"what's up?" she asked.
"you can't walk around here by yourself, and the guys were too into their shit talk to realize that." i said.
she laughed. that laugh was everything.
"well, i thank you for paying attention. are you sure you wanna go? you don't have to, i was just offering i guess i didn't realize it seemed i was trying to force you guys." she said scratching the back of her neck.
"no! no force at all." i said with a reassuring smile.
she nodded and we headed out.
"so why wouldn't it be safe for me to walk around here?" she asked.
what i wanted to say was, you look incredibly hot in that outfit and any guy who sees you is gonna come after you.
but what i said was.
"there's some sketchy people around here."
"oh, i should've known. i mean it's LA." she sighed.
"yeah, it's a sketchy place." i said.
about ten minutes later we arrived at the pizza place, and the sun was just setting across the ocean.
"wow, that's so beautiful." she said staring out as far as she could see.
"it really is.." i said.
something told me to say something smooth, but just my luck i'd ruin everything.
i had an idea.
"hey, what do you say we run down to the beach." i said with a smirk.
a huge smile grew to her face.
"really?!" she asked.
"really."
"um, ok i guess i mean-" i interrupted her by grabbing her hand and running down towards the beach.
all i could hear behind me was her beautiful laugh.
we got down where the sand met the water.
"ever gone swimming in your day clothes?" i asked.
"actually, yes." she said still smiling.
"let's get in then." i said.
the smile slowly faded from her face, i was clueless as to why.
"what's up?" i asked.
"i just.. nothing it's nothing. i just don't wanna get in." she said.
i was confused.
"is there anything i should know?" i asked.
her head tilted down as she looked at her feet.
"i have a bad history with the ocean." she said and swallowed hard.
"what do you mean?" i asked.
"on my 14th birthday, we had a beach party down in san diego. sounds pretty amazing right? yeah. so i used to be a water dog, the water was all i wanted to be around. the whole time we were there, i was in the ocean. not even kidding you, i almost skipped my presents." she said giving me a weak smile.
i sent her a smile back, and looked into her eyes, signaling to go on.
"well, the tide was going out. and usually we only go in after the tide has come in or out. not ever during. so i didn't really realize it, until i was going to get out and stepped on a rock that cut my foot. my instant reaction was to fall, so i did. i fell into the water as i held my foot in pain. i went to get back up, and the tide pulled me out. i fought as much as i could, but it seemed the more i tried, the deeper out i got. i tried to get to the surface to scream for help, but every time i reached the surface, i went right back down." she said with tears forming in her eyes.
my eyes were wide, and i felt terrible for her.
"after what seemed like ages of trying to fight for air, i hit my knee on a rock from kicking my legs, and that made my weakness even worse. i finally was at the surface long enough to scream for my mom, who quickly panicked and got the life guard who some how didn't see me before she had told him. he ran out and threw the raft to me, which i quickly attached myself to. i sat there, breathing so heavily my chest hurt. he pulled me to shore and carried me to an ambulance that quickly arrived. ever since then, i wouldn't dare to step foot in the ocean." she finished.
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