Walking on a Tightrope

Chapter 4

After a minute or two of driving, Skylar pulls into the parking lot of a restaurant. The restaurant has a logo of a fish. After parking the car Skylar says "This is one of my favorite seafood restaurants. They have almost every seafood imaginable" she says, excitement clear in her voice. "I must admit, I do love seafood" I respond. Growing up here at the Cape I always have. She says "Great! Let's go". After making our way inside, a server seats us and takes our drink order. We wait for our drinks and skim the menu before I ask "Hey Skye, what do you suggest I get?". She laughs lightly then says "I love that nickname" After realizing what I just called her my cheeks heat up with embarrassment and I say "oh I am so sorry I didn't realize I said that" she says "No it's fine don't worry about it. I really like it, actually" she pauses before saying "To answer your question, I personally love the flounder and black-tip shark. Mahi-Mahi is good too, but it kind of depends on what seafood you like. All of it is good here." She smiles at me. Once our server comes back with our drinks, she takes our order. After our server leaves I ask Skye "What is your favorite thing about the Ocean?" Her eyes glisten as she thinks then responds with "Everything. The way the water feels, the way the sun travels across the sky, watching the ships. All of it. I was born and raised in this area, it's all I know. What about you?" I respond with a sigh before saying "I love the beach, but I never have much time to come here. My parents desperately want me to be a doctor so I am always studying, and if I'm not studying I am doing chores." She thinks to herself for a short moment before asking with clear meaning in her voice "Is that what you want?" I sigh and say "I don't know, if I'm honest. I always thought that was what I wanted but I'm not sure anymore. I am just doing what I am told is right." I've never said that out loud before, but something in her voice and the way she cares tells me to be honest with her. She says "Well you don't seem happy. How about after we're done eating we go to the beach again? Just relax and talk. Might help you figure some things out?" I smile and say "that sounds amazing". I can't help the chuckle that falls from my lips thinking about it.
Our food arrives, and we immediately start shoving it into our mouths. Being athletic sure takes a lot of energy out of us. Through chewing I manage to say "I didn't even know how hungry I was, this is amazing!" She laughs through her full mouth then says "I told you!!" I laugh. She is so effortlessly beautiful, even when she is eating so messily she still looks perfect. After we both finish up we laugh again. I have nothing to say, all I can think of is how beautiful she is. My phone starts ringing and Tucker's name pops up, I say "Shit I need to take this" 

I put down the amount of money my food was and head to the bathroom while yelling behind me and pointing towards her "Don't leave it'll only be a second! I promise!". I answer the phone and say "Hey, what's up?" Tucker responds in a tone that has worry in it. But not worry about me, its a more self-centered worry. "Are you still with that girl you met?" I respond sharply, knowing his intention for his call. I am not going to take this lightly "Her name is Skylar, and yes. We are finishing up eating then we're heading back to the beach. Why?" He sighs "Blake, you know why. Just be careful, don't ruin this for either of us". He was right. I did know why. Despite only having this fake relationship for almost two weeks, we really know each other, mostly from our past history with each other. So he knows I fall too hard and too quickly. I sigh and say "Ok I have to go. Talk to you later". I hang up without waiting for his response.  I leave the bathroom and catch up to where Skylar sits in our booth "Hey! Sorry about that, ready to go?" She smiles, and says "Yeah! I'll show you a good time." Little did Tucker, or I, know that it was far too late at this point. From the minute I saw her I knew that this was it for me. I follow Skye back to her car, and she drives us back to the beach. When we walk back to the beach she puts her arm around my shoulder and says "This is what I'm talking about. Just look at it" she points to the beach. The waves crashing against the shore is all I need to see, hear, and feel to be at peace. And to be seeing all of this with her. We set up our area close to the water, it's high tide so we don't have to worry about our things getting wet. We start taking off our covering clothes to reveal our bathing suits. Her blonde hair lays over her shoulder and her blue bikini brings out her crystal blue eyes. She laughs, and I ask "What?" With a laugh of my own. She says "Nothing" and smiles while looking at me, she brings her bottom lip between her teeth. She suddenly blurts out "Come on let's go out into the water! I'll race you" I wonder what made her laugh... She runs to the ocean and I follow. She holds her hand out to grab mine and I take it gladly. A large wave knocks me down and she starts laughing then another one comes and knocks her down in return. I laugh and yell "Karma!!" 

Most of the waves have calmed by now, and we've been out in the water for a few hours as the sun has started to set and most people have started to leave. Skylar asks "Will your parents be upset if you come home late?" I say "No they will hardly notice. But if they do, I don't care what they do or say. What about you?" she smiles then says "I live by myself" I give a sympathetic nod before asking "Want to go sit on the sand for a bit and watch the sun set?" She smiles and says "That's my favorite thing to do" we swim to the shore and dry off before laying on our towels on the sand. "The sun is beautiful" I say. She sits up and says "It really is". I sit up and just look into her eyes. We hold eye contact for a beat or two of silence. Until I feel her lips quickly brush against mine. I have never felt anything like it. The soft intensity she held as she kissed me. I look at her like I've seen a ghost, she starts frantically saying "I am so sorry. I didn't mean to, I just never would've forgiven myself if-" but I don't give her a chance to explain before kissing her back.