swim ↳ hamliza

【6】the beach

"Sorry, she loves asking questions. It's just easier to say that then explain that we're friends." Alex explained while seeing the puzzled look on Eliza's face. She was still kind of in shock from the statement but saw the reasoning behind his explanation.

Alex grabbed his jacket from his closet. "Did you wanna go to the beach? I know we just got here but I don't wanna be home when my cousins get here."

"Sure but, why?" She asked while walking back toward the door.

"They're younger so they always run in and out of here. I don't want you to have to deal with that." He responded as he threw his jacket on and walked her back toward the door. Alex grabbed the car keys and they walked back out toward the car. The car sputtered for a moment before it eventually started.

Eliza shuffled in her seat, looking around at the interior. It seemed older but smelt almost like lavender but she quickly alluded that to the car freshener on the air vent.

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The drive was pretty long when finally they reached a little cafe surrounded by Forrest.

"I've never seen this before," Eliza said, interested in this little spot Alex had managed to find.

"Yeah, John, Lafayette, and Herc showed it to me a couple of weeks ago." He grinned, parking and then getting out of the car. She got out too and followed him toward the location that was seemingly popular. As soon as they stepped foot the sudden smell of fresh coffee beans and pastries filled their noses. They sat down at a table and were quickly greeted by the waitress.

"Hey, what can I get you guys?" She smiled, obviously tired but still trying to be as friendly as she could.

"I'll have an Americano and a croissant," Alex answered.

Eliza looked briefly down at the menu, "I'll take a latte and a cannoli, please."

"Alright, I'll be right back!"

Eliza looked into his hazel eyes. He looked exhausted yet so enthusiastic to see her. She wasn't sure how that was possible but he seemed to make it work.

"Hey, the Homecoming dance is coming up. Do you think you're gonna go?" Alex asked while sliding his keys into his pocket.

"I was thinking about it, but I don't know." She thanked the waitress as she dropped off their order and began to add sugar and creamers to her latte. "How about you?"

"I'm not sure yet." He simply put, trying a bit of his Americano then added butter to the croissant.

Alex cracked a couple of jokes while they ate which made both of them laugh. By the time they had actually finished their plates, an hour had already gone by.

"It's already 6:37." Eliza sighed. "Time flies."

"Holy. Alright, there's one last place I want to take you." Alex smiled while waving the waitress down for the cheque. He began to pay for both of them.

"Hey, I can pay." Eliza felt bad because she knew Alex wasn't the richest and she didn't want him to have to foot the bill for her.

He looked up at her, "It's fine, my treat."

The waitress cleared the table as Alex grabbed Eliza's hand, leading her back outside. He showed her to a clearing in the forest near the cafe and then follow the rocky pathway to a small secluded beach. It was so pretty, especially with the sunset slowly closing in.

Alexander began to take off his shirt while Eliza looked at him curiously. "What are you doing?"

"Going for a swim. You coming?"

He then stripped down to his boxers, leaving his stuff on the sand. Eliza was on edge but she followed suit. Taking off her clothes to reveal her undergarments. He then took her hand and brought her to the shoreline.

Eliza looked down at the water worryingly, her straight black hair falling in front of her. "It looks so cold."

"You'll be fine," Alexander reassured her, finally bringing them to the water and going deeper into it. Eliza was right, it was freezing. She just followed Alex and tried to emulate his confidence. Once the water was about to their chest, he grabbed her other hand and looked at her.

He looked so nervous.

"Eliza, I brought you here because I wanted to ask you something that's been on my mind for a while now."

Eliza just looked into his beautiful chestnut brown eyes well listening attentively to him.

"I really like you, and I have for a while now-- And I want us to be more than friends."

She blushed, probably the most she had in her entire life. "Like, date?"

"Yeah," Alex replied, gulping.

Eliza stepped closer to him through the water, tightening her grip around his hands. "I would love to, Alexander."

He looked as though this huge weight had been lifted off. Turns out Eliza didn't need her sister's 'plan' after all. She felt ecstatic and over the moon as she kept looking into Alexander's beautiful eyes with butterflies in her stomach.

Alex then took a step forward and moved a hair from Eliza's face, tucking it behind her ear and then resting his palm on her neck. Eliza softly looked up and kissed him for a while, the cold water still splashing around them as he set his hand on the small of her back.

She wanted to stay there forever.