A Xander Chapter: Dancing on the Beach

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It was July. The Sanders invited Dad and me to a beach vacation for a week. They have a beach house near this beach and they had a spare house for me and my dad to stay in.

Dad and I finally arrived at the beach and we found the Sanders sitting on the beach. Julia, Ruthy, Mr. Sanders, and Mrs. Sanders looked like they were sunbathing while North was playing in the sand, and Emily was...no where to be seen. 

"Hey, everyone!" My dad said as we reach Mr. and Mrs. Sanders.

"Hey, Sam! Hey, Xander! Glad you can make it!" Mr. Sanders greeted us.

"Um, hey!" I say. This was the first time in a long time I've been on a vacation with them.

I walked up to North and kneeled down to her, "Hey, North."

"Oh, hey, Xander!" North looked up at me.

I sat there a while drawing in the sand with my finger. 

"So...where's Emily?" I asked.

"At the porch of our house. Why?" North asked.

"I don't know. I'm going to go see her." I got up.

"Okay, but can I ask you a question?" She says.

"Sure!"

"Do you like Emily?"

I laughed, "No, I only like her as a friend!"

"Are you sure? Because I ship you to together." North explains.

I made a weird face, "Y-you do?"

"Of course!" North smiles.

"Um, cool. I'm just going to go see her." I say walking away.

North ships me and Emily together? But why? We just started getting along months ago. How could I start liking her now?

I see Emily at the porch reading a book.

"Hey, Em," I say.

"He-wait, what did you just call me?" Emily says.

Oh, shoot! I forgot! Judith used to call Emily that.

I facepalm myself, "Shoot! I forgot. Sorry."

Emily smiled, "No! I like it when you call me that."

I sat down next to her, "Whatcha reading?"

She showed me the books cover. The Fault in Our Stars

"Cool," I say.

She puts the book away and says, "This is the first time we go on vacation together in 12 years."

"Yeah. It's been a while. It feels kind of weird to go on vacation," I say, "The last time I went on vacation with you guys was the last time I ever went on vacation."

Emily gave me a weird look, "Really? Don't you ever go out with some friends or something like that?"

I shook my head, "I don't have friends."

"Me either," Emily said.

 We both looked at the sand instead of each other, "Except for you."

We both look at each other, surprised about our words. We both blushed and smiled and looked back at the sand.

________________

It was night time. Well, not even night time. It was the next day.

I checked my phone. 12:01.

Why can't I fall asleep already? Is it because Emily's stuck in my head? No, it can't be.

But I decided to text her.

Xander: U up?

Emily: Yeah.

Emily: I can't sleep.

Xander: Me either. Wanna go for a walk?

Emily: Sure!  

I dress up in some real clothes. I didn't want Emily to see me in some weird looking pajamas.

I walk outside the door finding Emily wearing a beautiful floral dress. I swear, I've never seen her more beautiful.

I walk up to her feeling a blush creep on my cheeks uninvited.

I guess Emily had the same things because she had rosy cheeks.

"Wow," Was all I could say, "You...you look amazing."

She smiled, "So do you."

We walked on the sand talking a bit.

Then, I spotted some people slow dancing to some music.

"Do...you wanna dance?" I ask.

Emily looked at me a bit surprised, "I don't know how."

"It's easy I'll show you," I say holding out my hand.

Emily slowly holds mine as we walk to where everyone was dancing.

I held her waist as she wrapped her arms around my neck.

We swayed a bit to the music looking into each other's eyes. She put her head on my shoulder as we swayed a bit more. 

I took one hand off her waist and softly played in her hair. A smile appeared on Emily's face as I was doing it.

As we swayed through the night, dancing on the beach, I realized North was right. 

I liked Emily. But North was wrong in one thing.

I didn't just like Emily.

I was falling in love.

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