Chapter Five:

Patricia was to meet Eddie at the end of the street at 6:30. She couldn't help but be slightly excited. She took a shower and combed her hair. She took the time to straighten each curl making the highlights in her hair stand out. She applied her signature winged eye and long lashes. She even added a touch of eyeliner and lip-gloss. She wasn't quite sure what to wear. She couldn't put on her usual black jeans; they were going to the beach. Instead she decided on a pair of black shorts with spiky studs lining the pockets and a dark green shirt that fell off her shoulder slightly.

She still wore her boats though, Patricia always wore them. She didn't quite know what there was to do at the beach at night, not that she really liked going during the day. It was going to be her first time to the beach since she got there. There was something about sand in her feet and wind that she actually liked. That was maybe the only thing. Patricia didn't really want to walk, but it was only a few minutes away so she wasn't going to say anything. She walked down the stairs and heard her gran cutting something in the kitchen.

"Are you sure you don't want me to cook you something for dinner." Lynda asked.

"I'll eat later" Patricia answered.

She knew her gran didn't especially like Eddie, but she didn't really know him. Only as the neighbor with the loud music and constantly home from various consequences. However she didn't make any objections against Patricia going tonight, maybe because she knew she couldn't stop her.

Patricia grabbed her black knitted sweater wrap and headed out the door. The sky was black and there were a few stars hidden from smoke nearby. She looked down the street and at the stop sign Eddie was waiting. He waved at her from the distance. She started walking toward him and when she met him he smiled.

"So you came" he said jokingly

"I guess" Patricia replied.

They started walking, Patricia following Eddie.

"I missed you" he said quietly.

She knew there was a possibility he would say something like this. He always did. She had things like that to say to him too, but she couldn't. She couldn't find the words or she felt weak. Maybe it was because around him, she was. Patricia had always been alone, yes she had Piper but she always felt alone. Now she didn't. She knew that she should answer soon.

"Me too" she said instantly regretting it. Why didn't she just tell him?

"What were you going to say?" He asked. Eddie knew that she had been thinking. He wondered why? She could trust him, she knew that.

"Yacker you can tell me."

"Okay,.." She was going to tell him. He was almost excited. She was lowering her force field, something he tried so hard to get her to do.

"I came here because I missed you, I really missed you. I'm always alone and with you I'm not." She hid her face embarrassed.

"You'll never be alone" he smiled and pulled her in for a hug, she didn't resist.

They were on the beach now, walking Eddie's arm around Patricia. He took his arm off her and went behind her.

"Close your eyes" he said. Patricia was hesitant but she did. He put his hands over her eyes and began to guide her across the sand. After a couple minutes he removed his hands.

"Okay, open." He said with excitement in his voice.

All around the beach were bonfires each lighting up the beach in a pale orange glow. The ocean lit up in different colors from lights shining on the shore. The stars in the sky were like little bursts of light. It was crowded and people were swimming and surfing or dancing to the singer standing on a small platform furthest away from the water. Patricia looked all around her taking everything in. She could hear Eddie behind her; she knew he was watching her. She turned around and smiled at him behind her. Their eyes met and he smiled too.