Ultramarine -- REWRITTEN

Eighteen. [c.h.] -- REWRITTEN

          His shadow suddenly blocked the rays of the sun before he kicked warm sand into my face. I sputtered, grains hiding in my hair and getting into my mouth.

          "Get off of the sand, you lazy piece of--"

          "--don't you dare curse," I coughed, sitting up and spitting out particles of salt and rock. Leon laughed above me before perching next to me as I ran my hands over my face. "I was relaxing."

          "That's exactly the reason why I disturbed you," he teased, kicking his legs out in front of him to dig his feet into the sand. I ran my hands through my hair to shake away the grains of sand. There was no way to get every piece out of my thick hair, but it was worth a shot.

          "So no one needs anything?" I affirmed, taking a handful of sand. He grinned, looking out to the horizon.

          "Nope!"

          I threw the handful at his face, doubling over as he spit and cursed in my direction.

          "No cursing!" I threw another handful as punishment.

          "You come back and I'm already being abused!" he complained playfully, woefully running his hands over his face.

          "Go and cry to your fiancée about it," I snorted, flicking some more in his direction.

          "Brielle, my sister is killing me and we'll never get married if you don't come and help me!" he whined even when we were the only people on the beach. He began to laugh as he pushed me over, shoveling sand onto my body. Coughing, I threw sand back in his direction, trying to yell out surrender but was choking on my laughter and grains of sand. The smell of salt water infiltrated my system, the sun burning the exposed parts of my skin that weren't covered by clothes or sand.

          "Stop! Stop! I surrender!" I screamed, taking one last throw of sand in his direction. He took a few deep breaths, his laugh fading as he stood and brushed himself off. I wiped away the tears that had watered my eyes from laughing and choking.

          "You started it," he breathed, a few stray laughs following his accusation.

          "You're the one who disturbed my relaxing time," I protested, standing up next to his tall frame and shaking off my shirt. I jumped up and down, watching as some sand stuck to my clothing while the rest fell to the ground below. "This is never coming out."

          "Good, you deserve it."

          "Shut up, dingus."

          "I'm offended."

          I rolled my eyes and chuckled, giving him a shove. "I'll push you in the sand again," he warned playfully, pointing down at the ground.

          "And I'll pour it all over you in your sleep."

          He gave a fake gasp, grabbing his chest. I raised my eyebrows and pointed at him, "don't test me."

          "Hi, 911, I'd like to report an incident of abuse," he whined in a high pitched voice. I stuck my tongue out at him and he laughed, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and walking me up toward the town. I smiled, grabbing the hand hanging off of my shoulders. In the distance, Brielle ran toward us, her cinnamon hair flowing behind her and shining in the sun. "Oh, make room," Leon said as he pushed me away and walked ahead.

          "Rude," I mumbled, watching as he spread his arms out for a hug. She ran right past him, approaching me. He looked back at us, mouth gaped and his hand over his heart.