Paper Hearts | ✓ | [ e d i t i n g ]

Chapter Nineteen - Skinny dipping

" we should do it." 

Four days ago we were setting things on fire. Now Corra wanted me to get naked. That escalated quicky. 

Theo watched the water skeptically. I shook my head, crossing my arms around my ribcage, " I don't know Cory. I mean, it's the ocean, not some little lake." 

She watched me, awe struck. Standing in front of Theo and me, while we sat peacefully on the sand, she started a speech, " My fellow friends, we are here in this world, during this summer, for one purpose: to complete that list. I don't know who wrote it, but they were a genius because the first one made you friends, and the second one makes you experience things you so wouldn't have done otherwise. Now, I won't look, and I'll make sure Theo doesn't either, and you can take all your clothes off and run into that water, because that's what living will probably feel like!"

" really cold and uncomfortable?" Theo replied, arching a brow.

Corra glared at him, " possibly."

I stood, and sighed, " alright."

He looked up at me, with no words. I shrugged, " might as well, I guess."

She smiled and drapped an arm around my shoulders, " that's the spirit."

I motioned for them to look away, and they did. I removed my t-shirt, then my cami, and unbottoned my jean shorts. Behind me, I could hear Theo taking off his jacket and Corra dropping everything. 

I was really afraid of drowning naked. and being naked in general. 

Finally, I dropped everything, and went for in. I practically collided with the water and stayed under for as long as I could. Then I realized you couldn't see anything through the agua. Popping my head up, I saw Theo and Corra's head; Corra looked insanely accomplished, and Theo looked like a wet kitten. He arched a brow, " This wasn't worth it."

I laughed, careful not to let anything bellow my collar bone leave the water. 

Theo was attractive. I knew that before hand, but shirtless Theo was still fine. He was the sort of toned that wasn't overkill but it certainly wasn't nothing. I tried not to stare for too long. Corra wiggled her eyebrows at me, " No regrets aye?" Her gaze flicked between me and Theo.

My face turned about as red as my hair, and I shook my hand, closing my eyes and falling back underwater. I could faintly hear her laughter in the night. Going above surface again, I shot her a death glare but didn't deny it. 

I was done the second I got in the water, and so was Theo from what I could tell. Corra and I turned around while theo got dressed. She whispered to me, " He's fine, Mari, damn fine."

" Yes, I saw it too."

" You need to go for that shit. I mean come on this is a practical case of skinny love." 

" um what?"

She sighed, rolling her eyes, " when two people like, or love, each other very much and show it, but don't acknowledge it." 

I shook my head, " That's not a thing."

" It's a thing. Trust me." 

" Okay."

" So you should do it." 

" Ugh." I closed my eyes, " why do you pester me so much?"

She became very serious, very fast, " Because it's on of the opportunities. Theo and you, holy shit, you guy and gal could be something. And if you miss this chance because you're nervous he might not like you back, then don't be, because he does."

" thanks Cupid, can we see if he's dressed now?"

" yeah." She called, " Yo Theo, got pants on?"

" yeah, why?"

" turn your ass around we're coming out."

" um... okay?" I could envision him drawing his eyebrows together and turning around, fiddling with his shirt.

After successfully dressing myself in my shorts and cami, Corra concluded with her bra, jacket, and gym shorts, " I'm gonna hit the hay. Feel like I should run the beach early in the morning, yeah?"

" alright, night cory."

" night baby cakes!" She waved violently at me, " night The-The!"

He gave a sollute. 

While she retreated to her tent, I realized Theo was still shirtless. He reached for his shirt, getting ready to pull it on when I said, " wait."

He looked shocked, " oh. why?"

I looked at his shoulders. On each one was a row of three, perfectly symmetrical X's. There was two X's beneath each collar bone, these ones smaller. I looked up at him, eyes wide. 

His shirt in his hands, he looked over at the fire. I scooted closer, gently traced one. They were old, as far as I could tell, " Theo, when did you... or did you... or."

" yeah, I did." He shrugged a shoulder, " It was awhile ago."

Without thinking, I kissed one of his scars. He looked down at me, eyes wide and full of different emotions. I sighed, low and steady, and rested my head on his shoulder, " how old were you?"

" It was back when I was fourteen or fifteen, when I first moved in with Britta and Allan." 

" oh."

" marisole."

" yeah."

" I can't change it now, you know that. But I wouldn't do it again, no matter how badly I might want to." He looked down at his  hands. 

I turned and wrapped my arms around him, his skin still chilled from the ocean water, " It's okay. I'm not judging you."

" then what are you doing?" He asked.

" I'm thinking about kissing every last scar, and trying to decide how weird it would be if I did." 

He smiled faintly, " It'd be weird with Corra."

Taking that as an okay, I kissed all ten scars, and sat next to him again. He turned to face me, his eyes, as violent and lively as the ocean, met mine. His gaze flicked from my lips to my eyes, like he was contemplated whether or not he really wanted to.

Then, gently, his lips touched mine.

I leaned forward, kising him back. His lips were cool with water, hand, resting on my cheek, was soft as he thumb gently traced a line under my eye. 

When he pulled back, he rested his head on my shoulder and said, " I need you, Marisole."

I ran my finger through his hair, down his back, where I hugged him, " I need you too Theo."

we drifted to my tent, his shirt now on (much to my dismay). Pulling the blanket I had so generously thought to bring over us, I wrapped my arms around his waist and set my head on his shoulder. His arms looped around me and his lips were rested against my forehead and hair as we fell asleep.