Exchange girl. [a.i]

four

The beach was unsurprisingly full. The few empty spots were where the water would occasionally hit. We walked across the beach, trying to find a tiny spot to fit the big amount of luggage we'd brought. Ashton's stepdad found somewhere between an old couple and a family with six toddlers.
– How fantastic – mumbled Ashton under his breath.
I glanced at him, but decided to not say anything, because there really wasn't anything to be said.
Everyone took their clothes off and quickly started spraying sunscreen. I lay down on my towel, locking my arms around my legs, hoping they wouldn't wonder why I hadn't taken my clothes off. My hopes were soon crushed and after they asked and practically begged for me to go swimming with them several times with the answer always being no, they left.
The weather was boiling hot. I could feel the sweat drops running down my back and my face and it was unbearable. I lifted my breezy pants just enough to see that the hickeys weren't at all faded and I shook away the thought that this had been a terrible idea.
Not even 10 minutes after they'd left to swim, a figure blocked the sun from me, which was a rather pleasant feeling. I looked up to see Ashton standing right above me, shaking the water off of his hair. He sat down on the towel next to mine and imitated my arms-around-the-legs pose. An awkward silence kicked in.
– Why are you ignoring me? – he looked straight forward, probably too scared to face me, and so did I.
I took a deep breath and thought what I was going to say the whole way through a couple of times.
– I'm not – was the only thing my mouth could spit out.
– Ruby.
I turned to him, my eyes squinting and my hand above them to be able to see him.
– Are you mad?
– No.
He sighed. He looked like he wanted to say something else, but kept it to himself and looked the other way.

Mrs Irwin and Jared came shortly after. They sat and distributed a handful of sandwiches and juice bottles and while she was at it, Mrs Irwin questioned me a few times more why I wouldn't take my clothes off. For her satisfaction I took my top off and told her my legs were bruised and irritated after carelessly and quickly shaving them and she ingeniously believed it.
– I think I'll take a walk, can't really stand small spaces – I let out a nervous laugh.
– Sure but don't get lost – Ashton's mom said.
– I'll have my phone – I reassured her with a smile.
The beach was beautiful, aside the overload of people. After walking around I found that on the left side of the coast there were barely any people. If only we'd bothered to look further.
After a 10 minute walk I found myself in a literal deserted beach. The sound of the ocean was soothing and the view was spectacular.  I wondered why no one came here. I crossed my arms and stood in the direction where the wind blew. I closed my eyes and took deep breaths. This was the one thing England was missing.

Suddenly, I felt something grab both my arms, and in a brief moment of panic I turned around and threw a punch. Thankfully, Ashton was quick enough to dodge the punch and avoid getting a bruised face.
– Oh my god – I breathed out.
He laughed.
– Sorry, but it was too tempting not to do it.
I laughed quietly. I sat down on the dry sand that made a friction against the cotton of my pants and made my butt itch. He followed me and sat maybe a bit too close than what I'd anticipated. He turned to me, hands nervously grabbing his ankles.
– Why did you lie to me?
– I lied to you? - I asked, confused.
– You're clearly mad and won't tell me why – he sounded upset, perhaps for thinking I was lying again.
I rolled my eyes and sighed.
– Tell me those arent "I'm mad" signs, Ruby, c'mon – he sounded pissed – You're acting childish, seriously, what's wrong?
I gave him a smile and a quiet laugh, hoping it would ease him.
– I'm not mad, and it's nothing.
But that wasn't enough.
– Jesus Christ, Ruby – he rushed his hands through his wet hair and let out a loud sigh.
I rolled my eyes and got up. At a fast pace, I walked away but before I even got that far he pushed my left arm, turning me toward him. His grip was strong enough to keep me still but wouldn't hurt me.
– Why are you mad? – His tone was loud but I could tell he was trying to keep it low by the soft way he'd finish the sentence.
– God, I'm not mad, I just thought that if I didn't pay you enough attention you wouldn't get attached! – I pretty much screamed.
He let go of me. And he laughed.
– That's what you were hiding? – he stopped to clean the sweat of his forehead with the back of his hand – I don't get attached, Ruby, I've told you this.
– I know but you could be lying because y-- sure, yeah, ok. You're right. – I tried to shake the thought away, but I couldn't stop thinking: if he didn't get attached, why'd he bother so much to know why I was upset?
– We should head back – I said, about 10 minutes after we decided to lay in the sand.
– Yeah, perhaps – he got up and extended his arm for me to grab.
– You know –he said – I don't regret giving you those hickeys yesterday but I can't say I'm happy about the fact that I didn't get to see that ass of yours.
I laughed.
– Yeah, well, in life you have to make some choices that are gonna suck.
– Don't lecture me – he raised an eyebrow and stuck his hands in his pockets.
The sunset was starting to take form in the sky. The sun, who was giving its last shine, illuminated Ashton's body in a way that made him look like - I can't believe I'm saying it - God. It shone in the are that stood out, like the bridge of his nose, the forehead, the jaw, and the whole way through his torso. The low tide made very distant and quiet noises and you could feel that chilly breeze in the air. Finally, the colors along the sky were all the shades of light blues, yellows, oranges and soft reds.