We leave the glassblower's place around 4:45. It was so much fun, and Sollux bought me one of the orangey red pumpkins with green, blue, and purple swirls in it. It's carefully wrapped in Styrofoam and sitting between things in the trunk so it won't move around and break. Leaving the car in a parking space along the highway, we walk around town, stopping in a salt water taffy place to look at the candy. The place is called Ainslee's Salt Water Taffy and it's in Depoe Bay. As I look around there are so many different flavors of the sticky stuff. Smelling the salty air, I pick up a cinnamon taffy and smell it. Just like cinnamon. Sollux already has a bag and is grabbing some honey taffy. This elicits a giggle from me and he just looks over with an incredulous expression on his face.

"You're just too cute, Sollux," I say to him, walking over and placing a handful of cinnamon and a handful of caramel into the bag.

"I should be saying the same to you, Aradia," he looks up with a cheeky and crooked smile.

"Oh, shush you. Hey look, they have bubblegum!" I exclaim, reaching towards the basket but not quite being able to reach. Reaching up he grabs a couple small handfuls, placing them into the bag and grabbing some cotton candy to go along with it. "I could have gotten that."

"Yes you could, but it would have greatly inconvenienced you and even though I find you trying then pouting absolutely adorable, I felt considerate for a change," he smiles down at me. Why his arms are ridiculously long, I don't know, but he is just ridiculously tall all around.

Once we have at least a pound of candy we buy it and walk out of the shop. The air has a sweet saltiness from the bay. It's cool and crisp, and a smell I will never forget. I lean over the railing of the sidewalk and look out to the ocean. It's just so big. Blues flow everywhere as the white waves crash onto the sand.

But I'm getting off topic here.

Sollux pulls me back by a shoulder and I realize that in my thoughts I have gone halfway over the edge. I'd fall onto the jagged rocks if I leaned any further. I stand up right back on the sidewalk. Leaning down towards me, he pecks me on the cheek then asks, "Are you hungry?"

"Now that you mention it, I feel famished. I haven't eaten since eleven," I reply, carding through my hair with my fingers.

He tucks a lock that was sticking to my cheek behind my ear while saying, "Well there's a cool place down the street that sells sea food. Just try to keep the food under ten bucks, I still need gas money for work and school."

I nod and reply, "I understand, but you know you don't have to do this all for me."

"You know you're right, I don't have to," he realizes, a note of astonishment in his voice.

"What, you know that's not how-"

"I want to," he smiles at me. He always finds small ways to set me off, but I guess that's why I love him. I just haven't said it because I'm afraid, but I'm pretty sure I do love him. We've been dating since the end of middle school and have known each other longer than that.

"By how you're able to act totally cool when you're joking you should be in drama," I inform. "Then maybe you'll stop acting with me."

"You don't like it?" he looks almost heartbroken. I just glare at him until he smirks, "I like computer tech better, by the way."

"Yeah, you do."

"I am being utterly and completely serious."

"Are we talking about cows now? Sheep are way better."

"Homographs, AA. Remember elementary school?"

"Nope."

"Yes you do," he states, sitting on a bench facing the ocean. I sit next to him.

"Haven't you ever heard of long term memory loss?"

"Yes, and I know you don't have that."

"Wanna hear a joke?"

"Sure." He leans closer to me, half facing me. I turn towards him.

"Why did the ghost cross the road?" I scoot towards him.

"This is dumb."

"Just ask how!"

"He wanted to."

"No-"

He leans closer, putting an arm on the back rest for support. Then he interrupts, "Well sorry and excuse me, SHE wanted to."

"It has nothing to do with the ghost's gender identity, silly."

"You know I've heard this one before."

I put a hand back to support myself. "Just ask how!"

"Fine, how?" a tone of mock reluctance is in his voice, his face only a few inches from mine.

"To get to the other side."

"AA that was so original-"

"You know, the afterlife!" I exclaim, which actually isn't that loud so I don't blow his eardrums off.

"Wow. Bravo."

"You know I like these jokes," I state. He places his other hand next to my hip, hovering over me.

"I know you like those jokes."

"So don't poke fun," I reply with a smile, hoping he knows I'm not serious. It's sort of playful even.

"Mhhm."

I start to lean forward and so does he when all of a sudden my stomach growls loudly. I giggle.

"Geez," he leans back. "I think it's time for that restaurant."

"Yeah, I think so," I reply and turn, standing up.

"Hey, I was gonna be chivalrous," he protests before standing up himself. "You know, help you up."

"Oh well, let's go," I smile, holding out my arm to him.

~-..-~

As the ocean continues to lap at the coastline, the deep, dark blue is not as present as it would be at noon, blocked out by the reds, purples, oranges, golds and yellows reflecting from the sunset. The waves give the light an almost vibrato feel, a beautiful and slight wavering to the voice or pitch that happens when good vocal technique is used. I don't know why people think it is so awful. It gives the voice it's beauty, the light shimmering that makes the voice silky, silvery and precious.

I squeeze Sollux's hand as he asks me if I want to see it up close.

"Of course," I state, looking up at him. "Are you sure it's safe, though?"

"I've done it millions of times."

"Okay, that is an obvious hyperbole."

"Whatever, I've swam in it," he looks at me.

I look back at the ocean before responding with a: "I'm not a good swimmer. I don't want to be swept away."

"You won't be swept away," he assures. "My dad made me take lifeguard training after I completed swim class. Only reason I ever got off the computer except for school."

"Still, I don't feel like getting too wet."

"Do you have your flip flops?"

"Yeah, in my bag."

"You should put them on," he tells me, letting go of my hand. I look down to see he's had his Chacos on the whole time. Rolling my eyes, I put my flip flops on and place my flats into my bag. It's knitted with sheep's wool. I learned how to knit just to make it. The bag is a dark red with blue and yellow stripes. We eventually find a way down to the sand, it covering my toes and enveloping my feet. I turn and smile at him and he smiles back at me. We make our way down to the ocean as the tide is just starting to come in. With the full moon rising, low tide is at about six. I learned that in science.

The chilly salt water laps at my toes and I squeal. The two of us make small talk as we walk into the ocean, it covering my ankles. I eventually can't say anything but, "Cold, cold, oh my god this is so coooold!" After a minute or two, we walk back ashore and the sand is between my toes again. He turns to look at me and asks, "May I osculate you?"

"What?" I question. What on Earth does that mean.

"Let me show you," he says slyly, leaning forward and-

I suddenly feel butterflies all over in my stomach. I almost feel like I'm going to throw up, it feels so good. My mind soars and I feel a warmth radiating from my chest. It's all over before I know it and he's taking a step back. I jump forward and wrap my arms around him, resting my head on shoulder, I let out a sigh and whisper, "Thank you."

"AA, it's no big deal."

"It was my first kiss, dumbo, and you made it special," I tell him, releasing him from the hug and stepping back.

"You're welcome. We should get heading back to the car before it gets too dark."

"You're right, let's go."

~-..-~

As we turn down the high way, we head for the off ramp to town. I've been drifting in and out of consciousness. As the streetlights pass by more often, I'm awakened by the bright lights. As I sit up I hear Sollux mutter something about what another driver's doing. The car jerks forward and starts to turn as the light turns green, and I hear a screeching sound, and I see headlights out of the corner of my eye and-

I was at the beach this weekend, but I still uploaded it on Monday! Tell me what your reaction is, what you think happened, your denial, etc. I am really motivated by the reviews and I might even write a longer chapter if I get enough feedback. Love you all!

~predatoryExcitement