Friends

Part 12

Don’t you just love the smell of fall? The air just smells crisp and inviting, and when you’re in the right region it nearly always smells like a bonfire. That’s how it smells right now, crisp and smokey with a hint of salt.

I hugged the blanket tighter around me and a strong breeze blew off the water. I dug my toes into the cold sand and the sound of laughter and music echoed from behind me. I really liked watching the ocean at dusk, there’s just something so serene about it.

“You mind?” A voice asked. I looked up at Matt, the fire from behind cast half of him in shadow and the other half in a soft warm glow. His earrings flashed in the light and his blue eyes glowed brighter.

“Not at all.” I smacked the sand next to me and he smiled. He sits just close enough that our shoulders touch. I turned back to the water and put my elbow on my knees and my face in my hands.

“Penny for your thoughts?” He asked.

“Not many thoughts are happening here.” I said with a soft laugh. “It’s just one of those moments you know.”

“Hmm?”

“One of those moments that you know is the time of your life. The ones you wish you could freeze and live in forever.” I shook my head. “Sorry, that's stupid.”

“Don’t apologize, I know exactly what you mean.” He said. “Shit I wish I could freeze this moment too. My brothers and our friends, young and having fun. Being here with you, sitting on the beach just talking.” He pauses and turns his head towards mine, I look at him.

“You must be crazy if you’re not in love with this moment.” I said.

“Guess we’re pretty sane then.” He said. I smiled and turned back to the water. “Y/n…”

“Yeah?” I turned to look at him again. He put a hand on my cheek and the coolness of his rings hit my skin like a blessing to hide my blush. I swallowed hard, I could tell he was nervous.

“I wanna try something, is that ok?” He asked, it was so genuine and kind my brain just sorta stopped functioning.

“UH.” I cleared my throat. “Um yeah sure.” He moved closer to me, his nose just brushing mine. He licked his lips and my breathing hitched in my chest. He closed the remaining distance, our lips meeting gently, fitting perfectly together like puzzle pieces. He tasted like a mix of cherry Starbursts and Sprite. An electric current ran between us, every cell in my body felt alive.

When he broke away I looked deep into his eyes.

“Was that okay?”

“Yeah.” I said simply, breathless. But what I really wanted to say was… Do you mind if I try to freeze that moment too?

    My eyes snapped open, vision blurry. All I could see was the color gray then my bearings came to me.

My legs were tied together with a thick black rope, and so were my hands. I was thrown in a corner, my face squished against the dirty concrete floor.

    A foot rolled me over so I could face the rest of the room.

    “Hello Sweetheart.”

A.N. The plot thickens???? Hehehe