Waves: Chapter 1- Missing?

Waves: Chapter 1- Missing?

"Are you sure that you are going to be alright on your own?" Dad asks me for what is probably the billionth time. 

"Yes. I will be fine. I know how to look after myself and the boat. It's only six weeks." I remind him.

"I just worry about you. Your my little girl. I wish I could take you with me." He frowns.

"Someone needs to stay and watch the boat. Besides its a single handed race. I don't think they would be too happy. You love racing. You are probably never going to have a friend pull out and offer you their boat again. Everything will be fine. Trust me." I tell him.

"I love you." Dad hugs me. 

A normal teenager might have been embarrassed but I was very close to my dad. He was my best friend. Not that anyone is around the empty marina at four in the morning anyway.

"I love you too dad. Have a good race. Good luck!" I let go of him and he climbs into the boat.

I walk back the the dinghy and get in, not bother waiting to see him leave because I know it will take a while to have everything set up and ready to go before he actually leaves. 

I head back home to Miranda which is the name of the boat. Our boat was pretty big. There is four decent sized cabins with a little bit of storage space for clothes. I mean I tend to use one of the spare rooms as a storage room anyway for all my stuff, like my surfboards, wetsuits, bikini's, snorkel gear and extra clothes. Then there are two bathrooms. One larger one with a shower in it and the other smaller one. Then there is a small living area where there is a small TV. These are down on the side areas of the boat. There is my room, my storage room, small bathroom and the living area on one starboard side (left) and then dad's room, the spare room and the large bathroom on the port side (right). Then up top we have the kitchen area and the dining table where we spend a lot of our time. Then out on the cockpit is another table and some seating, along with the steering wheel and a few other things.

Once I arrive on the boat, I tie the dinghy onto it and then get changed into my bikini and board shorts. Grabbing some spare clothes and my surf board, I set it all back in the dinghy and make my way over to the land. 

I can't surf where the boat in anchored off shore because there is no waves over here. No instead I go onto the land, leave my stuff on the beach on the other side of the hill where the waves are much bigger and do my morning surf, just like I do every morning. After catching some waves for a few hours, I sunbathe for a little bit before going to the showers for a nice long hot shower and changing into a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. Brushing my hair, I take a good look at myself in the mirror. I use to hate how I look with my tanned skin and blondish looking hair, along with my blue eyes which makes me look a bit like a barbie doll. But then when you look closely you see the small amount of freckles along my nose. Also over the years my strawberry blonde hair has gone a pale pink colour. Yes, I have pink hair. I don't even know how it is possible to have pink hair naturally. Like no one believes me when I tell them it is natural.

I go over to the local cafe to buy my favourite banana smoothie. 

"Lana! It is great to see you this morning. How was your surf?" Wendy who owns the cafe, asks me with a friendly smile.

"It was great. Thanks. Very tired though for having to get up early to day goodbye to dad." I tell her.

"Oh, that's right. Your father's big race. Tell him I wish him luck next time you speak with him." 

"I will." I start to pull out my money when Wendy stops me.

"Not today, sweetie. On the house." She offers.

"I can't except that."

"Don't be silly. Have a good day!" she calls as I leave.

"Thanks!" I call out before heading out the door.

***

The next couple of weeks continue on like that. I spend my mornings surfing and relaxing on the beach, go to the cafe for lunch and then go back to the boat where I will swim off the boat, watch movies, play the guitar, school work or go out on land with my laptop to find wifi. It was strange to have some sort of routine. I haven't stayed in one place for this long for years. Usually we would be off on our next adventure by now.

Right now I am sitting at the cafe on my laptop checking my emails. I don't really talk to anyone but my friend Macy from when I was little. We were best friends growing up until my parent's split. At first I was so heartbroken about leaving her that dad and her parent's organised a way for us to keep in contact. We stopped talking for a while but we reconnected two years ago by email and we still talk as often as possible.

To Lana,

Heya! How are you doing by yourself? Is your dad's race going okay? The waves this morning were amazing. I wish you could have been here but you know, I guess Fiji is pretty awesome too. I met this guy the other day. His name is Ryan as he is sooooo HOT! Like I feel like melting when I see him. He was flirting with me in history today. I think he is going to ask me out soon. Cross fingers! On other news, Mason was driving me nuts yesterday. He hogged the shower including all the hot water. And he ate all my cereal. And then him and his girlfriend Jade were sucking each other's faces off on the couch so I couldn't watch the latest episode of Teen Wolf. You know I need my Tyler Posey fix! Plus it was just plain gross to see. So sister needs to see  her brother doing the nasty. I mean ewww. Anyway, have you seen any hot boys over there? Missing you lots.

Lots of Love, Macy

I laugh at her email. Macy was definitely boy crazy. Mason was her twin brother. He used to hang out with us sometimes and would always pick on me, pranking me or ruining my toys. It sounds like he is just as annoying as he used to be when we were little. Not to mention it sounds like he has turned into a bit of a manwhore from what Macy has written in her emails. I quickly type a reply.

To Macy,

I am good. Getting a little bored but dad should be home in two weeks :) From our last phone call he said he was doing well. I couldn't talk to him for long though because he was using a satellite phone and this things are expensive to call people on. Do you know anything more about Ryan other than his looks? Mason is just being his usual irritating self I see. Yes, I know how important Teen Wolf is even though I am very behind because I have to watch everything on dvd box sets. But Dylan O'Brien is way better! No I haven't really seen any hot boys here. I mean sure I see a few when I am out surfing but I don't talk to them or anything. Missing you too!

Love you lots, Lana

Once that email is sent off I pack up to leave when a smartly dressed women walks in to the cafe. Why do I get the feeling she is not here for their awesome coffee cake?

Suddenly she turns and walks towards me. "Miss Carter?" she asks.

I nod. Uh oh. "Yes, that's me." I confirm.

"Hi. Do you mind if I sit?" she asks.

Not really knowing what else to say, I answer, "No, it's okay."

She sits down opposite me. "I am Mrs Penrose. I am a social worker."

Oh god. "What do you want with me?"

"I am really sorry to be the one to tell you this but your father is missing." she tells me.

"My father isn't missing. I spoke to him..." I pause to think about it. "Two weeks ago. He is fine. Sailing in a single handed race. He will be back in two weeks." I inform her.

"Are you aware that the boats must have tracker's on them for the race?" I nod. "Well, your father's tracker stopped working about ten days ago. The area where he was last recorded to be at was investigated but there was a bit of a wreckage, of floating pieces of what looked to be part of the boat." she explains. "Lana, your dad is nowhere to me found. The sailing race committee informed the authorities of your whereabouts and they contacted me."

I was still in shock over what she just told me as she continues to speak. My dad was missing? He was gone? Was he dead? 

".... because you are under the age of eighteen you must live with a parental guardian." I tune back in to what she was saying.

"A parental guardian? But I can take care of myself." I tell her.

"It is against the law."

"So where will I go? Foster care?" I ask worried of what her answer will be. But I could have never have predicted what she told me next. No this was much was than foster care.

"You are going to live with your mother."

***

There you go! The first chapter. Sorry if it isn't extremely eventful. It is mostly providing info for the rest of the story. I hope you enjoyed it though! 

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