Delirium: Crash & Burn

Part XXIX

A couple of hours earlier

Harrison

The sun was just setting; it created a warm haze over the beach. The loud music and chatter was toned down by the crashing of the waves against the beach front. I stood transfixed by the water, I watched it wash in and wash back out leaving behind some of its contents. I saw a pearly pink shell and immediately picked it up, stuffing it into my back pocket before turning around and heading back towards Evie who was sat lazily on a towel close by. Evie's eyes glimmered in the dull sunlight as she looked at me expectantly.

"What were you doing over there you?" she nodded her head towards the spot where I was standing. I shook my head and took my seat next to her and began to trace the outline of her lips with my finger, grazing lightly over the cut which she had from the fall.

I felt her eyes watching me,  "I was just looking at the water." I paused slightly before continuing, taking in a breath of calm air before continuing "it makes me feel calm." Evie's lips curled into a smile which I noticed immediately, my finger still tracing her mouth. It was true, whenever I was around water it eased my mind, calmed me down, it was like the water was washing my mind, clearing me out. I glanced up at Evie who was looking at me intensely. "Can I help you women?" I teased slightly pushing her shoulder.

"Excuse you. You're the one touching me up." She retorted as she pushed me back.

"That was not touching you up, this is!" I reached for her hips, moving my fingers quickly, tickling her. She began to shake her head in protest which caused me to tickle her harder, the sound of her laughter echoed, it was such a happy sound, it made me smile every time I heard it.

In between breaths she mustered the words "stop, it, Harrison, I swear." I quickly stopped tickling her to allow her to catch her breath. Evie slummed backwards lying down in a euphoric high from all the laughter. I smiled lying back down by her. Once she caught her breath and my laughter died down also she turned her head towards me.

"You know, you're nothing like I thought you were when we first met." She quickly looked up towards the sky, was she becoming shy? I thought to myself. I began to recall the first day that we met in my head. The way she walked through the car park with brave confidence and an air of mystery. She had us all transfixed, she had me transfixed.

"I could say the same for you." I brushed my hand across her face causing her to look at me. "I remember the first day we met like it was yesterday. You know you were such a tease." I cocked my eyebrow and smirked slightly.

"Me a tease?" Evie replied, her voice high pitched, she started to laugh which cause my smile to widen.

"Yes you were a tease, walking in looking like a whooole snack." I pinched her arm which caused her to push me in the arm. We both began to laugh recalling all of our first encounters; so much had changed in the past 9 months and I was happy, but I couldn't help but feel a sense of morning for my old self, my old life I suppose.

I furrowed my eyebrows as I was invaded with thoughts of the way things were before I met Evie, before all the bets and secrets, before the lies and attempts to kill each other, before the drugs.

Evie's voice continued, "you know, I thought you were dick." Evie said her voice blunt, I was slightly taken back by her sudden brutish tone, I began to laugh unable to take her mean tone seriously. 

"Woah, in my defense, it was all Cole." My mouth had gone ahead of me and spoke before I had time to think. I swallowed hoping that she didn't hear Cole's name as loudly as I had said it. Our laughter died down as we both started thinking about Cole; no one had seen or heard from him for a while, none of us dared to ask. I assumed that he was fine, that he was just laying low, avoiding us all. Before I could speak Jordan and Sage interrupted us.