave him the fuck alone


It was hot and the sun shone brightly hurting Colin's eyes as he lay
on his towel trying to read his book. He was tired and a little bit
exhausted because the Farrell shopping trip had mutated to a shopping
`orgy'. Naturally it had been the two men in the family who had had
the unfortunate pleasure of carrying and dragging the purchases, which
in Colin's eyes were far too many, into the house and rooms they
belonged in. The women had been far too busy preparing everything for
the beach to help. Let's rather say they were busy with choosing the
right bikini and of course, most important the right sun glasses and
flip-flops.


Turning the page Colin shifted his concentration back to the story he
was currently reading. He had got the book from Craig who had insisted
Colin read something Kiwi, as he used to call everything from New
Zealand no matter if it was people or clothes or other stuff.
Therefore Colin had got a collection of short stories by Frank
Sargeson, one of New Zealand's most accomplished writers.


A cool breeze wafted over Colin and with it came the sound of girlie
squeals and giggles. Groaning he turned to lie on his side and
continued reading, trying hard to ignore the annoying sounds. But no
matter how hard he tried in the end Colin couldn't help but look up
from his book and in search of the source of the noise. He cursed
quietly when he saw cle clear blue directed at him, watching him with
interest.


The eyes staring at him belonged to a soft feminine face, framed by
light golden hair. The girl smiled at him and winked. She turned to
her dark-haired friend stood next to her, whispering something into
her ear and giggling again. The second girl looked at Colin
appreciatively and grinned too.


Clenching his teeth Colin stood up and turned his back to his annoying
watchers, walking over to the small stand selling drinks and ice cream
just down the beach. There was a long line of people already waiting
to get served, hungry for ice and thirsting for at least a small
bottle of water. Stopping behind a mother with her little child that
whined because she didn't want to wait, he stood in line.


Luck was not with him on this hot day because barely a minute after
Colin had made his escape from the giggly girl duo, he could hear them
again and this time right behind him. Tensing Colin forced himself to
focus on anything other than them. The fat dog sleeping in the shadow
over there on his right, for example. It didn't help. Then one of them
bumped into him giggling again and blushing as he turned around to them.


"Sorry." The blonde bit her lower lip in embarrassment and looked at
him with her blue eyes wide.


Colin wanted nothing more than to strangle her but he decided that
since he had to live here and at least try not to kill anybody on his
first day, he had to make the effort and be nice. "Don't worry." He
offered them a smile and was about to turn back to the front as the
blonde-haired girl held out her hand.


"I'm Kate."


Colin blinked and glanced at the offered hand before taking and
shaking it. "Colin. Nice to meet you."


Kate had to know that he didn't want to talk to her and wanted her to
leave, but either she was plain rude or she wanted to tease him. "Nice
to meet YOU. That's Michelle." She pointed at her friend who stood
behind her and watched the two of them with interest. "I take it
you're not from here? Haven't seen you around."


And you definitely won't in the future, Colin added mentally. "Well,
actually I do live here. It's just we moved to Santa Monica recently
so I don't know many people yet." More likely nobody, Colin thought.
With growing horror he saw the girl's face light up and realised the
mistake he had just made.


"Why then you have to meet my friends."


That was exactly what Colin did not want. More stupid, giggly girls to
annoy him. Why couldn't they just leave him the fuck alone. Colin
forced himself to remain clam and not to shout at the two stupid
tarts, and barely managed to reply to the girl's enthusiastic comment.
"Sure. Can't wait for that to happen." He turned to the front and
realised that he would be next. Thinking about what to take he didn't
notice the blonde stepping up to him. He only noticed her when it was
already too late and she had wrapped herself around him.


"Well, then you have to come with us to Viggo's party tonight.
Everybody will be there." She pressed herself against Colin's side and
batted her eyelashes pleadingly at him, her fingernails digging into
his arm.


"I'll have to think about that." Colin tried to free himself from her
grasp, her nails were already leaving deep marks in his skin. Flashing
his best smile at her he tore his arm away from her and stepped up to
the stand. Looking up he met two big, and very blue eyes that glared
icily at him. "Got a problem, mate?" What was the matter with the
people today? Why was everybody out to annoy him?


