"Where are they?" I thought impatiently. I stepped into the bathroom that connected my room to the guest room that should have been occupied already. I checked to make sure I looked good in my cute little white shorts and my ah-dorable teal tank top was perfectly adjusted and looked effortless. I checked my perfectly wavy, brown hair to make sure it was parted straight. I heard a noise, a quiet noise like… a car engine! They're here! I bolted down the stairs, nearly taking out my Aunt Jenny as she headed down the hall towards the door. I heard the familiar British drawl coming from outside as I silently opened the door.
"It's so much hotter in Florida than I remember." Phil's voice innocently proclaimed.
"Maybe that's cause you've been away too long." I countered pulling the silly lion into a hug of welcome.
"Lexa! How excellent to see you!" Phil exclaimed returning the hug.
"Is that my godson or did a lion escape from the zoo?" Jenny called from the door.
"Jenny!" Phil called enthusiastically as he rushed to hug her. I turned to face Dan, as he retreated from his argument with the cab driver I closed the distance between us and hugged him against me.
"Dan" I breathed. Feeling him against me made my mind spin and my body fill with electric energy.
"Lexa? Is that honestly you?" he whispered in return as I pulled away regretfully soon to nod at him. He hadn't seen me in years. Not since… no! I couldn't cry in front of him. "Wow, erm so you're living with Jenny now?" he asked while his eyes took in my new physique.
"Yeah, come on." I responded, grabbing his hand and towing him towards the house to greet Jenny.
"Hello Ms. Clark." Dan offered shyly.
"Oh Daniel call me Jenny, none of this formality!" Jenny laughed. Dan just awkwardly nodded. I had to act; this was on the verge of getting weird.
"K guys, I'll show you your rooms." I sent Jenny GO-SIT-DOWN-AND-REST eyes as I led the boys upstairs. I heard a faint sigh and footsteps I was immediately satisfied with myself. She couldn't get sick like… stop thinking! I mentally scolded myself and gestured to the left, the lone bedroom, "Phil" he got the beautiful baby blue room that had the most amazing view in the whole beach house. I led Dan down the hallway to the right, past my room, to which I had sloppily left the door open. I mentally cursed the fact I was so anxious for Dan and Phil to arrive to pay attention to what I was doing. I felt him stop walking.
"I stayed in here last time" Dan spoke quietly and I heard Phil's door shut as he began to talk to his camera. "Why didn't your aunt put you in the other one it's a lot bigger…" he trailed off glancing into my room. I glanced in too, hoping nothing embarrassing was in plain sight. Nope. Just my posters and epic, collectable video game paraphernalia.
"Room's this way Dan." I spoke finally, feeling both awkward and a little dizzy as Dan took my hand again, "Unless you would rather snoop throughout my room." I smiled as I watched him blush. "I'm only kidding Dan, come on."
"Alright" he chuckled. I pulled him into his temporary room. He glanced around before setting down his bag and pulling our intertwined hands up to play with absently as he asked,
"How long have you been living in Florida?" I looked into his chocolate brown eyes and instantly knew my answers were safe with him.
"After… I mean about a year and a half." Shit he's totally going to know I'm leaving something out. Unless… did Jenny tell Phil? Maybe, but probably not.
"What happened?" he asked "You can tell me Lexa, I'm a steel trap remember?" he joked instantly earning giggles from me.
"Oh okay" I said sitting on his bed. He sat with me and waited patiently for me to begin. "Well, my mom was really sick for quite a while with some kind of hereditary disease and… she… just, died about two years ago and my dad couldn't handle it-" I broke off holding back tears. He slowly enfolded me in a hug, calming the tears and exciting my body. "Sorry" I breathed shakily. "He just decided he couldn't handle being without her and he killed himself around six months later." I felt Dan breathe and hold me tighter. It was silent for a moment and we heard Phil talking to his lions.
