The weekend had begun with a nice, sunny day. The clouds had covered the sky with the sounds of the tapping on the windows up until today. The hushed voice of a woman complaining made the redhead groan. Her sister had arrived back home.
She poked her head out of her blankets glancing at the screen on her phone. Through blurred vision she saw the time getting more annoyed. Seven thirty in the morning. She got out of bed placing the red frames on her face walking downstairs.
Angelina smiled brightly hugging her tightly as she ran up the steps. "How was your time without me Grell?! Oh, I bet you just suffered without me. I got you a little something." She dragged her into the living room opening up the smallest suitcase. She handed her a box wrapped up with a bow on top.
Inside was dark cherry plunging one-piece swimsuit. Underneath was a black floppy sun hat. Angelina clapped her hands together seeing her gift. "I know you said you didn't want to get a new one, but I just couldn't resist."
She took it out glancing at her older sister. "Thank you Ann...I didn't know you wanted to get me something so...sexy." She looked over it feeling her usual confidence slipping.
Angelina wrapped her arm around her shoulders. "I heard about what happened...it's a shame a young man like that ended up being a jerk. I want you to have a good weekend before you start class up again."
Grell looked away not wanting to talk about him. "Ann...let's not okay?" She put the gifts back in the box putting it aside. "I really don't want to get into it right now...so much has happened since then."
"I'm sorry Grell. I know it still hurts. How about we go swimming to enjoy ourselves? I know you love swimming..." She hugged her tightly kissing her her cheek over and over again.
She giggled pushing her away. "Ann stop! You're going to leave lipstick marks!" She hugged her back feeling a bit better. "You're ridiculous. Fine, we'll go swimming. Let me get changed and put on my face."
"Don't cover up to much dear. I know you'll be cheating with that waterproof make-up. None of that." She got taking her luggage upstairs with her. She smiled seeing how much she could help in just making her smile.
Grell got into the bathroom heating up her body wax. She was more than glad that her skin was no longer sensitive to to her grooming. The redness would be gone within the hour.
She began to wax every inch of her body, making sure to have no left a single spot of hair. She smiled staring at her body in the reflection. She was thin with a very red belly ring amongst her milky skin. She began to pose as if she were a model making her facial expressions sensual.
She laughed turning on the shower making sure wash properly. Angelina sat on the couch waiting for her in a short, chic, pink backless summer dress. Her bikini stringing dangling along her back.
Grell came down in a red sarong dress with her swimsuit underneath. She held the new hat in her hands with her beach bag hanging off her shoulders. "Ready to go?"
She clapped getting giddy from her appearance. "That's the Grell I know! Beautiful and stylish. Let's go ahead and head out. I need to buy more sun tan lotion." She grabbed her bag walking out the door together.
They drove off to the store making sure stop to get their lotions and creams, along with something to snack on. The two hour drive seemed like nothing with their chats and singing along with the radio.
They arrived at almost noon. The sun was hot with the sound of the waves hitting the shore. The seagulls called loudly as they flew over their heads.
Angelina smiled grabbing a hold of the beach bags. "Grab the umbrella and towels dear." She went on ahead as Grell grabbed the rest.
They picked their spot a good distance away from the water. Angelina set up the umbrella and towels letting her sister cover herself in sunscreen. As much as Grell wanted to, she burned instead of tanning.
She handed her sister the tanner slipping out of the dress. "I never thought I'd ever wear something as revealing as this." Her arms crossed covering her body.
She could her the whistle coming behind her as her sister pulled her shades down a bit. "Aren't you just a delicious piece of carrot cake."
She rolled her eyes hating the way she teased. "Ha ha, thank you for the joke." She moved towards the umbrella reading the back of the bottle to protect her skin. "Ten minutes isn't too long a wait."
She relaxed on the blanket seeing the families with their children. She smiled seeing a mother teaching her son how to swim. "Cute."
"It can be. I would love a cute baby that was well-behaved." She cooed seeing the little boy giggling. "You know Grell, you should be able to have cute kids with your looks."
She felt a lump in her throat develop. Angelina realised what she had said. "I'm sorry. I forgot about it. I-" Grell raised her hand keeping calm. "I know Ann. It's not your fault."
"You know it'll take a little of time to get back to normal. All you can do is go out and make yourself feel better. He's gone...you're not..." Ann leaned closer looking her in the eye.
