As First Dates Go

Chapter Five

The water was still beautifully clear in the open ocean as the Gup A left the kelp forest behind, Shellington casting a slightly wistful look back at his home as it eventually vanished out of sight behind them.They had eventually bidden goodbye to all Shellington's relatives back at the party, many of them (who had fallen in love with Dashi as soon as they realised she was Shellington's girlfriend) giving them tight hugs and adamantly making them promise that they'd visit again soon. Both Pearl and Sachairi had regretfully said goodbye to the couple, Sachairi's ever-cheerful attitude dropping for a second as he hugged Shellington, saying truthfully that he would miss him, which Shellington reciprocated equally. They left the familiar clearing to the sound of Sachairi loudly singing a goodbye tune so they would still hear it even as they left, while some of Shellington's more enthusiastic relatives and Peri somehow continued to dance behind them.

Rays of golden light shone through the water as Dashi steered the Gup, moving up through the water and expertly taking a picture with one paw (it had been mutually decided that it was best for Dashi to drive home). Although two of Shellington's younger, stronger cousins had cheerfully gone to free the Gup from where it had crashed into a kelp wall, it was still looking a little battered, and Shellington had a feeling Tweak would have something to say to him about that later. He sat back in his seat, enjoying the warmth that the sun brought them through the large windscreen even inside the vehicle, and feeling full and happy as he thought back on the afternoon and having seen all his relatives in what felt like the first time in forever.

Dashi's eyes lit up again as they broke the surface of the water, their eyes falling instinctively on the small island that met them, its golden sands and gently waving palm trees the very image of tranquillity. "It's so beautiful," she breathed almost reverently.

"Shall we visit it?" Shellington asked.

"Can we?" Dashi couldn't help but look hopeful.

"I don't see why not," The sea otter shrugged. "I'm sure the Captain will understand if we delay our arrival for just a couple of minutes. And it might make some pretty good pictures..."

This last point, as he had suspected, made up his girlfriend's mind for her, and she nodded with renewed enthusiasm. "Okay. Just for a minute, then."

Dashi leapt lightly from the Gup, cradling her camera within her cupped paws as she alighted on the sand. Shellington followed the sound of her quiet giggles as he found her splashing through the shallow waters near the shore, her shoes already held aloft in one paw as she trod barefoot through the cool waters. The pretty photographer turned her head as he jumped cautiously down from the Gup, her eyes sparkling in that familiar way. "This is all very familiar," she commented. "We did exactly the same thing on our first date - when you asked me out."

Shellington smiled at the memory of that golden evening. "Barefoot through the water and all," he agreed, taking off his own shoes and holding them out of the reach of the lapping waves as he followed his girlfriend to the shore.

Dashi was taking off her large sunhat and lying it beside her on the beach as Shellington felt the first sensation of dry sand against his bare paws. He crawled up beside her, turning onto his back and smiling at the warmth of the beach on his fur. There was nothing but blue sky above them, the sun low in the sky, but still defiantly shining brightly near the horizon. The photographer snapped some pictures of the beautiful scenery, turning her camera after a moment and quickly taking a photo of Shellington before he could blink and try to hide his face. Shellington slipped her camera deftly from her paws and reciprocated, taking a picture of her and sharing her laughter as she snatched it defensively back.

"We're too early yet for the sunset," Dashi commented after they had settled down, only the slightest trace of disappointment present in her tone. "Now that would make some pretty photos."

Shellington met her gaze with a half teasing, half serious expression. "We could always sit here and wait for it," he offered slowly. "We've still got plenty of green kelp sandwiches in the back of the Gup A, so we're definitely in no danger of getting hungry. We could call it supper."

Dashi's chocolate-brown eyes were slightly widened as she somewhat reluctantly got up to a crouched position, making as if to get up. "We couldn't stay here that long - could we? They'll be wondering where we are at home," she reasoned sensibly.

But the dachshund did look hopeful.

"Tweak would be happy to cover for us, I'm sure. Anyway, they know what I'm normally like - wandering off and getting sidetracked by interesting things," Shellington reminded her. "Anyway, we have the whole day off for our date. And the day isn't quite over yet."

Dashi looked like she was searching for another half-hearted argument, but her logical side couldn't quite win out over her heart this time. She didn't complain when Shellington gently pulled her hand back down so that she was once again sitting cross-legged on the sand, and stood up himself, promising her he'd be right back, once he collected some kelp cakes from the Gup A and radioed Tweak to ask her to cover for them for a little while back at the Octopod.

So that was how Dashi and Shellington ended up sitting together on the beach under the orange light of the slowly sinking sun, munching quietly on leftover party food and conversing in gentle voices about nothing in particular and everything in general.

"Well as first dates go, that went pretty well - didn't it?" Shellington inquired quietly as they watched the last few rays of sunlight lethargically sink below the horizon, while night began to spread its dark blanket over the night sky, leaving only tiny twinkling stars in its place. These glowing lights shone like the irrepressible sparkle that Shellington saw in his girlfriend's eyes as she watched them appear, one by one, above their beach. "Not that I would actually know. I've never actually been on one before," he admitted after a moment.

Dashi shared his infectious smile as she slipped her paw into his and snuggled closer into his side, resting her head lightly on his shoulder and gazing sleepily up at the stars. "As first dates go - that was pretty perfect."

The End