At Seventeen Ending

The youth was almost knocked of his feet from the sudden wave of happiness that overcome him. He had never felt this way, ever. The youth felt a gravitational pull to follow the emotion; to follow this girl. So that’s what I do, he thought to him self. He could feel love and anticipation weaving through this happiness. Wow, I’ve never felt something so, intense, the youth silently thought to himself.

The sun had already begun to set in the west before the youth at last made it to the main road, the east coast succumbing to darkness. The tracks in the golden sand were now useless, they had faded and he no longer had the sun on his side. The youth was beginning to wonder if he was fighting a losing battle. There was no way to tell which way the newcomer had gone. Just as the youth was about to give in he noticed two rusted out signs one pointing to Sydney, the other to Sandy beach. Sandy beach. The youth’s mind was made up; he turned his beaten up wagon around and headed towards the coast once more.

The youth wondered around in the coarse sand aimlessly for what seemed like hours. His sea bleached hair swirling wildly in the summer wind rushing off the ocean. Wondering if he knew her as well as he’d thought, there was no one else along the serene beach. The youth turned his attention towards a cave in the distance; he could make out the glow of a bon fire. The youth ran cautiously up the sand, holding his breath, to reach his destination, hoping it was indeed his girl. His hopes were indeed fulfilled when he reached the cave and his eyes caught sight of her Scarlett board lying on the sand, near the fire. He had found his equal, finally. Breathlessly the youth made his way towards her tent. Again he was hit with a burst of happiness, love, but this time, recognition. The youth looks down into the most captivating grey eyes belonging to the most beautiful girl. She gave the youth a what took you so long look and smiled up at him. She gestured towards the sausages she had cooking over the bon fire. The youth and new comer sat together around the burning fire on the beach in silence just looking at each other, the stars above shinning down. This was not an awkward silence, it was a nice silence. The only sounds to be heard were that of their surrounding nature. The whooshing of the wind, the crashing of the waves on the now darkened shore and the sound of crickets creaking in the bushes around them. There was no issue about who belonged. They were both newcomers here and this was their beach.

At Seventeen.

He put his foot down to catch up with the girl, -who earlier had saved his life, for him to tell her he didn’t want her there. He was visioning scenarios in his head, driving along at maximum speed, his car jumping on every pebble. She noticed a cloud of dust developing behind her, content, she watched as he caught up to her. She moved her eyes back towards the road, to take a quick glimpse of a tree, right in front of her, to re-open them -with the boy stood beside her, watching her, with desperation in his eyes- in a hospital bed. She knew what had happened; he had saved her life, like she had saved him earlier today.

He put his foot down to catch up with the girl. When he reached the main roads, he knew he’d lost her, he was too late, she’d gone, and he knew as little as her name. He didn’t know what to do with himself. He was eager to return to the beach and not let a juvenile woman get in his way, ruin his time of freedom, but he felt guilty and … he felt as if he was betraying her and the beach. His only other option, realistically, was to return home. In desperation, he tried his luck and took the left turn over the right, he’d been driving for hours and he knew he wouldn’t find her, but he just couldn’t turn back. As time developed and distress grew over him he knew he had to pull over and return home. He finally arrived home and shut the front door and the memories behind him, disheartened.

At Seventeen.

He put his foot down to catch up with the girl, -who earlier had saved his life, for him to tell her he didn’t want her there. He was visioning scenarios in his head, driving along at maximum speed, his car jumping on every pebble. She noticed a cloud of dust developing behind her, content, she watched as he caught up to her. She moved her eyes back towards the road, to take a quick glimpse of a tree, right in front of her, to re-open them -with the boy stood beside her, watching her, with desperation in his eyes- in a hospital bed. She knew what had happened; he had saved her life, like she had saved him earlier today.

He put his foot down to catch up with the girl. When he reached the main roads, he knew he’d lost her, he was too late, she’d gone, and he knew as little as her name. He didn’t know what to do with himself. He was eager to return to the beach and not let a juvenile woman get in his way, ruin his time of freedom, but he felt guilty and … he felt as if he was betraying her and the beach. His only other option, realistically, was to return home. In desperation, he tried his luck and took the left turn over the right, he’d been driving for hours and he knew he wouldn’t find her, but he just couldn’t turn back. As time developed and distress grew over him he knew he had to pull over and return home. He finally arrived home and shut the front door and the memories behind him, disheartened.

