la vie en rose | blake richardson

nine

"The water is freezing. I refuse," Cassie shook her head, heels digging into the stoney beach as Reece attempted to push her towards the water.

Breakfast had now been consumed and everyone was ready for the day. There was a couple hours until the group had to be at the venue, so they decided to spend their time exploring Brighton. Right now, they were at the beach.

"I'll pay you ten pounds to run in knee deep," Cassie challenges Reece, who quickly kicks off his shoes and pulls up his trousers, running into the water.

Cassie laughs as she watched Reece run into the water with high knees, stopping in place every step or so, in order to adjust to the temperature.

"Excuse me, Miss," A man speaks, approaching Cassie who's sat on the stones.

"Hi," Cassie looks up at him, smile remaining on her lips from Reece's actions out the corner of her eye.

"Hi, um, I saw you from up on the pier, and I just thought you were really beautiful. I was wondering if I could get your number?" The man kindly asks, causing Cassie to smile graciously at him.

"You're very sweet, thank you, but I have a boyfriend. I'm sorry," Cassie kindly denies, Reece now running out of the water and over to her.

"Does that really matter?" The man asks, Cassie furrowing her eyebrows at him.

"I said no, man. I'm sorry," Cassie brushes him off again, Reece now stood by Cassie's side as he dries himself off on the jacket George had left behind.

"Hiya, you are?" Reece asks the man kindly, not wanting to get on his bad side, in order to get him to leave Cassie alone.

"Just asking this lovely lady for her number, but she doesn't seem to want to give it to me."

"Yeah, she doesn't," Reece shrugs simply, "you asked and she answered."

"And who're you? Her boyfriend?" The man asks, stuffing his hands in his pockets. He was an older looking man than them, maybe in his mid twenties. He wore black jeans and a zipped bomber jacket, facial hair covering his chin and cheeks.

"Doesn't matter if I'm her boyfriend, friend or brother. She said no, so that's that," Reece bends down to grab Cassie's hand, helping her stand so she can stand behind him, and Reece could protect her if needed.

"Hon, why would you want to be with a child like that?" The man asks Cassie, the nickname making her uncomfortably shift closer to Reece.

"Put your ring on your wedding finger," Reece whispers into Cassie's hair, her hands behind her back as she quickly changes the position of her ring.

"He's not a kid. He's the same age as me," Cassie speaks softly, crossing her hands in front of her once she's changed her rings.

"You're pretty young, angel," The man almost smirks, Cassie looking down at the ground as Reece throws a protective arm around her waist.

"Why are you hitting on her, then?" Reece raises an eyebrow, "huh? Why would you hit on her with the assumption of her being pretty young?"

"Doesn't matter to you, mate," He scoffs.

"We better get going," Cassie speaks hurriedly, reaching down to collect Reece's socks and shoes, handing them to him.

"What's the rush, gorgeous? Don't you want to leave with someone like me?"

"Obviously I fucking don't," Cassie snaps, looking him dead in the eye, "look, sir, you're a lot taller than me, alright? I've got pretty good aim on where it would hurt the most, so don't fucking tempt me."