Stay

Matt

Jade had been thinking about her future, sitting on the beach as usual. The wind blew softly through her hair and the trees created a calm atmosphere for her. She stayed there thinking for a while, looking out into the water, wishing that life was as easy as it seemed when she left school. She searched for ideas but her idea bank was clearly dry. She felt a tear roll down her cheek and wiped it away, quickly. She knew that this was only a creative block. Normal. Putting her clothes back in the car, she ran down to the water and dived underneath. She ran her fingers through her hair and felt the cold water sting against her skin. She got out, rubbing her hair with a towel, then laying it on the sand and flipping her hair over her back. She at on the towel, the sun slowly warming her skin, covered in goosebumps.

Once she had warmed up and dried enough, she walked back to her car and put her dress back on. She took her moleskin sketchbook and pencil, and walked back down to the beach. She sat there on her towel with her feet in the sand, digging them underneath. She watched the few swimmers in the water and one of the surfers that were in the water. The surfer came out of the water and stuck his board into the sand, his hands on his hips and admired the water. Jade watched him, noticing his tanned, muscly back. His hair was brown and sun kissed at the tips, similar to her own.

As Jade stared at his figure, she quickly sketched him. As she stared at the page, she didn't notice him walk away- only until she looked up again to compare the drawing to him.

"Hey" said the stranger, peering over Jade at her drawing.
"Hi?" She replied
"That's really good" the stranger admitted. "I saw you looking at me". Jade blushed.
"That's me isn't it?" He asked. Jade nodded her head, embarrassed. The stranger smiled, bearing his perfectly straight white teeth.
"I don't mind" he said, laughing. "I go to an art college, get it all the time" he said, winking at me.
My tongue was dry and all I could do was blush. He stood there and stared at me, and I lifted my head and smiled, looking into his eyes. As blue as the ocean, similar to mine, but deeper. I liked that.
"Hey I'm about to go get a drink. Do you wanna come" he asked.
Butterflies raced through my stomach.
"Sure" I replied.
"Sweet. Just gotta put my board away. Won't be too long" he said.

I gathered up my things and followed him up to the parking lot. His car was parked next to mine. It was a large, black four wheel drive. A pretty masculine car, if you ask me. I put my books and pencils on the passenger seat of my small SUV and locked the doors, taking my keys, phone with me in my shoulder bag. My favourite one. It was dark blue and a had light blue elephant pattern on it. It looked somewhat nice against my flowy knee length white dress. I twisted my hair up into a messy bun, a hairstyle I usually went for, most days. The stranger was still putting his board on the roof of his car when I was ready. I helped him to tie it on.
"I don't think I got your name" I admitted.
He stopped and smiled. "Matt" he said, holding out his hand.
I took it and shook it. "Jade" I replied.
"Nice to meet you Jade" he laughed and shook his head, his gorgeous blue eyes twinkling in the sunlight.

We walked down the street, both barefoot. He wore the same black board shorts he surfed in, but he slipped on a white tee shirt. He had his wallet and keys in his back pocket. I presumed his shorts were still damp. I noticed he knotted his hair into a tiny little bun on the back I his head. I'd always had a soft spot for man buns.
"You like juice?" He asked.
"Love it" I replied.
We walked down to the fresh juice stall and before I could even offer, he bought me a large tropical juice. We sat down at one of the tables around the stall. I could feel his eyes on me.
"So what do you do?" He asked. "What's your job?".
"Long story" I said.
He looked at his wrist, pretending to have a watch. "I have time" he smiled at his stupid joke and I giggled.
"I'm a... I'm an artist... But I guess things aren't going too well at the moment. I mean, I had big plans when I left school. I expected for things to go really well. But they didn't. I'm sort of just doing commission stuff at the moment".
"So what's the dream?" He asked.
"I don't know. I've always loved art. I wanted to get involved in advertising and maybe have an online store." I shook my head. "Stupid dream, huh?" I said.
"No. That sounds amazing." He said, and smiled.
"So what about you, huh?" I asked. "What's your dream?".
"Well, photography I s'pose." He said.
We both smiled at each other.
"Hey I have an assignment coming up at my college, actually." He thought to himself and I smiled, interested.
"I've been looking for someone to model for the photo shoot actually. I think you'd be perfect for the job. I mean, your hair is gorgeous. Your skin, eyes, smile...and you look the part for a surfer chick" he said.
I laughed, flattered. "I've never surfed in my life!".
"Doesn't matter. You look like you have. It's not really a surfy thing anyway. It's an advertisement assignment- for a swim range".
I smiled. "So when is this assignment due?" I asked.
"Couple weeks time" he replied. "I was going to ask my sister, but I guess it's fate that I met you, hey?".
"Maybe" I laughed.