To The Moon And Back

Ch. 1

One| Ocean

"Promise to call?" Ryan asks as we all have a group hug before I get in the car.

"I promise. I'll call at least once or twice a week." I confirm.

I skimmed my eyes over each one of them and pulled them into one more group hug. A tear falling from my cheek.

"I'll miss you."
-

My toes were buried into the sand of the deserted beach as I watch the waves roll onto the shore.

The December sun started to set as I walked along the beach and to the taco shack right next to the parking lot.

"Hi." The employee said as I walked up to the window to look at the menu.

"Hi." I answered back, "Can I get two regular tacos without sour cream please?" I asked as I turned my head to look at the nametag he wore. It read "Benjiman:)".

"Are you new to California?" He asked as he wrote my order down and gave it to another employee behind him.

"Yeah I just moved here from Canada. How'd you know?" I answered as I waited for my food.

"I've never seen you around before, but anyway, you're used to there being snow during Christmas, right?" He asked.

"Yeah." I said looking down at my folded hands resting on the counter top.

"Ya know, now that I think about it, I've never seen snow." He said, catching me by surprise.

"Really?" I asked, looking up and into his eyes.

"Yeah. I've lived in California my whole life. Never seen snow."

"Wow. That sucks." I said bluntly. "Its not that great anyway."

"Why?" He asked curious to know my answer.

"Because... Its pretty and all but its cold and it brings ice." I shivered getting cold just thinking about it.

"Sounds brutal." He said jokingly.

I gave him a bland look as he smiled down at me considering he was a lot taller than me.

He stops just smiling and we held eye contact for a while until I broke it.

"Have you been anywhere out... east?" I asked, I scratched the back of my neck, "That didn't make any sense but sounded good in my head... sorry."

He let out a chuckle, "It made sense. But to answer your question, yes, just not during the winter."

"Where'd you go?" I asked, leaning onto the counter, resting on my arms.

"We went to....", He thought for a second, "Chicago to visit my grandpa for his birthday in July."

"When did you go?" I asked.

"In July." He chuckled amusingly.

"No I meant when in July." I said, laughing along with him.

"Oh, well we stayed for the 4th of July and went down to Navy Pier." He explained, putting his hands on the counter and leaning on them slightly.