July 2009
It was summer vacation, Adam and his family had just arrived in a small town in the middle of no where in North Carolina. No chain stores, no chain restaurants. Just water on both side of this peninsula they were on. The house was small, it was 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. A small deck. And it was 1/2 mile to the beach. Adam didn't want to be here but he didn't have a choice. He's 13 and would much rather be home with his friends hanging out and playing video games. He found his room that his sister let him have quickly and started to unpack his items. He had to make his bed and put his towels in the shared bathroom.
After setting up his room he went to explore the rest of the house. There wasn't much to it so he just sat on the deck staring at the street. He was bored already. As they headed to dinner he looked around the town more. It wasn't much but the water views were amazing. They sat at a little deli that had maybe 10 tables. They sold BBQ which Adam was fine with but also burgers, ribs and some fish. They made small talk through dinner, he didn't want to be there so he made it pretty clear all throughout dinner. The only saving grace of the meal was the food. It was really good so that made things a bit better.
They left dinner and crossed the street to a shopping center. Adam had no interest in shopping but the stores were right on the waterfront. He walked by the water just looking at the fish and crabs that were underneath the boardwalk. He never went in one store. They walked from center to center looking at shops and staring at the water. It was calming and actually brought Adam some peace. Home life was crazy, his parents were divorced and they still fought often. Putting the kids in the middle. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad. He noticed all the happy families walking past him and it made him angry but he just kept focusing on the water to stay calm.
When they returned home he went straight to his room and went to bed. He wasn't tired but didn't want to sit around watching tv with his dad and sister pretending to be interested. He tossed and turned for what seemed like hours before he finally fell asleep. The next day he hoped he would find something fun to do before he died of boredom.
Kim's family arrived at their usually vacation spot. Kim was excited to be here so she could relax and work on her tan. She had to take time away from her dance classes to come here but it was worth it in her eyes. Summer soccer was starting soon too and the tan would help prevent burning while on the field. She unpacked in her normal room and was settled quite quickly. She couldn't wait to get into the screened in porch to read a book. An hour later her family was headed in town to get some dinner. They decided to walk to a local place that faced the water and sold amazing crab cakes.
Kim watched as people walked by them on the boardwalk. People watching was a great past time for Kim. She loved looking at all the fashion, it was definitely enjoyable for her. She also noticed some very hot looking boys walking past. She wasn't really allowed to date since she was only 13 but she could look. That wasn't hurting anyone. After dinner Kim wanted to walk around the shops more to get some exercise and stretch her legs. The car ride had been long and tiring. She stopped at her favorite ice cream store before heading back to the house.
She grabbed her book and towel from the house before walking to the beach to sit and listen to the water as she read. Yes it was dark out but she had a flashlight. She wasn't scared but it helped prevent the crabs from coming near her on the sand. She read for probably an hour before heading back to the house to get some sleep. She planned on getting up early to go for a run before going to the beach. She at least wanted to keep up with her work outs while she was away.
Kim got half way through the book before she headed back to the house. She entered the home letting her parents know she's back and headed to bed. She fell asleep quickly after getting into bed. The next morning at 6am Kim got up and got ready for her morning run. By 6:30 she was outside stretching to make sure she doesn't have an injury. She started out on in a lite jog before picking up speed. She hit her stride by the time she hit the main road. 30 minutes pass by before Kim turned around to run back.
Adam had woken early since he went to bed really early. No one was awake yet so he went out to the deck to enjoy his breakfast. As he sat he watched a very pretty girl run past him. He wondered who she was and where she was living. She looked about his age. He hoped that he would get to see her again. He had taken his bowl in before coming back out to wait for the girl to hopefully return. It took about an hour before he saw her return. He jogged down the stairs to get an idea of where she lived. It was about 5 houses away from what he could see without getting close.
When returned home she stretched out again to reduce the chance of cramping. She headed inside to grab some breakfast. Her mom had noticed her outside and started making oatmeal, fruit and turkey bacon. Kim appreciated it greatly since it was healthy and Kim needed to eat healthy to keep up with her sports. After breakfast she took a quick shower to wash off the sweat from running before heading to the beach to relax and continuing reading her book. She set up camp on the beach with her chair, umbrella, books, towel and cooler filled with drinks, fruit, veggies and a sandwich. She also had tons of sunscreen. She burned easily so sunscreen was key.
Adam ran back in the house once the mystery girl ran past. He showered quickly before getting ready to head to the beach. He packed his towel and some drinks before he headed out. He hoped his dad would bring food later. He hurried down to the beach to see if the mystery girl was there or not. As soon as he got down in the sand he saw her. He gasped seeing her in her bathing suit. He settled close enough that he could see her but far enough that he wasn't a creeper. He had to figure out how to talk to her.
