Something Different, 99, part 2: Goodbye.
“The beach, huh?” Nat laughed.
Eric just smiled in return.
After they left Nat’s house that afternoon, Eric took her to the beach.
“Why the beach though?” Nat asked as she took her slippers off her feet, feeling the sand beneath her feet, and thanking God she wore an appropriate outfit: a simple Levi’s t-shirt and a pair of quarter pants.
The wind blew her hair, and the smell of the beach filled her nostrils. She let out a sigh.
“You like the beach.” Eric replied, it wasn’t a question.
Nat didn’t reply, instead she gave him a grin in return and looked out to the sea.
They were quiet for a few moments.
“Why’d you bring me here, though?”
“I already told you.” Eric told her.
“No, I meant. Why did you bring me here?” Nat asked.
Eric suddenly studied her face as if she was a piece of a puzzle, that wasn’t complete. Suddenly he gave her his warm smile that usually makes Nat’s heart skip a beat.
“What?” She felt her cheeks growing hot.
“This.” Eric said as he leaned forward, and his lips touched hers, sending out tingly vibes around her body. She giggled and kissed him back.
Once they broke away, breathless, Nat couldn’t stop grinning.
“So, I’m guessing I’m the girl you like in school.” Nat pointed out.
“Maybe.” Eric smiled and kissed her again.
“And what, was that for, again?” Nat smiled.
“Shut up, Scott.” Eric winked and put his arm around her shoulders and gave her a peck on her forehead.
Then after a few minutes, Nat didn’t say anything.
“Why aren’t you talking?” Eric raised an eyebrow up.
Nat just gave him a smile and looked straight.
“What?” Eric demanded. Then he put a face on and said, “Oooooh. Okay, you can talk.”
Nat bursted out laughing, “Thank you.”
“Weird. It’s weird seeing you not talking.”
“Shut up, Owens!” Nat slapped his arm.
“Okay, okay!” Eric put both his arm, a sign of surrendering. “Do you really want me to shut up?”
Nat slapped his arm again and smiled, “No. Keep talking.”
“Thought so.” Eric winked and put his arm around Nat’s shoulders again.
“This is nice.” Nat told him and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome.” Eric smiled. Yes, this is nice, he thought.
***
Meet me up at Starbucks? D.
Ok. I
***
Ivy.
I waited at Starbucks, again, because, to my surprise, Dash told me to do so.
“Hey, babe.” I heard a familiar voice say. I looked up to face Dash, his face looked tired. I could actually see eye bags under his eyes.
“Hey.” I gave him a quick kiss on the cheeks and said, “Are you alright? You look tired.”
“Fine.” Dash said as he sat down.
“What’s up?” I asked.
Dash was silent for a few seconds then he finally looked at my face and said, “Dad’s business is going okay.”
“That’s great, Dash.” I told him with a smile. “It’s all thanks to you.”
“Thanks.” Dash said, “But that’s not why I came here.”
“Oh, then what is?” I asked.
Dash fell silent again, I could see he was trying to put on a straight face, but it was no use. His lips were trembling, and I swore, I could see that his eyes were watery.
“What’s wrong, Dash?”
Dash looked up at me and gave me a smile, but I wasn’t satisfied.
Finally he looked at me in the eyes and everything stopped moving.
“Ivy, I’m moving.”
