** REWRITING ** Tidal Wave

Chapter Twenty-Five

It was Maya. In her itty, bitty, annoyingly lime green bikini. Her head was rested against Grayson's bare shoulder and her arm was sprawled across his stomach. I knew exactly when this picture was taken. October 31st.

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October 31st: Ellie

A cool breeze tousled my hair as I sat down in the sand. I stretched my legs out just enough so the waves would crash over them.

"Ellie?" A voice called out. I immediately knew who it was.

"Hey Gray," I said without even glancing behind me. 

"Nice party, huh?" Graysoon said, sitting down next to me. He kept a good few inches between us but that didn't stop my heart from going wild.

I shrugged, trying to keep my cool. "I've seen better."

Grayson rasied his eyebrows. He looked amused. "Oh really?"

I nodded and started to play in the sand with my hands. "Really."

"The party scene must have been super crazy back in Minnesota then to beat out Coby," Grayson teased.

"Oh yeah," I agreed,"it was absolutely crazy. Sometimes, if things got really out of control, we even had story time."

He laughed. It was a deep, low chuckle. I snuck a look up at his face. His lips were pulled back to reveal his heart breaking smile and his eyes shined bright.

He moved closer and set his hand on top of mine in the sand. He intertwined our fingers and pulled them into his warm lap. I shivered. "You cold?" Grayson asked, concerned.

Of course I wasn't cold. It was seventy degrees out. But I was a girl. And every girl only dreamed about what Grayson was about to do.

"Yes."

He dropped my hand and started to pull off his sweatshirt. Along with his sweatshirt, his shirt came up. I didn't complain; I was too busy drooling.

When his shirt fell, I couldn't help but sigh. Grayson chuckled again and I blushed. I hoped the light from the bonfires didn't reach this far out.

Damn you, teenage hormones.

"Here you go," Grayson said as started to tug his sweatshirt over my head. I felt like a little kid again, with someone helping me put on clothes, but I didn't care. It was Grayson.

I wiggled my arms and rolled up the sleeves so I could use my hands. I breathed in his scent. It overpowered the sweaty locker room smell I knew was hidden in there too. I wrapped my arms around my body.

Grayson raised an eyebrow. "Still cold?" I nodded subconsciously. His arm wrapped around my shoulders. My stomach did flips. I tried to focus on the sound of the breaking waves so I wouldn't be distracted by him.

"You sure you're okay with me having your football sweatshirt?" I asked. It had his last name embroidered on the left arm and underneath it had his number, seven.

"Who said I was letting you have it?" Grayson teased.

I rolled my eyes playfully. "Okay, let me rephrase; are you sure you're okay with me taking your football sweatshirt?"

Grayson stroked his chin and pretended to think about it. "Hmm, I don't know, Ellie. I mean--"

I cut him off with a punch to the gut. He doubled over in fake pain and I laughed. "I'm glad my pain amuses you," Grayson grumbled.

"Me too," I grinned.

Grayson turned mock-serious. "Now, Ellie, if I was really hurt would you still laugh?"