7

The turtles deserved my full undivided attention. My circumstance was less than ideal, understatement of the century, but I refused to let Julia Hanlow negatively impact my turtle experience. I spent the whole night researching baby turtles; after the tenth aww escaped my lips, Billie told me to be quiet or she'd smother me with a pillow. She liked her sleep.

Our hotel had its own turtle saving programme, which made me admire them even more. They might be terrible at saving the environment when it came to hand towels, but at least they saved the turtles.

I'd agreed to meet Julia by the lobby at eight fifteen. Luckily, we didn't have to travel far, a thirty-minute round trip and 2–3 hours attending to the turtles meant I could be back by lunch.

Julia was perched on the wooden bench when I arrived. Her blonde hair was in the same double French braids she donned by the pool; it seemed to be her go-to style, and I was slightly jealous. The decision to cut in a fringe meant I lost the ability to remove my hair from my face without looking like a fashion challenged preteen with giant silver sliding clips. She wore a pair of black Birkenstocks with some baggy linen shorts and a cropped white vintage T-shirt.

"Hi," I said politely. She looked up, but there was no trace of a smile .

"Look, you don't need to come. I can tell my parents you tagged along, and you can go to the pool with your friends," she said matter-of-factly.

"Oh, erm."

"Unless you want to come? I mean, it's a free country; we don't need to sit together on the bus or anything."

"Wow, you really know how to make someone feel welcome, don't you?" I crossed my arms. "I bet you make your patients feel so at ease," I said sarcastically.

"Don't bring my job into this."

"You started it," I scoffed.

"I don't need a pity tagalong, okay? I'm happy visiting the turtles on my own."

I was happy never knowing you, but here we are, was what I wanted to say, but the guilt would've torn me apart. Billie liked to inform me that I struggled to be mean. She was right, but I could've had worse flaws.

"That works for me. I'm happy visiting them on my own too."

"Great." She grabbed her bag and made a beeline for the minibus; it had a giant turtle on the side, so I could only assume it was our transportation.

"Fantastic," I seethed.

Once I got comfortable, as far away from Julia as possible, I began furiously texting in our group chat.

Me

This is all your fault.

Billie

What happened ?

Me

She's rude. AND she's ruining my turtle experience.

Sarah

Uh-oh. This is Billie's fault. I take no blame.

Billie

You've been gone fifteen minutes. Give it time.

Sarah

And play nice.

Me

I AM playing nice.

I think Bob and Jill gave birth to a demon.

Sarah

Jill gave birth. Bob would've struggled.

Me

You're not funny.

Billie

I think she's a little funny, but not as funny as me.

Me

What am I supposed to do?

Sarah

Focus on the turtles. Julia and her stinking attitude

can go and release some skunks instead.

Billie

Agreed. Also, don't name the turtles.

Billie

I mean it.

Billie

You'll regret it when you have to say goodbye.

Sarah

She's right. Don't do it.

Me

As if.

Okay, so I'd already thought of several cute pet turtle names. I liked Squirtle best. I had attachment issues. I was quite frankly emotionally unstable when it came to animals of any kind, and I probably needed therapy, but nobody's perfect. I cried a week ago because I saw a bird on its own, and I wondered if it was lonely. As I researched bird cages on the internet and considered giving it a loving home, its friend arrived and they proceeded to fight or have sex, I couldn't work out which. I spent the next three hours worrying about all the birds who didn't have a friend, and before I knew it, I was donating fifty pounds to a birdlife organisation to support rapid response teams attending vulture poisonings. I couldn't tell anyone what that meant, but I felt better.

I put my headphones in; maybe the soothing sound of Tori Kelly's voice would help me forget all about Julia freaking Hanlow.

The cultural concierge, Miguel, briefly introduced us to the world of sea turtles. He worked with our hotel and a local preservation group to educate visitors and protect the turtles.

What a cool job.

"A single sea turtle nest can contain as many as one hundred eggs, but only one in one thousand sea turtles survive to adulthood," he said sadly.

