Carrying the Torch

Chapter 13: Sue the Beach, Sue the Ocean

I ring the doorbell waiting impatiently for someone to open the door. This is my twelfth attempt with Lily and she seems to be remembering me subconsciously. Suddenly the door is opened.

"Um, hello may I help you? " She furrows her brows examining me.

"I'm supposed to be advertising something but I'd much rather ask you out on a date."
I smirk.

"That's pretty lame. How many times have you asked this? " She chuckles.

"Ehh a handful maybe. But, you're the only one I genuinely want to say yes. " I give her a sly smile.

"Do I know you from somewhere? Have we met before?" She takes me in furrowing her brows.

"If you feel like you have, then you have. So go get your bathing suit we're going to the beach." I smirk.

She bites her lip, pondering on whether or not she should come along.

"Alright." She finally gives in shutting the door and disappearing.

I stand awkwardly waiting until she comes 20 minutes later changed and with supplies in tow. I walk towards my car.

"Slow your roll sales boy, I'm driving." She smirks and twirls her car keys around her pointer finger. I laugh and raise my hands up in surrender which only makes her laugh.

She walks to her car unlocking the doors and slips inside. I follow her lead and buckle up and automatically turn to find her hazel eyes staring back at me. Involuntarily a smile takes over. She smiles and begins to drive.

"So, I'm Harry, and you look like a Lily so I'll call you Lily." I state and cause another laugh to fall from her lips.

"Nice to meet you Harry. Harry.. Harry.. Harry..." She mumbles.

"What's that?" I turn to look at her.

"Nothing. So I hope you know we're not sleeping together." She bluntly states.

"I wasn't thinking it you were." I chuckle only making her blush.

"Well you are the creep that showed up at my front step asking me to go to the beach with you." She points out.

"Well you are the weirdo that agreed to go with the creep." I retort.

"Alright alright. You got that one." She chuckles lifting her hands in surrender then placing them back on the wheel.

"Oh, no. You're one of those people that don't know how to keep their hands on the wheel while driving." I groan.

"You'll survive, you pansy." She steals a look at me just to flash a smile and turn on the radio. She puts it on a classical music radio station and keeps the volume low.

"It makes me feel like I'm starring in my own movie. You know, music in the background kind of narrating the scene. Manipulating us to feel a certain way, be a certain way." She explains.

"I know it's pretty lame anyways. Just forget it actually." She blushes and turns off the radio.

"No, actually it's pretty interesting." I reassure her and turn the radio back on.

"Sometimes... sometimes I like to let the conversation match the music. Like happy song, happy conversation. Sad song, sad conversation." She continues slowly.

"This song... sounds..." I pause and close my eyes listening to the song for a second.

"Nostalgic ." She finishes and I nod.

"So tell me of a memory that makes you nostalgic." I look over to her and watch as her lips turn up in a smile.

"Well... it was when I had just written my first song. And it was crap like, literally crap. It was about candy basically. And, even though my dad knew it suck he pretended it was the best thing ever. In fact, he bought me a trophy and ribbon , and brought me to the candy shop to celebrate. I love the comfort that comes with that day. I don't remember exact details but it's one of those fuzzy memories you hold to your heart forever." She tells me her voice just barely over a whisper.