Magic Shop - Paul Lahote FF

Three

True to his word, I see Paul the next day. Although, it was accidental. With the store closed for the weekend and my parents out of town, I realized how badly I needed to get out and do something. Angela Weber, a girl I've shared classes with since preschool, messaged me early this morning. With the sun out and the temperature unusually warm, her and her friends will be taking advantage of this day and going down to the beach in La Push. Angela had heard of my nonexistent summer plans and asked if I would like to join them. I agreed simply because Angela had always been kind to me, plus how else would I spend this beautiful day?

The drive to the beach takes about forty minutes, the time spent with Jessica Stanley and Mike Newton flirting nonstop and Eric Yorkie making gagging noises every time Jessica giggled - which seemed to happen like every three minutes.

When we finally reach the crowded beach, I stumble out of the car quickly. "How can you listen to that and not want to stitch your ears shut?" I whisper to Angela as she appears besides me.

She snorts loudly, covering it up with a cough when Jessica glances at her with a raised brow. Angela dismisses the girl with a wave of her hand and Jessica returns to pestering Mike. "You get used to it I guess."

Eric jumps out from the car. "Quit gossiping and get your asses in the water." He takes his shirt off and tosses it at Angela's head. The two of us share a glance, quickly stripping down to our swimsuits - which we had changed into before laving - and chasing after Eric. The couple joins us, and the five of us swim and splash one another for hours.

~~~~

It's mid-afternoon. Angela, Jessica, and I laying on our beach towels as the boys fail at building a sandcastle. "Hey, Caroline." Jessica suddenly speaks up. "Who's that guy staring at you?" I follow her finger, my eyes landing on none other than Paul sitting on a lawn chair next to Sam and Emily. He notices me staring back at him and smiles gently, standing up and making his way over here. "Holy shit, he's coming this way."

Paul soon stands before the three of us. "Caroline, fancy seeing you here." He greets. With the sun shining his eyes twinkle brightly. My eyes can't help but stray from his face, my cheeks burning as I realize he's no wearing a shirt.

"Um, well the weather's nice, so we decided to come swimming." I curse myself in my head. Really? The weather's nice?

Paul smirks, turning to the two girls next to me. "Do you mind if I steal her from you?" Angela and Jessica shake their heads, and I take Paul's hand as he reaches down to help me up.

"You're not taking me somewhere to murder me, right?" I question as we walk away from the girls. He laughs and shakes his head. "Good, then where are we going?"

"Well, Caroline Rouse." I quirk a brow at him. "Sam may have told me your last name. Mine's Lahote, by the way. Anyways, I did tell you yesterday I'd see you soon."

I smirk at the boy. "So, you've been asking about me?" We find a place to sit away from our friends, but close enough that I can still see Jessica wiggling her brows at me.

"Is it creepy? It's probably really creepy." He confesses. "I just wanted to know more about the gorgeous counter girl."

"Yeah? Like what?" Apparently Paul wanted to know everything. I did share some facts, and he told me some things as well, but there are a few secrets I prefer to keep to myself. We talked for hours, the sun slowly fading away. My phone beeps with a message from Angela, informing me her and the others are going to be leaving soon. "I should go." I say to Paul, standing to my feet and brushing sand off my legs. "My friends are ready to leave and I don't want to be stuck here."

Paul also stands. "Would it be weird if I asked for your number?" Shaking my head, I hand my phone over. He puts in his number and then messages himself so he has mine. "Good, now we can keep talking."

My face heats up. "It was nice talking with you Paul. I'll see you later." Eric smirks at me as I climb into the seat next to him. "Shut up."