saintoflight

This story is in three different parts. An action kernel takes place after part A resulting in two different outcomes, so therefore you can choose ending B or C, or you can just read both, if you wish. Part C's funnier in my opinion. And oh yes, a prewarning to anyone who finds swearing offensive there is some in here but only to a degree.

A-
The sun beat down on their backs as they made their way up the beach. Jaise, tall
and lanky strode ahead of his two mates, board tucked securely under his arm. Ben jogged
to catch up, his typical surfie, bleach blonde hair blowing across his face and into his
eyes. Straggling behind and looking slightly out of place was Steve, freckled to
perfection. Leaving a trail of footprints behind them, they headed into the water as a local
with the words Byron Boys printed on his rashie, made his way onto the beach to greet a
group of old hand's with the same tee's. 'While your up here, you've got to watch those
guys sometime, they really know their stuff' Jaise said over his shoulder. Ploughing into
the white foam they felt the rush of cold, salty water bless their skin. Paddling out, Jaise
hit the first big wave on his own while Steve and Ben watched on. Coming up after a
successful ride Jaise called, 'See boys, that's how it's done'. Ben raised an eyebrow, 'What
ya reckon Steve, can we beat that, a couple of out of towners like us?'. But Steve had
already swam out to meet the next wave. Jumping on his board Steve impressed his mates
by pulling off some surprising moves for a new comer. 'All those long weekends at your
Dad's in Noosa doing the trick mate?' Ben called before claiming the next wave. But ten
seconds in and Ben could feel a tugging at his ankle. Looking to his left a blur of colour
rushed by as his leg jerked backwards, his skull narrowly missing his board. His head
broke the surface of the water, 'What the fuck's going on?' he shouted, looking around.
'He, he came out of no where, we would have warned you, sorry mate' Jaise explained, as
Ben paddled closer, still scanning the waters. There were other surfers around but it was
impossible to know which one pulled his leg cord. 'Don't worry about it mate' Steve
sympathised. Jaise however was pre-occupied with catching the next wave, the biggest
yet. "Ah well he's seems to ace that one no trouble" Steve concluded, taking his chances
with the next wave. But as he started to stand on his board, surfers from his left and right
came crushing down, stealing his wave and leaving Steve trapped under a monstrosity of
it all. The force of the wave was so strong that he was pulled down by the surf. In the rush
of water Steve let go of his board, breathing in a gulp of salty water as he struggled to
break the surface.

B-
His head emerging from the water he took in a breath of fresh air, his board now
lost. In a daze Steve looked to his left and then to his right, his two friends held him under
each arm. 'Ya right mate?' Ben asked Steve as he nodded his head. Letting go of each arm
Jaise pointed, 'See there's they are'. Steve turned his head and sighted the pranksters
paddling to shore to greet their partners in crime. 'Come on', Jaise said over his shoulder
as he paddled towards the group standing a foot in to the water. 'What?' came his friends
reply. 'We're gonna teach these fuckers a lesson, no one almost kills my friends and gets
away with it' Jaise said. But reaching five meters away from the group of men he stopped
opened mouthed as a flood of realisation washed over him. How could the very same men
he had once admired breach the code of surfing ethics so badly. They were, the Byron
Boys. 'Yea' Ben called coming up behind Jaise, dismissing his present state, 'What the
hell do you think you were doing back there?' he called as a few of the group stopped
slapping each other on the back and laughing to turn around and face the three teenagers.
'I beg your pardon' said the burliest in a mock polite voice. 'You and your mates pulled
my leg cord not to mention you nearly drowned my friend' Ben said abandoning his board
to take a few steps closer, his eyes in a deadlock with his opponent. The man adjusted the
front of his boardies, turning right around, now directly facing the boys. Other members
wearing the same tee now stopped to listen. 'I'm sorry' he said with a slight smirk, clearly
without meaning , 'I don't know what your talking about'. Steve stepped forward, fist
clenched 'You stole my wave'. 'Your wave?' commented another, looking in a knowing
way at his pal. 'You youngsters come from the sticks, thinking your pro's, thinking you
own this surf. Go back to where you came from' said the first guy to cheers from the
others. 'That's not it at all' Jaise said, approaching them for the first time, finally getting
over his initial shock. 'We have every right to be here, it's no more our surf as it yours.
Steve clearly called that wave and you guys know it' Jaise said defensively now uniting
beside his friends. 'See the thing is' said the first guy, who by now the boys assumed was
the leader of the group, 'this is our surf' he said stepping closer, now less than a meter
between him and Jaise, his tribe slowly closing in. 'That's bullshit and you know it' Ben
called. 'Yea, Ben's right, this is one of the most popular public beaches in the world, wake
up and smell the coffee, sunshine. You don't own any of it' said Steve backing up his
friend. 'Think you're a smart guy, eh?' said the leader looking around at his beef cake pals,
'Well brainiac, read it and weep' he said indicating his shirt. 'We're the Byron Boys, born
and bred. We've surfed these beaches all our lives as is our right as locals. We own the
surf here and there's nothing you can do about it, so go back to hicksville farm boy' and
with that he splashed water into the stunned faces of Jaise, Steve and Ben, stinging their
eyes with salt water as he turned his back along with the rest of the Byron Boys. Rage
boiled up inside Jaise and without even thinking he ran up behind them and jumped on
the leaders back, his hand clutched around his enemies neck as the leaders face slowly
turned red. Tearing him off the back of their leader, they effortlessly tossed Jaise into the
water as the burly man gasped for breath, 'Get them' he breathed. 'Run' Jaise yelled as
they scrambled up the bank, snatching their boards and running as fast as they could.
Looking back Ben caught a glimpse of the tribe standing together on the beach yelling
and raising their hands into a rude gesture as the boys continued to run until they were out
of breath.

