Louis POV
My head throbbed as memories flooded back to me. Last night was pretty cool, until we drank a little bit too much. Luckily Liam didn’t drink anything, I think, well I hope anyway. I went to wipe my hand on my face but instead almost knocked myself out. Forgot I had a broken arm. I got out of bed, now a bit dazed and dumb. I think I killed a few brain cells. Panadol, nurofen, something would be nice.
I went to the kitchen and looked through every drawer. I walked to Codie’s door and started speaking to her, which wasn’t such a good idea. I tried to make it funny.
*knock knock knock*
“Codie”
*knock knock knock*
“Codie”
*knock knock-*
“What the f*ck do you want?” she shouted at me. Obviously my plan didn’t work.
“I was wondering where some pain killers could be found…” she threw a silver box to me. I luckily caught it and read the label. She turned around in her bed and faced me.
“You know it’s four in the morning right?” I shook my head, I hadn’t checked my phone yet.
I swallowed the tablets without water and threw the box back. “Why do you have them in here?” she almost whispered her answer.
“My knees were stuffed, my back was sore, my shoulder was weird, my wrist was out of place and my head may as well have been splitting.” Sounds painful.
“How did all of that happen?”
“Racing, hurt my knees because they were tense the whole time, my back ‘cos I was sitting the whole time, wrist, ‘cos I was steering, same with my shoulder and my head because I have never smelt so much petrol in an hour before.” She closed her eyes and I said good night. I got a moan back, but, I’ll take that as goodnight.
***
I opened my eyes again to see Codie sitting at the side of my bed and her hand on my forehead. I didn’t feel too good right now. “What are you doing?” I asked her quietly, my head was still throbbing from earlier this morning.
“Your temperatures really high.” I shook my head.
“That can’t be right. I’m friggin’ freezing” I shivered and tried to pull the quilt over my head. That didn’t work, Codie pulled it back down.
“Exactly my point Louis, you’re sick, you need to stay in bed.” I shook my head again.
“No, I’m getting up. What’s the time anyway? 10, 11?” she sighed like I was an idiot.
“Louis, it’s 3 o’clock. You’ve been asleep since yesterday morning.” Shit, have I slept that long? Geez.
“I’m getting up now and getting food. Then I’m putting trackies, a jumper and warm clothes on and going outside for some sun and hopefully I’ll be better for tomorrow.”
“Wow, I usually sleep my life away and two days later I’m perfectly fine. I only wake to go to the toilet, eat and drink.” I nodded, this was another thing that made us different.
“Well, I’m eating right now.” I jumped (actually attempted to jump) out of bed and ran (tried to run) to the kitchen. I grabbed some bread and shoved it in the toaster to cook while I got changed. As I walked back in only my shorts that I wore to bed Codie saw me and stopped for a second and double take.
“Umm, wow, umm…” I looked at her.
“Are you trying to say something?” she nodded. “Would it be easier if I put a shirt on?” I probably said that a bit cockily, but, it was a very valid question. She shook her head. “What then?” I asked as she continued staring at my stomach, I mean abs. I was very proud to say that I work out, and I show it off very well.
“I… was wondering… if… you would… like to go… horse riding with… me.” She finally gave me eye contact at the last word.
“As a date thing or, just as friends” now she was looking at my face she somehow got her ability to speak back.
“As friends, it was just… it was just an idea… to… get you out… in the… sun” I lost her again as she looked down.
“Yeah, sure. I’ll meet you outside in ten” she nodded her head slowly and quietly said.
“Okay…”
She sounded like she was on drugs, well, whatever. I walked into my room and got changed. Adidas trackies, DC shirt, and Nike jumper. What shoes, well, those ones. The ones at the front. Plain, white, Vans. Beautiful, talking about myself of course. I went back to the kitchen and grabbed the toast that had come out of the toaster. I started eating them as I walked out the door.
She was sitting on a chair in trackies and an oversized DC jumper. She was staring at her horses in the massive yard. Behind the yard was a forest that went all around her property. She was completely consumed by the view. I walked up silently behind her and grabbed her shoulders. I could scare her so easily. She squealed like a little kid as I started tickling her. Then all of the boys jumped out and scared the shit out of me. “BROKEN WRIST HERE!” I screamed after I got over my heart attack and got off the ground.
