We spent the whole day at the beach. We go to the beach a lot, we never got sick of it, but we never stayed the whole day. At the time of dinner Joe ran back to his car and came back with a picnic basket.
"Romantic?" I questioned. "How unlike you." I laughed. Joe rolled his eyes. I opened the basket to some sandwiches, chips and bottles of apple juice.
"Great napkins!" I smiled before reaching my hand back down in the basket. It was stuck. I tugged harder before I pulled it out. They weren't napkins but slips of paper. I looked up at Joe who looked nervous. I read the paper. They were plane tickets. I pressed the paper closer to my face. To New York City.
"We're going to New York!" I screamed. Before he could respond I attacked him into a hug, sitting on him.
"Thank you!" I kissed him quickly. I was going to New York.
"I love you!" I muffled into his chest. He patted my back
"Love ya too."
I was going to New York with Joe. I repeated that thought in my mind over and over again. I couldn't be happier.
We walked into the cold sand of the beach as the sun went down. We were again making faces at each other and occasionally splashing in the ocean.
"Oh my god." I panicked immediately hiding behind Joe.
"What? What is it?" He asked while he tried to get me out from behind him but I keep dodging behind his body.
"Colin." I whispered softly.
"Who? The bloke in the blue polo?"
I nodded terrified. I felt Joe's body get tense
"Maybe if we don't look at him he won't see-" it was too late. We were spotted.
"Anna?" Colin asked curiously. "Is that you?"
I stood up straight and didn't look at him.
"Hello Colin."
"And this is..." Colin motioned over to Joe.
"This is Joe Walker; my boyfriend." I stuttered. I could feel my legs shaking: a nervous habit I had.
Colin pursed his lips like he ate a sour candy.
"I see, band boy." He said flatly. I don't know why he expected anything different. What did he think that I had dumped Joe and this guy was now my gay best friend? No.
I looked up at Joe. He looked more angrier than I've ever seen him. His eyebrows were far down in a scowl, his teeth clenched tightly.
"Hi." He spoke without breaking the scowl. Colin smirked evilly. I grasped Joe's hand tightly and squeezed.
"Your girlfriend is quite a prize my friend." Colin taunted pacing back and forth in front of us. He paused and placed a hand on my shoulder lightly; flirty. I wanted to choke him. "We shared some good time together back at the Seagull." He stopped and faced Joe head on. "But I think my favorite moment was when I stuck my tongue down her throat."
"Colin stop." I attempted, my voice breaking. I dug my fingernails into Joe's palm, my face breaking out into sweat.
"Her lips were soft and tasted like strawberries. She had eaten a lot of strawberry taffy that day. I was expecting to have the shit beaten out of me the next day but then I remembered. You weren't around. You were in a completely different state. You left her."
Joe chewed on his tongue on the side of his mouth as if he was biting his words.
"Screw it." He mumbled before he punched Colin right in the face. Colin fell right into the sand with a thud. I was shocked, but also trying not to smile. I stood there with my mouth gapping.
"You listen to me you little prick." Joe threatened with a voice I'd nerve heard before. "You ever touch her like you did that night then I swear you will get the beating of your lifetime whether I am halfway across the world or not I will come a beat your scrawny little ass. Next if you ever accuse me of leaving her again then I will kick my foot so far up your ass that Voldemort would be crying to his dead mother. And stay out of my personal business and my girlfriend."
At that moment Joe scared the living shit out of me. I was ready to run away from him. Colin also looked terrified but he tried not to show it. He stood up calmly. And then attacked me. His lips were again on mine while I still held Joe's hand. What the hell was wrong with this guy! My eyes were still wide open and Joe stood there shocked. I pushed Colin off me but his nails dug into my skin. Suddenly he was off me completely. Joe was in a red hot rage. Not only did he punch him once, but three times, not including the one before. I had to put a hand on Joe so he wouldn't kill him. I thought for a second he was going to punch me too. But he took a deep breath and waited for Colin to look at him again.
"Get the hell out of here." Joe said darkly. Colin stood up nonchalantly and strolled by us his shoulder slamming into mine. His nose was gushing and would look like he would have a black eye and several bruises on his body.
"This isn't over." He grumbled.
"You bet your ass it is." I retorted. I never wanted him near me again. Even though I sounded tough I was completely terrified. I thought this was going to be that dream all over again. The dream felt ages ago. I tried to blink back tears but they escaped, and rolled down my cheeks furiously. I grasped Joe's arm tightly my forehead resting on his bicep hiding my teared face. I could feel myself sobbing.
"Hey," Joe spoke softly. He wiped my tears with his thumbs. "Don't cry, crying is stupid." I managed to let out a small laugh. "And it makes your face all puffy and ugly. Don't have Colin make you puffy and ugly momentarily." He added. I laughed again shaking my head.
"You have a way with words Walker you know that?" I smirked. He shrugged with a grin.
"It's a gift and a curse."
I smacked him on the shoulder. He was such a dork.
"I was so scared." I whispered. Still overcoming recent events. I felt Joe getting tense again.
"He's a creep." Joe stated. I was still shaking.
All of a sudden he grasped me into a bone crushing hug. It was a little painful but relaxing. I could feel my body steadying.
No words needed to be said. He was my rock. And I was his.
