Watch Me Drown

14. Beach

TW: mention of blood, sad Julien

(Abby's point of view)

I was woken up by Julien kissing my face. She kissed my nose, then my forehead, then my cheeks, and when I was awake enough to kiss her back, my lips. I had told her a million times that she could just shake me awake, but she never did. She was always so gentle.

"You can literally slap me awake." I muttered sleepily. "I'm not gonna love you any less."

"What if I don't want to slap you awake?" She said, then kissed me again before I could respond.

It had been a week since I passed out. I hadn't fainted since, but I had to admit that sometimes it felt like I was going to. My heart would speed up, and I'd get dizzy. I sat down before it could take over, though.

"We could just stay here." I whispered against Julien's lips.

"Later." She whispered back.

"Promise?"

"Abby."

"Ugh. You're no fun."

She smirked and kissed me one last time, just a quick peck, no making out like the moment before, and got up. She opened the blinds and I groaned at the light.

"Phoebe and Lucy are gonna be here within the hour." She informed me.

I sat up and rubbed my eyes. "Guess we better get going then."

It was time for me, Julien, Lucy, and Phoebe's annual beach trip. We went smack dab in the middle of the week so it wasn't as busy. No promises with LA beaches, though.

We left at what Phoebe called the "ass crack of dawn", which was actually just around seven AM. It took about an hour to get to the beach on a good traffic day. We left after sunset, and let Lucy take us through "back roads" that actually just added to the drive. Nobody really cared, though. We all loved our beach day.

Julien went to get food together for the day, and I got ready. I grabbed a bathing suit, a green bikini on the more modest side, and a cover up; jean shorts and a Harry Styles Love On Tour t-shirt. I didn't do any makeup, I just washed my face and put on moisturizer with SPF in it.

After that, I joined Julien and helped her pack. Our phones dinged a few minutes in. It was Lucy, texting us in the group chat that her and Phoebe were there, parked right outside. We finished up quickly, and headed downstairs.

"What's up, assholes?" Phoebe greeted us when we got in the backseat of Lucy's car.

"Nothin' much, shithead." Julien said back. "How about you?"

Me and Lucy grinned at each other.

Phoebe turned up the radio as we drove off. "Ceilings" by Lizzy McAlpine song was playing, and we all started singing along. Something that all of us had in common was that our car radios were always playing indie stations. Gay shit.

I looked out the window while the others talked. Normally, I'd join the conversation. But I was too tired. I rested my head on Julien's shoulder and fell asleep.

***

I love the beach. I love the sun, the feeling of it touching my skin. I love the sand. And the ocean. The color of the ocean, the sound of the ocean, the feeling of the ocean; I love all of it.

"Hey," Julien said to me as we walked onto the beach. "If you feel-"

"Nope." I placed my hand over her mouth and we stopped walking. "Last time you offered that I missed seeing 'Our Song' and 'You Are in Love' live. What if Harry Styles himself shows up at this exact beach the second we leave? I am literally wearing his shirt."