howzit - how's it going? (how are you?)

The beach Rosalind chose to bring Emerson and his friends to is mostly bare, the only people on the beach being a few fisherman and a couple of fellow tourists.

Apparently, locals find the water too cold this time of year. Thus, the empty beach. Emerson personally can't imagine it being any hotter outside so his blood must either be extra thick or Hawaiians are crazy.

He watches everyone as he sits atop a blanket Claire brought just in case he forgot to bring something for himself. He obviously did and now here he is staring with a slight pinch of bitterness as his friends joke with each other while they pull on their wet suits.

Rosalind had helped everyone rent their own boards for a couple of hours along with a suit. Emerson has to admit that everyone seems to really like her and, so far, she's been decently helpful.

Alex is taking forever to zip up his wet suit and Emerson first assumes it's so Rosalind will check him out with his shirt off but then he looks closer at Alex's red face and realizes that's not it. His zipper seems to be stuck.

Emerson laughs to himself, watching as Claire rolls her eyes and approaches him, her fingers fumbling with it before jerking a few times. When it finally budges, Alex mumbles something to her and she laughs loudly, the sound drowned out by the crashing of the waves.

Refocusing on his book, Emerson places his earbuds in and presses shuffle on his Spotify song list. He closes his eyes for a moment as the song begins, a small smile spreading over his lips. It's one of his favorites.

Some small part of Emerson still loves the ocean despite the pain it's caused him. That same minuscule spot in him misses the salt in the water and the foam of the waves as it hits his skin. He used to visit the beach on vacations with his parents all the time when he was little. That stopped the summer before freshman year along with his sense of adventure.

Curiosity gets the best of him when he hears a loud shriek, quickly tugging one earbud from his ear and looking out at the water. His eyes darting back and forth. They land on Gwen, a bright smile adorning her face as she stands for the first time on her board before swiftly falling off directly after. He laughs, finding this all too amusing.

Finding Rhyme in the water, Emerson is surprised to see him standing upright and strong on his own board, a shining grin on his face as he pumps his fist once victoriously, Rosalind cheering from the shore as she laughs.

Searching for Claire, he finally spots her down the beach further from the rest, fighting to even keep a grip on the surfboard. He watches with concern when a large wave comes in over her head. He doesn't take another breath until he sees her pop back up, her mouth open as she coughs.

Immediately dropping his book, he stands, ready to take action and drag her out of the water. He stops in his tracks on the sand when Rosalind gets to her first, a smile on her lips. She says something to Claire before the small girl nods with a look of determination and turns back around, ready to try again.

Brows furrowed, Emerson jogs to where Rosalind stands with her arms crossed, her eyes set out at sea as she watches everyone in the water.

"Don't you think she should take a break?" He asks. Her head turns to face him, the wind coming off the water whipping her long ponytail around to her face before she pushes it away.

"I showed them all the basics and told them the dos and don'ts. They learn by doing and I believe in Claire. She'll do great if she just keeps trying and doesn't give up." She says matter or factly before turning back to the water, the cold liquid coming up to kiss his toes before sneaking away once again. He subtly steps back.

Emerson sighs, following her line of sight to Alex who is, as expected, a natural. He laughs victoriously as he stands, knees bent, before making it halfway to shore and being thrown off by his lack of balance.

"I just don't want anyone to get hurt." He mumbles.

Rosalind cocks head to the side to look at him through the bill of her hat, her blue eyes matching the ocean in color and in guarded mystery. Yet they hold a curiosity. "Why do you think they'll get hurt?"

Emerson swallows, keeping his eyes ahead before replying, "I'm going to go finish my chapter."

"Okay..." She tries for a nonchalant tone yet her eyes follow him all the way back up to the blanket. She wonders about the thoughts he hides.

ⅼ ❝ what if all the things i've done were just attempts at earning love? and the love i fought to feel was always free. ❞ - jon bellion ⅼ

"Did you see that last wave? I thought I would wipe out for sure but I crushed it! It was sick!" Alex continues his excited rant about his surfing attempts for the entirety of the ride back to the hotel.

"I saw, man." Emerson holds his hand out for a fist bump, "You did great."

"I know right?" Alex smiley crookedly just as the door to the rental car swings open and Emerson steps out with an eye roll, a small chuckle escaping him.

He wordlessly hauls his backpack up to the room, his feet shuffling under him as he holds his book in his hand, determined not to lose it again. Everyone stands with him in the elevator, words exchanged back and forth creating an electric buzz of adrenaline and happy reminiscing. Yet he can't seem to tap into the exciting rush his friends always share. Only the hollowness of his own defeated youth and the suffocating smell of wet material and salt water.

After changing into a pair of khaki shorts and a light blue v-neck, Emerson settles onto the chair in the corner, his book opened in front of his eyes. He vaguely hears Alex, Rhyme, and Isaac discussing the rest of our plans for the day but he can't bring himself to care much. As long as their happy, he's happy.

Turning the page, his book is suddenly torn from his grasp, "Hey we're all talking about getting some pizza. You down?" Isaac asks him, closing the book.

Emerson's eyes lock onto the object, a pit forming in his stomach, "I didn't put a bookmark in that." He states calmly.

Isaac's brows furrow before following his line of sight to the hardcover novel in his grasp and he instantly hands it back, scratching the back of his neck, "I'm sorry I guess I didn't realize I closed it."

Emerson breathes a breath out of his nose, telling himself, and the voice inside his head that's begging him to fix the problem, that he will find his current page later.

