with a smile like that

Chapter 7- Both POVs

I looked at the time and it was 11 am. I had slept a while and I should probably get up. I rolled out of bed and started walking to the bathroom. I brushed my teeth and my hair, straightening it this time. I walked out of the bathroom and went to go get changed. "Good morning," I heard a voice say. I looked down to find Max. "Hey Max, what's up?" I asked while walking into my room. "Do you like Wesley?" That's the last thing I expected to come out of his mouth. "Uhm, I'm not sure. Why?" He looked around, he looked as if he was thinking about my answer. "He... no reason," he quickly said before walking out of the room. "That was weird," I whispered to myself.

I picked out a tie dye crop top, high waisted jean shorts, my blue sunglasses, and my black converses. I grabbed my phone and walked to Jade's room. She was also wearing high waisted jean shorts, and she had on her nirvana cut off tee that I recognized from Skype. She was barefoot but she was holding the star vans, that she wore when she picked me up from the airport, in her hand. "So boardwalk today?" I asked her. She turned around to look out the window. "Yeah, I'll bring my board," she said while reaching for her blue penny board with pink wheels. We walked out of her room, down the long hallway, and down the staircase. I saw Max and was tempted to question him more about why he asked if I liked Wesley, but I kept walking to the garage.

•

We pulled into a parking lot not far from the boardwalk. I could see sand and the ocean from here and watched a few seagulls. "Well we're here," Jade said as she turned the key and shut the car off. We walked to the boardwalk and the smell of elephant ears and suntan lotion filled the air. Jade hopped on her penny board. I walked and kept up but got tired so I asked if we could sit down. She didn't mind so we sat down on a bench and looked at people walking by. Two in particular caught my attention. It was Keaton and Wesley. They hadn't seen us yet until Wesley tripped over a rock and got up. He saw us and his cheeks turned red from embarrassment. I smiled and Keaton made his way over here while Wesley wiped dirt off his knees. "Didn't expect to see you girls here," Keaton said to us. "We thought we'd come here and have some fun," Jade said smiling at him. They were definitely adorable, they just needed to be together. Wesley came over and looked at us. "You guys didn't see that." I laughed, "Suuuuure we didn't." He rolled his eyes. "Wanna board together?" Keaton asked, he probably didn't notice I didn't have one. "I don't have a-" Wesley cut me off, "don't worry you can ride on mine." I looked up at him surprised. "Thanks," I said almost as a whisper. Jade and I stood up off the bench, Wesley and Keaton grabbed their long boards and Jade grabbed her penny board.

"We're getting a drink before we go," Jade told me. I nodded and looked at Wesley. "Want anything?" I immediately got an idea. "Hmm.. I've never had a funnel cake and I was wondering if we could get one? If I don't like it, you can finish it." He smiled and chuckled a little before speaking, "You've never had one? Well I guess I could get you one," he said with a shrug. I smiled and we walked to the stand that sold funnel cakes, cotton candy, and elephant ears. Wesley got one and handed it to me. I took a bite and my taste buds went insane. It was delicious and sweet. "Good?" Wesley asked. "Very," I mumbled before taking another bite. I finished it and threw away the trash. "You ready to go?" He asked. I shook my head.

Wesley's POV

"I need to ask you something," she said. My heart began to race, and I felt my cheeks become red. "Of course, what is it?" She wouldn't look me in the eyes and she turned away. "Do you... Why is... why is everyone asking if I like you?" My heart nearly stopped. I forgot I had told Jade I liked Alex and that Max was in the room. He must have told people. I didn't know what to say and my instincts kicked in. I leaned in and I kissed her. She jumped in surprise and I pulled away. "I'm so sorry I didn't-" I began before Alex cut me off. "Why?" She asked. "Why what?" She looked me in the eyes this time. "Why did you kiss me?" I didn't really have an answer for that. "I like you. That was the answer to your question. They're asking because they know I like you," I said. She blushed and she smiled. There she goes again with that smile. With a smile like that, I couldn't resist but smile myself. "Let's board," she said leaving me wondering if she felt the same way.

Alex's POV

I can't believe what Wes had told me so I changed the subject. He smiled and put his board on the ground. I wasn't sure how this was going to work, was he going to walk? He hopped on the board and I was more confused. I thought he had just said I would ride it, but I was fine with his choice because I hadn't boarded much before. I took a few steps until he grabbed me and pulled me onto the board. We were both standing on the board and I had no idea what he was thinking. He held onto me and started to move the board with his right foot. We caught some speed and he was still holding me. I watched the ground as we sped up more and more. I looked up because I didn't see Wesley's foot hitting the ground any more. We were on the right side of the boardwalk, occasionally weaving in and out between people. "It's so nice out today," Wesley said over the sound of the wheels against the wooden boards.

The air was blowing my hair everywhere, I'm sure it was in Wesley's face. I looked around at all the stands of food, clothes, and other items, and I looked at the ocean to the right. I looked forward and I noticed Jade and Keaton standing watching something. "Let's see what they're doing," I said to Wesley. "I have a feeling I already know, but sure," he said smiling. We stopped right near Keaton and Jade, and I hopped off Wesley's board. Jade turned around, "oh hey guys! We were just watching him play again," she said nodding in the man's direction. His dominant muscles and tattoos were shown through his tank. He was playing a song I didn't recognize on a ukulele. "That's Drew," Keaton told me. I nodded and listened to Drew play and sing until he was finished.

He looked up, looking at all our faces smiling until he got to me. "You're new," he said; I couldn't pick out his tone. "Yeah I'm Alex. I moved here a few days ago," I told him. He nodded and stood up from his stool. I didn't know what he would do but he opened his arms and wrapped them around me, giving me a big bear hug. He pulled away and started speaking, "nice to meet you Alex, I'm Drew." I nodded and smiled, returning to Wesley's side. "He's a great friend of ours," Wesley told me.

•

It was late now and the sun had already set over the water. We had walked around the boardwalk countless times, talked to Drew, boarded a little more, and took a walk on the beach. I was tired and ready to go back to Jade's house. All of us were constantly yawning as we walked back to our cars. Wesley held my hand, and Keaton held Jade's. I thought it was strange how we were holding hands, yet neither of us were dating, but I just assumed that's what they did in California.

We made it to the jeep and mustang and I climbed into the passenger seat as Jade climbed in the drivers side. Wesley and Keaton got into their car and drove away before I got my seatbelt on. "Today was great," I said to Jade, trying to make it less awkward and quiet as we drove. She laughed a little. "Oh I bet it was," she said winking. "I saw you and Wesley. Did he tell you he liked you?" She asked. "Yeah, well not at first. He said it after he kissed me. It was weird," I answered. "Yeah he's pretty weird," she said while laughing. I laughed too, agreeing. He was pretty weird, but in a good way. After we laughed, the car was filled with silence other than the faint sound of the radio playing until we arrived back home.