Chapter One

Jude sat looking out at the ocean from the sandy beach. The weather was cold, but he hardly felt the wind touching his cheeks. He was lost… lost deep in a memory. In the water's waves he saw visions from his past, various places, people, but all of them centered around… That Girl.

If he told his story, would anybody listen? It's a long story, of love, hate, pain, pleasure… But it was a story that needed to be told if to no one but the ocean itself…

His story was about a girl. The girl you want so bad it makes you sorry, still, you don't regret a single day. A girl…

His past flashes before his eyes in the crashing waves. He sees her, being pushed aside. He sees her being pulled away from him. He sees her turn to look at him, afraid, with her eyes like diamonds in the sky.

His story begins so long ago, before he'd even left Liverpool. Before he'd ever met her. He'd crossed the Universe since then.

--

Lucy's chest pounded in excitement as she danced with her boyfriend, Daniel. She felt so risqué, dancing so close to him, but this was her senior year of high school, and she had earned this. Through their four years of high school, they'd always been the perfect couple. Even their names were hardly ever spoken without the other. Daniel-and-Lucy, Lucy-and-Daniel. Everyone knew they were destined to be together. A few years of college for Lucy, a few years in the Army for Daniel (there was a war on…) and then soon the two of them would be settling down for many years of quiet marriage.

But thoughts of the future weren't on Lucy's mind tonight. All she was thinking about was having Daniel hold her close and dance the night away. She put her gloved hands gently on his face. "Daniel," she whispered to him, even though she was fairly sure he wouldn't be able to hear her over the band on the stage. "I love you."

He grinned at her anyway, and took her swinging across the dance floor.

--

Sweat was pouring down Jude's back, despite the colder weather. The club was full and everyone was moving, pushed close against each other. His eyes trailed around some of the other girls dancing around the room. Molly pulled his face toward him and gave him a sultry half smile as they danced to the song, the band's loud music pounding around them. He raised his eyebrows suggestively.

"Tell me I'm the only one." She said to him. "And then I might." She pushed him off her and continued to dance.

He gave her a smile and pulled her by the hands to the middle of the dance floor.

--

Daniel had borrowed his parent's car that night, for the dance and afterwards, used it to drive Lucy home. Instead of going right to her house though, he drove to a small secluded place, infamous for teenagers' hidden escapades. He leaned into her and began kissing her, a different kind of kiss then she'd felt from him before. He pressed on, leaning her back in her chair, kissing the side of her neck in a way that felt exhilarating.

"Lucy," he said, a kind of growl in his voice, and his hand fumbled forward to begin trying to unzip the back of her dress.

"Daniel!" She shrieked, suddenly pushing him back.

"Lucy," he looked at her with a slight desperation in his face. "Lucy, I'm leaving soon. Couldn't we before I left…"

Lucy had never imagined that she would be asked this sort of question before her wedding night, but now she stopped to consider. He was going to be gone soon, gone to the Army.

"It's not like we're not going to married anyway." He smiled at her, and her heart melted.

She closed her eyes and leaned against him, giving a small nod.

Daniel smiled and put his hands gently on her back, holding her close.

--

Jude held his arm around Molly, half to keep her close and half just for support. It had been a long night, and the sun was already starting to rise. He was half asleep already, and looking forward to his upstairs bed waiting for him.

"Who will take me out next week?" Molly asked him, "You'll be half way around the world."

Jude stopped walking and she turned around to look at him. Jude sighed inwardly. He'd known this conversation was coming for a while and knew he couldn't avoid it any longer.

"Well, it'd better not be Phil Sculley." He replied, trying to deflect with humor. She rolled her eyes and turned away from him, continuing to march forward.

"Oh come on." He ran to keep up with her and wrapped his arms around her waist, laughing. She couldn't help but let a smile cross her face. She loved him too damn much, was her problem.

--

Daniel and Lucy stood on her doorstep saying their last goodbyes for the night. She smiled up at him and flushed under their secret knowledge of what happened a few hours ago. It had been uncomfortable, and neither of them had been entirely sure what to do but they'd both had their first and it had been with each other. Besides, Daniel had assured her. They had years and years together to get it just right. Lucy had glowed with pride. That was as good of a proposal she could ask for. Now all she had to do was wait, and she could do that for him.

"I'll be back soon!" He insisted, giving her another kiss on the doorstep. "They give you a furlough after boot camp."

"And after that?" She asked, trying to keep from trembling under his touch.

He put his hands around her waist gently and answered her with a kiss.