The Summer I Met The Girl

twenty-one

Matt is thankful for time alone the next morning. He's up before everyone else and this gives him time to go for a run, which he desperately needs. The air is cold and pierces his face, but he keeps going. Every mile is helping him clear his head more and more. He loves the quiet beach, and the fact that he can still hear the waves even with headphones in. He takes in the scenery of the neighboring beach houses, all coastal and beautiful in their own right. He loves this beach, he's never loved a place like he's loved Cousins. 

After mile 5, he turns around. He's about halfway back when he sees Bethany headed in his direction. 

They both slow to a stop as they approach each other. 

"Good morning," She says with a small smile. 

Matt smiles as he removes his headphones, "Hi there." 

"Didn't know you'd be out here." 

"I like to run on the beach. I would have invited you had I known." 

Bethany smiles shyly, "Don't worry about it. How far can I go?" 

"Beach goes on for miles. I usually turn around at the blue house on the rocks, you'll know it when you see it." 

"Sounds good, I'll see you back at the house!" Bethany takes off and Matt watches her for a second. For some reason, he doesn't go back to the house. He wants to follow her just to make sure she turns around at the right house, but his legs are jelly and he can't physically run anymore. Instead, he starts walking. He'll never catch up to her, but walking in this direction makes him feel better.  

He walks for a while and as he starts to worry that she should be on her way back, he spots her down the beach. She's running pretty fast, which isn't surprising because she needs to stay in shape for cheerleading. 

She comes to a halt and cocks her head when she sees him, "What are you doing?" 

Matt shrugs, "I don't know. Didn't want you to have to run home alone." 

Bethany snorts, "But you were too tired to catch me?" 

"Yes!" 

Bethany slows her walking pace to Matt's as they turn around. Bethany looks up at him, "Are we going to start running again?" 

Matt stops walking, "I'm sorry about what I said yesterday. We are friends." 

Bethany turns to face him, "No we're not. We've never really been friends, Matt." 

"What are you talking about?" 

"I don't know, I mean, we hook up when one of us is single, but we've never been friends." 

Matt sighs, knowing she's right, "I guess." 

"We only hang out if we're having sex," 

Matt starts walking again and Bethany falls in step with him again. "I am sorry about what I said yesterday. I was just frustrated because of our conversation after the game a while ago." 

"I know that me asking you to be friends wasn't fair, especially while I was with Nolan. I just didn't want to give you up." 

"I couldn't be your friend, but I could have tried." 

Bethany shrugs, "It probably would have been weird, for Nolan too." 

Matt scoffs, "We all saw how well that worked out." 

"Don't be a dick." Bethany says sharply, "You don't have any right to be an ass about my relationship with him." 

"I'm not trying to be an ass about your relationship! I'm being an ass about him. It makes me mad that he thinks he can talk to you that way."