Suffocated. I feel suffocated. It had been a while since I had cheered with Kat and her friends, who were now sweaty dancing in the center of the cave functioning as a dancefloor. I remain next to the damp walls, trying to breathe, but it was proving to be very difficult. I try to focus on Kat, who is way too busy feeling the music to notice me. Exasperated, I decide to find some sort of exit to clear my head. I didn't want to go back up to the library without her, so I begin walking towards one arm of the cave that seemed to be less illuminated by artificial lights.
After a couple of minutes of walking, I find myself at the entrance of the cave leading to a little beach. It looked like a cove, bounded by cliff walls with only the vast ocean looking upfront. I take a moment to breathe in the fresh scent of the ocean breeze that was whipping my hair in all directions, closing my eyes to focus on this moment, this feeling. I get lost in it, trying to savor this sense of freedom running through my veins. I'm finally free, I realize.
As I slowly open my eyes, I hear the spark of a lighter. I turn my head in the direction of the sound and find a pair of emerald eyes staring right back at me. Those unforgettable emerald eyes. I'm very taken aback, unsure of how to exactly react. I choose to play it cool, I need to take control of the situation.
"How long were you planning on staring at me like a psychopath?"- I ask loudly to be heard over the big crashes of the waves against the rocky shore. Aiden, who had been sitting on one of those rocks by the ocean for god knows how long, takes his time exhaling the gray smoke, while still locking eyes with me. It was a strange scene. We had coincidentally found each other, after not talking for weeks, on this silent and isolated beach. The moonlight, the crashing of waves, and the distant music from the party inside the cave, as our sensible companions.
"I didn't picture you as a party kind of chick, figured you were too much of a bore."-He cockily comments. I try not to show any reaction and quickly think of a comeback. I'm not losing his game this time.
"Well, I didn't expect you to be here either, figured you were too much of a self-centered prick to consider yourself on the same lane as others."-He chuckles at my comment but doesn't reply. I instantly feel dumb. I made myself sound like a little girl who's trying to win a stupid fight. I turn away and face the ocean, ignoring him and his devilish smile. As much as I'm still hurt by how he treated me when we last saw each other, I can't ignore the butterflies that flutter in my stomach at just the thought of him. I don't think I can't even blame the alcohol in my system for it.
"You're right, I'm not a party animal myself, at least not anymore. I wanted to forget about everything for a while, but I guess it won't be the case tonight."-He softly speaks after a couple of minutes. I can feel his piercing eyes on my back.
"Why not?"
"Because you're here."
Again, silence. I didn't know how to answer that. Instead, I feel the urge to go closer to the water, taking off my heels and descending towards the foamy tides. Cold water crashes into my ankles, sending a shiver up my spine. I stay there, looking up front, trying to make my mind go blank, without succeeding.
"I've seen that dress before. Is it Kat's?"- He asks. I nod, seeming occupied with analyzing the view before me, masking my nervousness to simply look his way.
"It's pretty, especially on you."
Again, I'm unavailable to think of a proper response or reaction in time. So, I start laughing quite hysterically, surprising myself with how loud and obnoxious my peals of laughter come out. Suddenly, a pair of warm arms wrap around my waist from behind. I think about breaking free from his touch, but I can't, his heavenly embrace allows me to think about one thing only: us.
"Are you drunk?"- He asks, turning my body towards him to look at me. I feel exhilarated, completely out of my element but loving every second of it. I feel light and breezy like I'm part of the nature surrounding this cove.
"I don't know"- I say trying to stifle another laugh, which inevitably comes out with that last word. He's looking into my eyes and lips with an amused expression... Is this funny to him? Am I entertaining him with this new attitude? Does he like seeing me vulnerable, out of control?
"I'm sorry, about everything. I shouldn't have pushed you away. We need each other, I need you."-His words, accompanied by the roaring sounds of mother nature before us, leave an uneasy feeling in my stomach. Should I forgive him? Pretend like his actions hadn't hurt me? Move on? No. I couldn't. Maybe it was my pride speaking, but I didn't want to give in. I was not going to make it easy for him, at least not yet.
"Have a great night."-I wish him, slowly pushing his arms away from my waist. I give him a light peck on the cheek and leave the beach to enter the cave again, not looking back. I'm dizzy.
As I'm making my way into the cave, nausea is creeping up my stomach, threatening to slip up my throat at any moment. I try to fight it back down, walking slowly and clenching the walls for support. Everything seems to be turning. I'm scared. I start jogging to make sure I can be found by someone, hopefully, Kat. Before I can continue my mind turns blank, I'm having a vision. Right now.
Great.