The days went by so fast. Lena decided the saying 'Time flies when you're having fun' was defiantly true. She loved spending time with Paul, he made everything so simple, yet he was surprisingly deep. The more moments she spent with Paul, her thoughts of Kostos, and the previous summer became fewer and farther between. She was okay again, she was putting her life back together, finding her way out of the dark.
However, as much as Lena liked Paul and loved spending time with him, she had made herself a promise the summer before, when Kostos had broken her heart. She had sworn that she would never fall in love again.Like, Lustand Respect were fine, but Love was off-limits. If she never loved someone, with all her heart and soul, she would never again feel the pain and misery she had experienced. Even the thought of going through that all again made Lena want to cry.
Love was Evil. She hated Love.
'You ready?' Came Paul's voice, as he stuck his head around her open doorway.
Lena smiled at him 'Yeah, I'm ready' she replied, stuffing her beach towel into her bag 'Is Carmen coming?' Lena asked hopefully. She felt terrible that she had been spending more time with her friend's brother than Carmen lately. They always asked Carmen to join them, but she seemed dead bent on not going anywhere with them. Sometimes Lena wished Carmen would join them, having her there stopped Lena from thinking about how, under different circumstances, she would be falling very much in love with Paul.
Paul shock his head 'She isn't interested, would rather sit around and watch daytime television'
Lena sighed, grabbed her stuff and walked down the stairs with Paul. There was Carmen, in her boxers, watching the television shows that they always mocked together.
'Hey' she said softly sitting on the side of the couch next to Carmen 'You should come with us, it'll be fun'
Carmen shrugged 'It'll be even more fun without me tagging along'
Lena rolled her eyes 'Don't be stupid, we want you to come'
'Oh so I'm 'stupid' now am I?'
'Carmen, just come..'
'I have other plans' Carmen said curtly
Lena sighed with frustration 'Fine, but we do want you to come, no matter what you think'. She stood up and walked out the door to where Paul was getting the car ready, before Carmen could give a sarcastic, self-pitying reply. As much as Carmen annoyed Lena with her behaviour, she could see where she was coming from, and Lena promised herself that tomorrow would be all about her and Carmen going out, doing the best friend thing.
They arrived at the beach just after lunch. Paul in a bathing suit was a funny sight. Lena couldn't decide why it was funny, it was just so out of character, or out of the character she had of him in her mind. But he looked fantastic, tanned, toned, and gorgeous. Other girls looked them with envy, although Lena hadn't failed to notice that the other guys were looking at her with envy too. Lena laughed to herself, they probably looked like one of those dumb model couples who came to the beach just so they could rub lotion of each other in front of everyone.
'Do you want me to put some of that on your back?' offered Paul, gesturing to the lotion bottle in her hand.
Lena couldn't stop laughing.