crescent [h.s]

8

Aurora Adler         

We reach the end of the road, and ahead of us is the beach.

A white sand beach.

We make our way over, presuming this is where Harry wanted to take me.

His large hand warms up my slightly cold one, causing him to look me up and down, "Are you cold?"

I shake my head, "No, I'm okay."

He smiles, and squeezes my hand, "C'mon then, I wanna go sit on the beach."

We make our slow walk on the beach, Harry holding my heels in his left hand, my left hand still interlocked round his right one. He squeezed my hand tighter as we hit the sand, I'm guessing to make sure I don't fall over or do something stupid like that.

Wouldn't be the first time.

He guides us over to sit right in front of the water, but far enough away so there's no chance our clothes will get wet. The beach not being my favourite place in the entire world, has me leaning into his side. And it's scares me.. because no one has ever made me feel safe when at the beach.

Not even Deli.

But right now, I feel so safe.

He brings his arm around my back, his hand landing on my bare thigh– available to him due to the way my dress has bunched up.

"C-can I tell you something?" He questions, his voice hinting at insecurity.

"Of course." I nod, my head resting under his arm.

He quickly steals a glance at me, before looking back at the almost still water, "This is, uh, the first time I've been to the beach in nearly a year."

I look up at him, wondering why his facial expression has set into an almost tense and... scared one. "Can I tell you something?" I want to make him feel more comfortable, and maybe sharing more parts of me with him will do that.

He nods immediately, almost seeming thankful that I spoke, "I haven't been down to the beach since I moved here."

His arm tightens around me, "Is.. is there a reason why?"

"I don't really like the beach. Well, I used to. But not so much anymore." I speak softly.

"Me too–" he sighs heavily, "And it sucks.. because I ruined a place for myself that I used to find comfort in."

Me too, Harry.

"Can I tell you a story?" I question, staring at our stretched out legs.

"Of course." He gives my thigh a slight squeeze.

"Just so you know.. this isn't some fun childhood story about a loving family spending their days at the beach, so if you wanna opt out about hearing about it, now is your chance." I say.

He smiles a sad smile, "No, no, that's okay. Tell me, Aurora."

"My parents are..." I look for the word, the correct word to describe them, "Stupid. Immature. The type of people that should've never had kids together. Don't get me wrong– they're great parents to their own kids, but I.. I was the product of two barely adults, who.. I think were just using each other for sex."

I might tell him the full story one day. I can feel myself wanting to... but today isn't the time.

I breathe deeply, followed by a sigh, "I did whatever I could to stay out of that house. At 14, I did lifeguard training during my summer break, simply to just fill up my time, and at 16, I was legally allowed to be a lifeguard– for the local beach down by where I grew up."