-Connie's POV-

'Today is a new day and with a new day comes a new outlook.' I tell myself, pulling a pair of khaki shorts over and old one piece bathing suit I traded Elisha for about an hour ago. I take a look in the mirror and smile. With no one to impress, I can actually dress comfortably today. Hallelujah.

I grab my pad and chalks, stick a pencil behind my ear, and open the door to walk directly into Charlie's chest as he's about to knock.

"Ugh," I grunt, falling backward and landing on my butt. "Thanks, Spazway."

"Whoa, sorry, Cons." A hand is thrust into my face and accidentally bonks me in the nose. "Lemme help you up."

"No, no. I'm fine thanks. Step back, before you maim me any further."

I amble to my feet and Charlie just gives me this look. I can't tell exactly what it is, which is weird for me, because I've always been able to read his expressions. I don't really know if I like not being able to tell what he's thinking,

"So, I was thinking maybe today, we could go get some free surfing lessons. You know the hotels offering them; it might be kinda fun," Charlie says, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his board shorts.

Twenty -four hours ago, I would've said yes. Twenty four hours ago, I wanted nothing more then to spend every waking minute with him. It's amazing the difference a day makes. Or rather the difference being rejected and utterly humiliated by the one person you thought would never do that to you, makes.

I shake my head and bend down to pick up my sketches and chalk. "No thanks, I think I'd rather just hit the beach and draw some."

"Well um," he shuffled his feet nervously, "you have no choice. Everyone else already left."

I sigh inwardly and frown. Great. Why is it that when all I want to do is spend a nice relaxing day clearing my head of all things Charlie Conway, everyone else takes off without me? It's punishment for something I did I guess. Cosmic fate, and man, does karma suck.

"Fine, I'll just lay in the sand and you can do your surfing thing, okay? And try not to kill yourself."

Charlie just nods and turns around, going back into the living room to get his stuff. So kind of my family to ask me if I wanted to go with them. Better to just leave me here with no choice but to spend time with him. Evil people.

We walk down to the beach in silence, and I drop my bag into the powdery soft sand. The sun's bright, and I already feel my shoulders starting to crisp - of course, I forgot my sun block. With a sigh, I pick my stuff back up again, my gaze scanning for the closest bit of shade. I shield my eyes with my hand, spotting a palm tree not too fair away, just at the fence separating the sand from the parking lot.

After falling onto my butt on the ground, I dig my purple painted toes into the soft sand and lean back on hands. I gaze up into the palm tree for a second before righting myself and resting my sketch pad on my lap. My pencil takes off as soon as it touches the paper, dancing across the page leaving a soft gray swirl, connecting the paper to my mind.

From the corner of my eye, I can see Charlie standing on surf board on the sand. A tall, dark, lean God of man is crouched beside him barking orders that I can't hear, but the corners of his mouth are curving upward as he does it. It's kind of sexy. Maybe I do want to learn to surf…

No, no, I don't. No more men. They just confuse you and mess up everything. Even vacations that are suppose to be fun and bring you closer together, maybe even help you fall in love. Grrrr, such infuriating creatures they are. Enraging even, but oh so attractive.

I watch as the instructor growing increasingly annoyed with Charlie, throws up his hands, and shakes his head. He gestures angrily to the water, and my "friend" nods, gathers up his board, and heads out into ocean. He's going to break a bone, I can just feel it. I know hockey is about skating, and skating is about balance, but that's different. The ice doesn't move, so you're in control. Here with this, all the power lies in the waves, and they don't look too happy.

Charlie paddles into the surf, and I chew my bottom lip nervously. It's just something I do without thinking, really. A nervous habit…that and shaking my foot, which I'm also doing, though with it buried in the sand, there's no rewarding tapping noise. I sit up straighter, my stare locked onto the inexperienced surfer. I hope he doesn't hurt himself.

So much for spending the day trying to erase him from my mind. I'll have to spend the afternoon making sure he doesn't drown now. I'm fairly certain Casey wanted him back alive and not in pieces. I can see it now, 'Well, this box is his right foot, and I think that one is his left arm…' That wouldn't be pretty.

I turn my head to avoid a seagull attack then quickly look back only to have lost sight of Charlie. My sharp eyes scan the water's surface skillfully before spotting him. Standing upright on his board, arms raised in triumph. I have to stifle a giggle when he loses his balance and tips over. That's my Charlie. No, not my Charlie. I think we established that last night.

I watch as he emerges from the water coughing up seawater, but resist running to the shoreline. He's moving, he's breathing, he's fine. Serves him right to get a mouth full of water for trying to be a show off. And over by the snack bar, I see why. That girl from the ice cream shop is here. He probably just wanted to impress her. He's got a lot of nerve asking me to come with him just to rub my nose in the fact she's cool and my summer fling is a sex offender. Such a jerk.

As Krista runs down to check on him, I gather up my stuff and storm past them. I make extra certain to kick up a big cloud of sand on the way. I hope it covers them. The jerks. 'Flaunt, flaunt, flaunt all you want. I'm not going to stay here and watch.' I repeat to myself as I head up the beach. When I get just far enough away that I know I can't be seen, my knees buckle, and I crumble into the sand in tears.

antiIRONY- Thanks so much! I'm glad you liked it. :) The drama and angst is what makes the teenager's life interesting, heh.

Duckys- I know right. His brain hurts, hehe. :pats him: Thanks for the review!

Blonde-brain- Yes, they are poor darling confused children. :nods: Glad you liked the chapter!

Punkteacher- Aww, thanks so much! I'm so glad you guys couldn't tell. I've just been having slight writer's block, so I'm thrilled that you guys can't really tell. Heh. Thanks! I'm glad you like the line. :P Though I just noticed a typo that I missed when I checked it over…whoops…I have good grammar, honest. O.O

ShortAtntionSpaz- Hee, I know right. But that would just rain on our story's parade if they actually COMMUNICATED. :P Hee, I'm very glad you're enjoying the story!

Hockey-girl90- Thanks! I'm glad you liked it, and thanks for the review. :D