Grell nodded looking down at the sand beneath her. "I know. I just need some time still. I know I feel betrayed but I can't let it take hold of me. I'll find love again...just not now..."
She got out of her seat checking her phone again. "I can go into the water now. Please don't burn again this time Ann. You don't know how to not milk it." She took off the hat and glasses placing them on the towel. She threw her phone on top of them.
"I made sure to take the best stuff they had. No pain and stinging for me." She grabbed her bottle eyeing a set of handsome, buff men playing nearby. "I think I'll ask them for a hand getting oiled up."
Grell rolled her eyes heading for the water. Her feet touched the water sending shivered up her body. The cold touch making her a little nervous. She looked out into the water with her blurred vision.
The waves rolling in washing over her feet. She took in a deep breath jumping into the waters. She sprang up shaking violently wanting to scream but only making small gasps.
She moved farther into the water shivering as she felt her hair sticking to her body. She closed her eyes moving more until she bumped into someone. "I am so sorry..." She looked up seeing the face of a tall young man.
"I'm sorry miss, I had my eyes closed." He adjusted the goggles meeting his emerald eyes with her own. He was handsome and muscular, just her type. "Are you alright?"
She nodded slowly with her lip still quivering from the cold. "I'm sorry. I should've looked where I was going...I think I've seen you before. Aren't you in Professor Faustus's chemistry course?"
"Ah, yes. You're the one who sits with that Knox boy. I don't believe we've been introduced properly, I'm William." He held out his hand taking hers for a handshake. His hand was so warm and much larger than her own.
"Grell...it's nice to finally speak outside of school." She moved more into the water feeling the slight wind making everything colder. "Sorry, I don't mean to be weird...it's just cold."
"I understand completely. I was going to do more lap in a bit. I'll have to be careful to watch were I'm swimming." He got out of the water having his trunks hugging onto his body just so.
She couldn't help but stare feeling her the tip of her cheeks and ears tainting red. She pushed herself farther into the water trying to keep her mind off the attractive man.
Some time passed with her enjoying the warmth of the sun as she slowly walked passed the waves onto land. She groaned seeing her sister flirting hard with one of the lifeguards. She moved closer grabbing her glasses to see more clearly.
The man left giving her a slip with his number on it. "Oh, Grell. This idea holiday is amazing. How are you enjoying the ocean? I saw the hunky gentleman talking to you."
She rolled her eyes placing her glasses back on her face. "I know him from my chemistry class. We've just never actually spoken." She grabbed her wallet looking over at some of the food trucks. "I'm starving, did you want to eat anything?"
"Whatever you know is good for my figure. Nothing too spicy either." Angelina flipped into her stomach giving a relaxed sigh. "Maybe something with fruit would be nice." She relaxed laying flat looking at a set of attractive men playing volleyball.
She left in a hurry making sure to not bother with her sister and her stupid endeavors. She walked her way towards one of the food trucks that have been stationed. She stood in line reading over the menu thinking of what to get both of them. When she placed her order a hand past her handing over the money for it. She turned around confused seeing the young man she had been speaking with earlier.
He looked down at her with the same stoic face as the cashier gave him his change. "You know I was going to pay for that? You don't have to do that for me." He turned his head to her placing the money back into his wallet. "Think of this as an apology for running into you in the water."
She groaned reaching into her wallet. "Don't worry about it. You really don't have to." She reached out to hand him the equivalent of the price when he stopped her. "Please, take the money."
"There's no need Ms. Sutcliffe. Allow it this one time." He took his own food from the worker standing so close to her. His muscles looking well toned and defined. He saw her staring raising his eyebrow. "Something wrong?"
"No, nothing. You're in sports aren't you?" Her face couldn't help but flush from the embarrassment. His own ears turning a slight pink from the attention. "I'm in track...It's my way into school with a scholarship."
"That sounds lovely. I'm on my own for from choir." She reached up grabbing the food from the worker. She smiled looking down at the food. "I should go make sure my sister doesn't cook herself."
"Yes of course." He moved to the side moving his eyes over her form. "Please have a good lunch Sutcliffe." He bowed his head walking away. The shimmer from the water on his back gave her goosebumps.
She hurried back to her sister placing the tray by her. "Here you go. Eat up so you don't starve." She took a bite of her own food sitting down with her legs tucked underneath her.
