Authors note! If you haven't read the companion story, Guarded Hope! This story contains MAJOR spoilers for that one. Or, if you don't mind spoilers, read them in any order you like...

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Simple Man - lynard skynard

Ethan Thompson hung up the phone knowing that his life had just come to a crossroad. He wasn't sure if he would go left or right. But one thing he did know, nothing would be the same again. Hope Smith, the girl he had watched and waited for these past years, was back. The question was, did he care.

Before he had first laid eyes on her, Ethan was a normal 15 year old guy. He liked surfing and baseball. He hung out with his best friend, Will Hoskin, and loved classic rock. He was quiet, a sharp contrast to Will's bold personality, but hanging with Will had given him creds. He was well liked, not popular but people knew who he was.

Ethan had grown up in Morro Bay, a small fishing town in central California. He lived with his mom, Diane, in a 5th wheel trailor on a campground which she managed. He had lived there since he was about five. When they first moved there, his dad also lived with them. They were a happy family, for about five years. Then things changed.

His dad was a fisherman, working with his best friend's dad on a commercial fishing vessel based out of the marina in Morro Bay. They spent long days on the boat in the high fishing seasons. He hardly saw his dad during those times. But, during the off season, his dad would play catch with him, teach him to surf and fish, all of the usual father/son activities you would expect.

Things seemed okay at home. They were packed in tightly in their trailer, but most of their time was spent outside so it didnt seem to matter much. His parents fought sometimes, but he figured all parents fought occasionally. They seemed to fight more during the off seasons, when his dad was home more.

One off-season when Ethan was ten, his dad made an announcement. He had decided to try his luck as a crab fisherman in the Bering Sea. It was dangerous, but he could make a lot of money. His mom was livid, not wanting her husband and the father of her only son to put his life in danger for a little more money. They lived a simple, but a good life and she was satisfied.

His dad insisted, saying that he would give it one season, and if he didn't think it was worth it he would go back to fishing in Morro. His mom didn't really like the idea, but she seemed to give in. They said goodbye to his dad just as school was starting that fall.

At first, they got checks from him once a month. Ethan would get letters, but it seemed like his dad wasn't writing to his mom. He would call when they were in port which wasn't often. This went on for about six months, then nothing.

His mom went out of her mind with worry. Ethan knew that things had been hard between his parents, but he also knew that his mom really loved his dad. She wanted him home. They wondered, together, what could have happened. They called the company he worked for that told them he hadn't had any boat accidents but they didn't know where he was.

In mid March, Ethan got a letter from his dad. Dear Son... it started. Ethan read it with disbelief, his dad wasn't coming home, ever. He didn't want them to look for him because he wanted to start a new life. He told Ethan that he and his mom would be happier without him.

That was bull. Ethan decided that day that he had no desire to be anything like his dad. Who could just walk away from their family? It's one thing to break up with your wife, but another to abandon your child. Ethan wanted to be someone who could be counted on, that stuck around even when things were hard. Someone that listened and cared for others. Someone that didn't give up on their loved ones.

Ethan worked on becoming that kind of man. He became like a brother to Will, who's dad sort of took Ethan under his wing. He let both boys work for him during the summers to make a little extra cash, which Will spent recklessly and Ethan saved diligently. He was happy enough with his life, and had put disappointing thoughts of his dad far from his mind.

When Will and Ethan started high school, they made the baseball team. Will's personality made him the center of attention at all times. Everyone wanted to be friends with him, girls wanted to date him, and Ethan was just along for the ride.

Will dated frequently, even as a freshman. Ethan however, was mostly the third wheel. He wasn't interested in dating, especially after feeling the effects of his deadbeat dad. It hurt his mom more than she let on, but Ethan could tell. He felt really protective of her and just wanted to make sure she was taken care of.

No matter what Ethan said, Will was always trying to set Ethan up with some girl.

"How about Mandi, she's cute?"

"Nah."

"Kristin?"

"Nope."

"Ariel?"

"Are you kidding? No way! She's so stuck up! Just forget it, okay."

The entire school year was like that. Ethan hated it, and just wanted Will to cool it. Will, of course, thought it was hilarious that this bugged Ethan so much. He wouldn't let up.

Ethan's only true happiness was found in the ocean. He lived to surf. Even though the Morro Bay water was cold, he could live in it. That's what full body wet suits were for, right? He was there every day he could.

In addition to working the summers on the fishing boat, Ethan spent a few hours each week working on the campground for his mom. He did whatever she needed, even though some of it was gross. Cleaning bathrooms was the worst. He really hated it. But he said nothing, and just did it. His mom needed him, and he wasn't going to let her down.

In the spring of his freshman year, Will's match making was at an all time high. He had a few parties to help get Ethan together with someone, and Will didn't care who.

One weekend, Will had practically the entire freshman class down on the beach for a bonfire. It was late spring so the sunset was getting later. And even with the Morro bay cloud cover, it was light enough to see until late.

There was a girl who caught Ethan's eye, Melanie. she had dark brown hair and green eyes. She was cute but not a stand out beauty. She seemed quiet, keeping to herself for the most part. Will must have noticed Ethan watching her because he shoved Ethan over to her saying, "Hey Melanie, have you met Ethan?"