He had sunglasses on so he was able to look over without getting caught. He noticed she was reading a book. He couldn't see what kind of book but figured it was probably some romance novel. He also noticed that she used sunscreen while under the umbrella. A while later he noticed she put the book down and headed into the water to cool off he assumed. He decided to wait a few before heading in as well. As he entered the water he noticed that she was coming out from under the water. She looked even more beautiful now that he was closer. He went under the next wave to cool off as well.
"Hey! Are you enjoying the sunshine today?" Adam asked the mystery girl. "Um yeah. It's a beautiful day. Trying to get as much as I can before it gets too hot outside. It's supposed to get over 100 today." Kim answered as she rode with the waves. "Oh wow! Is it always that hot here. It's my first time here." Adam asked trying to keep talking to her. "Um yeah this time of year it's always super hot." Kim answered him, not sure what to make of this guy. Was he trying to hit on her, was he a creep, or was he just friendly.
"I'm Adam by the way. It's nice to meet you." Adam held his hand out for her to shake. "I'm Kim. Nice to meet you as well." Kim shook his hand to be polite. "Do you live here year round?" Adam asked really wanting to know more about her. "No but we come here every year for vacation. I assume you don't live here year round. So where are you from?" Kim asked watching as he was caught off guard. "Well you are correct in your assumption. I'm from Chicago. What about you?" Adam asked her. "Same. Chicago. Technically Charleston." Kim answered watching him as he looked shocked. "Wow. That's cool. I live in Caneryville when I am with my dad and Beverly when I'm with my mom." Adam was so happy about this turn of events. "Well I'm headed in. Maybe I will see you around." Kim waves bye as she headed back to her chair. He watched her walk away. What just happened? Was she not interested in being friends? Or was she just wanting out if the sun. She mentioned seeing each other again but it was vague to say the least.
He walked back to his towel confused. He sat and had a drink while he pondered the conversation with Kim. Occasionally he would look over to see what she was doing. Most of the time she was reading. He also noticed she had lots of food with her. Healthy snacks. He liked that about her, she was a planner it seemed. A bit later he noticed she left the beach but all her things were still there. He waited to see if she came back at all or if she went to get more things. When she returned 20 minutes later she had a fresh drink and more people with her. He assumed her family. His family still wasn't at the beach yet but that wasn't a big deal to him.
Kim had been sitting in her chair thinking about the boy, Adam, who spoke to her. Boys didn't normally talk to her. She was a nerd and she was okay with that. Books and sports were more her thing anyway. But she did wonder about this boy. He was cute that was for sure. But she didn't know what else to think. She kind of wanted to talk to him again but how and why. She didn't do this kind of thing. It was all so confusing. She decided to finish her book, that was a good thing to focus on. It would help stop her spinning mind.
Adam watched from the corner of his eye as Kim interacted with her family. They seemed like they were faking it. He could tell something was off with them but nothing too bad. Just something told him there was way more to this story. He watched as she left for a short bit into the water to cool off before returning to her book. He really wanted to get to know her more. Chicago was a very large city so it was unlikely they knew the same people. And he didn't know anyone from her school district, though she could go to private school. Lots of kids in Chicago did. He would have to wait till she was alone again.
That seemed to take forever. His family came down at some point and they ate lunch today and enjoyed time in the water and in the sand together. Little did Adam know that Kim was watching him during that time. Her sunglasses covered the fact that she was watching him. He was athletic that was for certain. And he liked to have a good time, he seemed like a goofball. She liked that about him. The sunshine and sweat on his body was hard not to see. It glistened in the sun. Her body felt strange, something stirring she never felt before. And it wasn't in the normal places. Her core was tingling. What does that mean she thought as she stared at him.
Eventually he went back to his towel and took a nap in the shade. It gave Kim tons on time to think which didn't always end well for her. Right now it was driving her crazy. She decided to go for a walk on the beach. She threw on a cover up and grabbed a water before walking towards the pier. It was probably 5 miles to the pier which wasn't the goal but she headed North trying to clear her head. The walked helped as she had to watch for other people who were wave boarding, playing in the shallow water, fishing or like herself walking. She was in no rush anyway she had no where she had to be.
When she got back she noticed he was in the water again. She decided to take off her cover up and head towards the water again. Her parents had left again and so had her sister so it seemed like a good time to maybe talk a bit. He seemed alone too. She had no idea how long she was gone during that walk but it seemed fate had brought them a break. As she headed towards the water Adam was very aware of her presence. To him she was a walking, real life wet dream. He was thankful for the water covering his body.
