Fi, Jack and I explored the city all day. It was incredible. I hadn't realized how beautiful the town was. Right next to the ocean, still close to the forests with hikes and trees. We sat on the beach watching the sun set, the sky pink and yellow, the clouds fluffy on the horizon, and the water catching every rainbow facet.

"We should head back soon," said Jack, letting the sand run through his fingers.

I sighed. He was right. I wasn't looking forward to seeing Clu back on the bus though. I was pretty sure I'd overreacted, and I was slightly embarrassed. But it was a sensitive subject for me, and he'd come in hot with his opinions.

I rubbed my nose and took a mental picture of the colors in front of me. I'd have to try and mix them and capture my feeling of freedom in this moment. Those peachy pinks and butter yellows.

We got up, and dusted the sand from our butts, and headed back to the car.

We reached the bus, and I climbed out the passenger door. Irene and Ned's light was on. They must be home. I let Jack and Fi walk in front of me around to the door. I rounded the corner, and there was Clu, leaning against the bus. I stopped short. His tie was loose around his neck, and he had his sleeves rolled up, the buttons undone in his signature style with his tank top underneath.

"Hey guys," he said.

"How was UC?" asked Jack slapping his shoulder. "I'm dying, come inside and tell me!" Clu's smile went to his ears.

"Oh man, it was sweet! The campus is like…"

Then he saw me and got serious.

"Actually, I'll be in in a minute. I need to talk to Erika real quick."

My face flushed. Jack and Fi climbed on the bus with some odd looks between us and Clu and I stared at each other.

"Yo, can we talk in my car?" he asked. "Away from moms and dads and cousins?"

I nodded. "Sure." My pulse was speeding up.

He opened the door for me, and I got in, the seat still warm from where I'd been sitting two minutes before. He closed the drivers side, and we sat in silence. He smelled so good, I couldn't move. He ran his hand through his hair.

Say something! Anyone!

Finally he spoke. "Man, I feel really bad about earlier. I didn't mean to make you upset. Sometimes I say things without thinking."

I shifted toward him in my seat. He turned his neck, and our eyes met. They were so worried. "It's ok. I didn't mean to jump on you so fast. I was a little sensitive this morning." His arm was on the middle console, so close to my hand.

Just a little further.

The worry melted out of his brow and he smiled. "I really liked your painting. I didn't mean to say that you were hiding."

I bit my lip and stared at his jaw. So sharp it could cut me. "You weren't wrong. I do hide how I feel sometimes. It's easier."

"Why?" he asked.

"If I can make sure other people are taken care of first, then I feel like I've done something meaningful."

"Ch-yeah, but when does that leave time for you?"

"You're one to talk," I said.

"What do you mean?"

"You do everything for everyone else."

He stared over the steering wheel. "You're right. Santa Cruz is the first thing I've ever done for me. And I don't even think I'm getting in."

I tilted my head. "What do you mean, of course you're getting in."

He shook his head. "Nah man. I don't think it's gonna work. I don't have the grades. Or the brains."

I stared at him shocked. The most confident person I knew had zero self-esteem. I put my hand on his shoulder. Electricity shot down my arm. His skin was so warm.

"Clu, you've worked so hard. Your dad told me how much. You're getting in. Your grades are great, you wrote a killer essay. I don't know what more you can do. You're incredibly smart."

He looked over his shoulder at me, his eyes misty. "You're the first person to ever tell me that."

"That can't be true, your dad…"

He shook his head.

"Well," I said. "I'm not lying. I think you're extremely intelligent. You've made me think about things I never have before, in ways I never have."

He sat back in his seat, his hands on his head. "I want us to be friends," he said. "I know you didn't like me at first…"

I scoffed. "What?" I said. "You didn't like me!"

He laughed. "Ch-yeah, I did too! You just stared at me like I was an idiot."

"You stared at me like I was the plague!"

He stretched, and I saw his pecs flex under his shirt. I lost my breath.

"Like I said," he continued. "I want to be friends. Here! I got you something." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a smushed brown paper bag. "I saw it in town, and I was like, that. That right there is E. It's to make up for what I said."

"E?"

"Your nickname. Everyone needs one on a tour."

"Clu…" I opened it and reached inside. My fingers wrapped around a delicate chain. I pulled out a shiny gold colored necklace with a tiny gold tree. "Oh my god."

"See what I mean? You're always sketching trees."

"This is… This is beautiful."

He took it out of my hands and undid the clasp. He twirled his finger, and I turned away so he could put it around my neck. I moved my mass of hair out of the way to the side. As he fastened it, his fingers brushed against the skin over my spine. I shivered. I knew in that moment, I would never take it off as long as I lived.

I turned around.

He stared at it for a long time. "It's E," he said.

I smiled.

We walked back to the bus, and he followed me all the way to my door.

"Night," he said.

"Night." I looked up into his striking, sweet blue eyes.

He walked to his room and shut the door.