Moments of Summer: Part 1- Sweet Ocean Air

Chapter 4: Ariel's Boyfriend

      We arrive at Ariel’s apartment a little before sun down. I can't stop thinking about Cameron, not like that’s anything new. It’s crazy to think that this afternoon actually happened. When we were together it didn’t feel like I was just another fan girl and he was some big celebrity. It was real and it was us. I gently brought my hand to my mouth dragging it back to me cheek, where hours ago Cameron’s hand had laid. I bite down on my lip recalling the memory, then quickly wish I hadn’t. I had forgotten my lip was still swollen.

He almost kissed me.

     Lacy turns quickly slapping me in the thigh, jerking me from my day dream. “Holy crap! She wasn’t kidding. It really is right on the beach!” 

My eyes bug out, taking in the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen. We don’t get these kind of sunsets in Virginia because of all the mountains. Her place was surprisingly extremely nice. Not something you would expect a fresh-out-of-high-school-out-of-work-artist to be able to afford. We drag out luggage to the gated entrance and eagerly press the buzzer. I look at Lacy, whose smile is beaming, mirroring my face perfectly.

“EEEKKK,” a high pitch squeal comes from the speaker. Moments later Ariel appears at the door. 

She looks exactly the same, tall thin frame, covered with a “California tan”. Her sharp heart shaped face outlined with her wavy sun streaked hair. She is sporting paint splattered overalls (the kind that are shorts at the bottom) and a plain white cami underneath. Ariel has never been one for fashion. 

After we all exchange hugs, we head inside for a tour of her “humble abode” as she puts it. “..and this is where you guys will be staying.” She swings up the dark oak door revealing the room. It was a cozy kind of small, with cream covered walls. There was a very intricate wooden bunk bed in the corner next to the single window. 

“I carved it myself for you guys and…my boyfriend put it together.” 

Our heads jerk up simultaneously. “Oh yeah!” I exclaim. “When do we get to meet this mystery man?”

“Umm. Now if you want.” She shrugs.

“Wait he’s-” 

“here?” I whisper finishing Lacy’s sentence.

“Mhm,” She nods he head “but you guys have to promise not to freak. Okay? He hates it when people do that.”

I find myself getting suddenly nervous. Is he some kind of celebrity? I guess that could happen, I mean we are in California. I find myself wondering back to Cameron and I on the beach. Could we ever be a couple? Ariel walks back into the room interrupting my day dream.

“Okay guys. So umm we’ve been dating since graduation and we are really really really  happy together. So please don’t be mad at me for not telling you guys. I-”

“Oh my gosh Ariel! Just shut up and let him in already!” Lacy laughs.

A smile crosses Ariel’s face, revealing her not so perfect teeth. She always talked about how much she wanted braces, but I think it works for her. “I’ve missed you guys.”

“Ariel!” Lacy and I scream.

“Okay, okay.” She lifts her hands in surrender. “Babe, will you come in here now.”

We here footsteps coming down the hall. The guy walks up to Ariel and kisses the top of her head then drapes his arm over her shoulder. She responds by grabbing his hand then beaming a smile up at him. Standing before us, is a tall, freckled, slightly boyish man. He has messy light brown hair and hazel eyes, shadowed by the kind of lashes a girl would die for.