"Have you guys seen poppy?" Marlon asked the group of friends, who faces were currently glued to the tv in front of them watching reruns of surfing from Manu.
Poppy had been off the past couple of days, she had been not answering texts, and if that didn't worry him she was late at least 15 minutes to practice yesterday, and if that wasn't any better, she looked like she hadn't slept in days.
Summer shrugged and lifted her head from Baxters chest.
"I think she said something about surfing the waves at night."
She laid her head back down on Baxters chest and he laid his head on top of hers.
"She's probably okay." Bohdi added.
Marlon walked up to the beach and scoured the area for her.
"Poppy!"
He yelled her voice hoping to hear something, he got closer to the ocean and the waves were still, the water was peaceful and serene.
He stood for a few minutes looking out into the water in case she was there.
The air was misty and tasted of salt.
It was a bit chilly but not freezing.
"Poppy." He said her name again, wondering if she had just gone home. Maybe she had.
"Marlon?"
He turned around at the sound of her voice, and she was standing near where he entered the beach.
She didn't want to tell him, but a part of her felt relief to see him, she pushed her feelings to the side for a minute.
She had her surfboard glued to the side of her, her hair in a braid on her right side.
"Thank goodness." A sigh of relief left him , "what are you doing out here surfing in the dark?"
Poppy gulped, the beach post lamp light shining off of her face, he read the expression she held.
She looked frustrated and of course that wasn't his intention but she was.
"Poppy, I didn't know-
He was interrupted mid sentence
"Marlon." She breathed his name. "you can go."
"Respectfully I want to stay."
"I'm a big girl Marlon." "I can handle myself."
Poppy defended herself.
" I am going to stay because I want to make sure you are okay".
He stood his ground and made sure she knew he wasn't leaving.
She huffed and he sat down on the sand, his knees to his chest , and just as he was sure she was going to leave. He heard the sand shuffle as she tossed her board to the side and plopped down next to him.
No words were spoken for a while just silence as they both looked off into the distance.
Marlon turned his head to look at poppy.
She wondered what she was thinking. She most likely was worried about surf comps, life, all of the above.
Her eyes were toward the moon,
"Marlon." I can feel you burning holes through my head, what's on your mind."
She met his eyes and he studied her.
"I'm-
Poppy stuck her tongue a bit past her lips, and bit her lips waiting for him to speak.
She looked for answers for anything right then.
"I'm worried about you."
Marlon told her, without his eyes leaving hers, he felt his body shift closer toward her and she let him.
The space that was once cold, was now body heat radiating off of each-other. Their skin close enough to touch.
"Me too." Her lips pursed and she nodded, leaning into him, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
"Hey look at me." He whispered into her ear. She shifted her head so she was looking at him.
He met her eyes again.
"I'll worry about you for the both of us."
She let herself smile, and didn't say anything as she brought her chin back down to where it was resting on Marlons chest.
He heard poppy breathe heavy and then sighed again.
"Are you okay?"
He asked her.
"I don't know honestly."
This was the truth, she hadn't felt this bad in months.
She diverted her attention for her own answer, and shifted her focus to something else.
"Thanks for being here."
He nodded and kissed the top of her head.
Marlon opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out right away.
"Poppy, you can tell me anything." His chin rested on her head.
He felt her nod.
"I know." She mumbled, "I just don't know how to speak about anything yet."
"I just want you to know that I am here for you, when you decide on how to, I am always here, and I always will be here."
She held her breath, trying not to cry.
"Hey Marlon?"
"Yea?" He breathed, gently tracing circles on her open palm, as she focused on that.
"Can this just be okay for now?"
"Just you and me together, spending time with one another?"
"That's perfect for me." He reassured her by squeezing her shoulder with his other hand.
"Just let me know when you want to let me take you home."
She nodded.
"Later."
"And Marlon?"
"Hmm."
"Thank you for fixing mums gift."
"Anything for you."
