Redeeming Her Love

Chapter Four:

Lucas’s POV:

The soft, beach sand feels like the perfect, cool cushion beneath my feet as I sit and watch the sun setting over the horizon of the ocean. I have no idea where everyone else is right now, but the beach seagulls in the air are keeping me company. Since earlier, I haven’t cared much for chit-chat. I don’t know why that whole conversation got to me so much. I guess it was just hard being called names from someone who firstly doesn’t know me and secondly, is labeled herself. A gush of sea breeze keeps me refreshed as I sink my toes into the sand deeper. Is this how she feels when people call her names? A frown forms on my face.

“Lucas?” Someone calls from the distance. When my eyes try to get a closer look, they see it’s Sarah. She is back in her usual jeans and plain, white t-shirt and has her hair down for a change. It looks soft and gentle against her skin. I watch as she moves closer in an awkward and unsure stance and then stands with her hands together, as if unsure of what to do or say. I pat on the ground next to me, inviting her to sit down and watch the sunset too. For a moment she sits and gazes off into the distance, her features glowing against the pink and orange hues, almost making her green eyes glitter. My own thoughts shock me, so I quickly also look to the sunset, allowing the peace of the moment to sink in.

“Lucas, I am sorry for what I called you.” She says softly and my eyes look back at her with awe. I have been calling her names since the beginning of time and here she is apologizing to me? I feel like an absolute toss right now. I can see her eyes glowing with guilt.

“Sarah, I have been calling you far worse and for much longer. It’s me who should be apologizing.” I admit and then offer her a small smile. I am also guilty at this moment and probably deserved her retaliation. I am surprised she didn’t react sooner, to be honest. She doesn’t smile back.

“It isn’t me though. I am not that person who stereotypes and labels. It has been eating me up all day.” She says again and then looks to the distance again. I suppose in every person’s life there is a moment that defines the future and this is the one that truly put things into perspective for me. Here, seated next to me in her true and authentic beauty, is someone who is so kind that she felt bad over one bad word said. What have I ever done to redeem myself up until this point? I wish I could say that my teasing and mockery over the years were eating me up. Somehow, I know they will bite me in my backside in the future though. It’s just a niggle I have.

“Don’t let it. I deserved it, to be honest.” I admit again and she nods to herself. Cheeky. I smile at this, even though she isn’t looking. The air becomes somewhat more serious as her small smile fades.

“I have been called a nerd my whole life. At first, I thought it was a term of endearment, I mean who wouldn’t want to be clever? But then it started to make me unpopular and everyone judged me for it. Even my own family cannot defend me against my title growing up.” She says softly and I look at her face again. Something pulls at my heartstrings as I see her eyes well up. Her mother was a little overboard the night before with the prank. I didn’t realize that Mrs. Nelson was so caught up on stuff like that. I guess I have been too young and immature to notice it until now.

“Yeah, what was up with that last night?” I ask and Sarah laughs sarcastically and rolls her eyes.

“Last night was nothing. I love my family to bits and I appreciate everything they do for me, but I have lived under Milly’s glamourous and bubbly shadow my whole life. I guess I am the black sheep of the family and brains just aren’t as important as beauty. What was it that you all call her and me again?” Sarah huffs and then looks at me.

“Beauty and the Beast, right?” She asks and her eyes well up more. My heart feels like it is going to pound out of my chest. Is this what we have been calling her this whole time? I have been so preoccupied with myself and hardly listen when the gang is busy teasing or bullying. I frown as I watch Sarah wipe away a stray tear. Her beautiful, green eyes are now even more bright against her cries and her nose is scrunching up as she sniffles.

“Sarah…” I whisper and then use my thumb to wipe away one of the tears on her smooth cheek. She looks pretty taken back, but I won’t allow her to feel this way anymore.

“Surely you know how beautiful you are?” I ask and when her green eyes look up to my dark ones, my breath gets caught in my throat. I can tell by her reaction that she has no idea and this is news to her.

“Your green eyes are the most brilliant shade of apple green. Your soft freckles are scattered in the cutest way across your cheeks. Your hair is so soft…” I say as I run a loose stray of hair back behind her ear. Her cheeks are bright pink now, making me smile. I did that.

“And you are so smart. Do you have any idea how sexy that is?” I say again and then she looks away and bites her lip. I don’t think anyone has ever complimented Sarah for her brains. Every word I am saying is sincere and true though. Sarah is breathtaking but even better, she is so intelligent. Imagine?

“Lucas, I don’t need more teasing and…” She starts but I stop her with my hand. For a moment she looks at me with her wide eyes and my own orbs search her expression. It is like the air has swallowed us up and at this moment, it’s just her and I look at one another.

