Once class was dismissed, Lola quickly packed up all her things and went straight to the ice cream shop.
"Hi Lola," Ace said as she walked in.
"Hi Ace," Lola said as she looked around. "Where's Leo?" she added.
"He doesn't work today," Ace responded.
"Oh…"
"Can I get you something though?"
"No, I'm good," Lola said as she turned to leave.
Just as Lola was about to exit the ice cream shop, she stopped and turned back again.
"Do you happen to know where I can find him?" Lola asked, looking at Ace.
Ace thought for a couple of minutes.
"Today's Tuesday, so he should be out on the beach as one of those lifeguards," Ace said as he scratched his head. "Or he's out surfing again, but I don't remember which one," Ace added with a laugh.
"That's okay," Lola said. "Thanks for your help though!"
"Yeah, no problem," Ace said as he watched her leave.
Lola made her way to the beach carrying her school backpack and her textbooks. After searching the beach and asking several people about Leo's whereabouts, she gave up with no luck in finding him.
"Why is this so hard?" Lola said she plopped onto the sandy shores.
Lola had been so busy watching the seagulls that she hadn't noticed someone walking up behind her.
"Did you need me?" Leo's voice asks as he takes a seat next to Lola.
Lola turned to see Leo in a wetsuit, his wet brown hair sticking to his forehead. She briefly turned around to see Leo's white surfboard placed into the sand.
"When did you get here?" Lola asked as she turned back to face Leo.
Leo looked at Lola, his face turning a light shade of red.
"I saw you walking on the shore earlier while I was surfing," Leo explained. "I even shouted out to you, but I guess I was too far away for you to hear me," Leo added as he scratched his head.
Lola blushed.
"Oh…" she said.
"Did you need me or something?" Leo asked. "Ace sent me a text but I didn't see it until I was done surfing, sorry about that."
"That's okay," Lola said. "I was wondering if you had any relatives taking Marine Biology this year," she added after moments of silence.
Leo looked at Lola confused and then slapped his forehead.
"Ohh, you're talking about Levi right?" Leo asked as Lola nodded her head. "Yeah, he's my younger brother."
"No wonder you guys looked so similar," Lola said quietly.
Evening came trickling by and as the wind started to pick up, Lola's hair began to fly with the breeze.
"How's he in class?" Leo asked as he moved a strand of hair from Lola's face. "Does he make any trouble?"
Lola's face turned beet red.
"No…" Lola replied as she looked down.
Leo realized what he had just done and his face turned a shade of red.
"Sorry, I didn't realize that I-" Leo started. "That I…" Leo said as he scratched his head in embarrassment.
"That's okay," Lola said as she looked up.
𝘉𝘪𝘨 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦.
Lola thought. With Leo's flushed cheeks and now dry brown hair, he looked amazing. Lola couldn't seem to take her eyes off him. Leo had noticed her silence and looked up. His hazel-brown eyes looking into her chocolate brown eyes. They leaned into each other and were about to kiss when a voice chimed in.
"Has my big bro finally become all lovey-dovey?" Levi's voice asked mockingly from behind them.
Lola and Leo turned away, their faces flushed.
"When did you get here?" Leo asked as he turned to look at Levi.
Levi wore a smug expression on his face.
"I've been here since the beginning," Levi responded as he took a seat on the other side of Lola. "Hey," Levi said once he took his seat.
"Hi," Lola responded, her face still somewhat flushed.
"You're in my Marine Biology class with Perry right?" Levi asked as he turned to look at the waves.
"Yes," Lola said. "My name is Lola," she added.
"I know," Levi said. "You're the girl who's like super smart and chooses to sit in the front of the class."
Leo looked at Lola in shock.
"I didn't know you were actually serious with Marine Biology," Leo said looking curiously at Lola.
Lola scratched her head.
"I mean, that's one of the reasons why I went to Little Rock," Lola responded. "Aside from their scholarship offer."
Leo nodded his head in agreement.
"Little Rock is nice," Leo said as he looked out to the waves.
"It is," Lola responded as she also looked out towards the waves.