As a small town girl, you try to get out, but something always draws you back home. Whether that be family, or you know that it isn't your time to leave just yet. Maybe, you haven't found the right reasons to leave. Regardless, you do what you can t...
We spent the first day getting our schedule to match the time. Our first official day, I woke up before everyone else. I made myself a fresh cucumber detox water and went and sat on the hammock on the back porch of our Airbnb. "This is beautiful," I looked at the sky. "I wish you could see this, Marlee."
"Who's Marlee?" Jay asked, startling me. I looked at him. "I didn't mean to scare you."
"It's fine," I nodded. I gestured him to come sit next to me. He did. "Marlee is an old middle school friend of mine who died of leukemia." I sipped on my water. "We always made plans to go on big trips together. Unfortunately, she passed away before we could."
"I'm sorry," Jay stated.
"It's okay. I know she's no longer in pain," I signed. "She was my only friend. I wish she could be here and meet you." I looked at Jay as the sun rose. "I think the two of you would've gotten along."
"Lorie, Marlee lives on through you," Jay replied. "I wish I could've met her."
"You always know what to say," I smiled. He gave me a kiss. My phone buzzed and I looked at it. I gave a small chuckle. "Get in here, Sylvie."
"I thought you guys looked cute," Sylvie smiled. She cane and sat by me. "You guys are two early morning love birds."
"Sometimes it comes with no sleep," I stated.
"Okay, you do get sleep," Jay stated. "You get to push that passenger chair back and relax."
"If we weren't dating, I wouldn't be anyone's passenger princess," I smiled. "Alright, enough chit chat." I got up. "Let's get some breakfast and get to our surfing lessons."
"Who's teaching us?" Jay asked.
"Kelly says he knows how to surf so he's gonna teach us for free," I shrugged. We walked into the kitchen. Kelly was cooking breakfast. "If I don't catch a wave on my first try, I'm gonna be pissed."
"It takes time," Kelly stated.
"Even if it's a small wave," I pointed. After I ate, I went to the bedroom to get ready. "Where's my suit?"
"Here," Jay handed me my beach bag. "You stuffed it in my suitcase."
"It's because of my ballgown for that gala at the end of the week," I stated. I walked into the bathroom and got my swimsuit on. I walked back out and Jay looked at me. "What?"
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"You look great," Jay nodded.
"Okay," I sighed. I walked into the living room. Sylvie started spraying me with sunscreen. "You had to go all out on my swimsuit."
"Pink looks great on you," Sylvie smiled. "Embrace it. We live in Chicago. How often do we get to wear a swimsuit?"
"In the comfort of my own home," I smiled.
"Alright," Jay walked in with a patch of sunscreen on his nose. "We ready?"
"What is on your nose?" Sylvie asked.
"Sunscreen," I stated. I wiped it off. "A thin layer, not a patch like you see in the movies."
"You guys ready?" Kelly asked.
"Yeah, " I nodded. We grabbed our board and met at the shore line. "Okay. What first?"
"I waxed your boards this morning, so you just find your balance and stand on it," Kelly stated. "So, you'll lay on your belly, on your board, to paddle out."
"Like this?" I asked.
"Exactly like that," Kelly pointed. "Uhm, may I?"
"Are you asking if you can adjust me?" I asked. "Kelly, you don't have to ask."
"Okay," Kelly stated. He positioned me a little bit more to the middle of the board. "The more centered you are, the more balanced you're gonna get when you try to stand up on your board." I looked at him. "Okay, I want everybody to get on their bellies, on their board." Sylvie and Jay did as they were told. "Alright, now you're gonna wanna grip the side of your board and bring your legs in so your crouching on your board, like so." Kelly demonstrated. "Alright, why don't you give it a try?"
"Okay," I sighed. I pushed myself up. My footing missed the board and I almost landed in the sand. Kelly caught me just before I busted my face. I looked up at him. "Thanks."
"Yeah, no problem," Kelly nodded. I quickly got out of his hands. "Anyways, you get the picture. Let's take it to the water." We did. "To skip a wave, you grip the sides of the board and go under the water. It'll keep you from getting pushed back." We went out a little further. "Let's see if you guys can grab some waves."
"This is no my friend," Sylvie stated.
"Here comes a big one," Kelly stated. I watched the wave. "Lorie, don't do it. It's too big for a beginner."
"Watch me," I stated. I turned my board around and paddled with the wave. I caught my footing and got myself up. "Woo!" I smiled as I rode the tunnel out. I jumped off my board. I met my friends up at shore. "So, what do you think?"
"Something tells me this isn't your first time," Kelly crossed his arms.
"It's not," I smiled. "I spent some time in Hawaii after I left Will." I un-cuffed the board from my foot. "I got some training on a board there. Look, it was cute to watch you try, Severide."
Jay's POV
"I'm gonna go get us a couple of drinks," I stated. "Anyone want anything specific?"
"Surprise me," Lorie smiled.
"Okay," I nodded.
"I'll come with you," Sylvie replied. She followed me to the bar. "Hey, are you okay?"
"Not really," I sighed. "She's flirting with Severide in front of me."
"Maybe because you guys haven't told anyone you guys are dating," Sylvie stated. "She has to seem available, but make herself unavailable."
"Doesn't mean she has to flirt with him," I sighed.
"Tell her how you feel," Sylvie stated.
"Hey," Lorie walked up to us. Sylvie got her drink and left. "Is something wrong with you?"
"You flirting with Severide," I sighed.
"I'm not intentionally trying to hurt you and I'm not flirting with him," Lorie nodded. "He's the one flirting with me. I'm trying to put him in the friend zone." After two weeks, we were back in Chicago. First thing we did was meet everyone at Molly's. "Stella, just a water please?"
"Really?" Stella asked.
"She didn't drink at all during the trip either," Sylvie stated.
"I'm just not feeling well right now," Lorie nodded. Stella handed her a glass of water. "Thank you."
"How long have you been feeling this way?" I asked.
"Which part?" Lorie asked.
"Feeling sick," I replied.
"Just a couple days ago," Lorie sighed. "I should've told you but I didn't wanna cut our trip short."
"Babe," I whispered.
"I'll be okay," Lorie nodded. "If I get any worse, I'll let you know."
"Okay. We can leave when you want to," I stated. "I just want you to be okay."
