The Day Of The Wave Read Online Free PDF Page B

the boy's eyes and beautiful face were throwing me so much in that moment I didn't sound as angry as I should have.
    'You're English?' he said, looking awed. 
    'And you're an idiot,' I managed. I turned and swam away as fast as I could but he followed me. When we reached the beach he caught me up, ran ahead and blocked my path. I changed direction. He blocked me again and though I told him to piss off I couldn't help my eyes running over his features in appreciation, or noticing how his eyes ran over my breasts and lips as he held his hands up for mercy. I remember how self-conscious I was. Being sixteen and British it was the first time I'd ever worn a bikini on a beach.
    'I'll get you a new mask, it's not a problem,' he said in his American twang. 'My uncle runs the scuba shop. Let's go, it's right over here...'
    'I'm not going anywhere with you, I don't even know you,' I replied, folding my arms across my blue striped top.
    'You do now, I'm Ben,' he grinned. 'I saw you talking to my kid brother earlier, Toby, remember? You gave him a shell.'
    'Yes, I remember. You should try and be a bit nicer, like him.'
    'I can be nice,' he said. He grinned even wider, teeth like a row of icebergs; shook the water out of his sandy blonde hair and held his arm out in a curve like a gentleman from a movie. I scowled but something, maybe everything changed on the spot. Ben was without doubt the most infuriating and the most spectacular boy I'd ever laid eyes on. 

    *

    I down the rest of my water, making sure it's in three huge swallows. I can't be here. I stand up, make my way to the door just as Chinda swings out of the kitchen.
    'Where you go? You no have dessert?' 
    'I've got an emergency call, I'm so sorry,' I lie, holding up my phone. Everything here reminds me of that day, even from the middle of the city. It's the people, the smells, everything I thought was so amazing and magical before the tsunami. Plus, there's that damn email and Colin creeping up in my thoughts against my will every five seconds, as if I could've possibly switched one head-fuck for another and felt better. 
    'But I have friend coming for you,' Chinda says, looking disappointed. 
    I pretend not to hear her and head for the stairwell as the tears start to cloud my eyes. I'll stay up tonight and write this story, do her incredible hospitality justice like she deserves. Then I'll make my excuses and check out early. The sooner I get to Bali, the better.
     

BEN

    'We'll take one of these, too,' I say, putting the weirdly named Thai Chill Cook Book onto the reception desk. Chinda narrows her eyes at me, then says something in super-fast Thai to Sonthi, who shrugs his shoulders and smirks.
    'I'm guessing that's about me not showing up to dinner last night,' I say. 'I'm so sorry, I really hope you didn't cook just for me?'
    Chinda shakes her head, puts our receipt on the counter. I hand her some baht in cash for the book and stuff it with the receipt into my backpack. 'You cook yourself with my recipe,' she says, eyeing the book going into my pack nervously, like I'm a nanny taking her newborn baby away on a trip for the first time. 
    'Oh, I'll be sure to cook all of them,' I assure her. I know I won't. No one cooks in Thailand. No one foreign anyway. It's cheaper to eat out. I'll give it to my mom, probably, with the stash of other stuff I've been storing up but haven't managed to give her yet. I register the guilty pang at not calling her back when she called a few days ago. She always gives up eventually, though. 
    'Why you no come?' Chinda says when I stand back up. Damn. She genuinely looks upset. 
    'I fell asleep,' I tell her, truthfully. 'Then when I woke up it was eleven. It was too late. I grabbed some noodles from the street and went back to bed. I really am so sorry.'
    'Noodles from the street,' she repeats under her breath and I don't miss the disdain in her voice. I try not to smile. The food on Khao San Road isn't exactly high-class Thai cuisine