» à deux // luke hemmings « [editing]

7

something about the sunshine - sterling knight & anna margaret

[Luke]

“I’m in love.” Jackie whispered.

We stood under the sun at Venice Beach Boardwalk, watching people in bikini tops and neon-colored shorts go around in skateboards and roller skates. Ivey had told me plenty of times before that Venice was like a twenty-four hour circus, but it was more than that.

There were festivities happening everywhere, people singing together as they walked, and graffiti art in almost every wall there was. Thin floppy pizzas and tattoo parlors and hennas and women dancing to nothing in the middle of the boardwalk, the warm sun and the palm trees swaying along with the ocean waves.

I’ve never seen Ivey look so happy in how long. She had a genuine smile on her face, her sunglasses rising because of her cheeks. She appeared like her heart truly belonged to Los Angeles with her dirty blonde wavy hair falling until her waist, teal bikini top, and high waisted daisy dukes that emphasized her long, tanned legs. She fitted in with everyone else in the area, almost blending in like she wasn’t a famous drummer of a band.

Everyone else was wearing his or her own swimsuit, but no one looked so Californian like Ivey. We all looked pale compared to the other people walking around, obviously new to the happenings in Venice beach, but Ivey laughed along with strangers like she went to the oceanfront every day.

“I want a henna.” Mandy declared. Her blonde hair was braided to the side. She wore shorter shorts than Ivey’s, if it were even possible. Someone should ban this girl from wearing shorts that could pass as underwear. Her bright pink tank top was tied at the bottom, showing off her flat stomach. “I’m getting a henna.”

“Okay,” Ashton said. “But we all have to be back at the hotel by seven—“

Ivey shook her head. “No, that’s too late. By seven, Mandy would probably get raped and Calum would be kidnapped for the circ.”

“Okay, five.” Ashton nodded. “Make sure all of your phones are on.”

With that, everyone scattered, walking to different directions ready to explore what Venice had in store for them. Sam and Jackie walked with their arms hooked together, Jackie taking photos of everything in sight.

Everyone left Ivey and I in the middle of the street, both of us standing beside each other in silence as people walked by.

“You don’t want to check out the beach?” Ivey asked, looking at me.

I shrugged and turned to face her. “I might get lost.”

Ivey grinned. “Well, you’re in luck, because I would love to be your tour guide.”

“Who said I needed a tour guide?” I raised my eyebrow, although followed her as she started walking.

She rolled her eyes and started walking backwards while talking to me. “So, this is Venice beach.” She raised her arms in the air, spinning around. “I unfortunately grew up in Los Angeles.”

“Unfortunately?” I asked. Ivey and I were close, sure, but our closeness was different. We knew a lot about each other, but we didn’t know the basics. I knew that her favorite underwear brand was Victoria’s Secret, but I didn’t know how she grew up with her parents. I knew that she treated coffee like it was water, but I didn’t know her favorite band. “Los Angeles is gorgeous, Ives.”

Ivey laughed, throwing her head back. “That’s because you didn’t grow up here. I couldn’t sleep because I had drunk, idiotic neighbors and woke up each day hearing them shouting at each other because they had a hangover.”