Book 1: It's Just Pretend

Chapter 2: A Boy

He set down the towel he was holding and plopped down next to me.

"I didn't know we were on last name basis," he snarkily commented. And there's the smirk. I snorted, something I seemed to do a lot around him.

"What exactly did you expect?"

"Damn, you're so fucking sassy."

"Again, what the hell did you expect?" He tossed his head back and chortled. I smiled until he turned back to me. The smile vanished and was replaced by an impassive expression.

"So what are you doing alone at the beach? Doesn't look very fun."

"There seems to be a concept you don't quite grasp." I dramatically clasped my hands together and spoke to him as if he were a child.

"You see, there's this thing called my life and another thing called your life. Here's the lowdown- now keep up with me- they're two separate things. So you stick to your life and I'll stick to mine, okie doke?" I gave him the most obnoxious, belittling smile as humanly possible. His face morphed from amusement to fake innocence as he played along.

"Ohhhhhh..." a beat of silence passed by, "Can you pwease explain it again?"

"Stupid-ass kid," I jokingly muttered under my breath. I could see the faint smile threatening to appear on his face.

"Oooooohh! You said a bad word." I broke character and soon, he joined me in laughter. After god knows how long, our laughter came to a stop and we sat in a strangely comfortable silence. I watched the waves as they crashed against the shore and lazily dragged back into the ocean. The salty wind whipped at my face and I closed my eyes for just a moment, relishing the feeling of calmness that claimed me. 

"So," Bilyk began, "I was right, you know." I raised my eyebrows at his statement.

"What do you mean?"

"About talking to you again. I was right; you were wrong." I snickered.

"Did you just come over to say that you were right?"

"Yeah pretty much. I like being right. Which I always am."

"Well, I was right too," he tilted his head and blinked at me like a puppy, "you're basically a child. 'I was right; you were wrong.'" I deepened my voice to match his. He smirked and bumped my shoulder.

"I do not sound like that, take it back."

"I do not sound like that, take it back," I mocked in a deep voice, adding various whines to to prove my point that he was- in reality- five on the inside. He nudged my shoulder with his broad one and laughed at his own expense. I let out a sigh. Not a sigh of frustration or anger or sadness. It was a sigh of relief. The relief of laughing and the relief of having a little fun. The relief of- just for moment- forgetting what was wrong. I turned to him and cocked my head.

"But honestly, what are you doing here?" He shrugged.

"I saw you sitting here and decided to prove you wrong. Which reminds me, are you gonna tell me your name?" I hummed thoughtfully and tapped my chin.

"Why should I?"

"Because I am fucking fabulous." He enunciated his words by striking a pose. Unfortunately- for him at least, I thought it was hilarious- he missed his mark and ended up smacking himself in the face. I tossed my head back and cackled as he pouted at me. As I calmed down, I notice him staring and suddenly felt self-conscious.

"What? Do I have something on my face, or I am just so fucking gorgeous and fabulous as hell so you're staring at me?" I spoke nonchalantly, feigning uninterest and mirth. Little did he know, I was screaming inside with discomfort.