Zoey
Sean spent all morning trying to get me to at least stand up on the board.
"Okay," he said above the sound of water slapping against the board. I moved my wet hair out of my eyes, as I lay flat, liking the feel of the wax on my bare stomach. "I'm gonna swim with you as you paddle out a bit, and then when I say, just kinda…pop up!"
"Pop? I have been hearing the words pop up all morning, but you still haven't explained to me what that means."
"I can't explain it. Just stand up. And don't fall. Or hit your head."
"Are you sure this water isn't too deep? I'm not a strong swimmer," I said warily.
"I can still touch the bottom," he assured me.
"Yeah, but I'm shorter than you."
"I wouldn't let you drown, Zo," he laughed. "Okay, WHEN! Pop up!"
I planted my feet squarely underneath me and tried to spring up in time to intercept the gentle lolling wave passing under. I managed to stay standing up for about three seconds, a personal record, and I squealed, delighted. My arms windmilled and I tried to keep my balance, but my feet slipped and my body slammed back against the edge of the board before I hit the water with a smack.
"Ahahahahaha, that was awesome, Zoey!" he cried gleefully.
"It was not," I sputtered. "And I can't touch the bottom--"
"And you apparently can't tread water very well either." I felt Sean's hands go around my waist, and I held on to the back of his neck for dear life. "Woah, ease up on the death grip there."
"Told you I'm not a strong swimmer," I muttered, my teeth chattering.
"Are you kinda afraid of the water?"
"Eh."
"Sorry dollface," he said. "I'm swim with you back to shore, and then I'm going to catch a couple of waves, is that okay?"
I huddled under the towel I had brought, not caring that I was getting my bathing suit all sandy. I didn't mind being a spectator.
Sean fell from the board, and I watched as he reclaimed it and paddled back out. He caught a gooder, and rode it to the shallow depths before he tumbled off. He resurfaced, and ran up the surf to the sand, shaking the water out of his hair like a dog. "Quick, my towel, my towel!" he yelled. "I've gone numb!" I smiled and threw him his towel. He wrapped it around himself and flopped down on the sand next to me.
"Brr?" I asked.
"Brr," he confirmed.
"But did you have fun?"
"Very lots," he laughed. "What about you?"
"I bruised my hip, but other than that, yes."
"You bruised your hip?" he cackled. "You old granny."
I pressed my hands to his cold cheeks. "Ooh, you're even colder than I am."
"Yeah, you're warm," he said, looking mischievous. "That's not fair." He grabbed my waist with his freezing hands.
I squealed. "Get awaaaaay!"
There was a low rumbling deep in the clouds. It looked as if the rain that had threatened us yesterday was coming a day late.
"Oooh," I said softly. "Rain."
"Ahhh," he agreed. "Rain."
"Come on," I said, bursting out into laughter when he stood up and I saw that his towel was tied around his neck like a cape. "Who are you, Batman?"
"Uhh…yep."
The rain started to fall heavily, and I snatched up my towel, gesturing for him to follow me as I ran to the hidden knoll a few yards down the beach.
We got to the dug out and sat in it, protected from the rain.
He grinned. "It's my Batcave!"
I giggled.
We watched silently as lightening lit the sky on fire, rolling across the clouds. I felt so at peace, watching a spring thunderstorm raging above the peaceful ocean…next to Sean.
"Thanks," I said, and then wanted to slap myself.
"For what?" he laughed curiously.
"For this."
Oh my God! I thought to myself angrily. Retard! Gah!
He smiled to himself as I tried to hide my furious blush.
"You're welcome, I guess," he said.
Way to go, dickmuncher! Now he thinks you're a complete moron who talks stupid!
"Hey." Sean smiled. "Maybe I should come back here in the winter. You could teach me how to walk in those weird snow shoe thingamajigs."
Laughing, I told him, "I've never even seen snow shoes up close. I could teach you how to snowboard though."
"Is that a promise?"
"You'd have to promise to be here."
Sean glanced at me and smirked.
Sean
Zoey and I waited the storm out, and by the time the last raindrop had fallen, it was close to five. It wouldn't be dark for a few hours and the fireworks would not start before it was dark, but I decided to take her back to the boat anyway.
Looking at her face, I couldn't tell what she was thinking as she took in the ship. But she smiled lightly and she looked around like a little girl in a candy store. She was so cute in that moment and I suddenly realized that my friends were going to somehow find a way to embarrass me and/or Zoey.
"Uh, how would you like to see the AMAZING boiler room?" I asked her, smiling.
"That's quite all right, Sean," she laughed.
As we turned the corner, the feeling of dread increasing the closer we got to the pool area, I spotted Ashley Dupree. "Augh!" I exclaimed, panicking.
"Sean?" she called, a catty look on her face. "Don't tell me that you found a girl willing to spend time with you voluntarily." When she got closer, Ashley gave Zoey a bittersweet smile. "Hi," she drawled. "I'm Ashley Dupree, Miss Southern United States--"
"Spare her, Ashley," I pleaded. "Don't corrupt her mind."
Zoey smiled politely. "I'm Zoey Anderson."
"That's nice. How much is he paying you?"
"Pardon?"
"You mean Breaker High's resident con man hasn't brought up the subject of money with you?"
"Uhh, not as of yet." She grinned, and then winked. "But maybe I'll get lucky tonight."
Ashley sneered at me. "Leave it to you to bring back one of the weird types."
"Hey, I'm Canadian!" Zoey called after her as Ashley brushed past us. "What did you expect? Civilization?"
I put her in a headlock. "You're pretty awesome, you know that, kid?"
She giggled, her laughter reverberating against my arm. "I did, in fact, know that. That's why you like me."
"How strange." Entering the pool area, I braced myself for my friends.
