halo 'n horns [klance au]

24. Beach Day

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Keith

As I stood on the shore, the cold water washing over my toes, I felt relaxation washing over me. Behind me, the dense thicket of palm trees provided shade and I could hear the wind brushing through their fronds, sounding like whispers. The shore was dotted with rocks covered in barnacles and algae and, on the sand, long strips of green seaweed washed up by the surf.

The sky above me was open and bright blue, dotted with clouds, and the sun felt nice on my bare skin. I remembered what felt like years ago when I'd stepped out of that barn in New Hampshire for the first time and felt the harsh light burn my eyes. Maybe I'd gotten used to the light.

I lifted my eyes to the ocean and watched Lance and Hunk splash each other, diving underwater and jumping back out again, only to be pummeled by the giant waves that the ocean sent to shore. Lance's skin was bronze in the bright light and his laughter echoed across the nearly-empty bay.

I heard footsteps in the sand beside me and looked to my right, recognizing Shay, Hunk's girlfriend. She was pretty- strongly-built like Hunk and with kind eyes. She wore a long, flowy sundress that trailed out behind her as it was carried by the wind. Her eyes tracked Hunk, a small smile on her face.

"How long have you known Lance?" she asked softly, her voice low and smooth.

It took me a minute to calculate it, but eventually, I was able to count backward. "About 2 weeks, I think. I feel like it's been longer, though. Weeks, months..."

"Years?" Shay guessed, and I nodded. It was true.

She sighed, turning her full attention to me. "That's how I feel with Hunk, you know. I feel like I've known him for so much longer than I actually have. It's a little scary- sometimes I feel like he knows me more than I know myself."

I hesitated. "Isn't that what it's supposed to be like, though?"

Shay cocked her head to the side. "What do you mean?"

"When you're... you know... in love."

Shay smiled widely. "I guess so. Do you love Lance?"

She didn't know how hard that question was for me. She didn't know the internal battle I had to face to come up with an answer.

Flushing, Shay quickly amended herself, "Oh, I'm sorry, I'm being nosey. Hunk told me that you two were only friends, anyways."

I flashed her a small smile, shrugging. "No, it's okay. It's just a hard question. I guess that I admire Lance for certain traits he has. I envy him for being so easy-going and care-free. I wish that I was more like him, in some ways. But... I'm not sure if I could ever love him. We're too different. It's like we come from two separate worlds."

If I had had a heart, I'm sure that it would have broken from the weight of the heavy lie.

...

"Keith, make sure to put on some sunscreen, alright? You'll get burnt with your pale skin," Hunk laughed as he and Shay disappeared down the path. They were going back home to grab us some lunch so that we could picnic on the beach.

I lounged in the sand, my skin comfortably warm, and watched the rhythmic waves crashing down the beach. If I lifted my eyes past the waves, I could see Lance in the water, treading above the surface, only his head visible as he bobbed in the ocean.

It was just as Lance had said- this place was a paradise.

No sooner had I thought that, I heard a shrieking cry echo across the water. Jerking upright, my eyes widened. Lance was thrashing around in the ocean, his arms flailing wildly.

"HELP!"

Running on instinct only, I ran forward through the sand, bolting down the shore and into the water. I ignored the piercing cold of the ocean as I ran in. A large wave hit my chest, soaking me, but I powered through the surf, diving under the next wave that came towards me, determination and adrenaline coursing through my veins.

I saw Lance up ahead, flailing still, shouting loudly. Fear in my heart, I surged forward against the tide, reaching Lance just as the sea level rose just high enough that I couldn't stand on the sand.

"Lance!" I yelled, trying to figure out what was wrong. Was he drowning? Suddenly, Lance stopped struggling. He turned to face me with a guilty grin.

"Are you okay?" I wheezed, breathing heavily. The water lapped at my neck and I struggled to stay above the surface.

"I didn't know how else to get you to come in!" Lance blurted, his eyes wide with amusement.

My jaw dropped. He'd pretended to be in trouble so that I'd come into the ocean? What an absolute asshole.

"You bastard!" I yelled, splashing him in the face with water, "I thought you were drowning!"

Lance's eyes went sympathetic as he moved closer to me in the water. "Don't be mad, Keith. Plus, this is payback from my bruised tailbone this morning."

Scowling, I turned around, heading back to the beach. But before I could take another step, I felt a rush of water and then Lance's warm arms around my shoulders. The angel clung to my back pathetically and I heard him let out a soft laugh. "Don't take it personally, Keith, I just wanted you to come in."

"You have the worst possible strategies for getting things that you want," I snapped.

"But they're effective," Lance replied, hugging me tightly. I felt the warmth of his skin against my own, and now, there wasn't a shirt between the contact like there had been last night when Lance had held me against his chest. I swallowed hard as I remembered, cheeks heating up for no reason.

"You're an asshole," I told him angrily.

"I know," he replied sweetly. "Did you really think I was drowning?"

"Yes."

"I'm a good actor, then?"

I didn't reply. I'd reached the elevation where I could stand, flat-footed, with my shoulders and chest above the water, so I stopped, catching my breath. Lance unwound his arms from around my shoulders and came up in front of me, making me look up into his eyes.

Lance's wet hair was slicked back and water droplets fell down his face and neck. His blue eyes were bright with happiness, and I couldn't help but swoon a little at his bare chest.

Lance pulled me closer to him, and before I knew it, he was holding me in some kind of hug, my head against his chest. I didn't hug back, of course not, but I let my head rest against his skin, listening to the sound of his heart as the cold ocean water drifted around us.

Lance leaned down and whispered almost too softly, "I told you that I'd always come back, little devil. I'm not going to leave you. I just... want you to have the best experience here. Before you leave."

I felt my stomach knot up at the last sentence. It was true. I would have to leave soon. We'd crossed off four of my wishes on The Plan, and the only one that remained was to 'find a forest'.

"I'm not ready," I whispered.

"You have to be."

...

did you guys like this? sorry, this one was a bit short, but if i had added the next scene, it would have been to long haha. i'll keep writing, though

also, i'm 99.8% sure that i've used this song on another chapter somehwere along the way, but it's a really good song and i can't help it ppffttt i love cavetown omg

next chapter, i wonder what's going to happen on keith and lance's last night on the island? and where are they going next?

i hope everyone had a great thanksgiving (if you celebrate) and I hope you all have wonderful weekends too :)

I'll keep writing for you guys, but idk,,, I've felt off lately. Sad, I guess? I'm not really sure, maybe I'm just tired.

qotd: i can't remember if i've already asked this, but what's your favorite book? if this has already been a qotd, let me know haha

love you <33