Authors: Graysen Morgen
"Hey, it's Martie. I figured you'd be home by now, it's after nine. Damn you work way too much. I was just calling to see if you were watching ESPN. They were talking about the Roxy qualifier that's coming up and mentioned the company. Nothing major, I was just wondering if you were watching, but silly me, you don't have time for television. You're probably out running on the beach or something else less appealing. I'll see you in the morning. Have a good night."
Rory laughed and erased the message.
Martie, I don't know what's more surprising, the fact that I was working late or the fact you're actually home watching TV. You must be looking for a new cradle to prey on.
Rory stared at her laptop. She had a feeling there was an email awaiting her, but she wasn't sure if she wanted to see it. Sighing, she sat down and turned the computer on. Austin's name was highlighted at the top of her inbox as the most recent incoming message.
From: [email protected]
Subject: not a contract
Rory,
I know how your company works. I talked to Lisa Keaton as you suggested, however, I do not want Miss Keaton's attention or her acceptance. As I told you in a previous conversation, I admire you. I have always been a huge fan of yours and I'm deeply inspired by you and your surfing style. I want to be your protégé so to speak. It's your personal approval that I'm looking for, not your company's endorsement. I hope this helps to clear up any confusion about my request.
Sincerely,
A.C. Tinsley
What the hell am I going to do with you? I'm deeply flattered, but…oh, Austin, you poor girl, I'm washed up. There's nothing I could teach that you probably don't already know. You have more drive and ambition than anyone I have ever seen. You deserve a chance, and if this is your only way, well I guess I don't know how else to help you.
Rory thought as she clicked the reply button.
From: [email protected]
Subject: not an agreement either
Miss Tinsley,
Be at Redondo Beach at medium tide tomorrow morning. Meet me in front of Charthouse Restaurant. I'm sure you've surfed there before. That spot has large lefts breaking off the north side of the harbor. We should be able to get in and out before the local crowd gathers. The waters running around fifty seven degrees this time of year, make sure you have your skins with you. I'll give you an hour to show me what you've got. I'm not committing or agreeing to anything. I'm merely going to watch you surf. THAT'S IT! DON'T GET ANY WILD IDEAS!
Sincerely,
R. Eden
Don't get your hopes up kid. I'm a has been. Unimportant history in the books. You're looking for something that just isn't there anymore. I hate to do this, but it's the only way you'll understand what I'm saying to you.
Chapter Five
"Where the hell are you going, Austin?" Lori questioned her best friend as she watched her race around their apartment gathering miscellaneous items.
"Surfing, of course! Why?"
"It doesn't look like it to me. Besides, we never made plans to go out today. Did you hear something that I didn't?"
Austin laughed at her skeptical friend. "I'm meeting Rory Eden this morning."
"No way? Why didn't you tell me? Wait, you lying ass, she doesn't want anything to do with you. Remember I was there…twice. You're lucky she didn't have us arrested."
"Yeah yeah, it's fine if you don't believe me. I was going alone anyway."
"Good, I'll see you on the twelve o'clock news tonight in jail for stalking her, and by the way, don't bother calling me to bail your ass out either. I have to pay the rent this week."
"Joke all you want." Austin grabbed her surf board and tossed her backpack over her shoulder. "I'm not sure when I'll be home, we're meeting in Redondo. Wish me luck!"
~ ~ ~
Rory's Audi screeched to a halt in the first parking space of the empty lot. She pushed the button to put up the convertible top and climbed out, noticing a red SUV pulling into the lot with a surfboard on the roof rack.
Austin got out of the truck, walking over to Rory. She was dressed in black board shorts, with a white and black rash guard shirt and black flip flops. Rory was wearing tan colored cargo pants and a white hooded t-shirt with her company logo on the back in blue and flip flops as well.
"You're late," Rory said, taking in the sight of the beautiful young blond as she removed her board shorts, showing off the black string bikini bottoms that barely covered her ass, before she stepped into her wetsuit.
