The Missing Gem

17 | L Word

Nicole

The smell of pumpkin pie filled my nostrils as I got out of the shower and started getting dressed. It smelled like childhood and autumn days, but mostly, it smelled like home and I smiled at the thought of all the Thanksgiving days I spent as a kid, the memories wandering through my mind like they owned me.

After putting on a white long sleeve sweater, I put on my light blue jeans and buttoned them up while I caught Lucas starring at me.

"What?"

"Nothing, you're just... so fucking beautiful." I blushed and I knew he noticed, however, I did nothing to try to hide my red cheeks and instead I just pecked his lips. 

We managed to sleep in today, and after we both showered and got dressed it was already nearing midday. I knew my mom hated it whenever anyone in the house woke up at almost lunch time but I personally didn't care the least bit about it.

We went downstairs to the kitchen, and after grabbing a quick breakfast we said goodbye to them and went for a walk on the beach. This time of the year, with the sun shinning down on us and warming our souls, it almost felt like we were in June and not in November. 

"I almost feel weird walking around in just jeans and a sweater, no heavy coat on top of me." Lucas commented as we held hands and let the tiny waves hit our feet.

"My London boy may be from across the pond but you've gotta admit that the weather is much nicer on this side of the ocean." 

He nodded in agreement and we kept on walking a little more until we found a nice spot in the sun, near some dark colored rocks. We sat down, side by side, our backs resting against the hard surface of Nature's mineral material. 

I pulled my camera out of the small shoulder bag I had with me, and started to randomly take pictures of the ocean, the view, the two Golden Retriever that ran side by side along the shore, and ended up taking pictures of most beautiful soul I had ever met in my entire life, and that sat next to me. 

I was bringing my camera everywhere with me for two reasons: because it was research for my book  as the main character is a big photographer, and because I got to take nice pictures of all the places I went to, and I liked that. 

I was by no means good at taking pictures, but I sure as hell had fun trying.

It took a while for Lucas to notice I was taking shots of him, but when he did, he started contorting his face into all kinds of funny expressions at the lens - tongue out, cross-eyed, winking, duck face, pouting, - and I ended up literally shaking as I laughed out loud at his adorable faces, uncontrollably. 

"Gimme that." His voice snapped me out of my laughter attack, and I effortlessly handed him the black and silver device. 

Knowing all too well what he wanted it for, I started posing for the camera just like he did before, my goofiest side, that not even I knew I had, coming out of me. Snap after snap, I was feeling more and more light, fun, at ease and laid back - qualities that only Lucas could bring out in me. Lucas only. 

"Let's see these masterpieces." I giggled as I took the camera in my hands and started going through all the pictures we took, each one making us chuckle more than the previous one.

I felt his arm loop around my waist, and he inserted his hand inside the front pocket of my jeans. He laughed out loud with me, his breath hitting my neck from the side and causing a tingling feeling to run down my spine. 

"I want a couple of photos of us together. Should we ask someone?" 

The wheels in my head started to slowly turn and I turned in my place, changing my position so my back was facing the clear blue ocean, and asking Lucas, who understood my idea, to do the same. I put the camera on a timer and placed it on top of the rocks.