This was maybe the best thing that has ever happened to me. My wrist was my excuse for everything, they scare me, broken wrist, they want me to do something I don’t want to, broken wrist. I could get out of anything. “How will I ride with one hand?” Codie shook her head.
“You can still use your fingers, it’s not that hard.” She said like I was an idiot.
“I’ll take your word for it then”
“Alright guys, so, split into pairs. They are the people you shall be riding with so make sure you can stand them. And… go” They all fought over who they wanted to go with. I just went and stood next to Codie who gave me a weird look and continued laughing at the boys. After they settled down Niall stood next to Harry and Zayn stood next to Liam. “Okay, so, here is a map of the trails in the forest. It is very self-explanatory and there are signs at every fork in the road, so you shouldn’t get lost. If you do, that’s what these are for and why you are in pairs.” She handed every group a walkie talkie.
“You can go for as long as you like, just not over four hours. Go pack some food, you can take a break during your ride, oh, and don’t forget water. On this ride there shall be no alcomahol or smokes. The reason for smokes is because if you drop it, even though it is winter, the ashes will catch alight on the scrub and make a bushfire” she said bushfire happily but with sarcasm in her voice. “BTW, no alcohol because even though the horses know the way back, they don’t like drunken riders, so be aware. We shall meet at the shed down there okay? Go, get your water and food, bring them in a shopping bag I will put them in a saddle bag after we tack the horses. Rrrun my prrretties, rrrrun” she rolled her ‘r’s and changed her accent on the last line.
I ran inside and rummaged through the cupboards on the bottom floor. I grabbed some Doritos, salt and vinegar Smith’s chips, chocolate, chicken crimpy’s, bread, butter, vegemite for Codie, some other toppings for me and a 2 litre bottle of water. Maybe that wouldn’t be enough water… I grabbed another bottle and shoved them in two bags. I walked out and down to the shed. The door was open, so I put the bags down and went inside of the room.
It was a hazy room, but the light made it really pretty. She was facing the wall at the other end of it and was getting saddles and bridles out. She turned around and dropped the saddle she was carrying. “Holy shit, don’t do that to me Louis!” She said as she picked the saddle back up. She shoved me as she walked past and put it on a bar outside.
“Do you ride?” that was a stupid question, but I was trying to make conversation.
“Nah” she said sarcastically.
She grabbed some material things and attached them to the saddles. “What are they?” she looked at me.
“Saddle bags?” she said it like a question.
“Okay” I answered. The other guys slowly made their way down the hill and to the shed.
“Alright guys- Whoa, Niall, you are not taking all of that.” He had legit four bags full of food. “You’re only going for a maximum of four hours. I’ll put a bag in the shed, what don’t you need?” this was gonna go for a few hours.
After ten minutes of him standing there stating at the bags Codie eventually took a bag and threw it in the shed. She locked the door behind it and kept Niall from knocking down the door. After he calmed down Zayn asked a question. “How are you getting the horses here?” she smiled sweetly and whistled.
“Like that” was all she said. When we went to look at them they were stampeding towards us. I ducked for cover behind the shed as did the other boys while Codie stood in the open waiting for them. They came to a halt in front of her and she began saddling them all. Then she put on the bridles and turned to us.
“Hard to ride a horse when you’re behind a shed.” She had left one horse unsaddled. That was the black horse from day one, what was it’s name? Dan? Boy? “Choose your horse, but not Dannyboy, he’s mine, obviously.” Everyone chose their horse and filled the bags with food and water. They then jumped onto the horses and rode off into the ‘sunset’. Really it was still completely light.
After everyone had got on their horse and left I watched as Codie jumped onto her horse bareback and without a bridle. I just stood at my horse’s side gawking at her. Seriously, how was I going to get on my horse with only one freakin’ hand? “You going to stop gawking at me?” she asked quietly.
I said slowly, “help.” She hopped down off her horse and walked over to me.