The thought hurt my heart. He went on to explain how the wonderful little creatures were threatened by predatory animals, such as birds, racoons, and humans. There was a gasp and whispering disgust from those aboard. I can't say I was surprised. Humans were the root cause for all that was wrong with the world. We did some amazing stuff too, but I was okay admitting what many others would not. In the main, we sucked.

Growing up I desperately wanted to work with animals. I volunteered at dog shelters until I got too attached. I was devastated when nobody wanted to adopt a dog. I used to volunteer at the local farm feeding and mucking out animal enclosures, until one day I asked for Petal the pig, and the farmer explained she'd gone to the supermarket, which I thought was an odd thing for a pig to do—then it clicked. I thought about being a veterinary doctor, but the thought of not being able to save all the animals caused me so much anxiety I didn't sleep for a week. My last resort was a pipe dream, but I promised myself if I won the lottery I would build an animal sanctuary, and every pet would be welcome, even stinky skunks.

Miguel addressed the group, "I'm going to split you into pairs; each pair will receive a small box of hatchlings." I assumed he meant baby turtles. Miguel continued, "Inside the box there will be –10 hatchlings, and it will be your job to help them get to sea safely."

Gulp . I felt a lot of pressure .

Every single damn person on the minibus was in a pair, as expected, because nobody in their right mind goes on an excursion in Mexico on their own. I already knew what was coming.

"Are you two okay to pair up?" Miguel asked as we left the bus.

"Sure." I fake smiled.

"I guess." Julia scowled.

We followed Miguel down to the beach. Once we arrived, he handed us our boxes. Julia gestured for me to take the lead, which from what I'd gathered was uncharacteristically nice of her. The small brown box resembled the takeaway cake boxes that housed the world's best lemon meringue back home. I could hear tiny claws scraping against the inside of the cardboard.

"Take a look inside," Miguel encouraged.

"Maybe you should hold it?" I moved the box towards Julia. "I'm scared I'll drop them on the floor." My history with dropping things was as lengthy as the textbooks I had to read in high school about World War One.

"You've got this," Julia said. She didn't know me well enough to assume I'd got anything, but she sounded genuine, which threw me.

I held the box as steady as I could. I peeled back the corner just enough to peek inside.

"Ahh, look at them." I turned the box to Julia, and she leant forwards, our shoulders pressing against each other. The heat of her body felt unexpected, but I didn't allow that to be the focus of my attention.

"I think I'm in love," I proclaimed.

"Easy now, we've only known each other a few days," she joked.

"Funny. "

What was this?

A drop in the armour?

Could it be possible underneath her tough exterior she had a sense of humour?

The turtles obviously softened her. The wrinkles in her forehead relaxed. The smile on her face became less forced. It was a natural, teeth-baring smile, and it suited her.

"These guys are thirteen hours old," Miguel informed us. I peered inside the box again; the babies were no more than five inches in length. Julia poked her finger in the box to stroke them. The whole paternal feel of the situation felt too intimate to be sharing with someone who clearly disliked my very presence.

We made our way down to the beach, once we neared the water's edge Miguel traced line after line in the sand, pointing for each couple to step up. We were first.

"When you're ready, gently release the hatchlings in front of the line, and watch them make their way to their new home."

That morning I couldn't have cared less if I never saw Julia Hanlow ever again, fast forward an hour, and we had joint custody of seven small creatures. We both crouched in the sand. I placed the box on its side and the baby turtles clambered out onto the beach.

"Go have the best life little ones," I said softly.

"Are you tearing up?" Julia asked.

"No." I shook my head.

Get it together, Harper.

There was no need to cry. Yes, the turtles were so small in a vast open sea full of predators. Yes, they'd barely had time to open their eyes before they were expected to fend for themselves. And yes, I did take on the role of an overly protective reptile parent .

"Wait—" I noticed a struggle. "Look."

The little one at the back who I rightly or wrongly names Squirtle was lagging. A second wave came crashing onto the shore, and he was carried away from his destination.

"We need to help him." I rushed over. He appeared unstable. "What if he's got sand in his eye. It's all over him." I brushed the sand from his body with my forefinger.

