Dark Ocean

Part 12

It's late in the afternoon when Valentina arrives at the ocean-facing restaurant. The terrace is packed with parties of local people enjoying themselves, and she scans the tables quasi-casually, out of the corners of her eyes, to see if she recognizes a face. She doesn't. It's still a little early, but she'd been way too eager and impatient to wait any longer.

She'd cut her school day short to go home at noon in order to take a second shower, wash her hair and let it air-dry while she scrunched it repeatedly to put it at its shiniest, its fullest, its waviest. She'd even taken special care when she'd applied her blush, mascara and lip gloss.

She'd changed her outfit four times before settling on a lacy camisole underneath a filmy white blouse that barely reached the waistband of a pair of gray, tight pants that showed off the new pair of heels she'd been saving for a special occasion- ultimately dressing up more than she usually did. She'd been on quite a few dates before but none of them made her feel this nervous, this excited.

A loud chorus of shouts and laughter snaps her out of her thoughts and she watches a few little kids running along the promenade, yelling and chasing each other. She finds herself smiling along with them until they disappear out of sight.

A cool breeze blows over her face and she takes a deep breath. The air is faintly tinged with salt and she turns to stare out at the ocean, hearing the waves breaking on the shore, and at the same time feeling fresh waves of nervousness shuddering through her.

The sun feels warm on her skin and she raises her face to it for long moments, her long, brown hair dancing in the wind. The day is bright and beautiful, and Valentina feels like she is pulsing with life. It offers such relief after so many months of breaking and losing herself in the sorrow of her loss.

Her whole body feels electrified; every nerve ending tingles with anticipation and she wonders once again how it's possible to feel so much for another person. It's all happening so fast; it's a whirlwind for her, but she doesn't want to miss one single second of it.

As if sensing Juliana's presence, her eyes fly open and she cranes her neck to see over her shoulder. Her breath locks roughly in her chest, and when their eyes meet, Juliana's step seems to falter for a second, a shy smile spreading across her face as she takes her in. Valentina's heart trips over itself, quickening.

She slowly turns around, in her spot, and she can't help but stare because that skin tight jeans and equally tight t-shirt clings to every incredible curve of Juliana's body. She takes in the gleam of sunlit brown eyes and there are parts of her that practically cry out to take a picture, to capture Juliana's image forever.

And her hair... God, her beautiful, dark hair. Loose and wavy over her shoulders and reaching halfway down her torso. God, she's gorgeous. Or maybe it's just because she's seeing Juliana in the regular daylight for the first time ever. One thing is clear, though; whatever the reason, Valentina craves her nearness more than anything else in the world.

She finds her legs moving in the girl's direction without any input from her brain. She feels like a moth to a flame; her entire world narrowing to this strikingly beautiful girl walking towards her. The wide smile Juliana directs at her makes Valentina's stomach flip, her heart trip; it makes something warm and unfathomably large to bloom between her ribs.

"Hi," she breathes out, once she's within touching distance. And, God, does she ever want to do that. "You look nice." It's a ridiculous understatement and she should be embarrassed about how breathless she sounds.

Juliana dips her head at the compliment, smile stretching, and Valentina notices the subtle dusting of blusher that accentuates those high cheekbones, mascara on dark lashes, eyeliner, the clear gloss on Juliana's lips. It is hardly noticeable but Valentina has come to realize that she notices nearly everything there is to notice about Juliana. The tiniest details stand out to her as if she is tuned to them.