Angelina got up taking the tray with a happy hum. "Looks good...I saw a familiar guy talking to you. Really good looking..." She giggled taking a bite.
"Ann...he was there buying food. We talking about school and things." She kept gaze off her sister eating her food in the shade. "He seems nice."
"Nice? I'm glad he is...plus, he's very handsome." She sat closer to her leaning on her. "Maybe you should give him your number. I know you said to wait but, I think a friend who's a man isn't a bad thing."
Grell let out a heavy sigh looking at her. She knew she was right about having a new friend. She just wasn't ready to move on. "If I could...just as a friend." She kept eating with a small smile.
Angelina wrapped her arm around her, hugging her tightly. "See! I know you just need some friends to talk to. Maybe, go hang out with for a bit to get over this whole thing."
The day passed with the them having fun in water. Splashing each other as the sun went down. They got out of the water packing up their things.
Angelina smiled nudging her sister playfully." I have to go give a handsome gentleman something. Do you mind putting this away by yourself?" She pouted trying to look innocent.
Grell groaned waving for her to leave. "Go ahead. I'll just have to make two trips." She picked up the bags with their personal things. She reached out as the keys exchanged hands.
Angelina waited for her to leave rushing farther down the shoreline. William groaned stretching his back having his things ready for his own departure. He heard a light coughing coming from behind him. "Hello."
"Hello...may I help you?" He fixed his glasses looking down at her. "I think you can. I know you spoke with my sister and I can just tell you would be good for her. Right now she needs a friend to talk to." She pulled out a piece of paper writing out her sister's number on it.
He stood still questioning her actions. She handed him the paper looking back to make sure she wasn't watching. "Please do this for her. You never saw me, okay?" She ran away to grab the rest of their things.
Grell stood outside of the car fumbling with the keys. She finally got it placing everything inside. She shut the door seeing her sister walking towards her with the rest of their things." Oh, you got it. "
"I know I can be a pain but a lazy woman, I am not." She motioned her head for her sister to get inside as she put the rest away. "It's about time we went home. My bed is calling my name."
The drive back was much more quiet and seemed longer. Both of them exhausted from their activities. Grell fell asleep within minutes of getting on the road.
They arrived home giving her sister a gentle shake to wake her up. Grell stretched and yawned getting out and grabbing what she could. Angelina touched her shoulder looking at the car. "I'll get the rest. I have to make a small call first."
"Okay. I think I'm going to take a quick shower and head to bed." Angelina smiled grabbing her phone making a call to a friend of hers, telling them all about her day.
She leaned on the back of her car seeing a car she'd never seen before. Their engine was running with the driver window down. Light puffs of smoke rising up from a lit bud of a cigarette.
"I'm going to have to call you back dear." She quickly hung up moving towards it. She moved cautiously seeing the driver taking another long drag on his phone. "Can I help you?"
Sebastian raised his head giving one of his charming smiles. "Oh, yes. I'm sorry to just take up space. I was here to see Ms. Sutcliffe...Grell Sutcliffe. I was hoping she was doing better than she has been."
She relaxed placing her hand on her chest. "Oh, Mr. Michaelis. Professor, I almost didn't recognise you. Did something happen to my sister in your classroom? I know some young man might've gotten too friendly."
"It's nothing like that. I know the loss of a loved one is far from pleasant. I was here the other day from worrying about her. She's so upset from Mr. Chambers' death." He placed his hand over his heart looking sorrowful.
She felt her heart sinking glancing back at their home. "She has been through a lot. I'm glad to see you're looking out for her. I know I can trust you to make sure she'll be okay."
He reached into the seat next to him handing her a box decorated in hearts. "I wanted to give her a gift that would make her feel better. However, it seems they used the most inappropriate paper."
She took it tucking it under her arm moving away from the car. "Don't you worry professor. I'm just going to leave it on her bed to find. Thank you so much for being so sweet to her. Maybe if she was a little older, she'd be a good candidate for a girlfriend." She gave a playful wink walking back to her own her. She waved goodbye as he left taking everything else into the home.
Grell got out the shower with her hair still wrapped in a towel. She saw the box having a nervous smile on her face. She picked it up opening it slowly. Inside was box of chocolates and earrings with red roses.
She picked up a note taped to the box from her professor. She glanced over it seeing it as a continued part of his apology. She tore the plastic popping a piece in her mouth. If only she knew they had been laced with fertility medication.