"What do we do?" I asked Julia. We looked around for Miguel, but he was further down the beach helping some other turtles reach their home.

"Okay, it's fine. We can fix this," Julia reassured. She picked Squirtle up. "I'll just give him a little helping hand."

His siblings were already in the water. "He's going to get lost, Julia. Hurry!" I panicked.

"Do you want to kiss him goodbye?" Julia curled her free hand to create a catching mitt underneath his tiny body.

"Bye, Squirtle." I kissed his little salty tasting shell softly. Julia placed him at the water's edge, and we watched him scuttle after his siblings with a ferocious pace.

"See, he's fine. Quick too, that'll serve him well." A triumphant smile appeared on Julia's face.

The sea was a terrifying place, but I hoped as much as a human could hope Squirtle would navigate the deep waters safely.

"I could cry." I scrunched my eyes shut. I had to squint to block out the sun, but I tried to see through the reflection on the water's surface. There was no sign of the hatchlings now .

"They'll be okay." Julia reached out and placed her hand on my shoulder.

"Yeah, but they're so small."

"They'll use that to their advantage. Do you think a big bad shark is going to care about a tiny little baby turtle?" She raised her eyebrow.

It was a good point. I pictured them moseying along undetected.

"True."

Julia reached down and picked up a small rock from the sand. "Here, something to remember the experience."

She placed the pink-coloured coarse rock in my hand. It was flat and round. It was just a rock, but the sentiment made it so much more.

"Thank you."

Julia took off back up the beach, and I took one last look at the water's edge for any sign of life. There was something gratifying about helping an endangered species, even if that helping hand seemed insignificant. I had a newfound respect for the volunteers and their dedication to helping the sea turtles. I hoped to devote my life one day to such a wonderful cause.

"Come on, Fox!" Julia yelled. "Don't you want me to tell you about the females returning to this same beach in fifteen years' time."

"What do you mean they return—" I ran to catch up with her.

"Please tell me," I whined.

Did I predict Julia Hanlow would ask me to lunch ?

Absolutely not, but I said yes because a glimpse of her turtle coated aura made me like her? It was a long stretch. Or did I feel bad for her?

On the drive back to the hotel I sensed a sadness in her mood. She intently focused on making up silly turtle stories so I would forget about Squirtle's plausible doom. In doing so she allowed her harsh fa?ade to drop. Humans are complex beings, and I believed there was something more to Julia than her hard-faced surface level exterior.

Billie

You're going to lunch?

Well, isn't this a turn of events?

Me

It was unexpected. Maybe I misjudged her.

Sarah

Or maybe the turtles have magic powers . . .

Billie

It's a spell! Sarah, you're right.

She's been made to see Julia for someone she isn't.

Me

It's not a Disney film you idiots.

Sarah

Spell or no spell. I can't wait to hear all about it.

Billie

Agreed!

The bamboo structure looked like a small wooden version of the iconic Sydney Opera House. The tightly woven beige chairs looked like a slanted M from the side. The faded wooden decking dropped a level the further in I walked, and the platform suspended out above the pool. We took a spot in the corner under one of the large bamboo canopies for shade. The Asian style cuisine had rave reviews. The menu was small but well chosen.

"Can I get you a drink?" The waiter asked. His name badge read Javier.

"I'll do a Long Island Iced Tea," Julia said.

"And for you se?orita?" Javier asked.

"I'll have an Aperol Spritz, please."

Javier shook out the napkin from the plate and placed it over my lap. He then moved at lightning speed to clear two tables and provide three others with drinks.

"What is in a Long Island Iced Tea?" I asked.

"Oh, erm, vodka, tequila, rum, triple sec, cola, and I want to say gin as well. I think it depends on how it's made."

"So, it doesn't actually contain any iced tea at all?" I laughed.

"No, it just looks like iced tea." Julia shrugged. "Go figure."

When the drinks arrived, Julia pushed hers towards me. "Try it."

I obliged.

