Flashback

Georgie stood in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection and slightly squirming. Maxie sat on the bed behind her, beaming with excitement. As a warm June breeze blew through the open window, Georgie sighed and turned around to face her sister. "What do you think?" she asked.

Georgie was wearing a pale pink linen sundress that went down to her midcalves, with two pink straps covered in the same color pink lace strips and little bright pink stones. On her feet, she wore terry-cloth pale pink flipflops, the thongs also decorated delicately in lace and little stones. Her shoulder-length hair fell around her face in soft brownish-blonde ringlets; her lips were a frosty pink and her eyes were illuminated with soft white shadow. She nervously twirled around for her sister, who smiled widely. "Georgie, you look great. Dillon will love it," she reassured her. Georgie smiled shyly and looked at herself once more, making sure she thought so too.

Downstairs, Dillon was waiting in the front hall anxiously. He was wearing a pair of khaki pants and an untucked white dress shirt, and although he couldn't wait to show Georgie his surprise, he was very nervous. From in the kitchen, Mac was eyeing him periodically while he heated something in the microwave. Dillon grinned apprehensively and looked down at his feet. Then suddenly, he looked up.

Georgie came down the stairs, smiling at him. His mouth split into a wide grin and he met her two steps before the floor, pulling her into a gentle kiss. When they pulled apart, Georgie couldn't stop beaming. She leaned into him and he pulled a single white rose from behind his back. "For the Lady Georgianna, from her most avid suitor," he whispered softly into her ear. Georgie gently pulled the long-stemmed flower from his thumb and index finger and twirled it, smelling the silken petals.

"The Lady Georgianna accepted his gift graciously, and pulled the chivalrous knight in for a romantic kiss," she whispered, placing a hand on the back of his head and pulling him closer. Dillon kissed her softly, smiling against Georgie's pouty pink lips. Suddenly, Georgie caught something out of the corner of her eye and pulled back from Dillon quickly, biting her lips and putting her hands behind her back. "Mac," she said quietly, acknowledging her dad. Dillon smiled sheepishly and took Georgie's hand in his.

"Um, Georgie will be back before twelve, I promise. Maxie has my cell number. We'll be safe and there will be no alcohol, drugs, hard partying, or backseat antics," mumbled Dillon quickly. "Thanks Mac, bye now." Mac was still trying to imbibe the information as Dillon opened the door for Georgie and she went out, the door closing behind both of them.

"Keep your eyes closed, okay? Seriously," said Dillon as he slowed the car into a parking space. Georgie sighed deeply. They had been on the road for what seemed like eternity, and the entire time there was a blindfold over her eyes. Dillon got out of the car, walked around it, and opened the door for her. Carefully taking his hand, Georgie stepped out and Dillon untied her blindfold. She kept her eyes shut as Dillon took something out of the trunk, locked the car, and took her hand, slowly guiding her across the pavement. Ned had let Dillon borrow his powder blue Lexus for the evening, and Dillon pressed the lock button with a joyous and resounding click, making Georgie giggle.

Suddenly, Georgie felt the ground sink a little bit and her feet became warm. It became harder to walk and miniscule bits fell in between her toes. "Dillon, is this sand?" she asked. Inhaling deeply, she smelled salt and warm air. Dillon grinned as he stopped. Then he spread a blanket out and put what he had been holding down. Coming behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist, he kissed behind her ear softly and asked,

"Are you ready?"

"Are you kidding me, Dillon? I'm going to explode if I don't open my eyes."

"Well? Open them," replied Dillon, softly planting kisses on her neck. Slowly, Georgie fluttered opened her eyes and saw the most beautiful scene in front of her, like something on a postcard. The ocean, pale blue, rippled gently and lapped up against the cakey wet sand on the shore, and in the distance, the sun set in an array of deep colors. Rosy pink, juicy orange, lemony yellow, and silvery gray hues bounced from the sky onto the pale mirror of the sea. Where they stood, several yards from the water, the sand was dry, soft, and balmy and tiny pieces of shell had scattered themselves through the soft tan mounds of sand. Georgie turned her head and saw that Dillon had laid out a blue knit blanket, on top of which sat a wicker basket.

"Dinner?" he murmured gently into her ear. Georgie shuddered inside at the feel of his hot breath on her skin, and it was the best shiver she had ever experienced.

After the picnic, Georgie closed her eyes and lay on her back, letting her wavy hair fall out in disarray onto the sand. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, trying to sort all of the evening's memories into a photo album of memories in her head. Suddenly, she felt hot breath on her lips and opened her eyes. Dillon lay on his stomach next to her, his head cocked to one side and his mouth spread in a huge white grin. Georgie beamed, propping herself up on her elbows. She kicked off her flipflops and began to sift the sand through her toes. It was later, and the sand was not as warm but just as soft.

Dillon leaned over and kissed her gingerly on the bottom lip, but Georgie captured both of his in a deeper kiss. She reached up with one arm and gently pulled his head in closer, running her tongue over the outline of his lips. He smiled against her pouty pink mouth and kissed her cheek. Georgie unexpectedly wiggled out from underneath him, smiling coyly, and stood up, smoothing out the skirt of her dress.

"Come on, Dillon," she encouraged. Dillon smiled up at her and shook his head.

"What are we doing?"

"Come on!" pleaded Georgie, reaching out her soft milky-smooth hand. Dillon sighed heavily and reached his out to meet hers, and pulled himself up. Georgie led him along the suttle mounds of sand until their bare feet touched the damp, clumpy heaps where the low tide was slapping lightly onto the land. Dillon shivered with delight and apprehension, but Georgie kept walking towards the water. She could see as she got closer that the water was really a deep green hue, appearing blue from the dearth of bright sunlight.

She stepped into the water where it was shallow, her legs growing cold and the very tip of her dress getting wet. She crumbled the sand and pieces of shell between her toes, and pulling Dillon closer to her, planted a kiss on his cheek. He shivered with the iciness of the water, and Georgie laughed. Dillon loved the way she laughed- how her shoulders shook slightly, her lips parted, her eyes danced, her curls bounced. Her whole being came alive. On impulse, he reached to support her back and dipped her, her thick brownish-blonde hair touching the water at its tips. She shrieked at first, but he silenced her with a long, dramatic, black-and-white worthy kiss.

A lady in terrycloth pants and a green sweatshirt jogged along the beach with her dog, and slowed at the frivolously romantic sight of the couple standing in the surf and kissing. She smiled to herself, and lingered for a moment, taking a mental picture of the two with the backdrop of the briskly setting sun, then continued on her way.

Dillon reluctantly pulled away from Georgie's lips, but not too far. Their lips brushed each other's, as did their noses, and Georgie felt Dillon's warm, soft breath on her skin.

She stared at him, starry-eyed and taken over by him, the rest of the world and her knowledge of it lost to her. Dillon never once blinked, intensely staring back, his mind only knowing the rosy suppleness of her face, the rich dark pools of her eyes, and the moist rosewater taste of her perfectly parted lips.