C-
'And in tonight's news a teenager nearly drowns after another violent case of the
surf rage that's hitting our coast this summer, leading to yet another call for police patrols
on our beaches. Tune in after the break for the full story', came the news readers voice
from the TV, hanging above the sterile hospital bed, where Steve was now lying. 'See
that', Jaise said from a chair next to him, 'your famous now'. Ben laughed from the other
side of the bed, 'Na, but seriously mate you had Jaise here really flipping out'. 'Me?' said
Jaise unbelievingly, coaxing a small laugh to escape from Steve's mouth. 'Ah well at least
I wasn't swearing my head off. How many times did you say the 'f' word, about fifty
million? and your face was as white as my dad's legs' Ben laughed, now opening up a
snickers bar and taking a bite. 'Shut up' Steve chuckled grabbing his side, ' it hurts to
laugh. An' don't eat that in front of me either, you know I can't eat at the moment'. 'Just
cause you can't doesn't mean I can't' Ben replied before swallowing his final bite. 'What
the hell is he doing here?' Jaise said abruptly now standing up and looking at the door
were a man in his forties, wearing boardies now stood. As he turned Jaise caught a sight
of the words stamped across his chest they read 'Byron Boys'. 'Who is it?' Steve asked
sitting up, as Ben peered around the curtain, 'Ah, it's no one, I'm gonna get a drink' he
replied as he went to stand. But Jaise stood in his way, 'No you stay here while I go'.
Striding to the door he looked up and down before he spotted him. 'You!' they both
exclaimed as they stood just outside the door. 'Is he in there?' said the man, a plastic bag
swinging from his wrist as he pointed through the door. 'What the hell do you think your
doing here, haven't you and your gang caused enough trouble' Jaise said standing in the
door way, blocking the man's view. But being older, he was alot solider than Jaise and
barged passed. Reaching Steve's bed he stopped and dropped his bag at the foot of it,
Jaise at his heels. Ben sighed as he stood up, 'Never let a women do a man's job' he said.
'Well who's this then?' Steve asked now looking at the man staring down at him. 'This'
said Ben clamping the mans shoulder, 'is the man that landed you here, and he, is not
welcome so off you go then' Ben said indicating the door. 'Wait', Steve interrupted, 'I
wanna ask him something'. 'Well go on' Ben said hiding his surprise. 'Why'd you do it?,
Why did you steal my wave, why did you pull Ben's leg cord? Why?' Steve asked raising
his voice angrily. The man didn't say anything, 'Because he's an idiot see' Ben said
smacking the man's forehead. 'I'm, I'm sorry' he spluttered, 'Well there you go' said Ben as
he steered the man towards the door, but jerking his arm out of Ben's hold the man
headed back to the bed. 'I don't know mate' he attempted, 'hey don't go calling him mate'
Jaise said aggressively. 'We were just mucking around. I'm sorry. Shit, I, I, I can't believe
I'm talking to ya now. I thought you were dead on that beach' he bowed his head ashamed.
'See this is were you failed to realise, your actions have consequences, numb head, even I
know that' Ben pinged the guys forehead once again. 'Hey, stop doin that' the man said
swiping Ben's hand away. 'What did ya bring in that bag, anyway?' said Jaise inspecting
it's contents, a grin broadening on his face. 'Hey a present for you, Ben' he smirked.
'What?' Ben and the man said in unison as Ben reached inside the bag feeling it's
contents. 'I just bought you something to say sorry, ya know' the leader of the Byron Boys
apologised. Pulling out a snickers bar, Ben's face lit up, Steve groaned.