Damn…don't look, Rory. She's way too young. You're turning into Martie.
"Rory, I'm very sorry. My roommate had the truck and I had to wait for her to come home."
"Well, let's get this over with." Rory walked down the stairs and onto the sand. Austin followed with her board under her left arm. They stopped a little ways away from the parking lot. The beach was completely empty, except for a few seagulls and two men surfing off in the distance. Rory watched the line-up of waves as Austin waxed her board.
"It looks like the first two lines of the set are mushy. Try dropping on the third, it has the best lip," Rory said, giving a bit of advice before sitting down on a beach towel.
"Thanks." Austin watched the set and immediately picked up on Rory's observation. She grabbed her board and headed out into the waves.
~ ~ ~
Rory watched Austin drop on her first wave, noticed right away that Austin surfed goofy-foot, with her left foot in the back and her right foot leading, just as she had done.
Austin floated on top of the wave lip, performing a few tail-slides, carving through the water, before getting pitched off her board when she'd tried to do a top-turn.
Damn it, Austin, get
over these nerves already. You're going to flop on your ass in front of her.
Austin chided herself as she concentrated on the set, choosing the third wave again. This time, she got her bearings, patting down the nerves and ripping the wave. She started with a three-sixty, followed by a few left and right carves, and then a tail-slide into a nose-grab aerial that landed backwards. Then, she spun around in a cut-back motion with a hand drag that went into a left carve and finally a stall as she pitched herself off the board. Rory sat on the beach amazed at the raw talent of the young woman. She undoubtedly had skill and style, but her technique and unique characteristics were what set her apart and those would most definitely need some cleaning up.
Austin looked like a drowned rat as she washed ashore with her board. Rory didn't budge from where she was sitting until Austin walked over to her, standing her board up in the sand.
"So, what did you think?"
"Well, Miss Tinsley…" Rory started.
"Please, call me Austin."
Rory's eye brows turned in as she almost lost her train of thought. "Okay fine, Austin, I do believe you have a very interesting form and it's definitely original. You're certainly talented, but even with the best there is still always room for improvement. You have a natural ability. That in itself is a great quality. You simply need to work on your technique and what makes you worthy of high judging scores. Basically, you have it—you just need to clean it up. You have old habits and those are the hardest to break."
Austin wasn't sure whether or not she should be happy or take that as being shot down. "So, Rory, what exactly are you saying?"
Rory smiled. "I'm sorry. I lost you with all the jargon. The business woman in me seems to lead my thoughts these days. It's been a while since I watched someone with raw talent like you have. You looked good out there, mate. I could definitely see you entering competitions and winning. You just need to work on a few things. With some major, as well as, minor adjustments, you'll come out with a very nice style. I don’t think I have ever seen anyone ride as loosely as you do, yet still manage to control most of the wave. If you learn to master that, you'll be unstoppable," Rory said, smiling again.
Austin's face lit up with excitement. Hearing someone as well-known as the woman standing in front of her, say those words to her, meant everything. Rory was an admirable and remarkable woman in Austin's eyes. No matter how hard Austin tried to remember that this was a professional meeting, her heart skipped a few beats staring into the light blue eyes looking back at her.
Lori if you could be here right now you'd swear I was dreaming. Somebody pinch me!
"So this means you'll do it, right?"
"Do what?" Rory looked confused.
"Train me of course. We had a deal."
"I-uh, well it's like this, Miss Tinsley…"
"Austin."
"Huh?"
"My name is Austin."
"Yes, uh...Austin, look I really don't have the time to devote to you. You really need some guidance and instruction. For one, I haven't been in the water in years and I just…" She let out a small sigh. "I just can't see myself being the one to do this for you. I'm sorry. I will do everything in my power to find you the best trainer."
The huge smile on Austin's face disappeared as quickly as it had arrived.