The taste wasn't half as bad as I expected. The cola, and small amount of lemon flavouring disguised the sheer amount of alcohol. It was delicious and quite refreshing.

"Well?"

"It' s good. It's really good."

"The alcohol can sneak up on you though. If you're going to start drinking them at home, just don't drive afterwards," Julia advised.

"I think that's pretty frowned upon anyway," I said.

"Is it? We have a ten-drink limit in the states."

I almost choked on the straw in my Aperol Spritz. "Seriously?"

"No." Julia smirked. "It's just as illegal as it is in the UK."

Julia, one point. Harper, zero.

"Billie's going to love that," I chuckled.

"What?"

"She keeps track in her phone of all the times she's tricked me into believing something."

It's true. It was entitled, Harper's Naivety . Her theory, if she noted them all down, she could one day create a column for Harper's Bazaar Magazine with that exact title. I couldn't fault her ambition.

"And there are a lot?" Julia asked.

"Hey—" I groaned.

"I'm sorry. That was presumptuous."

"Yes, there are a lot, but there's bound to be when your best friend makes it her life's goal to trick you."

"I need to see this list," Julia joked.

"Trust me, you don't. If anyone sees that list, they'll think I'm dumb."

The waiter arrived with starters: a portion of vegetable samosas and mushroom hot pot rice with truffle oil, which looked like risotto with its creamy consistency.

"The smell." I inhaled. The word foodie was invented for me. It wasn't just a necessity; it was a hobby. The option of à la carte for breakfast, lunch, and dinner was a five-star dream .

"Do you come on holiday with your parents often?" I asked.

Julia smirked. "I do have friends, if that's what you're getting at."

"I was not getting at anything. I only spent a few hours with your parents yesterday, and I'd go on holiday with them, so there's no judgment here."

"Hmm, okay, well when you've spent twenty-nine years of your life with them you might think a bit differently." She sipped the remainder of her "Iced Tea".

"In answer to your question, not that often, but occasionally my dad likes me to vacation with them. My brothers have kids now and little interest in being anything other than self-absorbed; so here I am." She placed her hands under her chin in an angelic pose.

"Do you have a girlfriend?" I asked. It was presumptuous. There had been no admission she was even into girls.

"Oh, I'm not gay." Julia's face was unreadable.

"Oh, God. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have assumed." I looked down at the lonely rice granules in my dish, moving them from one side of the bowl to the other.

Julia reached over and placed her hand on my arm. "I'm joking." She laughed.

"Oh, so you are gay?" It needed clarification.

"Yes. I am a fully-fledged homosexual."

Julia, two points. Harper, zero.

It was embarrassingly easy.

"But no girlfriend?" I probed.

"No girlfriend." She looked disappointed by such a statement. My intuition sensed a recent breakup, but it wasn't my place to ask.

I tucked in to the main course the second the plates touched the table. I opted for a vegetarian Pad Thai; wok sautéed noodles were my favourite. We chose to share a fresh tropical roll. It was essentially a wrap filled with vegetables, but the wrap was made from rice paper. The presentation was immaculate.

We were about done with our meals. Desserts had been considered, but my stomach was expanding by the second and screaming for me to leave it alone. Julia ordered a soft drink to finish, as did I.

"Thank you for being nice to me today." I recoiled.

I don't know why I said it.

The words made me sound timid, which I hated. After spending the day with Julia, who I assumed I would hate, strangely I just wanted her to like me.

"It meant a lot for me to see the turtles." They were memories I would never forget. I averted eye contact. My lemonade only had a few slurps left, but I stared at the small layer of liquid like it was about to tell me my fortune.

"Thank you for being nice? Why do you say that like it shocks you that it's possible?" Julia asked.

I raised my eyebrow. Really? Surely, she wasn't that oblivious.

"What?" she probed. "C'mon, Fox. Say how you really feel."

After the initial hatred subsided the day trip had been a success. I didn't want to spoil it by making things awkward, but in the spirit of being open and honest.

Here goes —

"Well, you've been unfriendly on several occasions. I kind of had you down for a twenty-first century mean girl."

