Swept Away

11 - Juillet

"Hello?"

I didn't expect Colby to call. Especially not this late at night, but I don't mind.

"Hey," he says, breathlessly on the other end, "Did I wake you up?"

"I mean, yeah," I smile, "but it's okay. What's going on?" I can hear him breathing like he just ran 6 miles.

"I just have really exciting news," he sounds like he's bouncing off the walls, "I really need to tell someone."

All of a sudden I hear a loud bang from outside. But I also hear it through the phone. "Colby?"

"Yeah?"

"Where are you?"

I can practically hear his sheepish smile through the phone, "Outside your house."

"Colby, why?"

"Just come outside," he says, "you'll understand."

I walk down the stairs and out the front door to see Colby picking up his bike that just fell on the ground. "Hey stranger," I go to help him, "What was so important that you had to wake me up in the middle of the night to tell me?"

He turns towards me grabbing my upper arms. "I am going to be an uncle!"

I bite back my laughter. He's excited. I can't ruin this by laughing at him. After a few seconds, the laugh comes out in a small giggle, "I'm sorry! It's just- is this really what you woke me up at like 1:00 in the morning to tell me?"

"Yes!" He pulled me towards him, "You were the first person I wanted to tell."

I wrapped my arms around his waist. We sat in silence for awhile, the only sound coming from the ocean that wasn't too far from us. "I'm glad you told me," I said breaking the silence, "I'm happy for you."

I felt his chest rise and fall from where it laid under my head, "Thank you. I'm glad you woke up."

"I am, too," I sighed, "But I also really like sleep."

He pulled back from me, and grabbed my hand as he said, "Do you think you will fall back asleep?"

I shrugged, "Probably not. I usually can't fall back asleep if something wakes me up."

"I'm sorry."

Shaking my head, I told him, "Don't be. Its not your fault I'm like this."

"But I woke you up," he moves to get back on his bike.

"No," I stop him. "Don't leave. I don't want you to leave yet."

He puts his bike back up to rest next to the side of the house, "Well then how would you like to pass the time? Now that I know you won't be sleeping that is."

I grab both of his hands, "Let's take a walk."

"To where?" He questions, when I start to pull him down the road that leads towards the beach.

I giggle at him, "The ocean of course. Where else would we go?"

"Of course," he laughs, "How could I be so stupid?'

We walk in silence until we reach the beach access. Its not awkward though. Its comfortable. I like that about Colby. We can always find comfortable silence.

I take my flip flops off and hold them in my hand. My other hand reaches for Colby's. Holding hands with him is a feeling I could get used to. His hand just feels so comfortable holding mine. There's that word again. Comfortable. That isn't enough to describe it. I've always thought that when I would finally find a guy that I liked, it would feel comfortable. But thats not all anymore. Colby makes me feel special. Like there is something inside of me, that isn't inside any other person in the world, and that thing is the reason he likes me. I keep asking myself why me? Why does Colby like me? It doesn't make any sense, but for some reason it does.

"What are you thinking about?" we've sat down on the beach, watching the tide as it washes over the sand. When I look over, Colby is already looking at me.

"Nothing."

"Bullshit," he smiles, "There is so much going on in your head."

"Really?" I asked, "And how would you know?" I feel my lips pulling into a wide grin. "You're not in my head."

He laughs, "Yeah I am," he tucks my hair behind my ear, "I'm on your mind all the time."

We're really close now. Close enough that if I just leaned in a little bit, my lips would be on his. Colby's so close, I can smell him. He smells like the ocean. I tilt my head up at him, but his hand doesn't move from where it lays on the back of my head.

"Colby," I breathe.

"Stop," he says, "Whatever you're thinking, stop it."

I look into his eyes before looking down at his lips. I reach my hand to grab the bottom of his hoodie. "You don't know what I'm thinking, so how do you know if I should stop?"

"You're overthinking," he leans a little closer, "That's what I do know."

I nod, "I am."

"Then don't think," he sighs, "Just do." His mouth moves to cover mine, but I place my hand on his chest to stop him.

"Colby, I-" I let out a shaky breath, avoiding eye contact, "I've never done this before."

His eyes grow wide, "No, no, no. I don't want to do anything. We don't have to do anything."

"No, I don't think you understand," I pause. "I've never kissed anyone."

He looks stunned for a minute. "I'm sorry," I say, starting to get up, "I'll just go-"

"Sit down," Colby grabs my arms and pulls me back onto the sand, "I think I gave you the wrong impression."

"What?"

"I can't believe you've never kissed anyone. I mean who wouldn't want to kiss you, you're beautiful. But also, I've never kissed anyone either. It's something that I've always reserved for when I met someone special, and I want you to be that person."

I gape at him. I've never met anyone like him. "I want you to be that person for me, too."

"Ok," he whispers.

He leans his head down so that his lips levitate just above mine. His hands move to the sides of my face while mine are tangled in his sweatshirt. When his lips finally meet mine, it's like I've never imagined. And I've imagined this moment a lot. It's weird at first. The simple act of kissing in itself is a weird thing. But when we finally get used to it, it's wonderful.