You Know He's A Keeper When He Quotes Bruno Mars

Chapter 17

There was something about Annabel that gave me chills. Maybe it was her pursed lips that made her look like she was sucking on lemons, something sour and dirty. It could have been her cold eyes that always narrowed when she'd look in my direction. Or else it was her hair that never went out of place. I kept trying to spot it flailing about whenever a breeze blew but I always was disappointed.

I didn't know why she had such an obvious dislike towards me. At first, I thought she must have been like that around everyone. Nobody would be so clearly disinterested towards a person who had done nothing offensive. And I didn't do anything offensive towards her. So maybe seeming cool and cruel was her way.

But no. I watched in shock and confusion as she smiled some stupid, dazzling smile at Effy and giggled with Darren. I watched as she introduced herself to everyone in a sweet, angelic voice and everyone fell into the palms of her hands like putty. And then I'd watch - and feel, more like - as she nudged me out of her way with her bony shoulder so that she could talk to everyone.

I didn't know what to make of it. Should I gasp, pretend I didn't notice, or say something to her? No, I told myself. That would be silly. You're imagining things.

"I'm just not that sure that I'm too fond of her," I said to Logan, his arm around my shoulders and holding me into him.

We were sitting on the beach, a blanket beneath us, as Darren and Effy played badmington in the water. There was a slight breeze and it wasn't as warm as it was by the pool or on the miniature golf course, yet we were still all in our swimming clothes.

It was nice that it was just the four of us here. Especially since Beth left two days ago, the four of us have been holding onto each other like a crutch. I didn't know what I'd do when I'd leave them. I didn't know if Effy would return to her former belittling ways. I didn't know if I'd ever have a therapy session with Darren again. I didn't know would we ever meet up again. That hurt. In all of my years in Ireland, and all of the different friends I had made, it seemed Darren was the one I felt closest to. It was as if he would never judge me, and he knew I couldn't judge him. And the blush in his cheeks as he told me about Mystery Girl warned me that he doesn't talk like that very often. I didn't just feel close to him. He felt close to me too. 

And then there was Logan. I looked up at him beside me. He eyes were reflecting the sea froth before him, the blueness of them twinkling. He looked like he was thinking, and I wonderd if we had been having the same thoughts.

"Do you believe in fate?" I asked, blushing even as I said it.

He didn't blink in response, but his mouth twitched slightly into a smile. I blushed harder, waiting for him to chide my question.

"I'm starting to," he said quietly and he pulled me into him so my head fit into his neck.

I didn't expect that response, so I smiled a little to myself and turned my head so I could kiss his neck lightly. 

I really couldn't believe my luck that he was interested in me. I had gone so long thinking that I'd never be as good as Effy, that I'd never feel like a girl, that guys would only treat me as Kyle did, and now suddenly I felt like I was the only girl that mattered.

I followed his eyes towards where Effy and Darren were playing in the water. Darren's whole body was underwater and he had his hands pointed upwards above his head as if he was a shark, while Effy sang the theme song of Jaws. Darren jumped up from the water suddenly and dunked Effy down. She emerged screaming and scowling that there was salt water in the eyes while he laughed hysterically, his hand holding onto his stomach. I laughed to myself.

"I don't know what I'll do without him," I said, more to myself than to anyone else, but it made Logan look down at me.

"Less than a week left," he whispered, his breath brushing my skin. "It's crazy."

My heart felt sore. I didn't want to think about it. But I did at the same time. I wanted to prepare myself, and I wanted a happy ever after. I wanted him to say something crazy, like his family was moving to Ireland or that our flights back home were cancelled. I never wanted to leave, so much that I could feel tears pricking the backs of my eyes.

I leaned forward and raised my hands so I was holding his face, and I kissed him on the lips. I didn't want to talk about it. Especially not when I'd never hear what I wanted to hear the most.

At first he seemed surprised. I wasn't one for initiating kisses. But eventually, I felt him relax and wrap an arm around my back as he began to kiss me back. I leaned against him and he leaned back so we were both lying down, stomach to stomach. I would have blushed at the contact if I wasn't too distracted by the electricity that was intensifying within me. Our lips moved together, modulating from tender to passionate to firm. It wasn't like kissing any other boy. While kissing was always nice, my lips didn't fit into someone else's the way it did with Logan.

I could feel his hand on the small of my back, as if holding me as close to him as possible, although it could never be close enough. I thanked God that the beach was deserted that day. Even the laughter of Darren and Effy seemed to disappear into the wind like our breaths.

I heard a slight grunt escape his lips and I ran my hands along his torso, feeling each pane of his abdomen and the tightness of his chest and I wondered if I was taking his breath away the way he was mine.

Our lips parted for a moment and we rested our foreheads against each other. I raised my head to kiss his forehead, feeling the slight raise of that tiny scar above his left eyebrow. When I looked back down, Logans eyes were glued to mine.

"Run away with me," he whispered, but the slight quirk in his lips implied he knew that wasn't realistic.

I smiled and sat up, hugging myself. He leaned forward and put a hand on my knee. 

"I'll miss you," he said in a way I knew I would never forget. Those words, his lips, that beach. I didn't want any of it to change, I didn't want reality to ever dawn.

--------------------------

Long time no see, I know. But please let me know what you think, and maybe spread the word. I'll try to update more regularly of course - I want to get this finished as much as you do!

Thanks for reading,

Sinead xx

ps. Just started reading poetry recently, and a the dedication to magsroberts is really worth checking out.