Out of the Blue

17

She slowly descended down the stairs, trying not to slip. On the final step Andrew reached his hand out and Stephanie smiled as she took his strong hand. " You two have fun" said Stephanie's mom and her dad joked about not staying out too late, then Andrew and Stephanie were out the door.

"So what restaurant are we going to?" Stephanie asked Andrew with excited anticipation but he just laughed.

" Since when did I say we were going to a restaurant?". It was not the answer she expected but Stephanie didn't say a word. For the rest of the car ride Stephanie stared out the window looking at the gray blue sky turn indigo and occasionally stare at the boy who used to be just a pretty face to stare at. She stared a tad longer then usual, thinking to herself the journey the two of them have taken. Andrew Kuklar, the star surfer, the perfect student, the most popular guy in school. Andrew Kuklar, the boy no one really knows about, but her. Who would have thought? She smiled how her life seemed to become the typical love story of popular boy meets the non-popular girl. Staring at Andrew made her realized something but Stephanie thought it was too soon, too young of a relationship to think about what she thought. And did Andrew feel the same way? Stephanie stared back out the window and recognized where they were, the beach. It was better then that, it was right by Ululani's shop. Where the tide was lapping against the sand there was a large rock and a boat tied to the rock.

Andrew parked the truck and walked around the other side to open Stephanie's door. Before she stepped out, Stephanie slipped off her heels and slid out the truck to have her feet sink into the soft, cool sand, feeling hundreds of grains rising between her toes. Looking up, Stephanie gazed into Andrew's sparkling eyes and took his outstretched hand.

The cove looked like black glass and the spray of the wake made the water sparkle in the indigo sky. Andrew was driving slow, no words were spoken during the short boat ride to Mana Moku. Stephanie's hair was gently blowing around and her dress wrapped around her ankles from the wind. Andrew head was on a slow swivel between Stephanie and the cove. Andrew slowed down the motor until it was dead and the boat gently glided into the beach of the island cave. Andrew rolled up his pant legs and hopped into the warm water of the cave and tied up the boat. Stephanie stood up and lifted her dress so it wouldn't get wet.

There was a dim light glowing in the center of the cave. Andrew smirked at Steph, put his strong arm around Stephanie's soft shoulders and whispered " My lady..."

Stephanie smiled, as her and Andrew walked closer into the light she saw a red table cloth draped over one of the flat boulders on the cave beach, two wine glasses, two blankets on the ground and about fifty blue candles lit, with the smell of a crisp sea breeze surrounding the entire set up. it was beautiful and peaceful.

"This is amazing." Stephanie gawked at the mesmerizing scenery, the fresh candles illuminated her chalk murals beautifully. Everything was perfect, better then any restaurant they could have gone to. This way they were alone...

"Sparkling grape juice?, since we are underage and I don't think drunk Boating is legal" Andrew gripped the handle of the welches glass bottle and Stephanie giggled and nodded her head. He pored the two wine glasses half full. The two of them were sitting on a blanket and holding the glasses Andrew made a cheer "to a beautiful night under the stars with the girl whose beauty is a million times brighter then every galaxy out there." Stephanie laughed as they clinked glasses, stared up into the natural moon roof of the cave and looked into the myriad of stars, then took a sip of the sparking juice. A bitter taste fizzed in Stephanie's mouth and popped in her throat. She tried her best not to make a face but couldn't stop the crinkling of her nose in distastefulness. Andrew gave Stephanie a confused look and asked if anything was wrong. Her eyes widened as she said " No not at all! I just don't really like any kind of grape juice. I didn't say anything because I didn't want to ruin the mood." Andrew and Steph stared at each other for a few seconds and they both burst out in laughter.

Andrew took a hold of both glasses, setting them down on the rock and wrapped his arms around Stephanie. "You could never ruin the mood" Andrew said and they began laughing again. For almost an hour the two of them held each other close talking about every topic under the sky. Movies, books, college, the future, perspectives on life with small inside jokes here and there.

" You look amazing tonight." Andrew's piercing blues gazed into her big dowey browns as Andrew leaned forward to kiss her. Sweet and gentle for a little bit then progressively more intense. Eyes closed, Andrew placed his hand behind Stephanie's, fingers gently intertwined in her soft blond hair. He moved Stephanie to the ground and Andrew was now on top of her they continued to kiss and later Stephanie was on top of Andrew. he placed his firm hands on Stephanie's lower back and slowly moved his hands up her back and had his fingers on the knot of her dress.

Stephanie's heart started to pound out of her chest and stopped. " Wait." She breathed. Andrew looked up at her with caring eyes. " I need to --"

Andrew gave her one more small kiss. " Stephanie Anne Rohn, the quiet girl in school who almost after three months has completely blown my world. Stephanie Rohn, the most stubborn, strong headed girl I have ever met. Stephanie, the toughest and at the same time most caring girl I have ever met. Steph, the one and only girl I,m" he paused.

"...you're what?" Stephanie whispered, breathing heavily"

" Steph, I am in love with you, I know it seems too soon but I love you so much. I am in love you now, I want to be in love with you in the future, I need to be in love with you, and I will be in love with you forever. You're the only person who I've loved and it's going to stay that way. And if you're not ready I'm willing to wait forever." Their hearts seemed to be beating in sync.

They both sat up and Stephanie took a deep breath and kissed him back a little harder "I do not love you" she said and as soon as Steph saw the flicker in his eye go out she whispered " I am madly, crazy, completely in love with you Andrew Kian Kuklar, and I'm ready" she whispered as she untied the top of her dress, falling back into Andrew, soon feeling nothing except for the touch of Andrew's skin on hers, his warm breath on her neck and the heat of the candles on her back...