16 June 2012
"Let me introduce my girlfriend, Tiffany" I said to Hannah, putting my arm round Tiffany's waist. She flinched and pulled away slightly, but I understood why.
"You've got a girlfriend?" Hannah said
"Yeah, didn't you know?" I replied
"Ummm. I- I- ummm... No" she replied, hesitating and stuttering, failing to form the right words.
"Hey it's okay, you weren't supposed to. I should have said, I'm sorry" I said, holding her shoulder as she hung her head and looked down to the ground. "Why don't we all go for a meal somewhere later? Or maybe tomorrow?" I said, before adding that Hannah would really get on with Tiffany.
"Okay, sure" she said, immediately brightening up and smiling fragilely.
"Nate, can we talk?" Tiffany suddenly said, after clearing her throat.
"Sure. Will you excuse me?" I said to Hannah, before stepping aside and following Tiffany up to the top deck. I looked out and could see the vast expanse of the sea; where I had been an hour ago, enjoying the cool water.
"Why didn't you tell her about me?" Tiffany finally asked, breaking the silence that had descended upon us.
"I'd barely been talking to her for a minute" I said, reaching out to touch Tiffany's arm, and I began stroking it. "I didn't do it on purpose"
She pulled her arm away and then looked up at me.
"I know about your brief fling when you were 11, and I know she's never got over it" she said, her face expressionless. "and after the way you treated me this morning I assumed you'd be devastated, like I've been. But obviously you've just crawled back into her arms?" she said, putting her hand on her hip and looking at me, demanding an explanation.
"Okay, I realise I went too far this morning, it's just little things that have all added up, and I blew them all way out of proportion. I'm sorry, but I promise you that I was not ever going to leave you. I just needed to clear my head this morning, and Charlie was with me as soon as I finished surfing so he can prove that I did nothing wrong today. I would never cheat on you baby, I love you too much, and after all that's happened I couldn't bear not having you in my life." I said, dropping my head and looking down in the same way that Hannah had done. "I'm sorry" escaped from my lips, and Tiffany came over and hugged me.
"It's okay, just please promise me you won't ever speak to me like you did this morning again?"
"I promise" I said, kissing her cheek.
"Nate? Are you coming down? If you're not we'll all come up! The boats moving now" Charlie shouted from below the steps up to the deck I was standing on.
"I found out something else too." she began, sitting down on the floor. I joined her, stretching my legs out on the decked flooring and looking across at her. "Mollie had my phone last night by accident, and she not only figured out who Victoria is, but her thoughts were backed up by the PI"
"And? Who is she?" I said, becoming increasingly concerned.
The sunlight began to shine across Tiffany's face as the boat changed direction slightly, and she closed her eyes, her large brown eyes were shadowed from the blazing sunlight. She exhaled deeply through her nose, creating a sweet sighing sound, and then she laughed breathily, before inhaling strongly again. Sea birds were soaring above our heads, and cackling from their vantage point above us. Far below, the sound of waves being cut by the boat was audible, the war they were waging on the sides of the boat was also apparent, as a few tiny droplets of water flew up into our sight; like diamond bullets.
"Her surname is Batkin, right?" she said, looking across at me.
"Sure, isn't that her real name?" I said, intrigued as to where Tiffany was going with this.
"No no, it is. Just think about who else has that surname. Someone else we are unfortunately acquainted with..." she said, slipping her hand into mine as soon as she knew the fact had dawned on me.
"Oh my god" was all I could say; my lips failed to form words.
And down below, the war continued between the sea and the boat, ceasing never despite the truths that were unravelling on board.
Love You Too: PART ELEVEN • Opuss № I