Regina George, eat your heart out.

"Oh, so you think I'm a bitch?" Julia cocked her head.

I'd called her a lot worse in the presence of Billie and Sarah, but she didn't need to know that.

"Erm—"

"Worse than a bitch?" She quipped. I swear there was a hint of a smile on her lips, but I daren't look at her face long enough to confirm.

"The title, Spawn of Satan may have been used."

She gasped, then proceeded to knock back a complimentary tequila shot before laughing out loud.

"Why is that so funny?" I asked.

"After our little bathroom incident I think I described you to my friend as Lucifers mistress."

Touché.

She couldn't stop laughing; the sound was refreshing. I should've been offended, but the slow cackle erupting from her throat made me forget unpleasantries.

"Me? But I didn't do anything wrong!" I proclaimed my innocence.

"Neither did I," she challenged.

Joyous laugh or not, she was delusional.

"Erm, you closed the elevator doors on me."

Julia's eyes narrowed. "What? When?" She was either a well-seasoned liar or completely oblivious.

"You don't remember—"

"Oh, shit," she interrupted. "You were the girl outside the lift with the bellboy?"

Bingo.

"Yes."

"And then I knocked you over in the bathroom at the Italian restaurant. Oh, this makes sense now." She reached for the jug of water. "It explains your reaction to me knocking you over."

"Well, yeah. And then bumping into you at the cenote. I thought you were trying to ruin my holiday."

"Me too," Julia agreed.

The facts made the situation seem less dramatic than before the revelation, but there was still one thing—

"It still doesn't explain why you so rudely closed the elevator doors on me."

"Oh, right, about that." Julia rubbed at her neck. It was the first time I'd seen her look uncomfortable. We'd finished our drinks, and I knew our time was running out. The next customers were waiting for us to vacate so they could jump in our seats. Our turtle trip extension was coming to an end.

"I'd had a rough night, and I was upset." She paused.

The sunglasses in the dark elevator. I'd thought they were a fashion statement or a way for her to look "cool", but I'd never considered they might be covering her teary eyes.

"I was trying to get back to my room without having to engage with anyone. The staff at this hotel are extremely polite, and I knew if I allowed anyone in my elevator, I'd have to make conversation, and the focus would be on me. I saw the bellboy before I saw you, so if it makes you feel any better, I'd already made the decision to close the elevator doors before I caught a glimpse of your face."

"Well, it makes me feel better, not the part about you being upset, but the fact you weren't just being mean."

Julia looked around; it was clear we were unnecessarily holding a table. The waiter would never ask us to leave, so we gathered our things and made our way towards the elevator. I needed to drop my stuff back at the room and change before joining Billie and Sarah by the pool.

"I feel awful." Julia sighed.

"Why?"

"I didn't realise I'd upset you. I'm sorry I ruined the start of your holiday."

"Don't worry." I wanted to say something light-hearted like, don't flatter yourself , but the moment felt too genuine.

Julia hit the button on the elevator. The nosey part of my personality desperately wanted to know why she was upset, but it felt too intrusive, and there was no sign of her willingly parting with the information.

"Kind of feels like a full circle moment this, doesn't it?" I joked.

"Funnily enough, it does."

The elevator doors opened, and Julia stepped inside. "Wait."

She pressed the button to keep the doors open and stood so confidently against the mirror in the centre of the tin box. The déjà vu moment made my heart warm inside.

"Please, come in." She smirked. "What floor are you going to?"

"Number seven please." I joined her against the mirror, our slouched postures with one-leg crossed over the other stance would no doubt look entertaining to anyone entering the elevator.

"Me too." She smiled.

And just like that, a clean slate was presented, and a new bond was forged.

I had wanted to categorically avoid Julia Hanlow like I wanted to avoid the numerous species of Mexican spiders that terrified me half to death. All it took was a turtle adventure and lunch underneath a beautiful bamboo structure to change my mind.

I now wanted to get to know Julia Hanlow.

I wanted to see her again in any capacity .

I wanted the complete opposite to what I wanted that morning. Life was unpredictable.