"Pizza sounds fine." Emerson agrees, forcing  himself to set the book down as to not make Isaac feel bad for something so small.

Isaac nods slowly, "Okay cool. Pepperoni good?"

"Yes." Emerson chuckles, "I'm also just not going to correct you on how you presented that question."

His friend's eyes roll, "Yeah like I would care. Anyway, I'm going to take Gwen to pick the food up. Have a mini driving date." He winks, pulling the rental keys from his pocket and shaking them in front of Emerson's face.

Emerson's eyes uncross before pushing his hand away with a scoff, "You're not even supposed to be driving the rental. You're eighteen and it's against the law."

He shrugs in reply, shoving the keys into the front pocket of his white sweatshirt, "Technically none of us are supposed to be driving it but we are anyway so shut up and leave me alone." He turns on his heel.

"No funny business!" Emerson calls after him, "Just drive straight there and back!" Isaac doesn't reply and soon the door to the room closes.

Not having to think twice, Emerson snatches up his book and flips through the pages to quickly find his place again. Sighing in relief when his thumb lands on the right page, Emerson places an old receipt from his pocket into the crease of the spine and closes it gently. "That's better." He smiles.

"Do you realize just how odd you are?" Alex startles him as he leans against the wall outside the bathroom, a smirk on his lips as his wet hair sticks up at angles.

"Do you even own a comb?" Emerson shoots back with the same tone, leaning back in his seat.

Alex takes a seat on the bed, "No but for real, don't think I didn't see you talking to Rosie on the beach today." His change of subject is found to be completely random by Emerson.

A groan emits from his lips before he even thinks about replying, "I was making sure Claire was in good hands."

Raising a disbelieving brow at him, Alex snorts, "There's nothing that could make me believe there's not at least a small part of you that wants to try something." He spreads his arms, "I mean have you seen her?"

Emerson blinks at his friend, "Of course I've seen her. Have you actually talked to her? Do you have any ground to base your attraction to her off of?"

"I just met her, man. Just let me think the woman is hot and leave me be." Alex flops onto his back, staring up at the ceiling, "Dude, sometimes I wonder if you're even human."

"I assure you, I'm not a robot nor am I an alien." Emerson says smartly, earning a small glare in his direction.

"I mean..." Alex sighs, "You see someone like Rosalind and you don't even look twice. Heck, I liked two hundred times."

"That's not exactly something to brag about." Emerson mumbles, picking up his book once again, bored with the conversation.

There's a pause before Alex inquires, "Do you even find girls attractive?"

"Of course I do, you idiot." Emerson's cheeks redden as he hides his face behind the pages of his book, forcing himself to focus. He wonders to himself where Rhyme is when he needs him.

"Well then why don't you think Rosalind is hot? Just admit that you do and I'll leave it be." Alex holds his hands up and across his chest feigning a promise as he raises back into sitting position.

Emerson thinks for a moment before sighing and laying to book on his lap, regarding Alex with an annoyed stare, "I just met her. I'm sorry if I have more self control than you." He shrugs.

Alex rolls his eyes before a smirk is placed on his lips slowly, "Is this about Claire?"

"Why would this be about Claire?" Emerson's expression shows clear confusion.

"Don't tell me you finally have a thing for her." Alex's eyes widen as he regards his friend with shock.

"Finally?" Emerson's voice raises octave slightly, "What's that supposed to mean?"

Alex's mouth opens but, before he can reply, the bathroom door opens and Rhyme steps out, ruffling his red hair with the white hotel towel, "What's up?" He asks with a chuckle he sees our eyes set on him.

"Emerson likes Claire." Alex blurts, Rhyme's mouth dropping open.

"No way." He shakes his head, dropping the towel on the floor.

Emerson's eyes watch the movement, his chest constricting before shaking his own head violently, "No, I don't! Shut up, she's in the next room and she'll hear you."

"So...you do like her?" Rhyme asks, clearly lost, as he sits next to Alex on the mattress.

Eyes closed in frustration, Emerson releases a calming breath, "No, I do not like Claire in any sort of romantic way. She's my best friend, I practically see her as a sister." He sighs.

"Then why did Alex think you liked her?" Rhyme does his best to backtrack what he missed.

Alex rolls his eyes, now clearly bored of the conversation. "He doesn't think Rosalind is attractive so I assumed he likes someone else."

Rhyme looks at him for a brief moment with a baffled expression, "And you immediately thought of Claire? What's wrong with you, man?" His has smacks the back of his head swiftly.

"Ow." Alex rubs his head, messing up his hair even further, "I have the right to question him."

"Rosalind is cool and all but her bike is what I'm interested in." Rhyme smirks satisfyingly as he recalls the ride, "A two thousand sixteen Honda CB500F Naked Sport Bike."

"Careful, you're drooling." Emerson chuckles, relieved to have the attention off of him.

"It's matte black! There is nothing in the world more sexy than that bike." He whistles lowly.

Emerson and Alex exchange a bored look before Alex's hand comes up, smacking him in the back of the head. "Shut up."

"Dude, what the - "

"You had to be stopped." Alex clicks his tongue, "We can't have you crushing on a bike, it's just not right."

Rhyme rolls his eyes before releasing a long breath. A slow smirk spreads over his face before he says, "Can we go back to talking about Emerson and Claire?" He laughs loudly.

"No!" They both grumble in unison.

✭✭✭

I can't tell if I love this chapter, or if I hate it. Let me know in the comments what you think!

Much love.