"Lexa, we had no idea. I'm so sorry. Phil only said you'd been living here for a while, he didn't know either. I'm not going to say it is okay, but I couldn't even imagine going through this."
"I think Phil's looking for us." I responded as I heard Phil calling down the hallway.
"DOLPHINS! DAN! LEXA! DOLPHINS!" Oh no he looked out the window. I sighed and turned to face Dan to see his head resting on my shoulder. This is awkward I thought but no way in hell was I going to break this kind of contact with Dan! I've had the hugest crush on him ever since I first met him. Probably a year before mom died. I remember I had been on vacation here to visit Jenny and Phil came with Dan for their vacation. Dan sighed,
"We should get him to the dolphins, I mean before he explodes." I laughed at this, breaking the tension.
"I guess you're right, it's a short walk to the beach from here." Wow romantic you IDOIT! I didn't need to say anything more because Phil chose that moment to open the door, thankfully Dan's head wasn't on my shoulder and his arms weren't encasing me when Phil poked his head in.
"Guys! What have you been doing? Come on let's go see the dolphins! Jenny said the beach is really close and we can hang out down there while she makes dinner, I offered to help but she said it was an old family recipe that would only be handed down when she died. Weird, right?" I felt Dan tense but I didn't let it bother me, I smiled and responded with as much enthusiasm as possible.
"Sure Phil that'll be great! We could go swim with the dolphins if you want." Phil's head looked about to explode as he turned to Dan expectantly.
"Can we Dan? Please?" I laughed at the intense puppy-dog eyes Phil sent at him.
"Who am I to argue?" Dan gave in. Phil smiled and ducked out of the room to go put on his swimsuit. Dan called after him "Would you let Jenny know? I haven't even unpacked yet."
"Sure Dan." came Phil's voice from down the hall.
"You big softie." I smirked at him.
"How could I turn down you and the puppy-dog eyes?" he asked jokingly, I laughed. His face suddenly became serious. "Lexa…" he trailed off as I put a finger to his lips and gently whispered,
"Shh, get dressed Phil's probably waiting" I quickly kissed his forehead and stepped through our conjoined bathroom into my bedroom. I instantly closed the door and fell back on my bed, fangirling. I quickly began to get dressed into my swimsuit, a sexy bikini, and my dozens of woven bracelets on my wrists I was just as worried about my appearance as I was before. I knocked on Dan's door to see if he was ready. I was surprised to watch the door swing open quickly to reveal glimpse of a bare-chested Dan and then I was gently pulled into his room, right into him. I felt his arms and then his lips, tasting sweet and feeling delicious on mine; as I closed my eyes. Then he was gone I opened them to see his beautiful face smirking at me.
"Look who it is." He spoke finally, after an extremely long silence.
"How did you know it wasn't Phil?" I asked.
"Phil doesn't knock" he laughed.
"Oh come on" I said under my breath. Grasping his hand and pulling him down the stairs. I dropped his hand when we came around the corner to the kitchen to face Jenny.
"Oh!" she startled "Phil was anxious to get going so he left without you, I gave him directions but do make sure he hasn't wandered off."
"Sure Jenny, did you really not need any help?" I asked, concerned.
"Oh no dear, that's quite alright you already do so much." She sat down at the table and I watched her warily for a moment before deciding it was alright for us to go. I led Dan out the patio door, down the deck stairs and into the beautiful sand. We saw Phil about 50 yards down the beach talking to the lifeguard. Crap I knew that guy. I pulled Dan close enough to hear what they were saying,
"So is England really as rainy as everyone says?"
"I dunno, what are people saying?" I heard Phil chuckle as Dan swiftly tugged me to where they were talking.
"Phil, quit being such a tourist." Dan mock-scolded rolling his eyes he turned to the lifeguard. "Sorry about my friend here, he's a little slow." Dan made cuckoo signs with the hand that wasn't gripping mine. Both Phil and I laughed.
