Ivy Grows

Play That Funky Music

We stayed like that for quite some time before we finally decided we'd had enough of the waterfall and wanted to swim some more. So, we did that for a while. Talked about everything from our favorite foods to our favorite songs. He told me about Greta's success and how 'incredibly weird and lame' being famous is but also how 'bitchin' it is to have fans.

"Wait, I have something for you..." he seemingly reminded himself. I watched as he swam to shore and walked up the beach to his backpack. He stands and waves me over, still focused on digging through the bag for something.

I also joined him on the beach and shielded my eyes from the sun, just watching as he finally pulled out a large grocery bag that was rolled up. He wasted no time in handing it to me and then continuing to look for something else.

"Go ahead and open it.." he waved me off just as he pulled out a silver necklace with some kind of pendant on it. He quickly hid it behind his back before I could see it, gesturing to the bag in my hands again.

I plopped down to my bottom on the warm sandy ground. Slowly opening the brown paper bag and looking inside. What I seen was confusing to say the least. I paused my observation when I felt Sam sit down beside me and peer over my shoulder in the bag.

"What is it?" he asked as if he wasn't the one who gifted it to me. I rolled my eyes and reached inside, grabbing the first thing I seen. It was a keychain that read, 'My friend went to Sydney, Australia and all I got was this lousy keychain.'

"Your guess is as good as mine.." I laugh, now realizing the bag was a lot of keychains and souvenirs from various places. Places like England, Ireland, Scotland, and states like Washington, California, and Texas.

"It started in Florida on the very first tour. I found this stupid plastic ashtray in the shape of a foot that said 'We got a kick out of Florida.' I thought you would like it and then after that it just kind of happened everywhere I went. Whether it be a keychain, a mini bottle of dirt, or even a bumper sticker. I had to get you something from every place we went.." he explained and I couldn't fight the smile on my face. He almost looked shy admitting the last part.

"Was this a you thing or did all of you participate?" I asked, pulling out another keychain to look at; this one reading 'I ♥️ Vermont'.

"Started as a just me thing. Then the boys joined for a while, helping me find something small enough for the luggage to leave. Then they lost interest and it was a just me thing again.." he admitted, his hands coming up to his face to push his hair back.

"This is really, really sweet Sammy. So creative and so you.." I smile over at him, feeling water trickle down between my brows and over my lips. The bag started to get wet and I felt bad so I placed it back in his backpack, "and I will get those back once we get back to the house because they're getting all sandy and wet."

"Okay, that's fine. I also have one more gift but I want to give it to you on our first date. That is, if you're still up for dating me?" he laughed as if it was a irrelevant question which at this point it kind of was. I'd made it very clear that I'm into him.

"I'll get back to you on that one.." I purse my lips, rolling my eyes, I try to reach around him to snatch the necklace but he's too quick and jerks it back, scowling at me.

"Don't do that," he shakes his head playfully. His lips pout as he says, "or else I'll have to take it home with me and just wear it myself."

"No," I rush out, "okay, I'll leave it alone."

"Good girl.." he nods in a completely innocent way but it fell opposite on my ears and my cheeks flushed as my eyes found anything else to look at.