Surfing Lessons

Refer to first chapter for disclaimer and such.

(Some language, just for safety)

A.N: Youhou! I'm so very happy about this chapter. Really, it makes me want to smile.

I'd also like to thank you all amazing reviewers!!!

Have fun reading!

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Chapter eight: Testing the water

"Can you tell me again how you've gotten me to agree to this road trip with you?"

Veronica's gaze left the landscape of the passenger window and glanced over to the driver side. Dick was driving; or more like he was trying to drive and looked sideways at her at the same time. She sighed, exasperated. He'd asked that same question three times since they'd left Neptune borders. She was certain by now that he was repeating the words to aggravate her.

"Because," she started, with more patience in her voice than she felt in reality (someone was bound to give her credit points for that fortitude in the near future), "It's mid-term break and I didn't want to go at Parker's birthday party."

She'd put on a though façade in the last few months but inside, she still felt ill at ease while standing in the same room as Logan. As a matter of fact, she felt awkward being in a room with Parker too, nowadays. She really, really, really (had she mentioned really, already?) didn't want to go there. She could just picture herself, heartbroken, as a happy Parker kissed her thoughtful boyfriend over a giant sized birthday cake. She shivered in repulsion at the thought.

"Are you cold? I can turn off the AC if you want."

Once again, she met Dick's gaze and couldn't help but smile sheepishly at him. She was glad to have him by her sides. He was a good friend.

Sure, she already had good friends, great friends even. She had Wallace, Mac, Weevil and even Piz, in a way. But it hadn't been the same since her break-up with Logan. Wallace was annoying as ever; dealing with her as if she was some precious porcelain doll and she didn't like that one bit. Mac was always trying to make her talk about her feelings and Veronica wanted to bury them. Weevil had been glad she'd ended things with Logan and apart from a comment when she'd broken the new to him, he'd keep quiet about on the topic somehow knowing it was a sore subject for her. But alas, they'd never that close; their friendship usually revolved around favours and paybacks. And Piz, she didn't even want to get there. Since Wallace had opened her eyes on his roommate's true feelings regarding her, Veronica had felt a little uncomfortable around Piz.

But she was completely at ease with Dick. Dick was easy-going. Dick was a reminder that not everything had to be complicated in life.

Veronica shook her head. "No, I'm good," she added.

Dick shrugged casually, his eyes back on the road. "You know, there would have been two hot chicks from myspace all over me if we'd gone to that party…"

"Will you ever stop whining?"

"I'm not whining; women whine. I'm stating my objections."

"Come on, Dick. There will be waves and hot chicks where we're going too…"

He threw a glance toward her and she made a big deal of smiling a beaming smile at him. A few seconds later, she had him grinning back. "Ok," he conceded, "but there must be beer too."

"You've got a deal."

- -

They had taken the ferry. They'd gotten tickets and had parked Dick's flashy yellow car in the car deck. After an hour and a half of boat ride, they'd found themselves on one of the channel islands of California. Everything looked amazing when they arrived and although the island seemed to be in serious lack of beaches, women and beers, Dick hadn't complained any further. That is, until they decided they both wanted to see the last lighthouse built by the US of A and to do some exploration on the other side of the island one hour before nightfall.

Dick spoke up: "I think we're lost."

Veronica's glare shot up from the map she'd been trying to figure out for the past minutes and met Dick's shadowy form in the driver seat. "How can we be lost on an island so small?" She answered, annoyed.

He shrugged. She grunted. After some silent moment, in which the two of them were mentally cursing their predicament and decrypting the map, Dick sighed out loud. "Maybe we should sleep here and try to find where we are in daylight?"

Veronica signed as well, knowing his solution was the best. "Well, we don't have much choice," she said, resigned as she put the map away. She bent her legs under her, trying to get as much comfort Dick's small sporty car could offer.

The only noises filling the quiet stillness of the car were those of their breathing, those of grasshoppers and those of the waves hitting the cliffs a few feet from their site. The headlights were illuminating the side of the dirty road they were parked by, dimming the light of the moon and the stars above their heads.

As she was facing him, Veronica's gaze observed Dick, silently studying him. His eyes were closed and she could have guessed he was already fast asleep if he hadn't been frowning in though, and if his lips weren't tilted slightly downside. "Talk to me about those spur of the moment thingies that you have…" she asked, in reference to his pitiful excuse when he'd gotten married in Vegas a few weeks ago.

His eyes opened, rolled his head toward hers. He half smiled; she put her head over her hands, trying to get more cosy for the explanation.

"Well, it's like an 'I dare you' hardcore game but I'm the only one that plays it. The rule is simple; I have to do something completely spontaneous once in a day."

"Like a 'let's get drunk and let's get married to Vegas' spur-of-the-moment thingy?" she asked, trying to understand Dick's motivations.

"Yeah," he nodded. "Like that."

"That's not spontaneous, that's cliché."

"Ok, well more of like 'Let's do a cartwheel in the middle of the street' thingy."

