The Forbidden Fruit Always Tastes Sweeter

"About time you got here." Val grinned when she saw me from behind the front door.

"I hit the early afternoon traffic." I smiled bashfully, following her into the house. Their house was overly large like Brian's. I began to space out thinking of what they could put in a house so large.

"Okay, you have to meet everyone formally since we didn't get the chance in Vegas properly or before you ditched us at Brian's." She smiled.

"Gena," the blond offered her hand.

"Nice to meet you, again." I smiled, returning the handshake. "I vaguely recognized everyone, but you, I know I haven't met yet."

"This is my sister Michelle." Val introduced her. “The other girls are around and then there’s some new faces we’ll introduce you to.”

I smiled as I felt warm arms wrap around my torso. I looked up into his brown eyes and bit my lip shyly. "Hey you."

"Took you forever to get here." Brian huffed, all the while smirking.

I sighed dramatically. "I can't help it if you suck at giving directions."

"I'm going to get your board off of your car and put it mine when we all go down to the beach while dinner's getting ready. And, I'll leave you ladies to talk about me and my sexiness." He pulled at his shirt, grinning and gave me a kiss on the cheek before dragging Zach out the front door.

"All that, and he hasn't even asked her out yet." Gina grinned, nudging Val.

"You're kidding?" She looked at me with raised eyebrows.

"No, she's telling the truth." I said softly, feeling my cheeks heat up with everyone looking at me. “We’re just chilling unofficially for a bit. Getting a feel for each other.”



“That’s what a relationship is for.” Val rolled her eyes. She looked over her shoulder and nodded her head, “Looks like they’re ready for you.”

"JB," he held his hand out to me, grinning like an idiot. I chuckled, shaking his hand. "But, I already know who you are. I mean-

"Yeah, you’re the one who blabbed." I grinned, following him out to the car. I saw a few of the other guys were tagging along and crammed in the back seat with them.

“I didn’t know which one to take so I grabbed the whole case.” Brian opened the trunk for me.

“That’s fine. I’ll grab my stuff and meet you on the beach.” I unzipped the bag and looked at the two boards. I sat on the edge of the bumper and looked at the swell before taking out of my Blackberry and looked up the surf report. I sighed seeing what the projected winds were probably going to be and hoped that I could work with some of the corners.

I grabbed the longer of the two short boards and my bag and met the guys were they set up. At least it wasn’t as crowded as it would be if we were down by the pier. I slid down my jean skirt and pulled off my tank. I looked over to see what the guys were looking at. "What's Brian doing?" I saw him talking to another guy closer to the water.


"That guy started talking shit when he saw your surfboard." Jimmy shrugged. "Don't worry, Haner will deal with him."



I sighed. "It's just a local's thing." I laid my surfboard down and frowned. I jogged down to where the two men were 'dealing' with each other.


I saw the other guy clench his fist frustrated with whatever Brian was saying. I immediately stood in between the two and turned to face Brian, placing my hand firmly on his chest. "Let me handle it." I said quietly. Brian glared at the guy before giving me a strange look. I pushed him back a little, standing my ground. "Let me handle it, Brian."

I saw his anger turn from the stranger over to me. "Fine."


"Have some guy fight your battles? Who gives you the right to come over to this area?" The guy asked with attitude.


I looked past him and saw his friends there. I sighed not wanting to start anything. "Look, I thought I would just catch a few. I'm not here to take the good ones away from you guys."



"How long you surfed?" He asked, nodding his head to my board, back up on the beach.


"At least 20 years now." I shrugged. "Long time."


"You any good." He smirked.


"I was pro for several years up until I needed a break recently." I looked at the waves rolling at least shoulder height, a few making corners to work with. Medium tide had always been the best to work with in Huntington.


"No kidding." He mused.


"Nope." I turned my attention back towards him.


"What's your name then?" He grinned, thinking I was lying.


"Lucy Woods." I stared him down.


"No shit." He laughed. "You're not half bad, for a girl. If you really are who you say you are. What are you doing with them?"

"Friends of mine, if it's any of your business." I looked behind me towards the group under the sun.

"I thought you were going to show him a thing or two Syn." Zacky laughed.

Brian, however, didn't find it funny. He sat down and scowled, not liking to be forced to step down.

"What do you think they're talking about?" Jimmy asked leaning on his elbows.

"Who cares," he mumbled lighting up a cigarette.

"Those friends don't understand how the turf works, huh?" He mused. "Usually, locals don't give up a good spot."


"I know. But, it's also nice to share." I smirked. "It's not like I'm here to take over and ruin your pride."

He threw his head back laughing. "And you would allow a stranger to come in on your beach."


"Yes I would; I'm not afraid." I crossed my arms, taking my stand against this guy.


"Max." He held out his hand.


I carefully took it in mine. "Well, Max, you already know who I am."


"That is if you are telling the truth." He kissed my hand and grinned. "Go finish waxing up and prove it."

"Now, I have to go argue with another guy, thanks." I smiled sarcastically, taking my hand back.


"He shouldn't try to fight someone else's battle." Max smirked.


"He's got a good heart. That's much better." I grinned and went back to get my board ready.


I grabbed the soap shaped wad of wax and began to rub my board down. "So what did he say?" Jimmy asked me.

"Nothing much, just making sure I wasn't here to take over. You should know how guys and their egos are." I shrugged and looked at Brian, who, currently refused to look at me. "Thanks Brian, I appreciate you defending me, but this was just something I knew how to handle better." I said softly.


"Yeah, looks like you handled yourself real well." He put out his cigarette on the bottom of his sneaker.