At Seventeen

He entered the solid concrete road, planting his foot down in hope to catch the mysterious surfer girl that saved his life. Leaving behind a wall of dust his rusty wagon clunked and clattered as it accelerated to speed, eventually catching up to her car. After signaling her to stop they met on the edge of the sun burnt road.
“I thought you wanted to me to leave?” she questioned
“I did,” the youth responded
“Then why are you here?” she said puzzled
“Well,” he said. “The beach is big enough for two.”
She smiled at the youth as they both entered their vehicles. The youth pulled a u-turn in which she followed. They continued along the coastal road as the bright sun began to set.

He entered the solid concrete road, planting his foot down in hope to catch the mysterious surfer girl that saved his life. Leaving behind a wall of dust his rusty wagon clunked and clattered as it accelerated to speed, eventually catching up to her car. After signaling her to stop they met on the edge of the sun burnt road.
“I thought you wanted to me to leave?” she questioned
“I did,” the youth responded
“Then why are you here?” she said puzzled
“Well,” he said. “The beach is big enough for two.”
“You will find someone to share that beach with,” she replied. “But not today.”
She entered her car and continued her journey along the coast. The youth pulled a u-turn back towards his secluded piece of beach. They headed in opposite directions, never to meet again.

At Seventeen

The youth followed the girls tracks, but eventually less and less sand covered the edges of the road. Her tracks began to fade and then disappeared entirely, he didn't know what to do, he could no longer follow and she wasn't anywhere in sight. Still he didn't give up in his search for her, for the next several days he spent every minute desperately searching the surrounding beaches in the area in an attempt to find her. He hoped earnestly to see that blood red board or to catch a glimpse of her cool gray eyes as he checked everyone he came across.

After a week had past he was on the verge of giving up on his fruitless search, when it occurred to him maybe, just maybe she would come back to his beach. Holding on to this slim ray of foolish hope he raced his car back to his beach hoping desperately that she would come back. Another week passed in which the youth visited that beach everyday for as long as he possibly could, but as the seventh day was coming to an end his small hopes had completely faded. He realized that he had always known that she wouldn't come back. She was a surfer and she had said she would leave because this was his beach, though he would never think of it that way again, it would always be their beach to him.

'At Seventeen' Alternate Ending

The Youth followed a safe distance behind as she drove down the winding highway along the dunes scattered with shrubs, the walls that safeguarded the beach. He wanted to get through them. He wanted to be back at his beach, where things were simple. Where he knew no fear and had complete control. But this wasn’t his beach and he didn’t have control in this situation. The voice inside him told him to let the fear go, but it wasn’t as easy as it was out in the waves.

He drove behind her for about an hour. He waited for her while she stopped at a petrol station. “What are you doing?” he asked himself out loud, but not even the voice inside him could answer that question. Once she was off again so was he and they drove down the coast for another hour until she turned off the highway into a suburban area. Once he realised that she was heading to her house, he began to panic. ‘What would I say to her when I get there?’ ‘What would she think of me when she realises that I had followed her?’ He kept asking the voice these questions but got no reply.

She pulled into the driveway of a small house, bricks red and rusted, while the Youth pulled up onto the curb, still a safe distance behind her. He tried to get himself together and decided to get out of his car and approach her, say something to her. He built up his confidence, reached for the door handle but pulled back when he saw the front door of her house swing open. A young man stepped through the doorway and hugged her. She hugged him back. The Youth's smile faded. His heart sank. He felt far worse than being beaten by any wave and to surrender to it. He started his car up and drove back to the highway, back to his beach.

“What are you doing back home?” the boy said with a grin. “I thought you’d be surfing up the coast for the rest of the summer”
“I just felt like coming back for a while” she said. As she followed her brother into her house she turned around for just a moment and wondered how things would have turned out if that surfer had followed her.

At Seventeen . . . ending paragraph

He followed her for about an hour, he didn't know why, but he had a feeling that he was doing the right thing. He looked all around him, he was out of the country heading for as what he could tell to be the City of Brisbane and that was only because he saw a huge sign. him and his bashed up old wagon kept following her. After about twenty minutes the girl turned into a road house and of course he followed her in. His heart was pounding, sweat was running down his face because he was so nervous he didn't have a clue what he was going to say or what he was going to do.

He sat and thought, why was he doing this? was it even her?. He didn't know but he took the chance, he started walking quickly towards her car. He got about half way and realised that it wasn't who he thought it was, it was just another surfer, all his memories of who he thought it was came running back to him. He originally thought it was his sister who past away only a few weeks before, the only connection they had was that they both loved to surf and the beach he was recently at was their beach. After realising he turned slowly around and began to cry, he still couldn't get over that he had lost her, he swiftly ran back to his tin can and speeded off down the road.

