The Other Shore

Chapter 1: Illegal Flirting

Chapter 1: Illegal Flirting

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I stood at the ocean's edge, the cool, clear water slipping over my feet. Tanner came up and grabbed me by my waist, slinging me over his shoulder. I laughed and started lightly beating on his back.

He ran into the ocean. I held tightly on to his blue tank-top, wishing not to be dunked into the icy water. Tanner spun in a few circles, making me dizzy. He then brought me down to rest on his waist, my tan legs wrapped around him.

"Well hello to you too, " I said, giving him a peck on the lips.

His hands rested firmly on my thighs. "Hey, beautiful," he replied.

"Put my down you big bully!" I said cheekily to my golden blonde boyfriend of seven months.

"My pleasure, princess," he said as he dropped me into the cold water.

I stumbled and fell, completely soaking myself he leaned down closer to me and said, "Oops," then grinned down at me.

I reached up and grabbed the collar of his tank-top, pulling him down on top of me, also soaking him.

"Oops," I said to him, smiling and biting my lip.

He tugged my bottom lip with his teeth before pulling me in for a kiss. You could hear the lifeguard's whistle nearby, telling us to break apart. We did after a few seconds. He was a good kisser, and I enjoyed every opportunity I had to kiss his plump lips.

He hauled me up with one hand, interlocking our fingers. We strolled down the beach; both of us wishing the waves were big enough to pull a board on.

"What do you think is out there?" He asked suddenly.

"I don't know, to be honest. I think there's sharks, for sure. But I think there's an escape."

"Escape? From what? Hollis, this is paradise. This is the escape."

"You wouldn't think that if you were practically tied down here."

We walked farther down the Hawaiian coast, our bodies drifting closer together as the sun settled into the ocean.

The stars were splotched across the dark sky, and the rise of high tide nipped at our toes. Just as we were about to reach our side by side houses, he suddenly swept me off my feet, carrying me bridal style up the steps to my house.

I was a giggling mess, and he seemed to enjoy the fact that he had caused my absurd laughter. It's moments like these when I'm glad Tanner came around.

I pulled the door open with the hand that wasn't loosely draped around Tanner's neck. He carried me through the kitchen, but stopped at the living room, where my father was sitting in the reclining chair, eyeing the two of us skeptically.

"Oh, um, hi, Mr. St. Cloud," Tanner said nervously.

"Put her down Tanner, and we'll pretend I didn't see it," my father said firmly.

"Yes sir," Tanner replied, slowly dropping my legs to the wooden floors of the beach house.

"Say goodnight, Hollis," my father told me, seemingly aggravated.

"Goodnight, Tan", I said, riskingly pressing my lips to his cheek.

"Night, Holly," he said, quickly wrapping me in a hug.

Tanner walked out of the house, leaving me alone with my father in the house.

"I thought we agreed, Hollis. No boys. Is that clear?" My dad warned me, yet again.

"Dad, let's get one thing clear, the more you tell me not to do something, the more I'm going to do it," I said in reply to his aggravating rule.

I slipped out of the living room, and into my bedroom, where I began praying that somewhere, the supposed God was gonna try to help me get out of this place.

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So? What do y'all think? I'm hoping you guys enjoy the story because I actually have faith in this. In case you haven't noticed, Behind These Hazel Eyes has been deleted. I felt that it wasn't worth it, and the writing was exceptionally poor. Thanks to anyone who checks out this book, or Summer Of '09, or Black And White Imagines. I love you guys!

XOXO,

Carson