Pure | Cate Blanchett

Chapter 12

Cate

I take another bite of my sandwich. The gently moving surface is disrupted as Amanda returned to the air. She moves the hair out of her eyes and I can hear her laugh as she floated to her back and looked up at the blue, cloudless sky.

I slipped the bra I borrowed back on after my chest and back had dried. I knew I could've eaten without it on, but I guess I'm not completely comfortable with my breasts exposed for long periods of time.

The water covers everything below my waist. The sun keeps the surface water warm. The splashing and laughing from Amanda rarely ceases. I finish my late lunch and wipe my hands on each other. Looking up, Amanda is still floating on her back.

I take off my bra again and put it back in the pile of clothes. Walking towards the water, I dive in when it reaches my knees. Swimming out, I eventually reach Amanda. The lake floor is untouchable with our heads above water.

"Did you finish eating?" Amanda wipes the hair and water out of her eyes and smiles. Her brown eyes are now more hazel as the sun reflects off the water. I find my balance in the water quickly, since I have nothing to stand on.

"Yep! You looked like you could use a partner to mess around with," Amanda raises her eyebrow, suggestion written all over her face. I laugh and throw water in her face. That takes her by surprise, and of course, she returns the favor.

We continued to play fight in the lake for quite some time. Eventually getting to the point where we had migrated slowly back to where we could stand comfortably. The sun was a couple hours away from setting, the colors slowly changing the sky to provoke those sunset-inspired scenes.

"My fingers are all pruny," Amanda lifts her hands out of the water and looks at the pads of her fingers. The skin all scrunched up for added traction. She rubs her face and eventually her hair as well before looking over at me with a solemn look.

She doesn't say anything, just starts to slowly walk out of the lake. I can't help but admire her figure. The way her hips move as her legs take a new step. The way her shoulders start the curves down below her chest and above her ass. One thing I've come to appreciate about her body is how she still has a tiny bit of substance to her. Her stomach isn't as flat as those supermodels, but it's the perfect pillow.

She rings out her hair the best she can before laying down on a grassy patch by the trail. I slowly follow her, ringing my hair out and laying down next to her as well. The sun starts to dry our bodies. I swear I can feel the falling vitamin D absorb into my skin. The sunscreen we slowly put in again a few times during the day protecting us from the harmful rays, but still permitting us to tan.

I glance over at Amanda, her arms resting on her stomach. Her chest rises and falls as she breathes in the fresh air, restarting the internal clock against death. I look back up at the bright blue sky, the clouds gradually making an appearance. Not in a threatening way, but in a nice, pure, fluffy way.

We lay there silent as we dry off. The sun occasionally hiding behind the clouds. Our breathing is soft and calm. The wind brings small waves up towards us, but not close enough to touch us.

I look back over towards Amanda, letting the side of my head fall to the ground. Her eyes are closed and her face is calm. I look down her body, the water droplets slowly evaporating off of her skin. Following her curves, I see a small amount of ink just above her hip, wrapping around to her back.

"Can I ask you a question?" Amanda doesn't move, she just bums a response.

"Is there a special meaning behind your tattoo?" Amanda opens her eyes and glances down towards her tattoo. Sighing, she adjusts her arms so her hands are underneath her head.

"A broken relationship," Amanda sits up and wrings out any water left in her hair and crosses her legs. I sit up after she stays in that position longer than normal. She hides her face behind her hair, which I can tell wasn't intentional. I continue to look over at her, not exactly knowing what to do or say next.

"The bottle is my mother, and the brush is me," She sniffs and briefly wipes her nose to try and stop the rush of snot. She places her hands in her lap and plays with her fingers. I could only assume it is to help control how she's feeling.

"You don't have to explain further. I think I understand..." I reach out and offer a hand. I don't place my hand on her knee or shoulder, mostly because I felt she would appreciate an offered hand over physical touch. She takes it and brings it to the middle of her lap, where her hands were a minute ago.

"She was supposed to help me become me, dip me into her life and love and help me learn to walk on my own. The spill represents what was supposed to coat me, or the brush," Amanda is still for a couple seconds while I am internally speechless. She looks over at me before scooting over and laying her head down in my lap. She grabs me and I hold her, giving her the touch and comfort that she desires and needs now.

Amanda is still. She lays without movement for more than a few minutes. I play with her hair, petting her head to try and show her that I am here for her without the need for words to be used. Amanda sits up eventually, walking over the pile of clothes and starting to get dressed. I stand up and start to do the same.

She is dressed before me. As I finish up, she takes the chance to take out her vintage cigarette container, sliding a cigarette out in one fluid motion. Taking out a lighter, she tilts her head towards the sky as she takes her first drag. She stands motionless for a moment or two, looking up at the sky. Her cigarette between her fingers.

"Ready to start another adventure?" She raises an eyebrow and smiles silly. I walk over to her, my steps smaller than usual. I run my fingers down her arm, taking her cigarette between my fingers. I take a drag, mimicking how she did a few seconds ago. I replace the cigarette back between her fingers. Leaning down, I briefly kiss her perfect lips.

"With you?" The cigarette lingers on her lips, not that I mind. I take one of her piercings between my lips carefully, playing with it using my tongue. I feel her breathing stutter. I kissed her one last time before resting the tip of my nose on hers.

"Absolutely."
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Authors Note:

Do you guys see the picture and song I add at the top? They help add to the aesthetic and feel of the chapter. If you're into that ofc.

Thank you so much for reading!!! Please consider commenting and voting if you enjoyed!

Love You!!!
-B