Jaden arrived at my door at exactly 7pm the next day. It was a Friday night and the weather was perfect. My mom wasn't back home from work but Jaden didn't know that so he stood silently in the doorway as though he was waiting for her to appear. I chuckled.

"She's in the city," I told him, "She's working."

"You're okay with me meeting her?" He asked, his eyes flitting over my body as he went down a step. I got the implications of what he was saying and blushed, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear before I turned to lock the door.

"Is my outfit okay?" I asked him, "I figured a sun dress could get wet but I have a bikini on underneath just in case."

"Please don't make me think about that," he chuckled, running his hands over his face. "I'm trying to be a gentleman."

I rolled my eyes but laughed, following him down the path to the car at the end of the street. I raised an eyebrow. This wasn't Uriah's car.

"My mom's," he explained, "She said she wanted to meet you but I told her I wasn't ready for that. So she insisted that I take her car."

We entered and I leaned back in the seat. "Two questions," I said, turning to look at him, "First one- why are you scared of me meeting your mum? And how come we're going with a car if the beach isn't far?"

He started the car and chuckled as he began to drive. "Well, I haven't taken you on a date yet first of all. What if I mess up and you don't want anything to do with me after? This is a trial," he shrugged, biting back a smile, looking away from the road for a moment. "And second answer, which is easier to come up with, is that we are going to the beach, but not the one you know."

I was still hooked on his first answer. Damn. Did he really like me? I bit back a smile as well and looked out of the window, deciding to let what was happening happen. Ever since I had come to this town, I realised that it was possible to just breathe; to just relax. Back in New York I always had some place to be. I always had something to do.

I don't remember if I dozed off or if I just zoned out but soon the car came to a stop and Jaden tapped me. The sun had set and when I checked my watch it was 8pm. Outside the car was chilly but Jaden grabbed a blanket and passed it to me.

"Come on,"he told me, "You asked me what I do and I'm gonna show you."

I only realised what he was planning to do when he grabbed the surfboard I hadn't noticed before. It was long and black with different things engraved onto it, things I couldn't read as it was so dark.

"Jaden, it's freezing," I told him, "Are you sure about this?"

"I'd hate to be a princess," he began, "but the cold has never bothered me."

He slid off his shirt and his jeans (I awkwardly looked away), revealing his swimming trunks. It dawned on me that this was the second time I was seeing him shirtless. And it was only our first date. I couldn't help but chuckle at the thought.

"Now come on."

He grabbed my hand and tugged me towards the beach. This area was completely deserted and I wondered how he'd found it- we were an hour away from the beach I knew and an hour away from town. I let him lead me onto the cool sand that flowed onto my flip flops and I held onto him until he turned and let go.

"Watch this," he said.

And I did. I didn't want to romanticize him surfing but the more I watched it, the more beautiful it seemed. He did it like it was breathing, like the ocean was his home and everything else was just that- everything else. I folded my arms over my chest. I didn't know if the goosebumps were from the cold or from what I was looking at.

When he came back, he was soaking wet and had the biggest grin on his face. I smiled back at him but it faded when I realised that he wasn't stopping. I realised what was happening a split second before he did what he did. All of a sudden I was in his arms, squealing from how cold the droplets on his body were and he laughed and I laughed too.

"God, you're freezing," I laughed, still holding onto him. He laughed and I felt the vibrations move through my body. It was soothing in a way.

"Yeah I know," he answered distractedly. My eyes moved to the ocean and I thought about how free he had seemed out there. I wanted to experience that. I shut my eyes for a second and took a deep breath before I moved out of the hug. He gave me a confused frown and I looked away so that I wouldn't hesitate before I flung my dress off my body. I could feel his eyes on me and it felt so intense that I swore that he touched me.

I looked up at him. He was silent, taking in every inch of me like he was scared that I'd cover up again. I didn't have a flat stomach. When I had bought the bikini, I had been reluctant. I'd bought it as a joke. But now, with the way he was looking at me, I was glad that I had.

"What's....what are you doing?" He asked, rubbing the back of his neck. I grabbed his hand, surprised by my own bravery.

"Let's go," I told him. It took him a split second to react before he grinned and started running towards the water with me in tow. The water was icy and I gasped as soon as I came into contact with it. Jaden laughed, holding onto me the deeper we went in until we were torso deep in the water.

I looked up at the sky, breathing in deeply as the smell of salt and wind wrapped around me in a comforting hug. I was happy. I could feel it then that I was happy. With him. With myself. With everything.

We only spoke again when we were in the backseat of his car. I was in my dress again, sharing a blanket with Jaden as we chewed on the wraps he'd bought from the diner. They were slightly cold but still delicious. He finished his before me and stared out at the beach through the windshield.

"You looked so free out there," I told him, finally finishing my food. I wiped my greasy hands on a napkin and leaned back in my seat, fighting back a shiver. The car was warm but I was still cold. He extended his arm and I realised that he wanted me to go near him. I slid toward him, glad for the warmth and placed my head on his shoulder. It was funny how every part of him was comfortable to me.

I could feel his every movement.

"I was," he told me, "We used to come here as a family, on good days. I don't really remember those days but I do remember the feel of them. The happiness."

"Is it hard for you to be happy anymore?" I asked suddenly. The silence that followed made me regret the question instantly and I kept my eyes on the ocean, afraid to look at his expression.

He answered after a pregnant pause. "Yes," he said, "It was hard."

He shifted and I looked up at him. He was staring at me like he couldn't believe I was there. I got what he was trying to say.

"It was very hard," he told me, "but now, I'm happier than I have ever been in a while."

I nodded. "Me too," I said. And it was then that I realised that it was true. We were silent for sometime after that, just enjoying each other's company and the sound of the waves. I was about to dose off when the silence was finally broken.

"You still have to show me your writing," he told me. "And so that you don't make any excuses, I'm giving you a deadline."

"Oh yeah?" I asked, "When?"

I reluctantly pulled my head away from his shoulder again, meeting his gaze. I felt his hand slide into mine as he smiled at me. All I could think about then was how much I wanted to kiss him. But it was too soon. Way too soon.

"Sunday night," he told me, "I want you and your mom to come over for dinner."

"You want me to meet your mom? You're sure?" I asked, sitting up properly.

He nodded. "Are you ready for me to meet yours?"

I wanted to tell him that I was ready years ago. Instead I just nodded. Mom would have been so excited.

"Do you think we're moving too fast?" He asked suddenly.

"Honestly," I said with a small chuckle, "I feel like we couldn't go any slower."

---------
sorry for the crap. life isn't working out all that well but I like the fact that I can still come back to this book and have things in order even though it feels like my life is spiralling out of control. Thanks for reading this chapter.

Also PSA, if there's a Jaden out there willing to whisk me away and leave me in the ocean, please message me. I'm tired. Thank you.

Lots of love
Musawa