“Put your hands on the saddle here, or hand.” I did as she said, putting my left hand at the front of the saddle and right at the back. “That’s not gonna work, wait, I’ll get you something.” She disappeared in the shed again and came out with some steps. “This should help.” She put the steps next to the horse and gestured for me to climb up. I did slowly and flipped my leg over the horse and put my feet in the stirrups. I grabbed the front of the saddle as the horse started moving.
“Don’t grab it there.” Codie pointed out. She took my hands off of the saddle after she put the steps away. She weaved the reigns between my fingers, “like that” was all she said before she jumped on her horse and started riding off. I kicked the horse’s sides and it began walking off behind Codie. I put the horse to a trot to catch up to her and slowed down to walk beside her.
“How you going?” she asked me.
“I feel a little better, being outside helps me out a lot.” It was true, my way to get over a cold was to go outside.
“Oh my gosh, halt” both horses stopped at the word halt and she pointed through the trees. There was a clearing that was fairly visible and was full of animals.
“What are they?” I asked.
She looked at me, “you don’t know what a kangaroo looks like?” oh, right.
“Give me a break, I can barely make them out right now.” There were at least ten in there.
“Also, you’re really excited to see them. Don’t you see them, like, everyday?” she looked at me again.
“Just because I live in Australia doesn’t mean I see kangaroos every day. It doesn’t mean that koalas are on every gum tree, it doesn’t mean that emus and wombats are everywhere. Just because they are Australian animals, doesn’t mean they live everywhere in Australia. Man, overseas people believe anything. I convinced someone when I went to America that I ride kangaroos to school and that koalas are pink.”
I actually believed that she could do that. Anything she said would sound legit, even if it was ridiculous. The kangaroos hopped off into the forest and left us in an eerie silence. Her horse started moving and mine followed in pursuit. She turned a corner about two meters ahead of me, when I turned she wasn’t there. I looked around, but I couldn’t see her. “Codie?” I asked quietly. No answer, “Codie?” I said a bit louder. Still nothing. “Cod-”
I was cut off by a black horse jumping out in front of me. “Holy f*ck” I screamed as my horse stood still, but I still jumped.
“HAHA!” she laughed as she rode off down the track at full pelt. Her blonde hair was rising and falling with her and her horse. I kicked my horse and chased her down. When I had finally caught up to her she was sitting on the ground next to a little creek. Her feet were bare in the running water.
I hopped off of my horse and went to sit next to her. She sounded like she was crying. “Hey, Codie, are you okay?” she shook her head.
“I haven’t been here since that day. That was at least seven years ago” I sat next to her.
“What happened Codie?” she looked at me with red and swollen eyes.
“You want to listen to me crap on?”
“I would listen to you read the phonebook or the dictionary. I think I’ll get through it.” I laughed half-heartedly.
“It started one day during summer. It had just rained, it was the most rain we had since winter. Me and my friends came to the creek here, it was flooded. At that point it wasn’t fast flowing, just… over filled. So, we swam in it, as you would if you were here at that time. That was when I had five friends, not four. We were the inseparable group of six. It was us against the rest of our school, us against the world. There was, Amelie, Elysse, Jamie, Charlotte and Melanie, not to mention me. We were happily swimming, when we decided to go further down the creek.
“We left the horses here, where we’re sitting right now. FYI, don’t ride in a bikini, it hurts like shit afterwards. Anyway, we went further down, I’ll show you.” She got up and walked next to the creek. She kept walking until we came to a billabong, that was what they called it right? She then planted her butt on the ground again and continued talking. “After we came here, Melanie started freaking out. She thought the water was too deep. I went to the middle and stood on the ground. My head was still above the water and I told her it was fine. She believed me and came to me.
“We swam for ages, only God knows how long, when a massive current came. Afterwards it was put down to the fact that the dam walls burst and let out a whole lot of water. Melanie wasn’t the best swimmer and all of us got carried away by the water. In the rush of water Melanie had gone under and swallowed a whole lot of water. She was about ten meters from all of us, but Charlotte tried to save her. No one could though, when Charlotte got to her, she was unconscious and her lungs were full of water. We got carried until we were about 50 meters from the house. It was lucky that that was where we stopped. If we were any further away, we all could have died.