At Seventeen

The youth drove down the highway eyes open wide in their search for the elusive girl, the sun glared down on him partially obscuring his vision. driving for what seemes like hours but was in reality only minutes his resolve slowly faded. He was angry with himslef for not following he sooner. He stopped the car deciding enough was enough when he saw it over the tops of the shimmering mirages, there was a speck in the distance he accelerated and soon he had caught up.
As he drew alongside he looked into the lightly tinted driver's window and smiled. The girl smiled back, slowed down and stopped. He did the same, his old tires squeaked on the hot road. Opening his door he jumped down from the rusty wagon. He walked over to her window. "where are you heading?" She asked. "That depends", looking puzzled she said "depends on what?" He smiled and said "depends on where you're going".

Beyond the Ending - At Seventeen

By the time the youth reached the main road, he had no clues as to which way the girl was headed. He felt a moment of hesitation, before coming to a decision and heading south along the coast. The minutes stretched into hours, and still no sign of her, no sign of the girl who had saved his life not two days ago. He had almost lost hope in ever seeing her again, when something caught his eye from the beach side houses.

A flash of scarlet danced across his vision and he hammered his brakes, skidding to a halt onto the pavement in front of the large beach house. It was a few moments before he realised that he had been holding his breath in anticipation, before slowly exhaling to clear his thoughts. Another quick look around the house confirmed his hopes. The scarlet red, fibreglass board, the familiar bike side-by-side with a sand dusted car. It was her. There was no doubt in his mind as he walked to the door and knocked.

He saw her in the doorway, freshly washed hair framing her face, and all his words were lost. Her cool grey eyes scanned him head to toe, before resting on his own, piercing his very soul. Her features were questioning. Why was this young kid on her doorstep? What does he want? He met her gaze with a quiet intensity, willing himself to say what he was feeling. Tell her you want her. Tell her you need her. He felt his mouth move, struggling to express his feelings. "I was thinking, uh...maybe you might wanna, like, go surfing together sometime. If you not busy." He stammered his invitation, heart in his throat, hoping that she would accept.

Her cool eyes surveyed him once more before her expression softened somewhat. "Sorry kid, that ain't my style". Closing her eyes to his gaze, she closed the front door, leaving the youth alone once more.

At Seventeen

His car's engine roared as he sped down the long road, the black tarmac shone like water in the distance but disappeared as he got closer to each shimmer. The thought of seeing her now made him more nervous than ever that he clenched the steering wheel so tight it made his knuckles turn white, his stomach felt like it was doing somersaults making him feel sick as it was empty.
He passed a petrol station, but it was empty. He saw a house behind it which connected to the petrol station by a large undercover driveway, but could not see up it because of the large worn wooden gates, where the paint was flaking and peeling off. As he continued down the road, his sweat ran down the side of his face from the scorching weather. His truck was old so it contained no air conditioning, instead he wound down his window which gave him little relief from the heat.
The road remained vacant as he stared down the horizon of the road. He must of travelled at least seven kilometres by now. He stared down at his dashboard to notice that he was running out of petrol, he knew he had to turn back to the petrol station he had passed earlier, he swung his truck around already regretting his actions, why didn't he ask her to stay when she was down at the beach with him he thought to himself.
He pulled up to one of the petrol pumps at the petrol station. He pulled off the fuel cap and began to fill up his truck. When it was full he walked into the store feeling a sort of guilt, he slouched with his head looking to the floor as he walked to the register. He pulled out his card and handed it to the store clerk without even glancing up. The store clerk then said “Thank you” and giggled. He was stunned because he knew the sound of that voice. He looked up to see the surf girl behind the counter, the one who saved him and the one he was looking for. He smiled at her and she smiled at him, he began to talk to her but the first thing he could say was “Thank you”.

"At Seventeen": an ending

The sun was making the sand sparkle and the wind was making the reeds on the dunes rustle and bow like a churning sea. The tyre tracks had been meandering through the dunes most of the day and the youth had followed them, lazily spinning the steering wheel as the road turned and unfurled in front of him. The wind and the cry of seagulls as they wheeled overhead and the crashing of waves followed him as he drove, creating a cocoon of contempt amongst the metallic rattling sounds of his beaten car.

