When Lightning Strikes [COMPLETED]

Practice Makes Perfect (Part 11)

She sat down in the bottom of the boat and changed. She looked up a few times, afraid someone could see her. But even if a plane was way up there, they wouldn't see her changing. She peeked over the side to see where Rory was. He had his back turned, laying out a blanket on the beach.

She stood up quickly and dived into the water. The ocean was cool out here but not unpleasant. The water gliding over her was as gentle as Rory's hands.

When she got to shore, he turned around at her splashing and grinned, his teeth glinting in the sun.

"I knew you would look better than I remembered."

"This isn't funny, Rory. I will find a way to get you back for this."

"I don't get it. You look great. Why all the attitude?" He pulled her into a hug, and she melted against him.

At least he couldn't see her if she was plastered against him. It made her feel less uncomfortable around him when they were touching.

"I know my dance stuff doesn't leave a lot to the imagination, but I'm used to the layer over my skin. Bikinis like this are different. I might as well be wearing nothing. They aren't made for moving around in. They don't have any purpose except for some guy to stare at you."

"Exactly." He chuckled.

"That's not funny."

Rory drew away from her, making her look him in the eyes. "You are so tiny compared to the other girls on the island. Tiny and perfect. You have a dancer's body. I'm the luckiest guy in the whole freaking world."

He held her for a while rubbing her back. "Will you relax some now? I promise not to stare...much."

Julie giggled, and her stomach rumbled. "All right."

He guided her over to the blanket and they ate lunch. A couple times when she was looking out over the waves, she caught him staring. But as soon as she looked at him, he turned away, smirking.

"Would you cut that out?"

"What? I said I would look. Just not much."

Julie got up and walked awkwardly to the ocean. She wasn't used to this kind of blatant attention. I feel so exposed.

How the hell did Mandy deal with it? She always pranced around in the smallest bikini she could find, without a care in the world.

She crouched down in the water as soon as she could without looking ridiculous and then turned around. He unfolded himself from the blanket and waded in after her. As she watched him, she felt a sudden hard bump in her back.

Julie screamed.

"What?" He dove towards her.

A giant gray head popped out of the water. Blunt teeth that still looked like they might hurt if they bit her opened up in a toothy grin. The front of its head was a long, blunt snout.

"Oh, it's a dolphin." He walked up beside her. "It won't hurt you. Come here, dolphin." He slapped the water by his side as if the dolphin would come over to him.

"Stop being silly. Will it hurt us?"

Rory raised an eyebrow at her. "Come on." He slapped the water again. The giant body moved toward him as if it understood, bumping its head against his hand.

"It won't hurt us?"

He looked at her, tilting his head to the side, and leaned down next to the dolphin, almost like he was whispering to it.

"He's going to give you a ride. Grab on here."

"What? Are you talking to it?" She tensed up. How was he doing this? The dolphin swam up beside her, butting her in the stomach gently. "Rory."

"Stop worrying so much. Remember, no questions. Go on. You promised. Grab on here with both hands, gently."

He patted the dolphins fin, poking up out of the water. Looking at him doubtfully, she put her hands where he showed her. He wrapped her hands around the fin firmly.

Sure. Wild dolphins appeared and offered to give rides. That wasn't weird at all.

The dolphin surged ahead. Julie kept her hands tight and her head above the water. After a few seconds, she smiled. The dolphin easily pulled her through the waves in circles. He wasn't trying to go under.

It was fun. She felt like a little kid riding a horse for the first time.

After a few moments, the dolphin brought her back. Rory pulled her into his arms. He patted the dolphin almost like a thank you.

"See, I told you."

"Are you going to go next?"

"Nope, I have something else I want to do," he said, as if a dolphin offering a ride was a normal everyday thing to him.

He leaned over and kissed her. They floated in the water off the shore, making out for a long time. Rory took advantage of the swimsuit, but the exhilaration of the boat, the dolphin, and being with him made her less self-conscious.

The rest of the day, they played around in the water. No more dolphins appeared, though Julie watched out for them. It didn't feel like they were there that long when he frowned at her and said they needed to get back.

The boat ride back was just as fun. Julie changed in the car while he stood with his back turned, watching for anyone coming by. She wasn't sure why she cared if he looked now, but it still mattered to her, and he respected that.

She hid under the blanket again to go across the bridge. This time she stayed quiet, and a few tears dripped down her cheek.

Julie didn't want this day to end. She didn't want to go back to the weirdness of the island and her family.

***

Sorry for the late updates guys, Wattpad and my laptop do not get along very well and the desktop we have at home has been under repair for the last few weeks. So enjoy a lot of updates today!

 

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