She grinned. "That's not spontaneous, that's suicidal."

Dick smiled and shrugged. "Maybe, but it makes me feel alive."

In the past, she'd always thought there was nothing more to the silliness and the player façade Dick always showed. But for some months now, she'd come to see that there was more to it that just plainness. Dick wasn't just a simple, uncomplicated guy because he was unconcerned and irresponsible. No, Dick wasn't complex because he'd chosen not to be.

After a few silent moments, she looked up at him with a wicked grin. "Well, let's do it."

He eyed her doubtfully, clearly trying to see if she was serious. "Do the cartwheel in the middle of the street?"

"Where would be the danger in doing that in the middle of a desert road? No, let's do something in the spur-of-the-moment." She said excitedly.

"It's your moment. What do you have in mind?"

She faced him, thoughtful for a second. Then, her smirk returned in full force and she bit her lips with mischief.

"You'll follow my lead?"

He nodded.

She got off the car and ran to the side of the cliff. He soon joined her, eying the bottom of the sea cliff somewhat fearfully. It wasn't that high –about only a dozen of feet deep, in fact- but even tough it was dark, he could see rock underneath the surface of water. "Please, tell me you won't dive."

Veronica laughed and fell to her knees, her back to the ocean. She started to make her way downhill against the stony surface of the cliff wall. Dick's eyebrows shot up, impressed. Then he smiled and mimicked her movements. They made their way to the bottom, until they both could feel the steam of the water hitting their ankles. She noted that the waves weren't as forceful as they'd seemed to be on the other side of the island.

Veronica turned her back to him and pulled off her shirt over her head. She glanced over her shoulder and saw that it took him a second to process her actions; then he turned from her as well and started getting butt naked too. She grinned like a mad woman. That spur-of-the-moment philosophy was growing on her.

Finally undressed, she jumped in the water, were no pointy rocks seemed to hide. She gulped in as much air as she could before being completely flooded in the water.

"Ah! Cold, cold!" she cried when she surfaced. She looked up at Dick; he was still on solid ground, dressed in boxers, grinning smugly down at her.

"If it's cold I won't get in."

She splashed him. He shrieked. She laughed.

"Come in, big baby."

Dick crossed his arms in from of him and pouted. "It's not fair. You didn't know it was cold."

"Dick is a big baby," she singsong.

"Alright, turn around, woman; I wouldn't want you to droll all over my fine body."

Veronica chuckled but turned around anyway.

"Don't peek," she heard and laughed all the more. Seconds after, she was splashed by Dick's body hitting the water full force. She couldn't help but grin.

They were in deep enough water so all the right parts were covered, so they faced each other, smiles firmly in place.

"You learn fast, Ronnie. Streaking in nature for your first moment grants you an honourable mention."

"A mention only? I was thinking more of a prize. A pony, maybe?"

He splashed her, laughing and she decided to fight as well and started chasing him in the water. A few minutes went by and suddenly, Dick stopped. He let her caught up with him. When she was near enough so he could reach her easily, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her to him. They were panting for much needed air and he could see that she was getting tired.

He pointed some moving light in the air. "I found the lighthouse," he exclaimed. The building wasn't far away from the car; the light must have been blocked by some trees. They stayed silent, glancing at one another, smiling happily.

"You're right," she began, breathily; "It was fun. It felt great, even."

He smiled down at her and caught her lips with his. She gasped and slid her hand tightly against his shoulders and neck; as if she was afraid of falling. He cupped the back of neck, wet, heavy hair untangling with his fingers. Seconds ticked by frantically in Veronica's mind, but it was impossible to distinguish real time from the cloudy mix of instant and eternity that had engulfed her. When they broke apart, she signed and rest her forehead against his.

"Was that your spur-of-the-moment?"

"No," Dick answered truthfully. "I had this all thought up already."

He smiled evilly at her. "But if you really want to know what my moment is…" he dragged, his voice teasing. She cocked an eyebrow in anticipation and was surprised when he dig her head under the water. She pulled out, spiting salt water, only to hear his laughter and the splash of water as he swam away.

"You don't know what danger you've put your butt into, Casablancas!"

He had almost reached the rock where they'd left their clothes when it started to rain. They stopped all movement and gazed upward, looking at the clouds that had miraculously appeared in the sky.

"We have to go back to the car," Dick stated. He let himself out of the water and put back on his boxers. When she was near the edge of their rock platform, he took a hold of her hand and helped her to get on solid ground.

She was surprised when he didn't leer at her. Instead, he turned around and continued getting dress. She glanced at his boxer-clad butt and smirked before putting on her underwear.

To be continued...

AN: Alright people. Loving the idea of Dick and Veronica together? I've decided to write some standalones stories about them. I would love to have some of your ideas if you don't feel like writing them yourselves. Cheers and take care people!

Ah, I was forgetting; stay tune to this story. Like a great singer of our times had said recently, 'it keeps getting better'. *wink*