"okay. he comes to this beach every saturday afternoon. he has been for the past year or so." ethan says as him and noelle walk to the guard rail that's protecting the vast beach from the road.
"and you're telling me this, why?" noelle asks, leaning against the rail as she turns her head to look at the boy who's looking into the water.
"because," he looks at her.
"this is our first task. meeting grayson." he says confidently, puffing out his chest, making her laugh.
"i don't even know what he looks like." she remarks rolling her eyes, and ethan is looking at her blankly. he gestures to himself by waving his hands over his body.
"we're twins, noelle."
"oh...right." she replies meekly. noelle had to admit, ethan was attractive, handsome even, but could she really just be forced into a relationship like that? will it be different once she really meets grayson? will it be love at first sight? she had no idea, but her mind was going a mile a minute as she drove back to her house.
"okay. first order of business, you need to get dressed for the beach." ethan claps his hands together once they're in her bedroom. she puts her hands on her hips in dismay. noelle doesn't go to the beach. she doesn't swim, doesn't surf, doesn't cliff dive, none of that. she's never been that strong of a swimmer, although, once in hawaii, she had tried surfing but that didn't end well.
"okay, well, how about you turn around and let me change." ethan obeys, turning around to look at the corner of the room, folding his arms across his chest. noelle looked into her small closest, picking out one of her bikinis, stripping from her clothes as she blushed. as quick as she could, she tied on the swimsuit, and grabbed clothes to wear over it. here goes nothing, she thinks.
when noelle and ethan get to the beach, she's a bundle of nerves, but ethan puts his hand on her shoulder comfortingly. she looked at him with wide eyes, chewing on her bottom lip.
"it'll be fine. if you really get that nervous, we can back out for now. i'm not trying to make you do anything against your will." his voice is calm and assuring.
"don't you think this is kind of against my will?" she jokes.
"okay, ms. comedian, let's go," they both get out of the car, walking down to the beach. the sand was warm on her feet, and she noticed that ethan kept his sneakers on. she was about to ask why, but then realized that if she tried, other people would only see her talking to the air, and most likely give her strange looks. she isn't about to embarrass herself more.
"there he is." ethan whispers beside her as he stops walking, pointing to a boy holding a surfboard on the water's edge.
♡♡♡
