Who Says You Can't Explore

xChapter 8x

As much as I like being right, I was hoping it wouldn't be one of those times. Mikey wanted me to go to the beach with him. And it would be fine, if it wasn't at eleven at night. I felt like a booty call, but he seemed so hopeful and I needed him to stop explaining so I gave in.

So here I am trying on bathing suit after bathing suit, and I just can't pick. I don't want to do a bikini, but then I feel like a one piece is to old school. After a long period of deliberation, I decide on a high waisted bottom, the matching top and cover up over the whole thing.

I wait until I hear my uncles light snores, before sneaking my way through the house to the front door. I triple check to see if I have keys and then I'm walking out into the night air to the beach.

It's obviously pretty abandoned for so late at night. I stare into darkness before I spot Mikey on a beach blanket to the right. I make my way over stealthily. I get closer and then I crouch down covering his mouth and leaning into his ear.

"I want the keys to your car and $200 so I can go late night shopping." Mikey immediately relaxes when he realizes it's me.

"You trickster. I was literally scared for my life. I thought some creep hobo was mugging me." He cries, laughing at his thoughts.

"Well sorry if it my hands feel like a hobo's." I state and he just laughs some more.

"I never said it did, I just said I thought you were a hobo." He claims. He is seriously very odd, but he's kind of funny so I have to give him props.

"Whatever." I say looking out into the ocean. It's beautiful really, the way the moonlight shines on the water. "So uh what exactly are we doing here?" I ask because I really had no idea what we were doing right now.

"Just looking. It's beautiful right. I love the beach at night because it gives a new meaning to beauty. The stars and moon reflecting on the water. Sometimes I like taking pictures here." Mikey says and I honestly had no idea he was a photographer. "I come out here alone most of the time, but I figured you could join me while I take a few." He tells me as he takes out a camera. He takes a few pictures before he looks at me.

"Would you mind if I took a photo of you?" He asks. Now he wants a photo. He's just strange.

"Uh no, why would you even want a photo of me?" I question.

"Because you look pretty and I like pretty things." Smooth, but that was not what I was expecting. I blush and I'm seriously grateful that it's dark. He should not be having this effect on me.

"Fine go ahead, but just one." I state. He smiles and nods. He stands and walks around until he finds the perfect angle. He snaps a phot and then he's sitting next to me too show me. I have to admit it's actually a really great photo. "Not bad."

Thanks." It goes silence after that, both of us just looking out to the horizon. The occasional sound of the photo click goes off.

Eventually I grow bored and I stand, making my way to the water. The tide covers my ankles as I stare up at the moon.

"Why are you in the water?" Mikey asks as he comes up behind me.

"Why not, I like the water." To prove my point I venture further in. Mikey just watches as I stand further in. Soon I'm waist deep and I turn to beckon Mikey in. "Come on, it's nice." I tell him. Mikey takes a few moments to decide before he's placing his camera back in his bag and walking in.

"It's cold!" he whines as he slowly makes his way toward me.

"Wimp." I mumble, just loud enough for him to hear.

"I'm sorry did you just call me a wimp?" He says flabbergasted.

"So what if I did it's true." I gasp when I feel the semi cold water hit my skin. "Did you just splash me?" I cry.

"So what if I did?" Oh he's in for it now. A splash fight breaks out and I can feel my hair starting to stick to my skin. I'm soaked and cold, yet somehow it's strangely exciting. I laugh and Mikey laughs with me and I find myself thinking he's not as annoying as I once thought.

Somehow we managed to move closer and Mikey has stepped into my personal bubble. The laughing dies down and now we just stare at each other. You would think it be awkward, but it's not. His hand comes up and he moves a stray hair out of my face. He starts leaning in and I find myself doing the same. Our faces are inches away and yet..

"Is someone out there?!?" Someone yells. We pull apart and see a security guard walking on the beach. Mikey turns to me and tries not to laugh.

"Swim." He whispers and we swim until we're under the pier. We hide out for bit until the coast is clear and then we're bursting out laughing.

"Close call." I say.

"Yeah well I'm used to running from the cops." That starts up another round of laughter. Eventually it dies down and the moment in the ocean is gone. Now it's just awkward.

"Well I better get going, don't want that guard finding us."

"Yeah, um it was nice seeing you. Catch you later." He says and I nod. Maybe seeing him again won't be so bad anymore.