“I have never been more serious about anything in my life, Sarah.” I say.

Sarah’s POV:

I am not sure what possessed me to go for a walk on the beach, but I am so glad I did. I sat in my room feeling guilty for hours over calling Lucas names, something which I despise above all else and I just knew I needed to find him and say sorry. Now he is sitting in front of me and saying things like this? I quickly look away from his dark-chocolate pools. They are so intense and demand my attention, but I am just not sure if I can trust them yet. What if this is all some ploy to just break me further? Still, I have always had a fascination with Lucas. Yes, he is a jock and a drop-dead-gorgeous athlete, but somehow behind that façade, I can see the guy who studies hard and is trying to move past and be more than his valuable reputation. Perhaps he does have a heart?

“You’re not bad yourself, you know?” I say into the air, knowing he can hear me. My heart is beating rapidly as I confess this to my childhood crush.

Did the sunset just get brighter? When I look to the side he is looking at me with a huge smile which makes me roll my eyes and laugh.

“Is that so?” He asks and I smack his shoulder. He looks shocked at my playfulness for a second, but then quickly recovers and stands. Before I can even react, he has me hoisted up and over his shoulder.

“Lucas, let me go!” I squeal, which only makes him laugh harder. I return the laugh but only until I see he is walking towards the ocean. Oh damn! With two big steps, he dives forward and I feel our bodies being covered with salty, sticky water. It feels like we are in a wave, as I feel us both tumble forward. It takes me a moment to comprehend what just happened when I find myself resurfacing and for a second I feel heavy in my wet jeans. When I look to the side, Lucas is laughing loudly, which makes me splash him and stand.

“YOU!” I laugh and he joins in. I try to tackle him down, but he is like a brick wall. Luckily I am short, which means I have an advantage. When the next wave starts approaching, I quickly bite down on his side and then dive under the wave. He is in so much shock that he gets plummeted by the wave and his body gets dumped on the beach. Who is laughing now? I feel myself gasping for air I am laughing so much.

“Oh, now you have had it!” He says before running towards me. I try to run away, but his strong arms are around me and my body is being lifted again as if I weigh nothing. My senses are on overdrive, but all I can think about is the amazing sound of his laugh, which is rich and deep and resonates from his broad chest. I honestly feel like a child right now who is up to no good as our game carries on. I even take my pants off and leave them on the shore so that I can move faster through the waves in my t-shirt. It is such a fun and carefree moment in the sea, where all past words and any funny business is long forgotten and only the prospect of the moment is on our minds. My hand's tingle as he lifts me up close to his chest as we go deeper into the sea, where I can’t stand. I have my legs wrapped around his waist and we are breathing heavily against each other from our games in the water. His nose is so close to mine, his breath is fanning against me and his smile is warming my heart. For a brief moment, I feel him leaning closer…

“LUCAS, BRAH! WHAT YOU GUYS UP TO HERE?” A male voice booms and it is as if the past thirty minutes didn’t exist as Lucas quickly lets go of me and looks away coolly.

“Hey, Tom. Ah, nothing.” He replies, almost unsure and somewhat avoidant. Tom swims closer and looks at me. He is almost as tall as Lucas, but he has black hair and blue eyes. He is also good-looking and built, but Lucas’s dark eyes and messy light brown locks are far more intriguing. Tom smiles at me warmly.

“Are you going to introduce me to your girlfriend? Damn, dude, she’s a cutie!” He asks Lucas, who looks a bit shell-shocked. He even clenches his jaw as he looks at his friend. Why is he acting like this?

“Uhm, what? Ew, no dude. This is Sarah. She isn’t my girlfriend, brah. Just a family friend who I have known for years. We vacationing with her family, nothing more.” Lucas replies. Tom greets me, but I have to try not to drown after Lucas’s words. I can see a flash of guilt passing over his face as he peeps at me, but I don’t allow him to see my reaction. Sure, I didn’t expect him to say I was his girlfriend or anything, but it still hurts to be dismissed in such a cold tone. Even Tom didn’t look sure on how to respond to his friend.

“I think I better get back home.” I say and the guys nod.

“You coming?” I ask Lucas and he shakes his head to say no. I look back to the far swim out back to the shore. Really? Nevertheless, I swim back, trying my best to not think about Lucas’s reaction even though it stings a little. I guess I am only worthy and beautiful when nobody is around, otherwise, I am disgusting. He even said “ew” when his friend said I am cute.

My eyes are welled up again as I collect my jeans and walk back to the beach house. I can hear Lucas and his friend laughing in the distance.