Gemma's Summer Night

4: Gemma's Short-Lived Moment

Bus rides were a normal part of my summer. The only part I actually enjoyed, to be honest.

I sat at the back of the bus by the window on the left side. Yes, I had a specific side I sat on because I could see the beach from this particular spot. I pressed my forehead against the glass and sighed, taking in the water gleam from the rising sunrays. Sometimes, if I concentrated long enough, I could smell the ocean. I know, it's weird.

There weren't many people on the beach yet. Mostly elderly walking their pets, or surfers catching an early wave before the crowd took over. I wanted to have a normal summer like every other teenager who would go to parties and the beach with their friends. Instead, I'm sitting in a taco shop no one comes into, and wasting my summer away.

Drew Tabor sang in my ears, and I took a deep breath while the beach continued to pass by. I the song of on repeat on my phone, and I can't get enough of it. Her tone is relaxing. Mindlessly, my thumb clicked the side of my phone to increase the volume. Mom wasn't here to complain my music was too loud.

Another sigh later, my sight concentrated on the glimmering sea until I heard a muffled, "Drew Tabor. Nice choice."

I blinked, pulling my forehead from the window and turned around at the same time of pulling an earbud out of my ear. My mouth dropped open when I saw who was sitting across from me. I gulped and quickly dragged my hand down the side of my messy curls to straighten them out of their frizz. 

There, with his Colgate white smile, was Ryan O'Malley, or as he was known at school: "Boy Hawaii".

I'm not sure why people called him that other than that's where he moved from. Margarite claims it's because he's beautiful, and Hawaii made beautiful people. But then I wondered if perhaps they should have called him Beautiful boy...?

I'm sure I looked stupid just sitting there with my mouth hanging open so I cleared my throat and straightened in my seat. I pulled the other earbud out and rolled them both around my phone as I smiled, nodding my thanks. "Drew Tabor's actually my favorite artist at the moment."

"At the moment?" Ryan asked, tilting his head with a grin. He twisted in his seat to face me.

I bit my lip, nodding that my deep appreciation for music was hard to just pick one artist when there were so many with really great songs.

Ryan's brows furrowed, nodding then smiled. He claimed he never thought of music that way before, but that he just might from now on. Cue my soul leaving my body.

Ryan raised a brow, nodding at my phone. "'Moonlight'... am I right?"

The smile on my face widened as I nodded that was what I had been listening to. I tilted my head, lowering a brow and questioned how Ryan knew about Drew Tabor.

Boy Hawaii chuckled, glancing to the side before admitting that I was listening to the song loud enough for him to hear the singer. I blushed, reminding myself to ease up on the volume next time. Boy Hawaii added how his mom was actually into the Indie music genre.

"She's a total hippie," Ryan mused, grinning as he gestured from his neck down. "Clothes and all."

I laughed, then caught myself and apologized that I didn't mean to.

Ryan smiled, shaking his head that he wasn't offended. "You have a different kind of laugh. It's... There's something about it that doesn't sound rude," he admitted.

For all that is green and holy, RYAN O'MALLEY JUST COMPLIMENTED ME!

Tucking my hair behind my ear, I glanced away with my bottom lip between my teeth. When I looked back at Ryan, he hadn't looked away. He was still smiling at me. To be brave, I extended my hand and introduced myself.