|Something Beautiful| ✔️

Chapter One

Birds sing softly, and water splashes against the shore. Sand is shining against the California sun, and the blue sky waves hello to the ocean. Sitting slumped, I sit with my knees to my chest, while I feel the sand against my  butt and feet. How did I even get here? Good grades, good friends, good family, yet how can something so good...turn into something amazing. Abandoning my family and friends, I left it all for the school of my dreams. Maybe I'll find a cute boy here that I like...maybe I won't. Maybe I'll drop out...maybe I won't.

Moments later, just as the sun is about to set, I let out an exasperated sigh, as if the world sucked all the air out of my lungs and I finally caught it back. My first night in California will probably be terrible. Finally deciding that my new dorm needs unpacking, I got up to leave but noticed a boy around my age walking up to me. "Uh, excuse me miss? The beach is closed at night." he said plainly.

"Well then why are you still here?" I said, my words dripping with sarcasm and sass.

"Miss, I work here, okay? And you...need to leave." he said, pointing behind him.

"Cool. But...I'm not leaving." I said, planting my feet in the warm sand, suddenly getting cold. Shivering, I rubbed my hands against my arms to keep cool.

"Still staying?"

"No..." I said, exasperated.

"Well why are you in Sacramento? I don't think I've seen you around here before. "

"I'm here for college." I said. Maybe we can be friends.

"Oh, that's cool." he said and got a dark glare in their eyes.

"Hey, you okay?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows.

"What? Yeah. Sorry. What did you say?" he said and smiled a bit. I blushed a deep red and just smiled too. Ruining the moment, my phone rung out a loud ping!

"Hey, what's up?" he asked, looking concerned.

"Oh, just Instagram. They don't know what to do with themselves. My friends, I mean." I said, smiling again. Looking into his green eyes, and staring at his chocolate, brown hair, I blushed again and turned to face the sea. Turning back, I looked at his face to see desire.

"Your friends must be lucky." he said softly.

"Yeah." I said equally as soft, realizing my head was setting off an alarm screaming "CODE RED! CODE RED! CODE RED! ABORT! ABORT! ABORT!". Looking at my pretend watch on my wrist, I smiled fakely and thought of an excuse.

"Woah! Look at the time! I have to be in my college dorm in about an hour. Bye!" I said, turning on my heel, just to be stopped by the boy.

"Listen-wait what's your name?" he asked, and I turned again to face him.

"My name is Jade. What's yours?" I asked and bit softly on my lip.

"My name is Luke, nice to meet you." he said.

"Anyway, I should be heading home now. Can I-you know what? Never mind." I said waving my hand in the air and being cut off by Luke.

"Just say it. I won't make fun of you. I promise." he said and I decided to spill.

"Can I...can I have your number?" I said softly, just about a whisper.

"No." he said, dead serious and I just stood there, blushing. I just wanted to die in a hole. Alone. Why can't a sinkhole happen when you want them to. Laughing nervously, I attempted to break the awkward silence.

"Ok...that's cool." I said, so embarrassed.

"I'm totally kidding, here, give me your phone." he said, and I laughed nervously. I brought my hand up and smacked him playfully on the arm.

"Don't ever do that again!" I said and we both laughed...together. After exchanging phone numbers, I decided I needed to get to my dorm if I want to sleep there tonight.

"I really have to get home. It was really nice to meet you, Luke. See ya' tomorrow!"
"Wait, Jade, you look really tired.  Are you sure that you don't want to just stay at my house tonight. Just for one night?" he said and I just stifled laughter.

"That sounds like you're asking for a one-night stand. " I laughed out loud and he just stood there, flustered.  I stopped laughing and stood confused.

"But...wait." I said, still confused.

"I'm not asking for a one-night stand, Jade. Come on." he said as we made it up the beach and into the parking lot. When I got sight of his car, I was a little shocked.

"I know. It's not the best car, but it runs, doesn't it?" he said as I stared, gaped even, at his 2002 Ford Explorer...that looked worse than a car dragged through sand, dirt and thrown into fire...in other words, it looked like crud.

Hopping into the truck, I slammed the door shut and drew the seat belt from the car and jammed it into the holster. He slammed on the gas and we sped off into the cool, breezy summer night. After all, it was something beautiful.

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A/N: Hi whoever is reading this! I hope that you like it and please comment down below any suggestions and just anything that you like or dislike about this book. Thanks people!!!