Affinity

Bliss

The next day consisted of me meeting some of the town; most of the town, actually. Adam had to stop by a few places to get groceries and other things so as we went, I seemed to be introduced more times than I can remember. Oddly enough, no one seemed to care or take notice I was famous at all. It felt good for once. Everyone is so sweet, I don't understand why Adam's parents didn't want to just stay there.

When I asked him about it last night, he said they weren't cut out for such a small town. They built here to raise and family except they never stayed long enough to raise that family themselves.

Today, though, as Adam was reminded of countless times yesterday, he is playing in the first beach volleyball game of the season. Despite the distant chill that brushed the wind every few minutes, that didn't seem half as bad as New York, they were playing shirts and skins with jerseys. It was definitely hot enough to be without a jersey, even though it was about as thin as a towel.

The beach was relatively crowded. A lot of the town had came out. Kids ran down the beach, ducking under the net as if it was there for a completely different purpose. A few families had thought ahead to bring lawn chairs even though some men decided to drag in a set of bleachers from the school's small football field.

I take my liberty walking a short ways down the beach, never too far from the scene. Adam had gone to change at home but said he'd be back well before it started.

I double back past the court, and finding a girl around my age jogging towards me, I stop.

"Hi, you're Taylor, right?" The girl says. Her tan skin sets a similar contrast to her even darker bobbed hair. She was a lot shorter than me. I braced myself for being recognized. "I'm Christina. I went to school with Adam. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too," I say, smiling. I find it's better to actually get to know people here if I want to fit in. "Do you know anyone playing?"

I regret it the second I say it. Obviously she knows people playing, she's lived here for awhile.

She must see my expression because she laughs and nudges my shoulder with her elbow.

"Yeah, my fiancé is playing," She juts a nod towards the court towards a couple guys gathered, from the opposite team. "Where's Adam? I haven't gotten the chance to say hey."

"He should be coming soon, he just ran home to grab the jersey he got yesterday. He forgot it."

"Typical." She says and we laugh. "Hey, if you need a place to sit."

She nods encouragingly and i say thanks, then find a shape materialize away from the crowds but by the side of the street behind her. He comes closer into view, and slowly, I get a better look at him.

He approaches quickly, as if he had spotted me all along, and smiles as he draws closer. My breath did a little hitch in my throat as it always did with Adam's smile. "Christina, how are you?Haven't seen you in forever."

"Haven't been around in forever, Dixon." She grins as he hugs her shortly and steps back to facing all of us. He wears regular board shorts but his jersey curled up around the middle of his long torso, halfway up his stomach.

I smirked, forgetting the rest of the world for a moment, and I cover my mouth with one hand.

"I think it's about time you move up to the big boy shirts," Christina says and she's met with a testing glare.

"Funny. That's the first time I've heard that one today," Adam shakes his head at me, then playfully pinched the ticklish part of my side. "Not you, too."

"I think you look cute." I state.

"Cute," He repeats, as if I'd called him something horrible. He leans down and kiss me, the kind that makes the world tilt, and I grab his shirt so I don't fall over.