The sea breeze danced lightly through Jenny's hair and she savoured the familiarity of it. The sand was coarse and warm beneath her bare feet. The foaming waves rolling onto shore playfully teased around their ankles. Jenny sent a glance over her shoulder, noting the length of the beach they'd already walked. A couple of kids were flying a neon yellow and orange kite in the sky, and scarcely clad bronze bodies were scattered about on a multitude of beach towels.
Neither of them had spoken a word, and although Julian was holding her hand throughout their walk, Jenny couldn't help but feel insecure. Her mind was swamped with worry about whether Julian would be receptive to the news, and doubt was gnawing at her about whether she was ready herself.
Jenny risked a quick glance at him. The wind rippled through his shirt, pressing it tight against his physique. Her gaze followed the perfectly toned and defined muscles underneath. Heat rose to her cheeks when she realized she was staring, and Jenny tore her gaze away and focussed on the beach ahead of her instead. About a hundred yards away a large rock formation cut off the wilder and less visited stretch of beach on the other side. This would conclude their walk, Jenny knew.
But as much as she knew she had to say it, the words stuck in her throat, and her lips refused to form the syllables. Her voice was non-existent, and only air passed through her lips.
"I've been thinking," Julian broke the silence, and Jenny nearly collapsed in relief. "About tonight, Jenny. If you really want to make amends with Faye, you have my support. On one condition," Julian met her gaze sharply. "You're doing it for yourself."
Jenny's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "For myself?"
"Yes." Julian said. "If you want to kindle a friendship with Faye, feel free to do so. Above all else, she does make a worthy friend."
"I don't get it," Jenny shook her head. "You speak so highly of her, but you don't want anything to do with her yourself."
"It would benefit you to gain her as an ally, Jenny. Besides, she'll be more approachable... and civilised without me hanging around." Julian said.
"Wait. Are you telling me you're not coming tonight?" Jenny asked, stunned.
Julian responded with a look that answered her question. "You can't expect me too. I don't want to talk to Faye, and I'd be happy to never lay eyes on her again. Obviously, the feeling is mutual. There's nothing to be done about it, Jenny."
"But..." Jenny trailed off weakly, staring back at him helplessly. "But, Julian..."
"Jenny." Julian said, his voice edged with an uncharacteristic hint of annoyance.
Jenny let out her breath and looked away. If Julian didn't want to physically be there, there was nothing she could do to force him. She'll just need to work on Faye first, and then she'll devise some master plan to patch things up. If, Jenny considered, the truth behind Julian and Faye's apparent rivalry didn't destroy her in the process.
"You've been meaning to talk to me," Julian said nonchalantly.
Jenny stared back up at him. His face was a bland canvas without expression, and she knew he was giving her the opening she'd been waiting for. But with those mesmerising blue eyes on her, all words fled her mind. Jenny gazed back at him helplessly, captivated by his exotic beauty.
"Any time now, Jenny." Julian made a slight gesture with his hand, indifference changing into expectation.
Jenny didn't try to find her voice until it became clear Julian wasn't going to move unless she gave him a response. She chewed her lip nervously, and after a moment's hesitation, she disengaged her hand from his. She rubbed her hands together distractedly, avoiding his gaze by watching the bobbing heads out in the surf instead. The silence dragged out mercilessly.
"All right, come on," Julian chided, taking her clasped hands and leading her toward the rock formation. He helped her onto it easily by using outcrops as stepping stones, and after seating himself Julian tugged her down in front of him.
Jenny sat down on the smooth rock, feeling the warmth of it soak through her pants. She leaned back uncertainly, and rested her head against his chest. Julian shifted behind her, and a moment 

later his long legs straightened on either side of her. She didn't know how she was going to talk to him now. Jenny knew she had to face him when she broke the news. Now, how was she going to do this...
Julian let out a deep sigh, his breath warm against her cheek. Her uncertainty and tension gradually faded when his long slender fingers expertly kneaded the tight knots in her shoulders, loosening the tense muscles. Jenny watched the waves crash into the edge of the formation a slight distance away from where they were seated upon the rock, sending white spray into the air after every collision.
Jenny tried not to show too much disappointment when his fingers withdrew a little while later. She lifted her arms and draped them around Julian's shoulders, clasping her hands together behind his neck, and Jenny relaxed back against his chest. She tipped her head back to look up at him, finding to her startled surprise that looking at him at an angle only gave her a fresh view of his beauty. She closed her eyes and smiled when he kissed her softly on her forehead. With a content sigh, Jenny lowered her head and stared out at the ocean before them.
If only they could stay like this forever, Jenny thought wistfully. She hated to think that she was going to be the one to disrupt the intimate moment. She had to tell him before they got up to leave here. But not right this moment. She'll tell him a little later, she just wanted to savour the memory for a few more minutes.
Jenny's smile softened and deepened when Julian gently ran his hands along her arms. Smooth, loving strokes. Up, down. Up, down. Little tingly shocks followed in the wake of his touch, and Jenny lost herself in the sensation.
Reality batted an eye through her dreamy state when Julian's hands slid down her arms one more time, and unwaveringly continued their downward course until his cool fingers came to rest on her abdomen. Her heart leapt into her throat and remained there, thudding sickeningly.
His thumbs proceeded to caress the skin around her navel in small circles. He bent his head down a moment later, pressing his cheek against hers.
Jenny turned her head to look at him uncertainly. It was obvious he knew. She didn't know how he could possibly know, but he definitely knew. Julian met her gaze, his eyes blazing blue sapphires.
Jenny waited anxiously for him to say something comforting, or to go into a fit demanding why she hadn't told him sooner. The tenderness in his expression was suddenly replaced with a mischievous boyish smile, and it only succeeded in unnerving Jenny.
"How did you know?" Jenny asked, her voice breathless.
"I know you, Jenny." Julian said, clearly amused by her obvious confusion.
His reaction was bewildering, and Jenny decided to spare herself the headache of pondering about it. He must have known for some time to not be upset by it, long enough to have come to terms with it, Jenny thought. She suppressed the questions and doubts rising in her mind. It was done. Julian had figured it out somehow, and it saved her the awkwardness and fear of breaking the news to him.
"We can discuss it on the walk back home," Julian said before Jenny could get another word out. "There's no rush."
They sat like that, just holding each other, for what seemed to last forever. The wind whispered around them, and soothed their skin with a cooling caress against the baking warmth of the sun; and the roar of the waves was mesmerising. Turning to rest her cheek against Julian's chest, Jenny found familiar comfort in the rhythmic beat of his heart. Safe in the gentle embrace of his strong arms, Jenny closed her eyes and lost herself in the perfect harmony of the world around them.

Ooo888ooO

A/N: This chapter was planned to be Julian x Jenny only. I'm not very good at romantic scenes, which is why it's so short. With that said, if someone points out where I go wrong or where I can improve, the next one might be a bit longer. Hint-hint.