Tears made of Sun (Emblem3)

Chapter 27 - Expectations Gone Wrong

"Your turn!" Drew shouted from inside the sea.

"Hell no..." I whispered, but didn't have time to protest, feeling Wes and Keaton -Wesley's adorable little brother who turns out to be my sister's major crush from the three- push me from the back. My feet were sliding on the sand and I had to shove my surfboard deep beneath the surface to make sure I wouldn't fall flat on my face. "Okay, okay guys I'm going! If I die it's entirely your fault though!"

I glided through the water on top of the board until I reached where Drew was floating.

"You are so going down for making me do this!" I teased him with a serious face.

"WOOAH CHICKY! Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever. Gandhi's words, not mine." He smiled back and pursed his lips.

"Yeah well, I'm not sure Gandhi referred to surfing when he said that." I said, but was no longer willing to protest. I'm finally doing something with my life. Living.

First wave was approaching. Drew and I shared the same look of excitement, although mine was mixed with a glimpse of terror as well. Here we go. Blinded by the sun, I steadied myself on the board as the wave swam below me in lightning speed. On the beach, Keaton and Wes were cheering along with Kenny and other band mates and friends. We had all grown so close in the past month. Surfing lessons, bonfires, lunch at the Stromberg's place, long talks with Mama Stromberg and millions of jams which I only participated in as the idea-provider. We went on long drives in the mini-van which one of our friends owned, and eventually came to a mountain or a forest which suited us for hiking or exploring. Skinny dipping was then almost ALWAYS part of the program. These guys were pretty cool. They were nothing like the people I was used to hanging out with. In high school, I never craved going to places packed with people, or popular parties, etc, and that was cool because neither did my friends. But Drew and his guy gang always required a crowd. We sit only in the most populated part of the beach, go surfing where everyone else does, hang out at places always packed with chatting groups of friends and musicians, and I can't say I don't enjoy it. We meet about ten to fifteen new people every day. We all sit around singing, jamming, eating and laughing and frankly, I don't feel like the awkward one out. The three guys I've grown to adore, always make sure to include me in conversations, and so far I've been doing just fine. I can even say that I don't even try any more. I've got a cool handshake with Kenny and Max, another friend of ours, and an awesome bump-chest greeting with my homie, Drew.  Oh, and for the first time of my life, with all this activity at the beach, I can confidently say I've got a pretty sexy tan coming along.

For the past month, we've lived by no rules. We go to bed, at whoever's place is available, at whatever time we feel like it, and then wake up whenever, get dressed and immediately hit the beach. This is our life. I haven't had bad thoughts for almost two months now. I haven't cried for even longer. As if my old skin peeled off and inside was a brand new person hidden inside. A person I could've never imagined I could be. A fun person. A talkative and SOCIAL person. I know right, me? Social? A flirty girl. I know.. I know.. me? Flirty? But I was, and maybe after all, it was Wes that changed me AND saved me.

Today would be one month since the flight from Atlanta back to Cali, when me and Wesley had finally decided to call 'us' official. He had been nothing if not romantic and sweet. We had toured around Venice Beach, Huntington Beach, and all the little restaurants in the far north side of California, when we weren't too busy hanging out. We went around looking at real-estate because Drew finally felt that he was ready to have his own place. Which wasn't such a bad idea since me and Wes would have the house to ourselves. Well except Keaton would be there, but he never was a problem. He was always recording and editing videos and music. I was actually thinking of introducing him to my sister... they'd be pretty cute.