Before Me, Him

Chapter 37

     Around one hour later the doorbell rings and Polly opens it excitedly. She was now all dressed up, with a tight white shirt that had a big cleavage and some denim shorts. The red bikini she was wearing underneath was visible since the shirt was a little bit see-through. I don't think she cared though. I think Polly is the type of person that you are able to count their cares in the world with one hand.

     I look back and see Emily running down the stairs, she was wearing a white dress with some brown sandals. Her straw hat had a white sparkly bow on the middle and, if you looked closely enough you would be able to see some light pink from her swimsuit. Emily was always well dressed while I always had the same type of clothing. I wouldn't say I am jealous or anything but I guess I kind of miss the time when I used to dress up pretty because I wanted to. Nowadays I cannot find that will.

     I wave to Therese who was drinking some tea on the couch and I close the door behind me after seeing Emily leave. As usual, they were all here, Dean, Philip, Jacob, and Luke. I still don't understand why he has to tag along with us now. I don't really care about it but I kind of want to avoid him, that way I won't give him false hopes about something he might think we are.

     - Hello June. – says Philip while approaching me. – How are you today? You look a bit tired.

     - I'm alright, just slept a bit late. – I saw Polly glaring at me. I guess she was scared I would mention this morning or even parts of yesterday's night conversation. The thought didn't even cross my mind. – How are you though?

     Philip nods and states that he is fine while the whole group starts to walk towards the beach. Polly was glued to Luke so he didn't have a chance to talk with me yet but Jacob was really quiet. Too quiet. "Is he worried about something?" I questioned myself as I looked at his figure illuminated by the warm sun. In the meantime, Philip was telling me about a crazy dream that he had had with some knights and superpowers that would come from the food you eat. The whole thematic about it was amusing I got to say but the truth of the matter was that Philip was happier. Talking on that day made him a lot lighter I assume.

     - Did you went to Robert's house today? – Philip asked me.

     - I overslept today. – I say while my eyes start seeing a wonderful blue sea. – But he didn't eat for what I've heard.

     - So we're back at zero. – he lets out a sigh as I nod in response.

     Soon enough we arrive at the beach and once our spot was set Polly gets undressed and rushes at the sea. Emily and Dean both follow leaving Jacob, Philip, and Luke behind. My towel was in the middle of Jacob's and Philip's while Luke's towel was in front of me. It felt weird though, somehow the whole environment surrounding me was breath-taking, in a bad way. It didn't make much sense though since Philip was just reading his book quietly and Jacob was just looking into the horizon. He didn't speak to me today.

     - Do you want to go swim, June? – Luke questions me after doing a couple of minutes of regular chitchat.

     - Not yet. – I tell him while looking towards the sea where Emily was playing in the water.

     - Then what do you want to do J? – Luke's warm smile wouldn't leave his face. It was as if every single word coming from my mouth was just creating more and more confidence within him.

     - Sunbathe. – I say while I lay down on my towel after removing my clothes.

     - But... - Luke starts talking but gets interrupted by Polly that hugs him from behind. – You're cold!

     - Come to the water, it's great! – she grabs him by his arm and pulls him away from us. I let out a sigh of relief. For once, thank you, Polly.

     I closed my eyes as I felt the sun warming up my skin and, without noticing time flew by. An hour passed and I get up to see Philip still reading his book and Jacob laying down in his towel. My body stretches and both look at me curiously.

     - Where are you going? – they question me at the same time.

     - Swimming. – I give them a smile and run to the ocean. As I was entering Emily, Dean, Polly, and Luke were leaving with their skin crinkled and their lips with a blueish color.

     As my feet feel the cold water a shiver runs up and down my spine. I look at the blue sky and smile. "Are you watching?" I think to myself. I can't stay like this, I have reached this conclusion so it's time to get out of my turtle shell and do things that I am not used to! I felt motivated and hyped, maybe I will be able to be how I was with William, after all, time heals all wounds right?

     I walk further until the seawater reaches my stomach and I dive him. The water was cold but my body would get used to it soon. That's how it always was, even when I was a kid that was what always would happen.

     - Someone's in a good mood. – I look back and see Jacob.

     - I guess you can call it that. – I shrug my shoulders. As my eyes looked into him I remembered that he had been acting weird all day. – Jacob, are you alright?

     - What do you mean? – he questions me and, afterward he dives in the water making his black hair flatten.

     - This is the first time you've talked with me today. You usually talk to me straight away. – I start floating until the water is at my shoulders. – That's why I assumed something was off.

     He keeps looking at me and, as he hears my words he lets out a smirk. "Did I say something funny?" I wondered.

     - Were you lonely? – he asked with a big smile on his lips.

     - How did you even make that connection? – I frown my eyebrows extremely confused. – I truly don't understand how your brain works.

     - Actually, I wanted to ask you who Robert was. – Jacob looks to his side almost as if he was trying to hide a little bit of his embarrassment.

     - Emily wanted to meet him too, I should take you all there. – I smile at him and he looks at me as if he were impressed with something. – What?

     - You are like wildfire. – he says while his cheeks turned slightly light pink and I tilt my head without understanding a thing.

     At this point, I already accepted the fact that Jacob is a riddle and I'm not really good with them so I shouldn't bother.