The Secret We Share

Alexis (shown in the picture)

Kylie laughed, smiling as her long brown hair whipped around her. I watched her from the driver seat, and couldn't help but break a grin at observing Kylie's expression. I pushed the gas pedal even further as my convertible accelerated, speeding down the empty highway. The setting sun was gleaming off of Kylie's skin as her forest green eyes sparkled.

Her long slender arms were raised as she relished in the warm wind that blew through the car.  Kylie looked beautiful, smiling and laughing as she sang along to the music booming from the speakers.

Control yourself. I thought to myself with an internal sigh, and turned back to the road to shake off my moment of weakness.

I was, well I guess one could say, I was extremely in love with my best friend, the beautiful and amazing Kylie Grace Carter. But, she could never know. In fact, nobody could ever know, because as far as anybody knows, I am straight.

Straight.

"What are you thinking about weirdo?" Kylie asked, her eyes crinkling as she broke into a bright smile.

You.

"Only about how I'm so throwing you into the water when we get to the beach," I said casting an evil look at Kylie.

"Yeah right, only if I don't throw you in first," she challenged, shouting over the loud sound of the wind rushing by, and I laughed.

"Not a chance Carter."

*****

I pulled into a parking spot when we arrived at the beach, and the minute the car was in park, Kylie jumped out. I followed suit, my feet hitting the sandy pavement that was still warm from the afternoon sun.

"Last one to the water buys ice cream!" Kylie shouted as she tore off towards the mounds of pale sand stretching down to the water. I ran after her, forgetting about the towels and supplies in the car.

She was fast, but I had run track for years. I had almost caught up to her and she squealed, dodging away from my grasp. With a victorious bound, she made it to the waters edge. However, her sudden stop left me in surprise as I barreled into her. We both shouted as we tumbled into the frigid water that was lapping at the shore.

Tangled together on the sand, we couldn't help but burst into fits of laughter. We lay still for a moment after, catching our breath before we began to disentangle our limbs.

"I told you...I would...win," Kylie panted, strands of her damp hair clinging to her face.

I brushed the strands off her cheeks, shaking my head.

"I let you win Carter, I totally could have had you."

"How are you...not...out of breath?" Kylie huffed out, fake pouting.

"Six years of cross country and track will do that," I said with a laugh.

Kylie pretended to be mad, rolling her eyes, but then her face lit up with an adorable grin, dimples creasing her freckled cheeks.

"A deal is a deal Alexis Gray Parker, you owe me a mint chocolate chip cone." Kylie said, and of course, how could I disagree with that face?

A deal was a deal, so I extended my hand as I pushed off of the ground.

"Well then, what are we waiting for? Let's go get you that cone." I said, tugging her up from the sand to her full height of 5'9".

*****

After drying off and brushing off as much of the damp sand as we could, we made our way up to the boardwalk. We got our ice cream, mint chocolate chip for Kylie and cookies and cream for me, we carried it back to the beach. We stopped off to the car quickly, to get our speaker along with our towels and a blanket. It seemed like we were the only ones left on the cooling sand as we sat, licking at the melting ice cream.