The Last of the Twelve

The heat of the sand on my toes only increases my longing for the snowy wonderland that is the winter months. The sun beats down on my back and all of the beach. The first day of summer, and I have no plans. The light radiating from the burning ball of gas touches the tip of the water and adds a shine that makes you wish people would just admire it instead of play in it. But who can blame them, the heat is being to get unbearable.

My best friend Ellie sits on a towel next to me, showing off her perfect figure to all others on the beach. I’m sitting on my towel with a book in hand wondering what I would do if I were the main character, fighting for her friends and family all while falling in love and probably getting married in the end.

Noticing this difference between Ellie and I, I put my book away and stand to look along the beach. My hands on my average sized hips, I scan the beach for something. Something out of the ordinary and new. Something that may give me an idea of how I want to spend my summer. I know that this is not ideal. Then I see him, he is what I was looking for. His beautiful sunset red hair that is secured in the most natural of curls bounce around as he runs to retrieve the football that was thrown too far. I catch a glimpse of his eyes. They are golden in color. Golden eyes that make you think of the finest of jewelry, polished to shine like the sun.

The sight of him pulls on my insides. I need to talk to him, and let him know I exist. I feel a connection to him that I haven’t felt ever before. Not love, but something else. Something more powerful, something that connects me to him in a way that is indescribable.

Ellie, catching my stare sits up and pushes up her sunglasses so that her black bangs are pushed back out of her face. “Wow. That is one boy I’d love to meet in a dark alley,” she says casually trying to push me to talk to him first. She’s into the skater-boy type. I smile at look at her gingerly.

“Ellie, dark alleys are not a place to pick up boys,” I poke at her with my toe. She giggles at this and shakes her head.

“Go talk to him Aprum. I’m sure he’d love to meet a pretty girl like you..” I sit down next to her and ponder this for a moment, wishing I had the courage to just walk up to him.

“How old do you think he is?”

“I dunno. If I had to guess, twenty, twenty-one.” Three to four year difference, I note to myself. Ellie is smiling at me now and I know she has conjured up a plan. I decide to not get involved in another one of her let’s-set-up-Aprum schemes, so I stand, brush myself off and start walking towards him without looking back.

His friend catches sight of me, and takes note of my pace of approach. He heaves the football they were tossing back in forth, in my direction. I see this as an opportunity to show off and reach up as if to catch the ball. Then his whole body collides with mine as he is reaching for the ball. Suddenly he’s on top of me and I can see those golden eyes staring into my gray ones. He smiles and brushes my hair from my face and asks, “Are you alright? I didn’t see you there. I hope I didn’t hurt you.”

I can feel my face getting hotter and a brighter shade of red. My fears are confirmed when his smile grows. He helps me up and brushes himself off. I look at his face before saying, “My name.. is... Aprum.”

“Nice to meet you Aprum. Name’s Schaf,” he extends his hand, which I happily take. As our hands connect there’s a small flicker. I toss it aside as my imagination. His hands are firm and worn, yet gentle. “And that’s Orm. He’s an attractive guy isn’t he?” he says teasingly. I nod at him not breaking his gaze, “Well Aprum, we are having a party later on, you seem like someone who can have a little fun. Would you like to join us?”

“Sure. I’d love to!” I smile, which he seems to like because he smiles back.

“Alright,” he pulls me into his arms and I blush as he writes a number on my forearm, “text that number around 6. It’s mine, I’ll let you know where to be.” He releases me and I pick up the football and hand it to him. He smiles one last time and I see something in his eyes that I don’t recognize and then turn back the way I came from and walk back to Ellie.