When the sun became a blazing disc in the sky and the world filled with the sound of crickets a flash of metal caught his eye in the dunes. Flicking on his indicator the youth pulled over by the side of the girl’s car. As he snapped the handbrake into place he took a fleeting glance at the girls car and noticed the rust spots and the dents and the clean windshield and the lovingly applied decor to the inside of the cab and he smiled to himself, his inside voice gently nudging his hand to the handle of the door. In a series of well practiced moves the youth unloading his bike and tent from the back of his van before he turned to the sun and followed the single track towards the thrumming heartbeat of the ocean.

The girl had set her freshly waxed red board outside her tent and he parked his bike at a respectable distance from it in the dunes. The girl watched him approach silently. Her face appeared soft in the light radiating from the depths of the cold ocean but her expression was neutral, only her grey eyes shimmered as they reflected the rolling waves.

“The surf will be good tomorrow.” She said with a wave of her hand as he approached. He nodded in agreement, letting his long hair blow over his face and looked her in the eye. He could see the ocean in her eyes and that was all he needed to know. Standing before her he held out his hand. The warmth of her grip reminded him of the cool embrace of the ocean and he felt, as they shook hands in front of the lapping sea the board wax on their hands which united them.

"At Seventeen" Ending

He glanced at the track her car had left in the sandy edges of the road and although it was not the way he'd planned to go he swung his car around, and followes.

As he slowly drove away, he looked in his rearview mirror, he saw his beautiful waves disappear in the mirror, and the peace he was leaving behind. As he turned and followed the tracks onto the road, he new that what he was going after was bigger than any wave. On his own, he handled the roads with ease and searched with a hunger. Pulling into beachs, searching for that one surfer, always abandoning the beach and waves to continue his search.

He was just about to abandon his search, when on his way home he stops at his beach, hoping that she would be there waiting for him. He walks on to the beach and sees a figure out on a board with the sun setting behind the slim figure of a girl. He could feel her grey eyes on him seeping into his soul. He held his breath as he watched her as she begain to paddle, watched her surf as if it was a dance, with skill to catch anyones eye. Mesmerised in watching her, he didn't notice her standing in front of him smelling of the sea and smiling. He sees in her eyes freedom, like the sea he surfs in. He knows that he can love more than just his waves.

Writing Beyond the Ending "At Seventeen"

He glanced at the track her car had left in the sandy edges of road and, although it was not the way he’d planned to go, he swung his car around and followed.
Halfway to Yallingup he saw her car up ahead and pushed his foot down to catch her up. Closer and closer, he was within reading distance of he licence plate.
Suddenly, from nowhere, she slammed on her brakes, he had no option but to swing his wheels left and plough into the bush.
‘What the hell do you think you’re doing?’ she screamed as she ran over to his now demolished wagon. ‘Are you trying to get yourself killed?’
‘I…I…wanted to see you,’ he managed stunned that she could be the one blaming him. His head was still spinning from the crash. What on earth had happened?
‘Whatever,’ she taunted. ‘Look, there’s a petrol station less than a kay from here. I’ll go and get help.’
As she drove away he was still trying to get his head around the situation.
‘Crazy bitch,’ he thought to himself as he laid back in his seat and awaited his rescue.

Writing Beyond the Ending "At Seventeen"

He glanced at the track her car had left in the sandy edges of the road and, although it was not the way he’d planned to go, he swung his car around and followed.
It was still early afternoon and the sun beat down on the roof of his rusted wagon. Beads of sweat collected at the base of his neck and formed a salty pool.
The tracks were getting harder to follow now but he figured as long as he stuck to the main stretch of highway she couldn’t have gone very far, unless she had gone off road.
He drove past dried out trees and Spinifex, craning his neck to read signs as he sped along the open road, not wanting to risk the chance of losing her. ‘NEXT ROADHOUSE 15KMS’. A glimmer of hope rose within him; it was the last petrol station for at least another four hours, she’d have to stop sometime.
As the station approached he hung out of the window and shielded his eyes with a brown hand. He couldn’t quite make out the shape but he was sure it was her. Yes, it was clearer now; an old ute with a motorcycle in the tray and a slim figure just beside it. He slowed down and pulled into the station, a conspicuous grin on his face. But wait, where was her board? His surety faded, it wasn’t her, it wasn’t his angle.
Determined to press on his wagon was going as fast as he could make it. Time had been wasted stopping there. Why hadn’t he checked for her board instead of just assuming she would wait for him?
As these thoughts raced through his head a blur of crimson flew past the window. Could it be? He glanced in the rear view mirror and slammed his foot down on the brake. The wagon squealed as he spun the wheel around and raced back the way he came.
Standing there on the side of the road was his surfer girl, red board and all.
‘Need a lift?’ he called out the side window.
‘I thought you’d never ask.’