Surf School by Laurine Croasdale Page A

would only waste the meagre reserve of energy she had left. Stay calm, stay calm, stay calm, she told herself, waiting for the turbulence to end. But the deeper she went, the darker it became.
    She pushed off the sandy bottom, kicking her way towards the light when a vicious pain seared through her calf muscle, shutting it down. Marlee doubled over, clutching her cramping leg, writhing like a fish on a hook, forcing her face above water, gasping for air – fear and desperation seeping in. The vice snapped down on her leg again and she sank, clutching at it to stop the pain. But the cramp bit deeper and the pain leached out her last precious seconds of oxygen. She stopped fighting momentarily, sinking downwards.
    Kyle caught her arm. He hauled her upwards, her arm socket wrenched tight. She flopped across his board, gasping, coughing, taking in ragged breaths, filling her lungs.
    â€˜Argggh, my leg!’ The cramp returned with more force and she yelped with renewed pain.
    â€˜I’ve got you.’ Kyle straightened her leg, pulling her toes back towards her shin, rubbing the muscle to warm it up. ‘It’ll stop in a minute.’
    The sharp pain gradually subsided but her leg muscle felt tight and useless. Marlee hunched over sobbing, shivering with cold. Kyle wrapped his arms around her, trying to warm her up.
    â€˜I thought I was going to drown,’ she sobbed.
    â€˜Take some deep breaths.’ He breathed deeply and Marlee copied him, her breathing gradually settling down. She rested her head against his chest, exhausted, but as she recovered she shuffled backwards, embarrassed.
    â€˜Thanks,’ she said gratefully.
    Kyle’s eyes were full of kindness and compassion. Did he feel sorry for her? she wondered. Marlee pulled herself together, wincing again at the dull ache left by the cramp.
    â€˜I’ll paddle you in.’ She lay on the board, eyes closed, aware of Kyle’s body close to hers.
    On the beach, Shane was pacing up and down, his jaw pulsing in and out, in and out. As they hit the shallows he raced towards Kyle, pulling him off his board and shaking him like a rag.
    â€˜What do you two think you’re playing at?’ he yelled.
    Marlee limped to the sand and dropped down beside the boys, wrapped in towels. She rubbed her leg, head on her knees, shivering, beyond tired. Snatches of Shane’s angry tirade washed over her.
    â€˜Two boys … beginners … not watching … showing off … disgrace … Marlee … what was that all about?’
    Kyle flicked his leg rope across the water, words crashing against him, not daring to look anywhere but down. Marlee stood stiffly and limped towards them.
    Shane glared at her. ‘What?’
    With the last of her energy she stood her ground. ‘If we’d been watching those boys it might not have happened. But they weren’t listening to you in class or they would’ve known what to do in a rip. And if Kyle hadn’t helped me I wouldn’t be standing here now. You should be proud of him, not running him down.’ Marlee bit her lip. She was yelling. She glanced at Kyle, now watching her intently, then back to Shane.
    He’d calmed down too. But not much. And he certainly wasn’t listening.
    â€˜We can’t afford to take risks like that, especially when it affects the safety of others. As far as I’m concerned, you two were in this together. You’re a danger to the students.’
    â€˜We’re not in anything together,’ Marlee said, flushing bright red. ‘But everyone’s okay and that’s something to be grateful about, not angry.’ She limped down the shore to collect her board where it had washed up. ‘I’m going home,’ she called pulling the board towards her by its leg rope.
    Kyle caught her before she’d made it halfway up the beach, taking her board.
    â€˜Here, let me help,’ he said.
    â€˜Don’t you have