Skylar wondered how she was going to tell her mother about going to the beach at night; but most importantly, would her mother allow her to go to the beach?
She contemplated if she should just sneak out and come back early. She sighed; no way would her mom allow her to go see Hayden by herself.
The best her mother would give her is if she walked with them, which would take out the whole romance element.
Skylar groaned. What was she thinking when she said yes? Well, she wasn’t thinking much, honestly; she was lost in Hayden, and she would worry about it later.
Now that the time was drawing closer, the more she thought, the clearer it was that there was no solution to it at all.
Skylar paced up and down and wondered if she should just come clean and beg her mom by saying that she wouldn’t do anything with him.
“Skylar.”
Skylar jumped when she heard her name being called.
“Coming, Mom.”
Skylar took a deep breath. Maybe this was her chance to pull up her courage, rip the bandage off, and ask her mom.
She walked into her room and found her sitting on the bed, watching television. Her mom turned to her.
“Come watch with me.”
“I can’t, Mom.”
“Why not, honey? It’s been a long time since we had a girls’ night, and what is the best place besides being on vacation?”
Skylar nodded. She went and sat next to her mother. Skylar made sure to not talk much. She saw that her plan was working as Mom started feeling drowsy.
When her mom reclined on her back, Skylar knew what that meant. Her mom was about to sleep. Skylar moved a few inches away so that she wouldn’t wake her up, and at the same time, could check up on her to see if she had really fallen asleep.
When Skylar was sure that her mother had fallen asleep, she took the remote and switched off the TV.
She made sure to cover her mom properly, and she switched off the light.
Skylar went back to her room and took her hairbrush to brush her hair. When she was done, she put on shoes and sneaked out of her room.
She held her breath, and when she was finally out, she ran to the beach. She was already twenty minutes late, and she wondered if Hayden would still be there.
When she got to the beach, there were a couple of people, but she couldn’t see Hayden anywhere. She guessed that he had left when she hadn’t showed up.
She sighed and slowly turned back.
“Skylar.”
She turned and saw Hayden walk to her.
“You made it.”
“Hayden, you are here.”
Skylar lit up the minute that she saw him. She had thought that he had stood her up after the efforts that she made.
She hoped that her mom wouldn’t wake up and find her gone, go berserk, and call the police. She knew her mom all too well. Hayden took her hand and led her down the beach.
“Did you think I didn’t show?”
Skylar nodded. “I thought I was late, and you went back or gave up on waiting for me.”
“I would never do that. I knew you would show, or else you would have told me, but even if you didn’t show, I wouldn’t have regretted it.”
“Thank you, Hayden, and I didn’t mean to be late.”
“You don’t have to explain, Skylar. All that matters is that you are here, and I couldn’t be happier.”
“Me too.”
“Shall we?”
“Where are we going?”
Hayden smiled at her. “You will see.”
Skylar nodded and followed him.
“Close your eyes.”
Skylar did just that, and Hayden took her hand in his and he led the way for her. She was melting inside as he was holding her hand in his.
“You can open your eyes now.”
Skylar looked around, and she was in awe of everything that she saw. The sand was pink under the luminescence of the night sky. There were a million jewels in the sky.
“Come.” Hayden took her hand, and there was a mat in the middle of the beach.
They sat down; the breeze that ran through her hair was refreshing. She closed her eyes and felt every moment, the sound of the waves crashing against the seashore.
She felt Hayden’s warm hand tuck her hair behind her ear, and then he lay down. Skylar did the same. When she looked up, Hayden had started to draw patterns with his finger pointed toward the sky.
“I must say, it is nice to watch this with someone.”
Skylar turned to him. “Why don’t you?”
“They were not you.”
Skylar warmed at his words. “Oh, okay.”
“Where do you school?”
Skylar told him where she went to school and how she was new. How her only friend was Lola. It was so simple to talk to Hayden. He maintained eye contact as she spoke, and she could tell that he was listening to her intently.
“And you?” she asked.
“I am working part-time here. I am working on getting a scholarship so I can go wherever I want. I love to travel and try out new places. I am more of a free spirit.”
“Did you get the scholarship?”
“I think so. I have to wait and find out.”
“Where are you going to study, Hayden?”
“I still have to see.”
When it was late, they got up, and he intertwined his fingers with hers. They walked side by side until they got to her place.
“This is me.”
“Good night, Skylar.”
“Night, Hayden.”
Skylar felt her hand being held, and she was pulled back. Hayden leaned down and placed a kiss on her lips.