The young face that held the cold blue eyes was pale and small, almost
fragile looking like the body it was attached to, but from the visible
tension Colin guessed that the guy in front of him was anything but
weak. Tg tog to step around the pissed off youth he was stopped by a
clingy blonde female who squealed with joy upon seeing the human
barrier in front of Colin.


"Lij!" She threw her arms around the small guy and embraced him.


Colin thought that this was his chance to escape her clutches but he
couldn't have been more wrong. Once Kate noticed that her prey was
trying to escape her she grabbed his hand and held it tightly almost
crushing it in the process. He wanted to kill her. Why wouldn't this
fucking bird leave him the hell alone?


"Lij this is Colin. He's new in SaMon and looking for friends." She
smiled at Colin and dragged him closer to her.


"I don't think he'll make them anytime soon," came the cold reply from
the `Lij' guy. His icy glare made Colin's insides clench. "One should
be careful which girl they make a pass at. Some are taken."


Colin was about to argue that he hadn't made a pass at anybody and
that the last thing he wanted was to befriended the two brainless
twits and Mr Frosty when suddenly he heard a warm and melodic male
voice behind him.


"Especially when the boyfriend is around." The speaker stepped in
front of Colin and was revealed to be the guy from last night. His
deep eyes held no glimmer of amusement and he glared harshly at Colin.


He didn't know what to do now. Annoying bitch clinging to him on one
side, Mr Frosty on the other and the furious stranger in front of him,
he hoped that something would happen and save him. But fate wasn't on
his side this time and so the only thing that did happen was that the
rest of this little gang showing up and soon Colin was surrounded by
five surfer boys and five surfer chicks. Things didn't look good.


The dark haired beauty stepped closer to him and leaned in, his eyes
stabbing into Colin's. "Get the hell outta here and make sure to stay
away from my girl. You got it?" The beautiful face was filled with
anger and rage, the sharp angles suddenly harsh and his finely built
body tense.


"I get it." Cofreefreed himself from the Kate's grasp and noticed the
smug expression on her face as she sauntered over to her boyfriend. So
the sole reason for her following him around was to get her boyfriend
worked up. Seems like it had worked. He carefully stepped out of the
circle they had formed around him and returned to his towel only to
pick his stuff up and head back home. He was not in the mood to stay
at then beach any longer.


Leaving baffled parents and an ignorant sister behind Colin walked
over the sandy dunes to the Palisades Park and from there to the Ocean
Neilson Way. Hoards of people were outside strolling to the Santa
Monica Pier or walking to or from the Beach. He strolled up Santa
Monica Bvd to 2nd Street and turned left to the house.


Upon reaching the porch he felt the tension leave his body and he
heaved a heavy sigh. This had to be the worst day in his whole life.
Why did she have to be HIS girlfriend and why did she have to choose
Colin in the first place for the stupid ruse of hers. "Bitch!"


He climbed the stairs to his room and dropped his stuff on the floor
falling onto his bed and closing his eyes in exhaustion. Colin had
hoped to meet the angular beauty again but not like this. He had
wanted to befriend him, but now that was impossible. He hated him and
what was even worse was that soon the whole surfer community of Santa
Monica would hate him too. Great! That was really not how he had
wanted to start his new life here.

-~o0*0o~-

After a short nap and a quick shower, Colin dressed in his favourite
shirt and beige shorts, taking his cell-phone with him to the garden.
Sitting down on a garden chair he dialled Shaun's number and waited
for the call to be connected and his friend to pick up. He listened to
the dial tone until he heard a muffled voice on the other end of the
connection.


"Colin?!"


He couldn't help but feel his hurting heart beat faster and some of
the worry leave him. "Yeah, it's me Shaun. How are you doing laddie?"


Colin could almost hear Shaun's smile. "I am doing fine. You know that
even though I have to care for a depressive Kiwi, I find a couple of
minutes everyday for myself." Shaun laughed deeply.