"Hey how was your nap?" Kim asked as she got closer. Adam could help but smile. She was initiating conversation. "It was great thank you. How was your walk?" Adam asked knowing they had both been watching each other. "It was nice. It's beautiful here. And it helps clear my mind. I love it here." Kim had no idea how to talk to boys she liked. It was a foreign concept to her but she was trying. "Do you have plans for tonight? Maybe we could walk in town and talk a bit?" Adam hoped he wasn't being too forward but he wasn't sure. "Um yeah maybe. I have to check in that my family didn't make plans without telling me. That happens a lot. But it sounds nice." Kim tried to sound positive but she wasn't sure it would happen.
Her parents didn't like the idea of boys around either daughter so this would be a battle. Maybe if she just went for a walk and they didn't know about him. "Well how about when we get out of the water we talk for a bit here and I give you my number. They you let me know. No pressure that way." Adam hoped this was a good solution. "Sounds good. I would like to learn more about you. You seem nice. I don't have many friends in Chicago. I read too much and I study too much. Plus sports so my group is very small." Kim admitted wondering if that would be an issue for him.
"I get that. I have tons of friends, I get along with everyone but I also don't read a lot or study at all. I need to be better about that though. Football and a Baseball will only take me so far. Maybe you will inspire me to do better." Adam winked at her. He wasn't sure where that came from but it felt right. And by the blush on her cheeks it was definitely the right move. "Should we head back to the towels? You can sit by me and we could talk more." Kim offered knowing it would more comfortable out if the hot burning sun. "Sounds good. I will move my things over." They quickly moves out of the water and back towards their things. Kim was wrapped in her towel shivering a bit when he moved over towards her. They both just stared for a moment enjoying the view of their almost naked bodies. That's what bathing suits are, it's basically the size of underwear.
He positioned his chair under her umbrella but in a way that allowed him to look at her as they spoke. She handed him some water and offered a snack. It was rude not to do that. "So you mentioned sports. What do you play?" Adam asked her wanting to know everything about this women. "Well I only play soccer on a team but I like to play volleyball as well but it conflicts with soccer for school. And I also have dance practice two times a week. And dance is year round including summers so I'm missing practice this week but I am keeping up with my workouts though." Kim mused as she drank some water. "Dance? What kind? Do you enjoy it?" Adam was absolutely interested in knowing more. "Um yeah I enjoy it. It's not a career goal for me but I enjoy it enough. And I do ballet. I started at 5 which is normal to start then and haven't stopped yet. The instructor acts likes it our jobs and it's life or death but right now I enjoy it. It helps keep me in safe for soccer and flexible so I appreciate it." Kim wasn't going to make it her job but it was fun enough. It got her out of her house so it was great.
"What about you? You play sports and don't study. What do you do with your free time?" Kim asked watching him shift in his chair slightly. "Not much really. I workout to keep in shape for sports. I hang out with me friends. Try to stay out of my parents fights. They have been divorced for years now and they still fight about everything. He has primary custody so I could keep going to my school and that pisses her off. But I never wanted to change schools. Leave my friends behind and start over. All because they can't work it out. It's bullshit. Sorry I get worked up over it." Adam knew he was getting angry and that wasn't a good look for him. "It's okay I understand. Um my parents fight a lot too. They are headed towards divorce but want to wait till we are out of school. I have 8 more years. I would rather they did it now. It's why I don't have a ton of friends and study so much. It's my get away from all the drama. My good friends understand what's going on and offer a refuge from it all. I also don't want to change schools. I like where I am." Kim opened up to a stranger about her home life that was huge for her.
"I'm sorry about your parents but I completely understand. Watching them fight is horrible. Especially when you are in the middle. Those days I'm in the gym a lot. There a boxing gym that I go to a lot. They have a program run by cops to help troubled kids. While I'm not troubled it still a great place to work out my anger towards the situation. You should try it sometime. I could go with you." Adam felt bad for her but understood. "I'm sorry you went through all that but I'm happy you have some place you can go to get some help. I know that is super helpful when you are upset. My bestie had a horrible childhood and her foster father saved her life. He also takes her to a boxing gym to punch out her feelings. He has her in private sessions since the aggression she releases during the sessions ends in tears a lot. It's pretty emotional to watch. She yells a lot while she's punching but she always feels better after." Kim confessed to her friends issue.
"That's horrible. No kid our age should have to go through hell and to need a stranger save their life. I can't even imagine. Sounds like she's a strong person. I'm glad you can support each other. That's important in life." Adam reached out to touch her hand. Offering support even if it was small. "Yeah it's been rough for her. Her foster dad is a cop, hence how he saved her. She bounced around a lot before and now is in a stable home and has a boyfriend. That parts strange at our age but they really get along well and support each other. And he doesn't care about her home life prior to being saved. He was there and saw parts of it. He helped her several times before the cops got involved. They truly are great together." Kim was in awe of how her friends boyfriend accepted her past and still loved her even if they didn't say it yet.
