Sealed Hearts. Chapter One.
The golden grainy sand beneath their feet was sparkling like millions of tiny jewels under the shimmering sun. Christine's smile was wide and genuine as Michael slipped an arm round her waist, walking up the sand. Christine opened her bag carefully, but as she lost grip on one of the straps, she found her lesson plans drifting off, over to the sea.
"Erm, Michael..." She said, worry in her voice. "That's the How good's your memory?" He gently asked, a laugh gently being released from his lips as she shook her head a tiny "Rubbish..." escaping her lips as she panicked. Michael turned towards the sea, beginning to run to it. The cool seawater took in his presence as he searched for her lesson plans; the white foam from the sea surrounded him as the waves from the majestic deep blue sea carried on crashing against the shore.
The fish were concealed with the currents of water varied with a number of haphazard objects including; bottles and seaweed.
Christine's sweet laughter could be heard as she saw Michael rummaging and investigating the close area of the sea on his quest to find her lesson plans.
She smiled, just a little smile at first, but as it grew it pressed her rosy cheeks up and slowly uncovered her teeth, like perfect pearls, dropped in a rose. Finally the smile reached her eyes, lighting them, making them twinkle, and causing them to crinkle at the corners with happiness, amusement even possibly... no. Not yet...
Diverting her from her train of thought, Michael began yelling from the water.
"I've got them!" He yelled, to which she began laughing once again, bending over to watch him.
"Just another twelve to go!" She called back in her rhotic Scottish accent, before commencing in a fit of giggles, her clear eyes twinkling with delight as he shot her a wink.
"Hey, I am the super head!" He chuckled before stumbling, tripping over his stick launching face first in the freezing cold water, and the foam from the water covering over where he had been. The only sound was the laughter from Christine, until she realised Michael hadn't surfaced yet. Kicking off her shoes in a panic, she ran straight into the ice cold water, her eyes scouring the water for any glimpse of where Michael could be. She felt someone yank on her leg and before she knew it she was under the water, squeals filling the area as she tried to stand up, pulling Michael up with her. She noticed Michael's hands around her waist but dismissed any romantic meaning.
"Michael!" she gasped. "I thought you were drowning!" she sounded mad, but the smile was still very much there; and for the first time in a very long time, it reached her eyes.
"I was lonely in here!" He laughed. "Anyway...I think these lesson plans are long gone..." he laughed, holding up a sodden lesson plan, all the ink run, smeared across the page; once formed words a mess of ink and water on a page.
"I was worried, you know!" She laughed, looking down at her soaking wet clothes before looking back up at him.
He took a bit of her hair that had fallen down over her face and put it behind her ear gently, smiling softly as he did to.
"Why don't we get home? You're gonna catch a cold." He said compassionately.
She smiled softly as she looked up at him and nodded, "Yeah, thanks. You should too." She said softly. "You've been in there longer."
With a slight nod, Michael lifted Christine up gently, carrying her out of the water before placing her down and smiling.
"I'll walk you home." He smiled, shaking his head, water droplets springing from his hair.
Christine watched as she bent down, slowly picking up her bag, taking in every detail of his body, how his shirt clung to his muscular body through his white linen shirt.
As they finally reached Christine's house, their smiles had not dropped, neither from their lips nor their eyes.
They were still laughing and joking, being the happy selves neither of them had been recently.
Nevertheless, Christine knew the minute she walked through that door, she would be drawn back into the world of misery, lies and temptation.
"Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow." He said softly. It was more of a statement then a question. "Will Connor be in? Or is he still ill?" he asked, genuinely concerned for her sons health. If only he knew the truth...
"He will be, yes. I'll make sure he is." She smiled gently, walking up the path ro her house, rummaging through the contents of her bag for the front door keys.
"Bye then," Michael smiled before reaching up and brushing his lips against her cheek, his light stubble grazing over her silky soft unblemished skin.
As he pulled back, his eyes were closed, half expecting a slap – but was surprisingly contented when a bright smile met his eyes.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Michael." She smiled softly before making her way inside, shutting the door behind her.
She instantly fell against the door, her eyes closing and a large smile perched upon her lips.
She walked into the lounge where she was greeted Connor, a miserable look perched upon his face, his eyes blood shot from lack of sleep and the never ending well of tears of guilt and fear pouring.
"Connor, you look dreadful son..." She sighed, walking over to him, wrapping him up in a maternal hug.
"I can't do it mum, I can't go back, I can't face her..." He spoke shakily as the tears began to fall once again. Christine pulled back from the hug, resting her hands on his shoulders and keeping him at arm's length.
"You have to, Connor. You need to face what you've done. You need to walk in there, and act normal otherwise people are going to star questioning our story, start wondering whether I'm covering for you..." She sighed. "You can do it, son. And I'll be there with you; every step of the way." She said softly, her eyes glimmering with truth as she stroked her son's hair, before wiping away his tears.
Connor slowly nodded before making his way upstairs. Christine watched him before making his way to the kitchen, making herself a cup of coffee, relaxing at the scent of the strong coffee.
She heard her phone beep twice and realised she had a text. When she looked at her screen, she couldn't help the smile that graced her face.
'Thinking of you. Remember, get out of those wet clothes! See you tomorrow, Michael.'
