Stuck In the Riptide

Chapter 1

It was a Friday night out at a party in some huge beach house in Long Beach. Wesley was getting drunk, hitting on all the girls and dancing with everyone, Keaton had gone back home and was probably sleeping already, and Drew and I were sitting on a bench outside. Drew had a note pad in one hand and a pen in the other. It was two a.m. and he was writing a song. The wind blew off the ocean and rustled Drew's spikey up-do while he viciously scribbled on the paper.

"This'll be the best song I've ever wrote. You'll see. This'll sky rocket Emblem Three to fame." Drew mumbled to himself.

"Drew, bro, you're talking to yourself... Aga-" I tried to warn him but he covered my mouth with his huge hand.

"Hush Jessi. Not now. I'm in the zone. Hush."

So I listened. I sat in silence staring at the bright moon and all the scattered stars in the dark sky. I watched the waves crash into the sand, their meeting point just ten feet away from where I was seated next to Drew. The music pulsed through the walls, the faint sound of an over-played pop song was in the back of my mind when he suddenly grabbed my hand pulling me into an embrace.

"I just wrote the best song of my life. Emblem Three is going to be famous. This song is going to be the best song that the world has ever heard. Maybe people will actually accept me now." Drew said with his cheek pressed to my hair.

I snaked my arms around his torso. "Drew, what are you talking about? You've always been the popular guy. People have always accepted you, you have nothing to worry about. Plus, Wesley, Keaton and all your other friends and family and I will all still be here for you."

I felt him smile and he held me tighter. "You know what Newport? You always seem to know what to say to make me feel better."

I giggled at the use of my middle name. Drew had turned Newport from my middle name into my nickname, changing a childhood torture method into one of my favorite things to be called.

He pulled away from me and held on to my upper arms. "You know what we should do?" he paused momentarily, "we should go swimming!"

"What? In the ocean? Are you insane? It's two in the morning! It's bound to be freezing!"

Drew chuckled and then pulled me over his shoulder. "Then we'll keep our clothes on!" he said as he carried me to the water.

"Ugh! Let me down! Please! I don't want to go into the water! Drew!"

"Stop squirming! Fine, fine! I'll put you down." and so he did, right into the freezing ocean, causing me to jump back into his arms.

"I told you it'd be cold!" I muttered through chattering teeth, while he held me up out of the water.

"You're silly, Jess. It's not that cold." He spoke softly, his warm breath rushing onto my face causing me to shudder.

"Whatever you say Drew... I'm freezing."

"I know something that could warm you up." He said with a smirk. Slowly but surely Drew's hand came up my face and he brushed my bangs off of my forehead. I had been waiting for this since I met him, no way I could deny the fact that I was attracted to Drew. He was so peaceful, so kind. He cared when it seemed no one else did and he was the best secret keeper ever. His hugs were exceptional. People say actions speak louder than words and Drew's hugs said all that I needed to hear when I needed to be comforted.

He looked into my eyes and for the first time I saw weakness in his eyes. I've seen uncertainty and I've seen his sensitivity through his eyes, but never have i ever seen weakness. Drew was strong, physically and mentally. Drew was so much more than what people saw on the surface and it only took him minutes to create a lasting impression on the people around him.

Drew leaned down and touched my lips with his own. I felt a spark, and yes I know how cliché that sounds but I felt it. I felt my heart smile and maybe that sounds crazy but that's honestly what it felt like to kiss Drew. It just felt right.

When we broke apart I looked up at Drew, he stood there with his eyes closed like he was trying to process the kiss we shared and I took the time to think about it myself. It was short, it was simple, it was the kiss I wanted, it was perfect. Less than a minute later he opened his eyes and smiled at me and slowly set me down into the water. It was still cold and reached to my waist but the sand between my toes felt nice. I had so many memories in the water and this was just another amazing one to add to the list.

"See? I told you the water isn't that bad!" he said while running his hand through his hair.

A small laugh escaped my lips and I looked down at the water, running my hands along the surface. The ocean was calm. I was calm as well but still had a few questions to ask Drew. Right before I opened my mouth to ask my first question, Wes' head popped out the house door.

"You guys! The cops are here! We gotta ditch! Hurry!"

Drew looked from me to the house. "Race you to the Jeep!" he shouted as he sprinted out of the water.

I began to chase after him, but still my question remained; what did that kiss mean?