Morston was basking under the hot summer sun and after long busy days at the soup kitchen and hot steamy nights with Mason, so was I for the first time since the summer had begun. Glancing at the people spread on the sandy beach, chatting away not far from me. I loved Morston in the summer. It was beautiful but also crazy. For someone that lived only half an hour from the beach, I didn't spend much time on it.
" Lily, " David beamed waving his hand in the air, not far from where I sat.
" David, Laira," I beamed and waved for them to come and join me. We didn't see each other that much anymore.
" Hi, Lily " Laira greeted when she sat down next to me. She was still shy around me for some reason, but I didn't force things on her. After spending plenty of time around them, I noticed that Laira was more like a cat. You had to wait for her to come to you.
I smiled and waited for them to get settled on the sand, next to me.
" I haven't seen you two in a week. How is the job at the Cafe in town?" I asked once they were settled. I had considered getting one but then I would have to give up the soup kitchen and leave Ellie on her own again.
David shrugged " Long days, sweaty " David chuckled " But the tips are good. It's worth it." Laira hummed and nodded " Really good. The tourists are generous " She added, whispering, glancing around as if she was saying the biggest secret.
" Are going to keep working there once school starts?" I asked since the academy had a curriculum that didn't give one much time to breathe let alone have a job.
" No," David smiled, " We are on scholarship. Once the school starts we will be living on the academy grounds so we can focus on our studies " Laira answered the question, with a strange gleam in her eyes. I guessed it was excitement since David didn't waste an opportunity to speak about how much he loved studying at the academy.
I was well aware that the academy offered the possibility for those who didn't live in Morston to live on its grounds. I was hoping to be one of them before Mason, and I began rolling between the sheets. I wasn't that sure anymore.
" That's great," I mumbled a little absent " I was hoping to do the same, if I get accepted," I sobered myself up, hopeful. I hadn't heard from the academy since I submitted my essay.
" It's amazing. You would love it" Laira chimed in, lighting up like a Christmas tree," They have all this state-of-the-art equipment for experiments." she added shuffling to sit before me and David.
" You will. When I applied, it took them a whooping two months to get back to me." David tried to ease my worries, smiling at me.
I frowned and looked in the distance, maybe I was pointlessly worrying about something that I had no control over.
David cleared his throat " Lily," He paused to shuffle around " I was wondering if you are doing anything tonight?" David asked with furrowed brows, looking me in the eyes.
"I have to be home to cook dinner. It's my turn this evening. But after that, no, not really. Are we going to the club? Because, if that is so. No, thank you after last time." One time was more than enough, and I knew that now, Mason would probably not make such a big fuss. I was an adult. His words, not mine.
David chuckled " No. I was thinking maybe we can go watch a film, at the local cinema, and maybe go for a walk after," David clarified and I felt somewhat relieved. I wanted to get out more, but I wanted to take it slow. Baby steps.
" That sounds good." I excitedly said, grinning from ear to ear. We've been friends for over a year now, and all the time spent together was when we were at the soup kitchen.
" Eight o'clock? Does that work for you? Or we can go at ten o'clock," The ten o'clock was too late, Mason would be home by the time I would have returned home. If anything I didn't want to miss on my time with him that it was already scarce as it was. I didn't know what we were to each other, but I embraced it without too much thought.
" I'll be there at eight," I said glancing at the sun that was slowly climbing down towards the horizon.
" I should get going I have to stop at the market to get some things for dinner" I brushed the sand off my hands and pushed myself off the towel to stand.
" I'll see you at eight," I packed my towel and shove it in my bag.
" I'll see you at eight," David said following me with his eyes as I threw the bag over my shoulder
" I'll see you later," I said my goodbyes as made my way towards the steps leading to the esplanade.