"Wait, you're Danisnotonfire!" The hot lifeguard realized. "Lexa? How do YOU know them?" Before I could stutter a response Dan responded.
"None of your business." Huh. Who would have thought he would be the jealous type?
"Um, my Aunt is Phil's godmother. Is that sufficient?" I stuttered.
"Sure it is Lex, sure it is." He countered easily.
"Luke, your arrogance is showing. Do you mind? For the millionth time quit calling me Lex! It's annoying!" I seethed, Dan squeezed my hand gently and I leaned into him, not looking awkward because he was already close enough I could do that and not look like a freak. The three of us watched Luke roll his eyes.
"Whatever Lexa." Luke obviously couldn't think of anything intelligent to say. It was my turn to roll my eyes.
"Let's go guys." I pulled Dan gently away from him, and Phil trailed along behind us, taking in all the sights and probably trying to see dolphins in the clear blue water. "He's just a guy I knew from high school. I just graduated about a month after I saw you guys last time." I felt Dan's hand squeeze mine in sympathy for my parents. "He's a serious douche." This needed no response from either of them. We walked in silence until we reached the part of the beach that allowed animal life. Then Phil got excited and rushed into the waves to meet his dolphin friends. Dan towed me along with him as we slowly reached the edge of the water. "I'm sorry about Luke; he's just an asshole who enjoys getting the best of me."
"You know you get the most adorable little crease in your eyebrows when you're angry…" Dan muttered just loud enough for me to hear him.
"Dan! Were you listening to me or not?" I questioned faux-angrily.
"Ugh" Dan groaned, "don't tell me we've turned into that couple" my eyebrows shot upwards "I mean um…"
"Couple." I playfully mused. "Lexa Rose Smith and Daniel Howel, dating, as in boyfriend and girlfriend." Hmmmm I could get used to that. Dan smiled bitterly.
"If you want to make jokes just keep going."
"Who said anything about joking? I'm completely serious Daniel." I looked into his eyes and felt his free hand move up to cup my face. "Dan, Phil's out there somewhere." He moved his face closer, signifying he obviously didn't care who saw. I dropped his hand and laid mine to rest around his neck, letting him know I didn't mind either. I watched his pupils dilate as his face closed the distance between us until his lips met mine. I had kissed guys before but this was far more intense, he responded urgently by angling his face and body to deepen the kiss. His hands that gripped my waist urged my body closer to his. God, I never wanted this to end. His tongue slid along my lower lip as he silently requested entrance to my mouth, my body sighed in response and I opened my mouth allowing his tongue in. He just tasted so good. As his tongue explored my mouth my arms tightened around his neck. He groaned, slowly pulling away from me and this kiss. A whine escaped the both of us as I bit his lip in a last attempt to keep him with me. He still pulled away from me and I let him go, disappointed.
"Lexa." he laughed, "don't look at me like that." he gestured to my pouting expression. "We have to find Phil; he could have drowned for all we know."
"Or he could be over there kissing a dolphin." Dan turned around eager to see that. Then, realizing that I was kidding turned back to me, amused.
"Oh you naughty little devil you." He teased planting a kiss in my forehead.
"I said 'he could be' he wasn't but he might've been." I reasoned.
"Well jokes aside we really do need to find him Lexa."
"I know" I grumbled, "let's go look for the lion." Dan and I released each other in order to search for our friend. I scanned the water in search of him but to no avail. "I can't find him" I started to get worried, Phil was like a child. Well now he was a lost child. Panic set in and I gripped Dan's hand tightly. He really could have drowned! What if he was Youtuber-napped? He won't have his cell phone on him because it's a beach! What are we going to do?
"Ah wait, there he is!" Dan cried out. He pulled me along with him. A gift shop?! Who goes to a gift shop on the beach with no money?! We pulled him out of it and back into the water. We all swam around for a while and decided we would go back to the house to eat since we were all pretty tired.