"My names Luke by the way.." This new information only increased my assumption that he was familiar. Maybe he knew my dad or something...
"Hey I'm Madi."
"Hmmmm Madi... I like that name, it suits you." He said just before looking down at his feet. His cheeks were turning a light shade of pink. To save this conversation from turning into anything more awkward I said "So do you like traveling as much as you do Luke?"
"Ya I love traveling! It's the greatest feeling to travel all over the world! But I do want to settle down someplace, and not travel constantly." I could tell he was being genuine by the way his eyes lit up when he started talking about settling down.
"What's the best country you've been to so far? I've only ever been to Colorado."
"I'd have to say Paris. It's so beautiful there and I love the language and the people."
"It's my dream to visit Paris one day. I've been studying the language for years and have gotten pretty good at it too." I said proudly sharing this information with him. I had always loved Paris, and even France. It just seemed so interesting, the people, the food, the sights. Everything seemed perfect like it was in its own little world or something.
"J'aime l'ocean"
"Oh so you speak French too?"
"Un petit peu." he said before making the hand gesture for 'a little bit'. His thick accent showing through his words, it sounded Australian, and it was so perfect... I guess I kind of have a thing for guys from Australia. I don't know if it's the accent or something else making me want to keep talking to him. He just looked so casual standing there on the beach like it was an everyday thing for him to talk to strangers. Maybe this is what he does; he just finds someone on the beach and starts a conversation with them. It must be nice to have his confidence. He was just staring back at the ocean when I asked him about coming to the beach “Do you always come out here at night?”
I start laughing at my ridiculous question, but he just stares at me and simply states “I come out here to meet the people of the country I visit. It helps me better understand the culture and the people instead of just looking at it from one point of view. I have seen so many different countries through the eyes of the people living there and the cultures are all so differently beautiful." I was not expecting that answer and stood there gaping at him. His face was serious but his eyes showed such a strong emotion. Love. That’s what it was, he had such a love for all the people that he has met and for all the different cultures he has experienced. This is why he loves traveling so much; he’s not experiencing the ‘typical tourist’ attractions. He’s experiencing their everyday lives. That is a dream I wish to fulfill in my life, to experience the people’s lives in each culture, and to help those that don’t have good lives or good homes. I wish to help others, and that’s what I intend on doing when I leave high school, and throughout college.
I turn to Luke who is looking at the small family of three approaching us. He looks longing at them like he wants a family of his own and sighs. I wonder if any of his family are with him touring. Before I could ask he is starting to walk away. He turns to look at me and says quietly “Goodnight Madi, I hope to see you soon.” And with that he was on his way back to the boardwalk.
**Later back at home**
"Ya Laila, I know Nash is cute and all but can I tell you what happened at the beach now?" I was growing impatient with Laila's constant babble about Nash.
"Yeah, yeah go on and tell me about the beach."
"Well I was there and this guy around our age was too."
"OOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!" Laila squealed into the phone.
"His name was Luke and he sounded like he was from Australia...”
"YOU DON'T THINK IT WAS LUKE FROM 5 SECONDS OF SUMMER DO YOU?!" Ah! That's why he seemed so familiar.. I had seen their band perform before the One Direction concert.
"No I don't think it was him.." I lied to save her from fangirling anymore and plus if it was him I wouldn't want everyone to know that I was with him tonight. I don't know I guess I'm just weird like that.