"That's amazing! Now back to us getting to know each other." Adam offered. He liked talking to her but he wanted to talk about them not her friends, at least not right now. "Sounds good. Let's talk about you and me." Kim agreed right away. They talked for awhile longer till Kim got a message to come home to shower and get ready for dinner. "I'm sorry but I have to go. Give me your number so I can text you later. Maybe we can do that walk you mentioned." Kim wasn't ready to leave but she didn't have a choice. "It's okay. I understand. Give me your phone and I will add my number. I hope we can go on that walk later, I've really enjoyed getting to know you." Adam held on to her hand a little longer. "Me too. Maybe you could join me in the morning for my run. I will text you though. See you." Kim left the beach after that. Adam watched till she was out of sight. He missed her already.
Kim returned home and headed inside after washing off her feet. She headed right to her room to get a shower and dressed for dinner. She stood there under the water thinking of Adam. She had no idea how he got under her skin. She didn't even know him 12 hours but she liked him and wanted to know more. She was also confused, the more she thought about him the more her core tingled. That was a new thing to her. She wasn't sure what to make of it but she knew she didn't hate it. She finished her shower and got dressed before heading upstairs for dinner with her family.
Adam headed home shortly after Kim wanting to shower as well and have some dinner. He needed to wash off the sunscreen and the sweat of the day. As he stood in the shower he thought about Kim. He liked what he found out so far. He liked that she was smart, sporty and kind. They had similar interests and they could relate to each other well. He really was looking forward to a walk tonight with her or a run in the morning. He hoped it was both. But he didn't want to push too much, they had just met. His body was reacting to her just by thinking about her. He knew he would have to take care of that before the shower was over. It was kind of embarrassing but he knew it was human nature.
They both sat at their respective homes eating with their families. They discussed their evenings with their families hoping they could meet up but they didn't mention that specific fact the their families. Kim's family decided to stay home and have a relaxing night in front of tv. Kim was not interested in that all. Adams family decided they wanted to head in to the movies. His sister wanted to see some girly movie that Adam had no interest in seeing. His father agreed he could stay home and walk around town if he wanted. He heard his phone buzz, he hoped it was Kim.
He smiled as soon as he saw it was her. She told him that they could meet up and walk. They set up a time to meet and headed back to their families before they had to answer questions. They headed out to meet up. Both were excited to see each other again. Kim headed down the street towards Adams home. He was waiting at the end of the driveway with a huge smile on his face. "Hey I'm so happy to see you again!" Adam offered a hug when he saw her again. Kim accepted the hug before pulling back. "I'm happy to see you too. Should we start walking?" Kim pointed in the direction of town. "Yeah let's go." Adam held out his hand hoping she would take it. "Let's do this!" Kim took his hand as they walked towards town.
They made small talk as they continued to walk. As they got closer to town Adam noticed the sun setting. "It looks beautiful over the water." Adam pointed towards the sunset. "Their is a place we can watch the sunset. Follow me." Kim walked towards the best place to view the water and sunset. "God this is amazing. Thank you for bringing me here." Adam hugged her tight. "You are very welcome. Let's take a photo together in front of it." Kim suggested with a huge smile. Adam pulled his phone out right away to snap photos of the two of them together. Pulling funny faces and same with happy, smiley faces. Her favorite one was him kissing her cheek.
They stopped to get some ice cream before heading back towards their homes. When they returned to Adams place Kim stopped walking but Adam didn't. "I'm walking you home first. Maybe a few steps before so your parents don't see us but I'm walking you closer to home." Adam wanted to be a proper gentleman with this. "Well thank you. I appreciate that." Kim squeezed his hand as they walked further. "This is me." Kim pointed towards the house. "Thank you for today. I really had a great time. Will I see you tomorrow?" Kim asked as she looked deep into his eyes. "Of course. Text me when you go for your run. I will go with you. And today was amazing. I've never been happier." Adam kisses her cheek before she turned to walk towards her house.
He watched till she was inside before heading home. He was floating on cloud nine as he walked home. It had been amazing. He never felt like this before. He went to bed dreaming of Kim and couldn't wait to see Kim again. Kim had entered the house getting asked 50 questions about where she had been. She headed to bed with a large beaming smile on her face. It had been a beautiful night. She never felt like this about anyone. She also couldn't wait for tomorrow. Tomorrow's run couldn't come quick enough. She slept solidly through night dreaming of Adam.