My Best Friend's Brother

Chapter 8

I woke up at about 6:30 and Natalie was snoring like a big bear. I sat up and rubbed my tired eyes. I haven't been sleeping at night and it's really bothering me.

I got up and as soon as I did, Natalie spread out all over the bed. I went to her window and peaked outside. The waves were crashing onto the sand and it looked perfect out there.

I grabbed my pink floral bathing suit and my big floppy hat and went downstairs. I found some lemonade in the fridge and poured myself a glass.

I sat myself down on a lounge chair and sat in the sun. After about half an hour, I decided to move down to the sand. I walked a little closer to the water and the sand was so warm. I took off my cover up and fell onto the ground. It contoured to my body and I had a warm sensation everywhere.

I must have drifted off because I felt the water brush my legs a bit and the sun moved. I sat up and moved further up in the sand.

"Elena?" I heard a voice from behind me and saw that it was Nate. He must have been out for a run.

"Hey Nate I didn't know it was physically possible for you to wake up before 11." He came over to me and chuckled a bit when I said this.

"I decided to go for a run before it got too hot. What are you doing out here all by yourself?" I was looking up at him and he looked huge when I was sitting on the ground. He was shirtless, and covered in sweat. I must say, he looks really good.

"I woke up early and I wanted to come outside."

"Where's Natalie?"

"Still sleeping I think. What time is it anyway?" He took his phone out of his pocket and checked the time.

"8 on the dot." Oh wow I really did fall asleep.

"Shit I'm going to be burned if I don't put some sunblock on. I've been here since 6:30." His face turned to a look of confusion.

"What?"

"I didn't even see you out here. I came out here at about 7:45. Weird."

"How did you not see me?"

"I have no idea. I had my headphones on and I just didn't look around. You blend in I guess."

"Yes my bright floral bathing suit blends in with the sand." We both laughed a bit and I looked back up at Nate and I caught him staring at me, well my barely there body. I instantly felt really insecure and super awkward.

I saw his eyes move to my ribs and his eyes had some unreadable emotion in them. I cleared my throat and he looked away from me.

"Well, I should go shower. I'm pretty sweaty." He blushed and went inside. Well that's one thing I'd never thought I'd see. Nate Grayson blushing.

I went back inside too, to get some sunblock. I'll look like a piece of leather by the end of the summer of I don't remember to put some on.

"No, you can't do that."

"Well why not?" I heard Nate and Natalie in the kitchen and it sounds like they are fighting.

"Because you idiot she doesn't eat." Is this about me? It's not eavesdropping if I'm simply looking for sunblock, right?

"She must be hungry Nat. I saw her out there. She looks dead."

"Yes, because she hasn't been eating because she's anorexic! What makes you think she'll magically want to eat that?" This is about me.

"Can't we just try?"

"You literally have a mound of food there. She won't touch it. We have to go slow. Maybe some watermelon."