Stay

one

One, two, three...
The clear water swallowed the rock as it sank to the bottom of the lake. Joy stood ankle-deep in the petrifying cold water while skipping the rocks she had previously and skillfully chosen. Perfect skipping rocks that had been washed up to the shore only to be thrown back in again.

The beach wasn't very busy; however, nobody had usually hung around this part of the beach mainly because it's hidden and ignored. Despite the unpopularity, this part of the beach was the most beautiful. It's reserved and almost untouched with calm waters and sand which was free from litter.

Joy always came here to enjoy the company of herself. It was only her, the water, the sand, her skipping rocks, and her melodic humming. It was the perfect way for her to take time for herself.

Nobody could ever find her here. Nobody even knew about this discrete place but her. She felt this was her getaway from everyone and everything. Her temporary way out of her problems and distress. She knew she would feel secure here.

one, two, three, four...
"Five," an unfamiliar voice called from behind Joy which startled her and caused her to drop all of her specially chosen rocks. She blushed as she hurriedly recollected the now scattered rocks. "Oops, didn't mean to scare you there. My bad," the voice chuckled and the stranger bent down to help Joy with the disarray of stones.

After each and every one of the dropped stones were picked up, the two strangers stood there with their hands filled with flat pebbles. Joy noticed the boy standing in front of her and how bright his eyes sparkled. She quickly looked away with a fear she had been staring for too long. She had not said anything yet.

"I'm Evan," the blue-eyed boy shifted all the rocks into one hand and held out his empty hand for Joy to shake. She skimmed the boy from head to toe realizing the tiredness and sweat radiating off of him. He had been on his daily jogs on the beautiful trails located on the beach.

"Joy," she simply replied shaking Evan's hand delicately. She got a good look at him while doing so. His skin was milky and pale and it gave off a slight glow. He had short fair hair so blond it shined. And those icy blue eyes that stared deep into her own dark browns. It seemed as if everything about him was luminescent.

Evan too was quite distracted by the aura of this fine stranger. He watched her as she stood shyly with her long, dark hair partially covering her face. She had quite a dark complexion most likely from all the sun she's been getting here on the beach. When she looked up at Evan the hair from her faces shifted to the side and he could see her brown eyes that twinkled despite the darkness within them.

He had never seen anyone like her in his life. Someone who was so eye-catching. Although she was pretty normal, there was just something about her that Evan was so drawn to. It seemed as if the closer he looks, the more beauty he could discover. He found her so amazing and he didn't know why.

He was so caught up in thought and was in awe of this girl he didn't even notice that Joy had left and had gone back to the shoreline as she continued to skip rocks. Evan, not wanting to say goodbye yet to this young lady, kicked off his shoes and ran after Joy who started humming to herself while skipping rocks.

"Hey, do you mind showing me how you do that?" Evan asked, wanting to interact with Joy some more. She smiled, excited with his interest of skipping rocks. She grabbed a rock of her own and showed him how to properly hold it by placing her pointer finger along the curve of the flat rock. Evan did the same.

She came behind him and placed her hand on the back of his own. "You're going to have to hold it sideways," Joy explained as she gently positioned his hand so the rock was horizontal. "Now when you throw it try not to throw it at the water, but along the water. You want it to kiss the water so it'll bounce."

Evan nodded with a concentrated and determined face. He winded up and pictured how he would throw the rock skimming the water like how Joy explained. His arm pulled back and he swung and released the rock that was sent flying into the water. As the stone hit the water, it sunk immediately.

With wide eyes and a very reddened face, he turned to look at Joy who had the biggest smile on her face. "Here, try again. You can do it," she reassured him as he took a deep breath. He refocused himself not wanting to be embarrassed again. He released the rock once again and it didn't hit the water too hard allowing it to skip across the water three times.

"Hey, you did it!" Joy exclaimed smiling wide. Evan couldn't help but shine a grin and chuckle. The two continued to skip rocks on the lonely beach. Suddenly, Joy didn't feel so alone anymore. She had someone who she enjoyed sharing her secret place with.

The sun was setting and the darkness began to reign the sky. This indicated it was time for Joy to leave. The wind blew, slightly cooler than before. Joy collected her belongings. She put on her shoes and wrapped herself in her thin sweater.

Evan noticed what she was doing. "Wait! You're leaving?" He asked not wanting them to separate quite yet. Joy nodded with a frown spread on her face. "How come?" Evan questioned.

"Well, I don't live here..." Joy awkwardly replied. They didn't make much conversation throughout the time they spent together. Besides, what are you supposed to talk about to some stranger you've just met?

She turned around and grabbed her skateboard and started to ride away. Evan sadly watched her leave wondering if he'd ever see her again. Just as he was about to walk away he heard a faint voice shout at him "Will you be here tomorrow?"

He turned around to see Joy waiting for a response. "Yeah!" He shouted back to her wondering if she would meet him here again. And as he waited with all the hope she would say she would be here tomorrow, he was disappointed to see her leaving him with nothing more to say.