Seaside Entries - 1. What about us, then?

“I’m leaving, what’s hard to understand about that?” Gina told me with a smile.

What was hard to understand? Everything. How could she be leaving so suddenly? Why? And why did she sound so casual about it? I looked down at her hand in mine. It was so much smaller and lighter than my own.

“But… where are you going? And when are you coming back?”

“I don’t know if I’m coming back.” She shrugged. “My sister is moving to France and I decided I want to go with her. Make a fresh start. What else am I to do here?”

She looked around as if we were on a deserted island with nothing but sea around us. What was wrong with our hometown? We had everything we needed right here on our doorstep. At least I did. The beach, the street market, great restaurants downtown, all of our family, friends, Leo…

“What about us, then?” the question slipped out of my mouth. She squeezed my hand and gave me that smile, the same one mom used to give me when I was a kid and she had some bad news to break to me.

“Oh, why are you looking at me like that? Noah, you can be too cute for your own good sometimes.”

I felt a frown coming on. I didn’t want to be called cute at that moment. She was breaking up with me after we’ve been together for eight… or was it seven months? It was late June, so… Maybe it was six? I was always bad at math.

Come to think of it, this was the first time in my twenty years that I’d been broken up with! It was usually the other way around. It felt strange.

“What are you thinking about now?” she asked after I failed to reply.

“Nothing. Nevermind.”

“Well, I’m sure you’ll get over me in no time,” she gave my hand one last squeeze before dropping it. “Hey, I’ll send you a postcard from France. You can stick it on the wall in your shop next to all the other ones.”

“Yeah, great.” I gave her a nod without thinking. I’m not sure I even registered what she said, but it felt like it needed a nod.

“So, I better get going then. I have a lot of stuff to do before the trip.”

“When are you leaving?” I blinked a few times, slowly coming back to reality.

“In two days.”

“So… I’ll see you before you leave?”

“Actually, we’ve got a lot to pack, and mom and dad are taking us to see all our relatives before we leave. That’s why I came—to say goodbye.”

So, that was it.

“Ah, ok then.” I didn’t know what else to say. For once in my life, I was out of words.

“I’m glad I got to see you. Take care of yourself, OK?” Gina stepped closer and leaned in, giving me a peck on the lips. It was nothing like our previous kisses. Maybe it’s because I knew that would be our last. “And tell Leo I said ‘bye’. I don’t think I’ll get to see him before I go.”

“Sure.” I nodded, watching as a group of kids came down the street, laughing as they chased each other. It was the last day of school. They were free for the summer.

I looked back at Gina, standing there in her yellow summer dress. She gave me one last look before turning and walking away. Even after she turned the corner, I could still hear her shoes on the cobblestones.

What now?

Instinctively, I reached for the phone in my pocket. It was nearly noon. The day was bright and warm, not a cloud in the sky. Following the noise of the school kids, I headed for the boardwalk. It was time for my shift at the store.

~~

I sat on the floor of my bedroom, turning over a piece of wood in my hands. It was going to be a dolphin, the town’s official animal, but I was still in the early stages of making it. I looked up at the other figurines I made, sitting on my desk and waiting to be painted. It was one past midnight, so they’d have to wait for another day.

I grabbed my phone from off the rug, my fingers automatically opening the calls screen, hovering over Leo’s name. I wasn’t falling asleep anytime soon, so I decided I might as well.

He picked up after the second ring.

“Whoa, I didn’t think you’d actually answer.”

“Then why did you call?” he replied right off the bat.

“Pfft, you ass.”

We chuckled in unison.

“Can’t sleep?”

“Nope,” I shook my head. I’d been tossing and turning for over an hour until I finally gave up.

The night was clear, the moonlight illuminating the street and the rooftops. I could even see parts of the beach through my window. Somewhere in the distance, a dog was barking.

“Can you believe she broke up with me, just like that?”

“She’s a monster,” Leo said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He was the only one I’d let get away with that. “A big kraken.”

“A fucking leviathan!”

“Exactly! Well, now she’ll be ravaging the coast of France, so…”

“Yeah, true.” I couldn’t help but laugh at that.