Ugh, thanks a lot, Will. "Yeah, hi," was all he could get out.

"Hi," she said, while making a strange smile. Is she flirting with me?

Will kept on, "Ethan is on the baseball team with me, and he surfs." Will wiggled his eyebrows up and down

Ethan gave him a strange look, like 'what's wrong with you, dude?' Then looked back at Melanie. He immediately wished he hadn't. She was looking at him with some kind of dreamy smirk. Great

He wasn't really interested in her. He had thought she was cute, but he didn't want to hang out with her. Will really needed to cool it. But now it seemed he was stuck talking to her so, he thought he should just make the best of it. It seemed like she would do most of the talking anyway...

"So, baseball team, what's that like?"

"Busy. Practice, games every week. Ya know."

"How long have you been surfing."

"I don't know, a long time I guess." Ethan started to feel bad. He wasn't putting any effort into this conversation, which wasn't really like him. He wasn't a big talker, but he could carry on a conversation fine. He decided to be nice.

"So what are you into?" he asked.

"Um, I like music. And movies, I guess. I want to be a cheerleader, so I'll probably try out next month."

"That's cool. What kind of music do you like?" This had potential. Ethan enjoyed music. He was introduced to classic rock by his dad. But Will liked it too, so they shared that together now.

"I really love Justin Bieber! You could say I'm a Blieber!" she said with an embarrassed smile.

She should be embarrassed. That guy was a joke, all kinds of messed up.

"Huh. Anyone else?" He was trying to salvage this.

"Is there anyone else?" she giggled.

Ethan took a deep breath and let it out, "Well, think I'll be going now. Nice talking to you." She smiled a sad little smile. He felt bad, kind of.

After that party, it seemed like Melanie would pop up at school everywhere he went. She would hang out by his locker, show up in the library when he was studying, and even a few games he would look up and see her in the stands.

She's persistent, I'll give her that. He still wasn't interested, but he was polite, he listened when she wanted to talk to him and he would engage in the conversation. He worried he was leading her on.

Finally, summer came around. It was the last day of school and everyone was pumped for the break. Will had planned another bonfire that weekend, just two days away. But after school, everyone was headed to north beach to celebrate. At least half of the school showed up.

And there was Melanie, waving to Will, his girl of the month, whatever her name was, and Ethan. They all went over and sat with her, Ethan realizing this was like a forced date. At that point, he decided to try to make the best of it. Melanie was nice enough, they just didn't have that much in common. He wondered if he was being too critical.

Melanie asked him if he wanted to go on a walk with her. He figured, why not, so he got up and walked the beach with her. They talked about the school year being over, Melanie had made the cheer squad so she talked about being excited for next year.

When they got further down the beach, away from the crowds, Melanie grabbed his hand. Ethan let her, deciding it was kinda nice. A bit later she stopped walking and just looked up at him. He figured she was giving him some kind of signal, and he knew which one it was. Kiss me.

Did he want to? He was curious. He had never kissed a girl, so he figured, why not. She wasn't that bad. So he did.

It was a simple kiss, just a peck. But when he pulled away, he was shocked by the look on her face. It was as if he had just proposed! Oh no. This can't be good. He just smiled a normal smile back.

"Yeah, let's head back now, okay?" Ethan suggested.

Melanie had a death grip on his hand. Yeah, definitely not good. But he let her hold his hand anyway. What else was he gonna do.

When they got back to the beach, he politely excused himself, saying he needed to get home and help out for the weekend campers. He was glad to have a reason to leave. Melanie called out, "Call me."

"Yeah, sure." Then Ethan got out of there quick. He didn't have a car yet, or even a license. He had just turned 15. So he had to ride his bike, but he didn't mind.

When he got back to the campground, his mom gave him the list of campsites to prep the next day.

"Site 15, 23 and 27. Oh and site 30 is for the Smiths, make sure that one is really clean."

"What's so special about that one?" Ethan wondered aloud.

"Well, its their annual trip, you know the Smiths. James, Lisa, Hope and Brad? This is their weekend, they come every year..." His mom seemed exasperated with his lack of understanding.

He thought that sounded familiar, "oh, yeah, okay. Sure I'll get it ready." He shrugged his shoulders.

Little did he know that this annual weekend campout would change everything for him.

^^^^^^^^^^^
Updates should be once per week on Saturdays. But if that schedule gets interrupted, I appologize in advance!
Author's note

Well, what do you think so far? I really like writing from Ethan's POV. And I feel like this story has an even better flow than Hope's. If you've read that one already, please keep the end in mind as you read this one. His journey gets painful at points so knowing where it's leading will help you get through it. But it's still really good!

Also, I love writing Will! So keep in mind that these are two teenage boys, their language is not always "clean" but it felt more authentic to add a few colorful words at specific plot points. Thats my warning.

Notes on chapter title - simple man

This is Ethan and the life advice given to him by Diane. He lives simply and he is content, until Hope comes into the picture. Knowing her story and then reading his is interesting. All that is going on in his life that she was that catalyst for without having any kind of clue is just so amazing to me. Well, just wait and see.

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