I'm lying in my bed trying to sleep. I can hear the rhythmic breathing of my sister, who is already asleep, and I try to concentrate on that.
You should text Lía.
I roll over in bed.
She gave you her number for a reason, right?
But what if it was out of courtesy?
SHE GAVE IT TO YOU.
I don't think texting her is a good idea.
But didn't you like her?
What if I make a fool of myself?
The voices in my head argue, getting nowhere. I pick up tmy phone. Four in the morning?! At this hour it is impossible for her to be connected. Well... Maybe the best idea is to leave her a message and if she wants, she can reply. Yes...
I open WhatsApp, and I start to type a message.
Hi Lia. I'm ____, the girl who spilled coffee on you... Do you want to meet someday??
I delete and rewrite it several times until it seems like an acceptable message.
Me
Hey Lia!! I'm _____, the girl from Starbucks. What's up?? I'm writting in case you want to meet someday...
I send it, quite satisfied with the result. What I did not expect is that she would answer me in seconds.
Leah a.k.a. the pretty girl from starbucks
Hello ____!! I'm fine and you?? I would love to meet!! Tell me when and where and I'll be there. 😊
Shit. And now what do I say? Think, think, THINK.
Me
Cool!! What about Tuesday at 5 pm at the same Starbucks??
Leah a.k.a. the pretty girl from starbucks
Perfect!! See you 😉
Well, it wasn't that hard, was it?
I turn over in bed (again), convinced that I will dream with Lia.
- GOOD MORNIG EVERYONE! IT'S EIGHT IN THE MORNING, AND SANTA MONICA IS WAITING FOR US! LET'S GO - My mother's screams wake me up, and I growle, covering my ears trying to get a couple more minutes of rest. For God's sake, eight in the morning! Can you believe it? Well, she didn't go to sleep at four in the morning...
I get up complaining just before my mother comes down the stairs, and I go down to the kitchen for coffee and toast and have a quikly breakfast. I go upstairs to take a shower, and I get dressed with still wet hair. As soon as I get out of the bathroom after brushing my teeth, I get a notification, and I open my phone to see it.
Nal aka Bff♥️🖕🏻
Hello, what's up?? How are you doing in the distant American land? Here nothing to tell, but if something happens I'll let you know;) something there?
I smile when reading the message of my best friend
Me
Hellooo I'm fine and you? If there is progress with James, let me know. Everything is fine here, but if you can, call me, that there is something I have to tell you... I'll leave you with the intrigue bye.
When I go to WhatsApp, I read the conversation I had last night with Lia, and I smile unconsciously.
- ____ we're going to be late because of you! - my sister shouts from the floor below.
- But late to where? - I mumble under my breath as I go down the stairs - it's a beach. It doesn't close!
I get in the car, where my whole family is waiting for me, and I connect the headphones to the mobile. After a half hour drive, we arrived at Santa Monica beach, and we went for my mother, unloaded the car and placed the umbrella and towels on the sand. Now I understand that my mother wanted to arrive so soon.
Still wearing the earphones, I lie on the sand, determined to at least get some color. I close my eyes and, despite the coffee, I fall asleep immediately.
I get up when someone starts shaking my shoulder. I take off my sunglasses and rub my eyes when the light hits my pupils directly. And when I see the person who woke me up, I rub them again.
- Lia? What are you doing here? - I ask confused.
- I'm on the beach with my siblings, and when I saw you, I came over to say hello. - she explains with a smile.
I smile at her and he takes me by the hand.
- Come on, I have to introduce you to my sister - she says pulling me - the fearsome redhead- she mocks.
I got carried away, and I end up under an umbrella, where a red-haired girl and a boy look at me curiously.
- ____, these are my brothers, Shea - he says pointing to the red-haired girl. Did he already mention that he's a redhead? - and Logan - points to the boy. - Guys, this is _____, the girl I met at Starbucks the other day.
- Hello - I greet shyly
- Hello ____! -Shea greets me effusively, hugging me- you're more beautiful than how Lía described you- she says, and I blush, and I look at Lía strangely. She blushes and looks away.
- What's up, ____? - Logan greets me.
- ____! - my brother yells at me from the water- Come take a bath, the water is great!
I look at Lia.
- Are you coming to swim? - I ask.
- Of course - she takes off the shirt she is wearing, because she is wearing a bikini. - Let's go!
I follow her into the water, which is actually quite hot, and we start splashing each other. I take her hand and take her to where it covers a little more, and I drown her. As soon as she comes out she tries to give it back to me, but I swim back to the shore.
I turn to look at her, and I can't help but be smitten. The bikini looks fabulous on her, and with wet hair, she looks like a model coming out of a photo shoot in the water.
- What? Do I have chocolate on my face? - she asks mockingly.
Shit. I've must have been staring at her too long again.