"I don't want anyone else. Rory, I sought you out purposely. I've told you before, I don't care about your company. This has nothing to do with me riding for Eden Boards. You're a very reputable woman in this industry. I admire and respect you greatly. I came to you because I believe you're the one that can help me. Don't give up so easily, please."
I have a connection to you that I know you feel too. Damn it, I know I'm not making this up.
"Austin, I agreed to come here and watch you, and I did that. I even threw in my advice and opinions. You have to realize I don't surf anymore. I run my company now. Like I said, you're a talented young woman and I can see you going far with the correct guidance. I can do my best to help you with that, but only in the ways that I
can
help you."
The morning crowd began filling up the beach around them as both women headed up to the parking lot. Austin put her board away and slipped her tank top back on. Rory was glad she didn't have to fight herself to look elsewhere, instead of at the very nice-looking hard body in front of her that Austin had covered up.
"I'll email you as soon as I find out some information for you. I'll toss around a few names and see what I can come up with. Trust me, Austin, this
is
the best way that I can help you."
Rory walked around to the driver's side of her Audi and unlocked the door.
"Rory…"
"Yes?"
"Thank you for…uh…for this today. I really appreciate it."
"You're very welcome, Austin Tinsley. I look forward to reading about you when you do go pro and hopefully I'll see you sign with my company. Have a nice weekend." Rory got in her car and put the top down as she backed out of her parking space. The little blue sports car was gone before Austin could even start her SUV.
~ ~ ~
Austin walked into her apartment, setting her surfboard down in the corner next to Lori's as she looked around for her scrupulous roommate, who was nowhere to be seen.
Wonder where she went. Hmm…oh well, it's not like you're going to believe me anyway, Lori
. Just as Austin rounded the corner to the kitchen, Lori ran directly into her.
"Ouch!" Lori yelped as she crashed into her friend.
"Oh my God you scared me. What the hell are you doing?" Austin said, just as surprised to see her.
"I'm eating lunch. What the hell are you doing? I thought you went surfing?"
"I did. I left early to beat the locals. I looked around for you, but I figured you'd left when I didn't see you."
"I was in the kitchen the whole time. Want a sandwich?"
"Uh, no thanks."
"How was Redondo this morning? The surf report said it was up but you know their version of up."
"Actually, it wasn't too bad, north swell with about four, maybe five foot waves, past the break. The water was a little warmer than I expected. I had a few nice rides before the local rats took over. Rory wasn't too happy about me getting there late, but…"
"Excuse me. You honestly don't think I believe that she met you there, right?"
"Of course, I know you don't believe me, but I'm serious. Why would I make that up? Anyway, like I was saying, she gave me some advice and said I have a nice style. She also told me she'll set me up with someone who can train me. We argued about that and then she left."
"Why did you argue with her? Maybe you should listen to her, Austin. You know she hasn't surfed since in years. She sits at a desk all day. Why in the hell would she come out of retirement to train you?"
Austin felt her eyebrows furl together. "Damn it, Lori, we've discussed this a hundred times. I'm not in the mood to argue with you right now."
~ ~ ~
Rory ran upstairs to change into shorts and a t-shirt when she arrived home.
Come on, Rory, be truthful to yourself for once. You can't give into this girl. Not now, not ever. It's not fair to her, she doesn't understand and she probably never will. Let it go, she'll make it on her own.
"What the bloody hell have you stepped in now, Rory? I think you're damn mind's gone walk about!" she sighed as she thought about her professional intentions versus the evasive actions she had taken during the past month with Austin. She sat on the couch in the den downstairs, staring at the flat screen TV. An hour later, she was asleep with a re-run of The Simpson's playing across from her.
~ ~ ~
Monday morning came up quicker than Rory had expected. She sat at her desk debating whether or not she should bother checking her inbox. Most of it was business as usual, except for the one from Austin, which of course she was reluctant to open. Martie stopped in her office quickly before they went into their meeting with the Snow Team. Rory minimized the mail window on the computer.