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“You don’t need to be embarrassed,” Sam said, his voice tender as he kissed the tip of her nose. He was still holding her, as if she weighed nothing at all. He put her down slowly, inspecting her for injuries as he did. Satisfied she was physically unharmed, her took her hand and led her over to the rocks. Sam removed his footwear, indicating for Hazel to do the same.

“I hope these aren’t pointy rocks that stab feet,” Hazel murmured as she slipped her feet out of her sandals. She had flashbacks to rock pool hopping with Serena and the pain they’d felt when stepping on a particularly sharp rock. Though they didn’t look it, the rocks were quite smooth.

“The salt from the ocean seems to have removed any craggy bits off the surface. From the tides and all.” Sam guided her over to the pool. It seemed as if the wider part of the teardrop had been designed by an architect, which Hazel knew was impossible. Inspecting closer, she realised the wall of stone that curved around the sides of the pool was one giant rock that had been carved over time, giving the illusion of a combination of rocks piled together. The rock wall was high enough that it protected the pool from the brunt of any surges of water from the ocean.

A wave suddenly crashed against the side of the wall that faced the sea. A gentle flow of water cascaded over the top of the rock wall, falling into the tide pool like a waterfall. Hazel shook her head gently, in awe of how amazing nature could be.

Sam took his shirt off, his golden skin glistening in the sunlight, immediately distracting Hazel’s appreciation of the landscape.

“You coming?” He held out a hand.

“Yep,” Hazel replied, slipping her sundress down. Entwining her hand in his, they approached the tide pool. Sam guided them along the edge, the crystal blue water becoming navy as they reached the deepest part. Before she knew what was happening, he’d practically leapt in, water splashing onto the rocks next to her. Hesitating, Hazel dipped her toes into the pool before she gathered the courage to jump. The water enveloped her as she went under, instantly cooling her hot skin.

She surfaced, treading water as Sam gave her a smile. They swam around for a bit, inspecting different parts of the pool. Hazel spotted a large crab resting on a shelf. Limpets and barnacles clung to the rocks. Tiny coned shells with swirl patterns peppered the rock wall. There were a few fish trapped in the pool, their scales glinting in the sunlight. Her head just above the water line, Hazel peered down, scanning over the smooth stones lining the bottom. Groups of sea urchins were scattered around, purple spines spiking every which way. A few hermit crabs were scavenging in the crevices of the rocky floor, and Hazel spied the largest sea cucumber she had ever seen, an onyx coloured log resting on a wide stone.

Surrounding the tidal pool were little pockets of seawater filled with more limpets and barnacles, but also tiny anemones that were flowing with the gentle movements of the water. Hazel rested on the edge of the pool and watched them move. Some were crimson, while others were a bright green, swaying like little tendrils of seaweed. She particularly liked the anemones that were orange with white arms wiggling around.

Back in the middle of the pool, Hazel linked her hand with Sam’s, and they floated on the surface in a companionable silence. Hazel felt a shiver down her spine. The water was starting to feel cold. She swam back to the edge and pulled herself out of the pool, up onto the smooth rocks. She folded her legs into her chest and watched Sam as he paddled around, the water rippling with his movements.

“Cold?”

Hazel nodded. Seagulls squawked above her, flying overhead. Beyond the rocks, the ocean glittered in the sunlight.

Sam climbed out of the pool and settled himself next to her. They sat, talking, for as long as the blistering Australian sun would let them. Hazel lifted her hand onto her left shoulder and felt the warm skin.

“You’re looking a bit pink,” Sam mentioned, watching as she gently ran her fingers over her shoulder.

“We better go before I turn into a lobster.”

“Of course.” Sam stood and stretched his legs, offering a hand out to Hazel. He pulled her up, and they began walking over the maze of rocks, heading toward the rope.

Sam muttered something Hazel didn’t catch. He dropped her hand and started making his way to a clump of rock that was higher than the rest.

“What is it?” Hazel asked as she tentatively followed him. Hazel could just make out a very small rock pool that was shaped like a heart.

“Look!” Sam bent down. He was peering into a crevice of the pool where Hazel noticed a tiny yellow octopus covered in blue rings.

“Is that-”

“Yes,” Sam interrupted. “A blue-ringed octopus.”

“I hope there weren’t any in the big pool,” Hazel murmured, wrapping her arms around her body.

“Who knows,” Sam replied quietly, his eyes focused on the animal.

They watched the octopus as it curled its tentacles into itself.

“How did you even see it?” Hazel whispered, incredulously.

“I’m not sure. I turned my head to look at the water. It was only a flash. It was in the middle of the pool, swimming around. By the time I got here, it was in this crevice trying to hide.”

The octopus was still now. The rings were a vibrant, almost electric blue. It seemed to be looking at them, its little black eyes staring up at the figures looming overhead.

“Let’s leave it in peace?” Hazel suggested after a while.

Sam nodded as he stood up. “That was amazing. I’ve always wanted to see one,” he said, somewhat breathless as they reached the rope.

“Well, I’m glad I was here to experience it with you,” Hazel replied with a smile.