"Oh, so you finally have the time to wash every morning and brush your
teeth? If I had known that my presence was the reason that kept you
from doing it I would have begged my parents to move earlier." Colin
laughed happily and relaxed. God, talking to his friend made him
forget the fucking awful day he'd had. He closed his eyes and pictured
Shaun in front of him. The hunk that he was, sitting next to him
together with the frailer but cute none the less C, th, the three of
them scheming their newest master piof mof mischief.


"Careful, cunt or else I might reconsider driving down there." Colin
knew that Shaun joked but still he flinched upon hearing it. "Naw,
don't worry. Craig and I have already our bags packed and are only
waiting for your call to tell us things are clear with you."


"Should be soon, by the looks of it. Dad picked up the rest of our
stuff we sent with the post and we also bought lots of shit for the
house. A week or one and a half and we should be finished." He opened
his eyes and watched a small black kitty wriggle trough the fence and
traipsing up to him. Huge pale green eyes regarding him with wonder
and foremost of all hope. Colin got up from the chair the cell phone
in one hand he cautiously approached the small animal and reached out
a tentative hand.


"Great! I can't wait to see your new house. Tell me, what does it look
like?"


The frail kitten rubbed its small head against Colin's hand and
started purring loudly. He smirked and carefully picked it up,
cradling it close to him he carried it inside. "Hmm, it's nothing
special. It's smaller than the one we had in Greenleaf. White. Has got
a porch and a terrace. Is close to the beach." Colin entered the
kitchen and set the kitten down on the counter, rummaging through the
cupboards for a small bowl. The only thing he found were his mom's
crystal glass bowls. What the hell ... Colin filled one with milk and
put it next the small animal, which had watched him in fascination.


"Sounds good to me." There was a thump in the background to be heard
and then a string of curses.


Colin chuckled. It was every time the same. Shaun's dog got jealous if
Shaun talked too long on the phone and started throwing over pots and
chairs and everything else he found. "Got problems?"


Another string of curses and then a loud, "Sharpe!" Shaun seemed to
have got hold of the dog because Colin was able to hear noises of
whining and of nails scratching over a wooden floor. The sound of a
door being closed and some more muffled whining.


"You okay? D'you want me to call later?" He petted the small fur ball,
which was greedily drinking the milk.


"No, I have got the whole situation under control."


"Okay, if you say so." Colin took some ham out of the fridge and fed
two slices to the cat. "How is Craig doing?" Craig was actually the
one who suffered most from the sudden departure of the Farrell family.
He was rather fond of Colin and trusted nobody except him and Shaun.


"He's coping, but not to well. I think he tries to accept finally that
you have left us for longer than a holiday. He's very depressed
though. But it's not him I worry about most. He still has me to take
care of him but what about you? Met any locals yet?"


He sighed and rubbed his sleeve. "Have and am already enemy of the town."


There was a short silence before he heard a surprised Shaun. "What are
you talking about?" His friend sounded a little bit confused. "What
happened down there?"


Colin replayed the day in his mind and grunted. "Let's just say I
pissed off the one person I was interested in and his surfer gang
too." Just remembering the hate and anger in these beautiful eyes hurt
and Colin forced himself to think about something else.


"Colin, are you okay?" Shaun's concern felt so good, like a balm for
his soul, reminding him that there still were people out there that
cared for him. (I like this line a lot!)


"I'm fine Shaun, really and in about a week I will have you and Craig
to take care of me."


"I hope you're right," came the hesitant reply.


"Yes, I am." Stroking the kitten that had now curled into a fluffy
ball, and purred in content Colin forced himself to forget that
afternoon at the beach. Ban every memory of the stabbing pain as the
angular beauty had threatened him.


"Sure?"


"Completely. Shaun don't worry about me. I can handle it."


There was the sound of a sigh. "Call me if you need somebody to talk
to, yeah?"


"I will."


"Good. Good night, Colin"


"Good night, Shaun." Colin hung up the phone and smiled down at the
furry heap in front of him. Life here would be very interesting.