Drawn To You (GirlxGirl)

Part 17

Jessie's P.O.V

Allie and I had been sat together for a while now and the awkwardness was finally starting to fade away.

We watched the others and shared laughs together at how drunk everyone was.

"Can I get you another drink?" I asked, noticing that her glass was almost empty.

Allie looked at me with a surprised look in her eyes, like she wasn't used to people offering a helping hand.

"Sure, thank you" she smiled and handed me her glass.

As I poured more wine into the glass, Liam and I caught each other's gaze. He gave me a subtle wink as if he was congratulating me for tackling the awkward feeling I had earlier in the evening. I rolled my eyes and laughed to myself before carrying Allie's drink back to her.

"Thank you" she said politely.

Our fingers grazed slightly as she took the glass from my hand and I felt her tense up under the touch. We made eye contact briefly before she looked down at her glass and I reclaimed my seat next to her.

"So, how are you feeling about your final year of university?" I asked, trying to bring more normality to our interaction.

I caught Allie smiling to herself gently, happy that I was taking an interest.

She was just about to respond to my question when Mark stumbled over and put his hand on her shoulder.

"Sorry to interrupt ladies" he slurred, "but Allie, I think it's time we got some sleep".

I felt myself wanting to tell him to go back to their tent on his own and let Allie and I continue our conversation. But I stopped myself. It wasn't my place.

Mark took Allie by the hand and she reluctantly got to her feet. She turned around and gave me a small apologetic smile as he continued to clumsily guide her towards their tent.

"Goodnight" she managed to shout before they went inside and closed the zip to the tent.

"Goodnight Allie" I said aloud with a sigh.

Back in my own tent, I lay down and stared up at the fabric roof. Liam was already halfway to dreamland, sprawled out with barely a care in the world. I tried to focus on the comforting rhythm of his breathing, but the sounds of Mark's laughter from his and Allie's tent drifted through the thin walls, making it hard to ignore the sinking feeling in my chest.

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The next morning I opened up the thin door to our tent and took in the smell of the fresh outdoors. Liam was still sleeping and by the lack of movement outside, it seemed everyone else was too. So I crept out and enjoyed the quietness, taking a seat on the sandy beach and watched the sun rise.

I heard some stirring from behind me after a while and gentle footsteps approaching. I guessed that I had woken Liam up upon exiting our tent and he was coming to join me but I got a pleasant surprise when I turned my head slightly and saw Allie approaching.

Her hair was a little messy, loose strands falling around her face in a way that looked effortlessly beautiful. Her eyes, still heavy with sleep, seemed to shine with a softness. There was something so natural about her at this moment, as if the early morning light was highlighting a version of her that was rarely on display.

She offered me a small, sleepy smile as she sat down beside me, folding her legs underneath her. I noticed how the oversized hoodie she was wearing slipped slightly off one shoulder, revealing a hint of her collarbone. The sight was simple but I found myself captivated by how effortlessly beautiful she looked.

"Morning," she murmured, her voice low and husky, still thick with sleep.

"Morning," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "Couldn't sleep?"

She shook her head lightly, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "No, I just woke up and felt like I needed some fresh air. Guess the sunrise was calling me."

I smiled, turning back to the horizon, though I could still feel the warmth of her presence beside me.

"It's worth it, don't you think?" I asked.

She nodded, and for a moment, we both sat there in a comfortable silence, the only sound being the gentle lapping of the water against the shore. I could feel her close, the warmth of her body seeping through the space between us, and it took everything in me not to look at her again.

For the first time since we met, I felt content and at ease sitting here watching the sun with her, and I hoped she did too.

But just like last night, our encounter was brought to a halt, this time from people exiting their tents and getting ready to start the day.

Reluctantly, we joined the group for breakfast. Allie sat with Mark and I sat with Liam. Every so often our eyes would meet and we would both smile and look away, like two school kids getting caught for whispering in the classroom.

The day went by quickly and the sun was now at its highest peak in the blue sky. We were all in enjoying sunbathing when Jamie stood up and spoke to the group.

"Who's up for some paddle boarding?" He shouted excitedly. "We have 4 doubles boards, so partner up. It works best if you go with someone of a similar height and weight. Mark, you and Liam are similar build" he said, pointing at the two men who exchanged a nod. "Allie, Jessie, you two will work well" he finished and my gaze shot up at him.

There was a brief pause as Allie and I exchanged glances again. I could see the hesitation in her eyes, and it mirrored my own. But there was something about spending more time with her that felt both intriguing and unnerving.

After getting changed into my black bikini, I made my way down to the water where a couple of boards were just heading out. I turned to see where my new water sports partner was and my mouth involuntarily fell open slightly.

Allie came out of her tent wearing a white bikini that showed off her amazing figure perfectly, her dark hair tied back in a high ponytail. Her smooth skin was gleaming from a thin layer of sun lotion and I couldn't take my eyes off of her as she walked towards me.

I could have sworn she glanced over my own attire briefly, but I didn't think too much on it.