Hey guys! I would love it if you guys could leave some feedback in the comments? Thanks, i love you all!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Grayson's P.O.V.
I get back to the taco shop right at 1:30 and it's still pretty slow.
I walk to counter and Lydia says, "Was there something going on at the boardwalk today? It's awfully slow".
"Oh, uh no, I didn't see anything. It was slow at the boardwalk too", I say as I clock back in.
"Oh, weird", Lydia says as she gets ready to leave.
"Hey Lydia", I say quickly.
"Yeah Grayson?", she asks.
"I was wondering...what do you think of Dakota?", I ask nervously.
"Well I don't know her well but she seems kind and caring. I think once she's settled in she will open Thanks us" Lydia says.
How does Lydia always know exactly what to say?
"Yeah, you're right. ThankLydia", I say with a smile.
"No problem. I'll see you tonight for dinner?", she asks before leaving.
I laugh and say, "Yes, I have to make up for last night".
Lydia laughs and says, "Okay, see you then".
I have to figure out how I am going to get Dakota to reveal this supposed "secret" to me. Maybe tomorrow when we go to the boardwalk I can try to get her to open up...
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dakota's P.O.V.
After Lewis and I have been in the water for a while I say to him, "Hey I'm going to put some more sunscreen on, I'll be right back".
"Okay", Lewis says and continues riding the waves.
When I get out of the water I check the time and see that it's already three. I wonder what time Lewis will have to leave?
"Hey Kota! You coming?", Lewis asks from in the water.
"Just a sec!", I call to him. I put more sunscreen on and then run back in the water.
"It's already three, what time do you have to leave?", I ask Lewis.
"Are you already trying to get rid of me?", Lewis asks.
I shove him and say, "No, of course not. I just want to make sure you can drive home safely and not be too tired".
"Right", he says and winks.
I walk to Lewis and hug him and say, "Can I ask you something?".
"Of course", he says.
"Why were you with Sasha for so long if you didn't want to spend the right of your life with her?".
Lewis pulls away and says, "What? Why are you asking me this?".
"When did you know you didn't love her in that way?", I ask, avoiding his question.
"Kota, please", Lewis says and reaches for my hand but I pull away before he can grab it.
"Lewis, please answer the question", I say.
"The day...the day of our grad party", Lewis says slowly.
The tears come fast. What?
"Kota, please say something", Lewis says quietly.
"You realized you wanted to be with me only two days ago?", I ask as the tears come quickly.
Lewis takes a deep breath and says, "Yes. After graduation I saw you in a way I had never seen you before. You're so strong and beautiful. And I was so scared for you to leave that I wanted to you to have a reason to keep talking to me".
"What do you mean you wanted me to have a reason to keep talking to you? Why would I need a reason when you're my best friend? Lewis don't you see how messed up this is?", I ask quickly.
I can't believe this is happening. I finally got to be with the guy that I've had feelings for just to find out he doesn't actually feel the same way?
"Dakota, I'm so sorry. I was selfish and I should have thought about how I felt and why I was doing it", Lewis says.
"You have no idea how shitty this makes me feel. I risked our friendship to tell you how I felt and then you lie and tell me you feel the same?". I'm yelling at Lewis and it feels weird. I have never yelled at him like this before.
I know why Lewis did what he did, and honestly I don't blame him. I was so afraid of losing him too.
I take a deep breath and say, "I get why you did it...I do. You didn't want to me, and I didn't want to lose you, I don't want to lose you. Just tell me...how do you really feel about me?".
"I want to be with you, as your boyfriend. When I look at you my heart stops. I get butterflies when you laugh", Lewis says slowly and calmly.
I look down and realize that we've been standing in the water this entire time.
"Let's get out of the water and discuss how we should handle this", I say and gently takes Lewis's hand. We go to our towels and sit down across from each other.
"So how should we handle this?", I ask.
"What if we went on a date? We can do something fun and see if we really have chemistry? If there really is a spark?", Lewis asks hesitantly.
That could be a good idea. We could go to the boardwalk and play games and go on rides. It could be fun.
"Kota?", Lewis asks.
"That's a great idea", I say with a soft smile.
"Really?", Lewis asks.
"Yeah, that's perfect. What if we go to the boardwalk and play games and go on rides?", I ask.
"That sounds perfect", Lewis says with a smile.
"Hey Lewis".
"Yeah Kota?".
"Will you go on a date with me?", I ask. I feel if we are going to do this, we might as well do it right.
"I thought you'd never ask", Lewis says.
I laugh and then say, "But wait...when can we do it?".
"Oh shoot, you're right...I guess we have to do it now", Lewis says with a smirk.
"I mean I guess we HAVE too", I say with a laugh.
"Then let's get to it!", Lewis says and stands up and reaches his hand out to me and pulls me up.
He pulls me so our faces are only an inch apart. He goes in for a kiss but I put my finger on his lips and say, "No no no sir, no kissing on the first date".
"I love it when you play hard to get", Lewis says.
I back away and say, "Can we find a bathroom so I can change please?".
"Sure", Lewis says.
I grab my clothes and put them in my backpack and then grab my towel.
We walk to the main boardwalk and find a bathroom. When we get to the bathroom Lewis says, "I'll wait out here, okay?".
"Oh, okay. Could you please hold my towel?", I say and hand it to him.
Lewis lets out a sigh and says, "So demanding".
"Haha, very funny", I say and playfully shove him.
I go into the bathroom and luckily there is no line.
I change into a pair of ripped jeans and a shirt and put my favorite pair of Vans on.
When I'm done changing I brush out my hair and put it in a pony tail.
My hair is messy, but other than that I don't look too bad considering I just spent a few hours in the ocean without showering after.
I walk outside to find Lewis sitting at a table waiting for me.
"Hey, you read", he asks when I walk up to him.
"Actually, I wanna put my clothes and bathing suit in the car so I don't have to carry it around", I say showing him my wet bathing suit.
"Oh yeah, that's a good idea", Lewis says in agreement.
"Okay then, let's go to the car", I say and lead the way to the parking lot.
When we get to Lewis's car I decide to bring the sweater I brought with me just in case.
"What's that for? It's still hot out", Lewis says confused.
"Yeah, but it might get a little cold later. After all we are at the beach", I say.
"Oh man, you're right. I'll grab my extra sweat shirt", Lewis says and opens his trunk. Lewis pulls out a sweat shirt that says, "CSU LB", which stands for California State University of Long Beach.
"Cool sweat shirt. When did you get it?", I ask because I've never seen it before.
"When I got accepted to Long Beach", Lewis says.
"Hey I'm gonna leave my phone in your car", I say and open the passenger door and put it in the glove box.
"You don't wanna let the people you're staying with know you're gonna be out?", Lewis asks.
"No, it'll be fine", I say and grab Lewis's hand to head to the boardwalk.