"Brian." Zacky said warningly, knowing how jealously always gets the best of him.


"No." I stood up holding my board. "What's that supposed to mean?"



He looked up and smirked. "I think you know exactly how it means."


"If this is the real you, you've been telling me about, then I'm glad you still haven't manned up to ask me to be your girlfriend." I shook my head and went down to the water. Placing my board down to stretch briefly and to strap the cuff of the leash around my ankle.


I dove under the first few waves and took my time as I paddled out about the same distance as Max and his friends, just a little further over. My board wobbled as I sat on it from being so tense. I closed my eyes, just feeling the way the sun hit my skin and listening to the movement of the water.


"So, is he mad at you?" Max asked as he paddled near me.


"If calling me a whore in more than a few words is good, then he's ecstatic with me." I opened my eyes and looked over at him.


"Take a deep breath." I raised an eyebrow at him, making him sigh. "Come on; just do it."


"Fine." I listened, and took a deep breath.


"Now," he smiled. "Show me this Lucy Woods I would always hear about a couple of years ago." I laughed and turned away shyly. "Come on." He said in a teasing voice. "I thought you weren't afraid."


"I'm not." I lied through my teeth. I was terrified. "I've just got to be careful, I just got over a neck injury." I warned him.


"You'll be fine." He started kicking his feet in the water, moving back towards where the waves were breaking. "So, show me. I mean, I am letting you in on the best spot of Huntington Beach."

"The best?" I laughed.


"No lie." He smirked. "Goldenwest kicks the pier's ass any day."


I looked past this guy, Max, and saw he was about to drop in. I saw him slowing down so I went around him and burned him, going right in front, catching the peak of the wave.


I popped up, hoping that I wouldn't go over the falls, as I jumped up into a standing position. I couldn't help but smile, as I knew I had this when I made the first bottom turn.


I let my hand drag briefly in the water, stalling, before going as vertical as possible and doing a backhand re-entry to maintain my speed as well as performing a few more top turns. I crouched down leaning forward floating on top of the wave linking it to the next one I saw coming, doing several backhand snaps as I rode across it.

Staying low to the board and my back against the hallow wave, I managed to do a classic backhand lipline re-entry, letting me ride the edge of the lip to the bottom of the wave as I landed in front of the exploding lip. The foam sprayed around me as I walked off of my board, feet first into the water. I guarded my head as I surfaced and pulled on the leash to bring my board closer to me.

I let out a cry of victory and laughed that I managed pull it off. I climbed onto the board and sat on it doing a little dance, happy that I finally started to get my edge back. Man, the gang would be proud of me for that run.


Max paddled over to me and chuckled as I sat there busting some victory moves. "Nice to meet you, Lucy."


"Oh, so you believe me now." I laughed as the adrenaline still pumped through me from the way I ended the run.


"Hey, anyone that can pull off a lipline re-entry gracefully, a backhanded one at that, is just awesome, even for a girl." Max smirked. "Chris." A guy waved showing he heard. "You get that?" He gave a thumb's up. "And now, I have it on film."


"You don't." I put a hand on my cheek blushing. "My legging was so bad though, the angles when I first started." I began to pick at my faults. "I'm so out of shape."


"But, that ending was beautiful." He grinned. "Though, you are a bitch for snaking me."


I laughed and shrugged. "You slowed down."


"Ready to go out there again?" He asked holding his hand out.


I took it as he pulled me over a little, before paddling out again. I needed to feel that rush; I've missed having. "I think I could do a few more runs before heading back to my friends." I couldn't help but smile like an idiot as I walked back up to the guys. I had to be out there at least an hour. "Hey."

"I honestly thought Danny was lying when he said you were some big shot surfer chick." Jimmy laughed.


"That." I laid my board on the sand, leaning my hands on my thighs as I caught my breath. "That was complete shit. It's a start; shows that I've still got it, but I haven't done that in a while. My neck is already killing me."

"Hey! Lucy!" I turned to see Max running towards me. "Here. Remember, I have that footage now. Be prepared, I'm going to post it." He teased.


"This coming from a macho guy, calling me a liar earlier?" I mused.


"I've got a kid sister, I'm allowed to be humble." He grinned and turned toward Brian. "Apparently, you have a big heart. Catch you later Loon the Moon."


I rubbed my cheeks, blushing. He really knew who I was. I didn't think my name was that
known, or my nickname for that matter.


"What was that about?" Zacky asked hanging up his phone.


"Nothing. He wasn't so bad after all." I looked at the icepack in my hands and crushed it so it would start working. I placed it on the crook of my neck, where the pain had begun shooting from.


"Sure." He looked at me funny. "Well, that was Gena to say that the food's done."

I rubbed myself dry and tied the towel around my waist. I looked at Brian who had picked up my surfboard. "I'm sorry."

"Are you?" I put my hand on my hip.


"I am." He nodded. "I shouldn't have said it in the first place; I didn't mean it."


"I have more self respect than that to forgive you so easily." I shook my head in disappointment.


"Lucy." Brian reached out for my hand, but winced at the sudden feeling of something wet on his head. I covered my mouth, trying not to laugh seeing the white bird shit in his hair. He slowly put his hand in it and pulled away quickly. "What the fuck!"


I smiled and gave him a quick kiss on the clean cheek. "It's a good omen Brian. You should be thanking that bird." I laughed. I shifted my board and ran up ahead. “Jealousy doesn’t look good on you.” I told him over my shoulder.

Brian cringed completely disgusted with the shit in his hair, but he couldn't help but smile silly at the same time. He caught up and carefully slid my board out from under my arm so he could carry it.