A Time of Love within this Blackened Land

Katie - February 5

"Oh my... 9 o'clock girls. You were right, K. Coming to the beach today was definitely worth it." Abby has this stupid habit of pointing out hot guys at the beach as if we were in the army. "To your right, Deb," she says, as she rolls her eyes, when she notices that Debbie is looking in the opposite direction. I chuckle.

Sweat makes his abs glow in the sun, his arms are to die for. He lasciviously licks his lips and looks around to check that someone has actually seen him do that. He spots us and scans the group. He fixes his eyes on me, staring at him with disgust. I don't think that's the look he was expecting. And I certainly don't think he'll lick his lips again today. When he looks away, all my friends start whispering at the same time. They share their hypothesis about the fuckboy looking at us and who they think he liked. Debbie says I should go talk to him because he stared at me for like five whole seconds. Ha! If only she knew why. I stress how much I dread the idea so they keep on debating. I interrupt.

"His friend with the bucket hat on is so much cuter, though. Him I could talk to." They all look at me in disbelief. "What!? I think he looks cool," I say.

"Yeah, maybe... if he's a fisherman. Why don't you go check?" says Meg and pushes me a bit.

A smile escapes my lips. As I stand up and start walking towards the group of guys, I can hear Abby say how old-fashioned she thinks bucket hats are. If she wasn't such a good friend, I'd have told her that she has an incredibly limited number of brain cells but since I like her a lot, I think it's better for her to stay oblivious to that fact. Fuckboy notices me getting closer and his face lights up. Is he expecting an apology? Does he think I'm about to tell him how hot he is?

"Hey! I'm Katie. Nice hat." I'm dying to look at fuckboy's face but I don't, though I'd bet he is shocked that I did not try to seduce him.

"Thanks? I guess..." Bucket-hat boy seems confused about my comment.

I realize he probably thinks I'm making fun of him so I quickly clarify in a serious tone "I mean it. Really nice."

He smiles softly but does not utter a word so I keep talking. "So... my friends and I were wondering if you'd like to join us?"

"Hm, we were about to go sur..." he says, before one of his friends hugs him from one side and finishes his line for him.

"Sure! We'd love that!" he says in an overly enthusiastic tone.

That was easy. We all join my friends and as we sit down I make sure that I get to be right next to bucket-hat boy.

"So you were gonna go surfing, right?"

He shakes his head and smiles. That soft little smile again. I'm starting to like it but also, I'm becoming fully aware that having an actual conversation with him will be tough.

"I can surf. I mean... I'm not an expert but you can help me... maybe," I say. He licks his lips but in a nervous involuntary way, not the stupid way fuckboy was doing it. When he does it, it looks cute. He's about to speak. I get ready to listen to whatever he has to say. Come on. Enough with the lip licking, there is not much to consider... hm... bucket-hat boy? "What's your name again?" I blurt out.

"Jake. I hadn't actually told you anyways."

Well, this is great! I love it when you use words, Jakey! I feel like I'm making huge progress here.

"So, what do you say? Surfing?" I say and I indicate his wetsuit with my chin hinting that there is no point in inventing silly excuses. He nods and goes to their van for his surfboard. When he comes back, I've already been through the group's teasing and questioning.