“She’s not good enough for you, you know that?”

“Do I?” Even though I was questioning it, I had a feeling Leo was right. He usually was. He was the smart one out of the two of us.

“Sure you do. You’re smarter than you look.”

“Hey!”

“I don’t hear you denying it.”

“...Smartass.”

“Are you in your bedroom?” he suddenly asked. He probably wanted to change the topic.

“Yeah, why?”

“Go to your window.”

“OK…” I hopped to my feet and walked over to the large pane. I looked down and there he was, standing in his striped blue and green t-shirt, waving at me from below. Of course he showed up. Why was I even surprised?

“Come on down,” I could see him grin. I hung up and raced out of my room and down the stairs. I slid into my flip-flops, and by the time I locked the front door, Leo was there by the sidewalk. His black hair was messy, as if he’d just got out of bed.

“What are you doing here so late?” I asked as if it was our first time.

He just shrugged, walking at a slow pace. I followed.

“Seemed like we both couldn’t sleep, and the night is nice and refreshing. Shame not to go for a walk, right?”

“Where are we going?” I asked, even though we were already heading towards the beach.

“I don’t know, where do you wanna go?”

“The beach.” I nodded, smiling. We both knew what I was going to say.

The see was calm that night, almost like looking at a photo. We weren’t the only ones there, though. Here and there, some local kids walked around, as well as a few people I didn’t recognize. Probably tourists. They’d already started arriving, hoping to avoid the peak season.

Leo and I walked down the palm-lined path until we were alone.

“No krakens here tonight, huh?” I chuckled as we took off our shoes and walked barefoot in the sand. It was still warm. “You reading pirate stories again?”

“Yeah. Into the Vortex,” he nodded cheerfully. Another new book for his collection. “It’s so good!”

“Yeah? What’s it about?”

“It’s about this disgraced pirate who loses his ship after being defeated in a duel. He then goes on a mission to find a new ship and a new crew. Then he meets a fisherman whose fishing rod can capture any type of creature he imagines.”

“That sure sounds right up your alley.”

“Want to borrow it when I’m done?”

“Nah, you know I’m never going to read it.”

“Why, would it kill you?”

“Actually, it might. The doctor said I was allergic.”

“To books?!” Leo stopped and turned to face me. I could barely keep a straight face.

“Yeah, it’s a rare condition.”

“I’ll give you a rare condition!” he came after me, but I was faster. By now, we were both laughing our asses off, our voices loud in the night air. I jumped to the side as Leo lunged at me, trying to pull me into the water. His fingers brushed against my waist as my shirt rode up, his hand warm against my skin. Somehow, it felt different than all the other times before.

When he realized he couldn’t catch me, he settled for splashing me.

“I’ve got some good news,” he sat down in the sand, letting the cool waves lap at his bare feet. We’d declared a truce.

I groaned as I sat down, stretching myself out next to him. “What is it?”

“Dad’s finally letting me put my own dish on the menu. As of Monday, we’ll be serving a Leo original at the restaurant!”

The stars reflected in his eyes as he spoke, his entire face beaming. The passion in him was so attractive, I found myself unable to look away. Seeing him so excited, I couldn't help but get excited for him as well. He’d been working at his parents’ place for a year now, and he was a damn good cook.

“That’s awesome, dude! What dish is it?”

“Ah, I don’t want to spoil the surprise. You’ll come over next week and try it out for yourself.”

“You know I’m there.” I didn’t need any convincing. Especially if it was seafood. “Hey, since you’re now deciding on the menu… can I give you some suggestions?”

“Hmm… maybe. Under one condition.”

“OK, let’s hear it.”

“You have to read the book. I need someone I can talk to about it!”

“You want me to die, huh?” I teased him. But when I saw that wide grin on his face, I knew it was about to kick off again.

“Oh, you’re gonna die right now!”

I sprang up and ran as fast as my legs would carry me. I could hear Leo laughing behind me, not giving up. He’d chase me to the end of town if necessary. So we ran, the night summer air fresh in our faces.

As far as we were concerned, the night was just beginning.