“I ran to the house, grabbed the four wheel drive keys and drove the car down to the creek. I whistled for the horses to come back, I don’t know if they did or not, but at that moment I didn’t care. We put her on the back seat on Charlotte, Jamie and Elysse’s lap. We had illegally over-packed the car, and I sped at least 20 k’s over, but, again, I didn’t care. I drove to the hospital and rushed her into the emergency ward, but when she went in, we all knew it was too late. She still went in, they electrified her, did everything they could. None of it was enough.
“We knew she was dead, but, we couldn’t comprehend it. We went to the funeral and I made a speech for her. Nearly the whole school showed up, it was a sight to behold because we were hated by them all. Charlotte had become distant, blaming herself for Melanie’s death. If she had been two seconds faster, was all she ever said. About a month after the funeral, she started slitting her wrists. Another week later… I went to her house, all of us did. We called out for her, but we didn’t get a response. Because the door was open, we knew something was up.
“I went to her room, I don’t know where everyone else went, I don’t remember anything before…” she burst out in tears again. I put my hand on her back, hopefully it was comforting. I knew where this was going, but, I think she needed to finish it. “Before, before, before I found her. I opened the door and found her. She had hung herself, I screamed as hard as I could. The rest of them gathered that I had found something, and came to me. Amelie rang 000, but we all knew she was dead. She had killed herself because she couldn’t swim ‘fast’ enough. I lost two friends because of my decision, my decision to swim, my decision to ride horses, my decision to not check the dam first.
“Because I know what it felt like for a friend to commit suicide, I didn’t want to put my friends through that as well… so I live with myself every day. We met Clarisse later that year, being a new student she was shoved into the uncool group. I don’t know if she’s been told, but, I know I haven’t told her. Amelie probably has, if Amelie wasn’t my friend, I wouldn’t be here. I tell her everything, we’ve been friends since kindy, so, she’s like a sister to me. That’s why we are so close, if that didn’t happen we wouldn’t be so close as friends. I just want to know, that if everything happens for a reason, why did two of my friends die? Melanie wouldn’t hurt a fly, and, if a fly was dying Charlotte would save it somehow.”
That was some pretty depressing stuff. I wish I could say that I understood her, but I couldn’t. “I haven’t told anyone any of this, not even Taylor Swift, and she is such a great friend. I’m sorry if I just piled you with a whole lot of stuff that you didn’t want to know, it’s just that you are the bestest friend I have, and I’ve only known you for what? A week? It is Tuesday right?” she cried again and I shuffled to be closer to her. I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and she nestled her head into my chest.
I stroked her hair and told her the truth. “Codie, I can’t say I understand you, so I’m not going to lie. You are the strongest person I know, you are truly amazing. I’m not going to ditch you because you told me this, all I can say is that I will be here for you. If you have any troubles tell me, it’s better to get things off your chest. I won’t leave you, I promise.” She shifted her weight and turned to face me. Her eyes were still puffy, but she looked better, maybe…
“I don’t know what to say? You barely know me, yet, you don’t care about my past life. Well, you care, but, you won’t forget about me because of it. That, is pretty cool.” I looked into her blue eyes. It was like looking into the ocean. “Why would I? I like you Codie, not just as a friend.” She looked at the ground, running some things through her head. “Codie?” I looked at her, “Codie?” I repeated. You know what they say, third time lucky. “Co-”
I was cut off by her, she grabbed the back of my head and brought our lips together. Then she disconnected. “Sorry, it’s just… I think I like you too.” That was all I needed. “Shh, I’ll never let you go.” I whispered to her. She looked in my eyes again, “really? Never?” I could listen to that voice forever, look at those eyes for all eternity. “Really” I stood up holding her hands in mine. Conveniently it started raining. Her hair got plastered to her face, but it just made her look cuter. I grabbed the back of her hips and brought them closer to mine. She put her arms around my neck and our lips crashed together again.

Notes

Queue a cute in sync ‘aww’. Hopefully that was a good chapter, if you liked it, you see that little button up there with ‘vote’ written on it? Could you click on that for me, or, comment why you didn’t like it. That way I can improve the chapter for you guys.
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Beklet.