Between Two Fires

^.^ Chapter 4 ^.^

I can hear the waves crashing in a steady pattern against the shore. The tide is lower now and the sea is calmer, making the sound soothing enough to Lull someone to sleep. The sunlight is almost gone, granting the sky different hues of pink and purple, making me wish I had grabbed my camera.

 "So, what brought you to Australia, Ms.Blue eyes?"

We are almost done setting out the towels and I'm just about ready to plop down on one of them and go to sleep. I don't know how many people are coming but I'm pretty sure we had laid out around 60 towels. It had been surprisingly nice talking to Josh. He had been born and raised here and was currently finishing his Business degree in hopes of opening a club here in the future. Right after graduation, he planned on working odd jobs and saving up in order to invest into building the club. He loved to surf and sail. Compared to my first impression of Mr.Casanova I was surprised at how passionate he seemed. He also sucked at coming up with nick names.

"So Red Riding Hood wasn't bad enough? Seriously, how bad can you be at coming up with nick names?" He had thought that red riding hood suited me just because my hair had an Auburn tinge to it mixed in with the blonde and brown highlights. I plop down on a towel and realize it had actually gotten dark in the past half an hour or so.

He sits down next to me - a bit too close for my liking, "Yeah, well I never claimed to be good at that. But what I am good at... is flirting... and I must say your eyes really are beautiful." I turn towards him and look at his baby blues staring down at me. The nerves make my stomach twist into a tight knot and although I hear Lea's voice in the back of my head telling me I should try kissing an Australian guy, I just can't bring myself to do so.

I look away abruptly, hiding the nervous blush that inevitably rose to my cheeks "Look, Josh, you seem like a nice guy and thank you for the complement  - but I'm not looking for anything whilst I'm here. I just want to make that clear. I'm just here to try new things -  maybe I'm reading too much into it but from what Lea said earlier I'm gathering you like to get around so, its just easier to let you know I'm not on the market." I try to make it a joke to lighten the mood.

"Well, you can't blame a guy for trying." He jokes back. "For the record though, if you were from around here and  I would have definitely thought of having something more with you." He smirks and shrugs his shoulders, his tone sincere.

"Yeah, because you've known me for so long." I say sarcastically. "Anyway, you do seem nice, but I have a strict no boys rule this holiday. My focus is purely on trying new things. You know like Jet Skiis. Although I'm starting to regret it considering most guys around here seem to be incredibly hot." He chuckles and I continue. "I want to go bungee jumping, sky diving, snorkeling and all that stuff. Although Kissing an Australian guy has been added to the list thanks to Lea." We both laugh and the awkwardness is gone. 

We continue talking for a while longer and I tell him about my bucket list. He tells me about the job he has acquired for the summer and how he plans to go travelling around Europe as soon as he saves up enough money for it. And just like that I make my second friend. After a while I receive a text from Lea, saying to come find her by the truck. Before I leave to go find her we exchange numbers and he tells him I owe him a dance later.

"Fine then Casanova, one dance. As friends." I emphasize the last word, dragging out the S.

"Come on, Cyan, you know we are much more than that." I shoot him a pointed look "We are now 'Best Friends'. Duh" He puts his hand on his hip and throws his other hand to the side, rolling his eyes dramatically. I burst into a fit of giggles and walk away from him and towards the truck. 

***

After five minutes of looking for Lea, the truck comes into view. The campfire barely providing enough light to see the black truck. I spot Lea immediately, she is talking to Ethan and seems excited about something. Or maybe she just always looks that happy when talking to him. I laugh at my own joke. When she notices me approaching she skips over to me excitedly.

"Cyan! Tomorrow you have to come with us! We-are-going-to-go-to-do-the-zip-line-across-the-whole-of-the-beach-it-lasts-around-15-minutes-and-is-super-pretty-you-have-to-come-oh-oh-and-then-we-are-going-to-go-to-this-cliff-where-people-like-to-jump-off-but-you-don't-have-to-of-course-and-have-a-lunch-picnic-sort-of-thing-there-before-going-to-the-cove-which-is-a-smaller-beach-on-the-east-side!!!" Her words come out in an excited jumble leaving her breathless. To my surprise I understood everything she said.

"Yes sure, sounds fun. How will we get around? I don't exactly have a car-"

"You can ride with us! My cousin can drive us if he comes, if not Ethan will." She cuts me up and looks back at him for affirmation and he nods. 

"No problem with me, I'll give Cyan a ride. You, on the other hand...." He trails off and it earns him a slap on the arm from Lea. 

"Anyway, Cyan and I were just going to head off to the Diner to grab some dinner. So I'll see you later, yes?...." Her gaze drifts to something behind me and a smile spreads across her, "Luca! Hey! Where have you been?" She doesn't wait for him to answer her before she points her hand out to me, "Luca, this is Cyan. Cyan," She gestures behind me and as I turn around she says, "This is my cousin, Luca - which is late -  AGAIN."

When I see who it is, I have to keep my jaw from dropping to the floor. The same green eyes from the night before which I had been caught staring at. The same green eyes which, up close, had a mixture of light green and blue, making them mesmerizing to look at. The same eyes which I now noticed belonged to an equally good-looking guy. Man. Well - whatever. 

I hear Lea clear her throat and look away, suddenly finding my simple white sandals a lot more interesting than ever before. 

Nice, just my luck. The only person I didn't want to encounter again is cousins with my closest friend in Australia. What are the chances.