Challenge :A.C.M:

10.

I started writing this on my trip back from the beach yesterday, but I was exhausted and slept the whole way back, and I just now woke up to finish it.

:griffin:

"Come on, Griffey. You're no fun" Austin huffs, and I roll my eyes at his nickname again. He was complaining because I got out of the water and refused to go back in. I cut up the bottom of my feet from the rocks and shells I inevitably stepped on. The water was freezing cold, my lips tinting a light purple color, and the sun burned my shoulders. So, now I'm sitting under an umbrella I had fetched from his house, as he yells at me from the water.

"I'm cold" I frown, and he swims out of the water, walking over to me and sitting down. Wrapping a towel around his shoulders.

"The water isn't that cold" He mumbles.

"It was freezing"

"You're just a wimp" He teases and I roll my eyes.

"Did you come out here just to insult me?" I ask with raised eyebrows "Because I,nature I can pull some out of my ass"

"No, you don't need to do that" He chuckles "Hungry?"

"A little yeah" I nod, and he stands up.

"Alright, I'll take you to get something to eat. I just need to shower"

"Me too" I agree, standing up, and closing the umbrella, tucking it under my arm and grabbing my towel, throwing it over my shoulder. I out the umbrella back where I found it, and walk through the door and back to the room I'm staying in, rummaging through my bag for some clothes.

"You can have the shower first" Austin leans against the door frame and I nod.

"Thanks" I mumble, grabbing the clothes I picked out and walking them to the bathroom. I pass him through the door, and walk towards the bathroom, locking the door behind me after I step inside. I put my clothes on the sink and grab a towel from the shelf, putting it on top of the toilet seat and turning on the water. I place my hand under the water, adjusting the temperature until I come upon one that I like. I get undressed and step inside the water not mixing well with my sunburn.

I wince at the burning feeling the water gives my shoulders, quickly washing my hair, and body trying not to prolong the pain. Getting out of the shower, I dry off my body and wrap the towel around my hair, changing into my clothes. I walk out of the bathroom and back to my room, Austin sitting on my bed.

"What are you doing?" I ask, sitting my dirty clothes in the corner.

"I brought you some Aloe" He looks down at the bottle of Aloe lotion in his hands. He stands up and hands it to me, and I thank him as he walks out of the room to take a shower. I spread some of the lotion in my hands, reaching under my sleeves to put it on my shoulders, and reaching in the color of my shirt to put it along my back. I sit it on top the bedside table, and lay down, staring up at the ceiling.

"Hey, ready to go?" Austin asks, and I nod, sitting up. He smiles and I stand up from the bed, grabbing a pair of shoes and putting them on. We walk down to his car, and we both get inside, the ride to wherever we're going silent.

The silence gives me time to think things over. Austin and I are too close. I don't know what it is that makes him want to continue to be friends with me, but it's got to stop. It's too much for me, and in the end I'll mess something up and he'll hate me forever anyways. But at the same time, I don't want to ruin our friendship. It's been so long since I had someone who actually cared for me. But, there's no happy median.

We pull up to a restaurant and we both climb out, walking inside. We get a table, and a waitress comes over to get our orders, walking off.

"What's on your mind?" Austin asks, sitting down his menu.

"Nothing, just tired I guess" I shrug.

"Didn't sleep well?"

"Not really" I shake my head "But, what am I gonna do?"

"Take a nap" He suggests with a teasing grin and I roll my eyes.

"I don't do naps" I tell him and his eyes widen.

"Why not?"

"My dad used to tell me that if I took naps during the day, a monster would eat my toes off" I shrug "And I'd like to keep my clothes"

"You can't possibly still believe that"

"I don't" I shake my head "But the thought still makes me nervous"

"What do you want to do later?" He changes the subject "There's a boardwalk down the street we can go to. They have an amusement park, and games"

"We can do that. You can win me a giant teddy bear like a proper gentleman" I tease and he chuckles.

"If that's what you want"

***

"What are you doing?" I ask Austin as he moves to stand in front of me, way too close for my liking.

"Nothing" He shrugs.

"Yes, because standing so close that I can be sucked up your nose of you breathed in hard enough is nothing" I roll my eyes "Seriously, what are you doing?" I step around him, realization hitting me when I see three guys in a group staring in my direction "Oh" I drawl out. They begin to walk away and I look up at Austin "Why'd you do that? I could've gotten their numbers. Might of left here with a boyfriend" I tease, watching his jaw clench.

"Well, I'm pretty sure they were more interested in getting into your pants which can't happen when you hate any physical contact"

"Jeez, I was kidding" I raise my hands in defense.

"I'm sorry" He sighs.

"It's whatever" I shrug, rolling my eyes "Let's go play a game" I point at the row of carnival games.

"Sure" He nods

"Don't be all pouty" I mumble "It doesn't look good"