What This Is

Chapter 8

Luke's POV
No freaking way. There is no way I just asked Lacey to go surfing with me.
I have no idea what it is about her. If it was her in the tree....looking so young and venerable: smiling, laughing, swinging her little feet, her perfectly straight hair blowing slightly in the warm breeze. I think about that. It was warm outside, yet she'll wear a sweater, and she nearly REFUSED one of my mom's cookies!
Anyways, as to not be late, I change into my trucks and a Hollister shirt. I've already told my mom where I was going and she told me that her and Mike were taking care of some "business".
I was pleased to hear that, and I was especially pleased to see her smile. I don't remember the last time I saw her smile. Both my sister and I are sure we know what she knows by business and were ecstatic.
I arrange my board onto my bike, and made my way to Lacey's. In 5 minutes, I reached her house.
She was already waiting in the warmth of a knit sweater.
"Hiya surfer girl," I said, sounding slightly sexy.
"Hey there, surfer boy," she winked ripping the boundaries of flirting.
We made our way towards the beach, cruising along on the sandy paths.
As we unattached our boards, I slipped my shirt off, flexing a bit, hoping she'd look over.
I glanced in her direction, just in time to see her slip out of her sweater.
Nearly skin and bone. Her body still had curve and if she didn't have muscle, she would probably be in a hospital.
How could I have not seen it earlier??
This beautiful girl, who drives me off the walls, has anorexia.
Shit. No, why would she do that to herself?
I smile at her when she looks at me. I reach out and silently brush my finger tips over her collarbones. Her smile wobbles a bit as she puts her hand on my side, coating the wound she tended to eight days ago. I heal quickly, leaving the slit in my side, to show nothing more than a scab.
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Lacey's POV
I was worried about tonight. Not about what we were doing, because I love surfing, and not about what I was wearing, which was my pink string bikini, but what he was going to learn about me tonight.

We soon made our way to the beach. I hesitated a moment, but then glanced at him. He was flexing.
'Oh my god, Lacey, look away!!!' I demanded myself before I had a chance to stare.
In my boost of giddiness, I slipped out of my sweater.
As I assumed he would, he stared, and he took a step closer to me, his fingers gliding gently over my collarbone, which is one of the places my disorder attacked the worst.
Despite my best efforts, my smile wobbled as I placed my chilled hand over his warm body. His cut was almost healed, and I was happy for him.
I noticed that a lot of his bruises were gone, and everything was not raw, but in the process of healing.
I smiled truly, and looked up into his blue eyes. He was ready to hit the waves too.
We disbanded, the absence of his burning skin immediately sending chills around my shoulders.
I don't take a second longer to burst into the water.
It was chilled and salty, overwhelming all my senses with the amazing, familiar place.
Luke hit the first wave, which was pretty big, but I was too into soaking in my contentment to see it coming.
'Okay, I'll just go for the next one,' I thought. And boy, did I.
I saw it as t grew bigger by the foot. Soon, it loomed a good 12 feet ahead and I went. I've been in this situation before, and gleamed and shouted at the happiness bubbling up inside me.
I successfully made it out of the spiral, and saw that Luke was already onto the upcoming wave.
*2 hours later*
Luke's POV
"Geez, you are the ultimate boss at surfing!" Lacey exclaimed, dragging her board along behind her as we walked aimlessly along the shore line.
"Are you serious?! I wouldn't doubt for a second that you were a professional surfer!" I complimented.
She laughed out loud and we agreed to sit down where we were. Somehow, we had made our way back to our bikes.
I reached for my blanket, one I always bring when I surf and laid it out. After putting a shirt back on, I plop down next to her and lean back on my elbows as I watch the sun set. Lacey had already put her jacket back on, so she laid herself out across the blanket. I couldn't be quite sure, but I could see that she was becoming a little more comfortable with me...
After minutes of shared silence, I sit up, and she follows my lead, doing the same.
We are close enough that when we turn, I can feel the cold radiating off her. It isn't a bad cold, but a chill that anyone would be comfortable being around 24/7.
She looks down, and plays with a string in the blanket. I could sense the heaviness around her, and I just couldn't help but think that I so badly wanted to protect her from that, from anything that could ever possibly hurt her.
"I'm really sorry I didn't tell you about my disorder, Luke. And I'm sorry for letting you in. I'm an explosion that just went off, and I'm shattered and broken right now. Luke, I don't even know-"
"Hey....." I whisper, interrupting her spill. I know she needs to get it out, but I couldn't help myself. I lean in and place a hand on her cheek, directing her eyes to look into mine.
"I know that you're broken. But I also know that I am willing to walk on that glass and cut my feet to shreds, to get to you."
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Lacey's POV
I knew that if I even dared say another thing to him, I would breakdown.
So instead of pressing the issue, I readjusted my self to lean into his shoulder. I don't know why, but something about his strong arm around my fragile shoulders made me relax, wholeheartedly.
We stayed like this for I don't know how long, but the next morning, I somehow found myself on my couch, with the blanket my grandma gave my mom and I, wrapped around me. I haven't had anything to eat in about two days, and I swear, I won't be surprised if someone from China knocked on my door and told me to quiet my stomach down.
I groggily shuffle into the kitchen and pull out a pop tart. I had nothing else to do on this Saturday, so I clicked in the tv and watched one of my favorite shows, Tom and Jerry.