Signs of the Past

The Day We Met - Summer

I was at the oceanfront when I first saw him. Olivia, my best friend and I were walking down the boardwalk out of pure boredom. It was a couple weeks after summer began, and neither of us had to work that day. It was hot, so hot that we went to Creamy Heaven, even though it's the most over priced ice cream in the area. We were just that desperate.

"Check out those guys over there." Olivia pointed behind me. Slowly, I turned to see who she was talking about and instantly, I saw him. It would be impossible not to notice him. He was tall and tan, muscly and blonde. He was not what the average Virginia Beach tourist looked like, not by a long shot.

"Woah." I whispered under my breath as I stared over at him. The group of guys he was with all looked around the same age, most of them equally attractive to himself. They were all talking loudly, probably making plans for that night. I turned back to Olivia, I was under no delusion that these guys would be interested in us. It's not that Olivia and I are ugly or unattractive, we're both just perfectly average looking, especially me. Olivia is black and she wears her hair in braids, which she mostly has all thrown into a ponytail. She wears square glasses and neutral colors. Occasionally, she'll meet someone on a hook up app, but it never turns in to anything.

 I've only ever dated Charlie, and I think he only chose me because I seemed weak. I have light brown hair that reaches down to my waist, my body has been called "cute" and "soft" but never sexy or hot, I have hazel eyes and tan skin from the toasty summer. We just aren't the kind of girls that get hit on at the beach.

I was used to guys noticing my sister, Colleen, who has naturally blonde hair, D cups, striking green eyes, and abs. She was the one that people gawked at and I was the more approachable one. The arrangement has worked out just fine for both of us.

I wasn't looking for attention, not after the craziness of the year before.

Olivia and I finished our ice cream a few minutes later. The group of guys including the blonde had also gotten ice cream and they were seated at a table a few feet away from ours. Just as I suspected, the guys made zero effort to talk to us or gain our attention.

When we were getting up to head over to the beach, it happened. If this moment never happened, everything about last summer would've been different, but most importantly: I wouldn't be pregnant.

"Mar?" a low voice inquired. I knew who it was without turning around. Olivia's instant scowl confirmed my suspicion. Without even seeing his face, the feeling of nausea imploded within me. Slowly, I turned to face the culprit of my sudden anxiety.

"Hey, Charlie." I stammered.

Charlie looked smug. His dark hair was neatly combed and he had a white t-shirt on. He still looked so handsome, but in that same poisonous way I noticed the first time I met him. To a stranger there was nothing about his physical appearance that seemed off. But I had learned how quickly his light blue eyes could darken.

He stood only a foot away from me. It felt as if we were centimeters apart. Charlie had a way of inching himself all around me until it felt like I was suffocating by his presence alone. He could be across the room and that feeling would implode all over me. 

I turned over towards Olivia, I could tell she was uncomfortable. She never liked Charlie and Charlie hated Olivia. "Why don't you go ahead down to the beach? I'll meet you down there." I said to Olivia.

I could tell she was relieved that I'd offered her an easy out. She nodded and walked out of the enclosed patio. A quick feeling of relief passed through me, the last thing I wanted was confrontation between the two of them.