Skin

Part VI - Ethan

The main reason I wanted to hang out with Serena is simply because I couldn't get her out of my head. I needed to see her and catch up on all that I had missed over the last few years. I was so thankful to run into her while picking up my car.

It had been a couple hours since I asked her to hang out with me and I just couldn't wait any longer so I gave her a call.

"Hello?"

"Hey Serena. It's Ethan."

"Oh hey Ethan I was actually just about to call you to see where you wanted to meet up."

"Really?" I tried to keep my cool, but hearing her say that she was just about to dial me made me feel like a little kid waiting to open up a gift.

"Yea," I heard her cute little laugh over the phone.

"How about near the marina? Like at that ice cream place next to Lido's Pizza Palace?"

"Sure it sounds perfect."

"Alright.. well I'll see you there."

"Yup! Bye Ethan!"

I hung up and couldn't help but smile to myself like an absolute fool. I walked over to my dresser to pick out an outfit. I really wanted to impress Serena and show her how much I've grown, so I threw on a fitted white button down shirt and rolled up the sleeves. Then I picked out a pair of navy blue khaki shorts and Sperrys.

I quickly said bye to my mom and left my house for the marina.

I parked my car and spotted Serena sitting on a bench looking down at her phone. She looked perfect. A light breeze was blowing her naturally wavy hair about and it was cute to watch her try and tame it. The sun was hitting her just right and it exposed the few blonde highlights in her silky, light brown hair. Before I could tear myself away from staring she looked up at me and smiled. She was wearing a flowy light blue shirt that hung off her shoulders and white ripped jeans with sandals. She was gorgeous.

I walked up to her and greeted her.

"Hey!"

"Hey good to see you again," she smiled up at me as I was a good few inches taller than her.

"You too, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting," I stuffed my hands in my pockets and looked down at the ground.

"Oh no worries. I only got here like five minutes ago, did you want to get something to eat?"

I snapped my head up, relieved that I hadn't kept her long. "Sure thing let's get some pizza."

We entered the warm setting of Lido's and were seated at a booth.

"So," she started, "What have you been up to?"

"Uh, I just finished my junior year and I'll be heading into my senior year. I actually committed to Vanderbilt this past year for lacrosse."

"Oh my gosh! That's awesome I'm so proud of you!"

Hearing her say she was proud of me lit a fire up inside me. I don't know what it was but Serena just instantly made me the happiest guy on Earth. I wanted her to be mine. It was crazy as we were just beginning to get to know each other again, and I was a year older than her, but man was she worth it.

"Thank you, so how about yourself do you have a boyfriend?"

The second the words left my mouth, I couldn't believe that I had asked that question. She was obviously taken off guard and quickly responded with,

"No! I mean no," she nervously laughed, "why do you ask?"

I remembered last night that after I went looking for her when she didn't return with any drinks, I saw her sitting outside with a random guy. I decided I'd ask her about it.

"I mean, I saw you outside last night with some guy. You guys seemed to be having a pretty intense conversation."

A smirk appeared across her face as she replied, "And I saw you macking on some girl in the hallway when I came back with our drinks."

I had completely forgotten about that.

"Listen, she totally came onto me! I was the victim in that situation. The 'kissee'" I held up air quotation marks and it made her burst out into laughter. The sound of her laugh killed all the nerves that I was experiencing and we went on to have a great conversation and munch on a bunch of appetizers. I payed the bill and we left to go watch the sunset.

"So are you back for good?" Serena broke the comfortable silence as we were watching one of earth's most spectacular shows.

"Yes. My dad was transferred back to the company in NYC, so I'm here to stay. Is that the answer you were hoping for?" I bumped her shoulder with mine and grinned like a child.

"Shut up," she rolled her eyes and I watched as she began to smile as well, "I guess I don't mind having you around. Maybe you can look out for me at school in case anyone tries to steal my lunch money or break into my dorm."

"C'mon there's gotta be more to it than that," I smiled down at her. She continued to smile back and then she resumed watching the sunset as she rester her head on my shoulder. I could smell her hair and the feeling of her being so close to me made me realize that I was completely falling for her. The same girl that I once tattled on for stealing my juice box back in the second grade.

"I should head back home, but this was great. I'd love to do it again some time! Maybe next time I could invite my friends?"

She looked at me with hopeful eyes but I honestly wanted her all to myself.

"Sure. That would be fun." I gave her a reassuring smile as she came in to hug me good-bye. Her arms slowly wrapped around me and it felt like our bodies perfectly fit together. I didn't want to let go, but I felt her start to pull away.

"See you around."

She walked back to her car and I watched as the girl of my dreams drove away.