"Maybe we can find more around here," he said brightly. *** She watched him, looking nervous for a moment, before taking a breath and leaning forward, kissing him. *** He nodded, going towards Dion and Aisling excitedly.
"Yeah, yeah," she said enthusiastically. "Let's look around." * * * He seemed unsurprised by this, kissing her back immediately, his hand coming up to cup her jaw gently. Their proximity felt natural and felt right, but after a moment, he pulled away, still inches from her face, but looking stricken. "Blaise... no." * * * She led the way, coming over to the tide pools. "A starfish?"
"Right there," Dion told them, pointing. Jaz went to look, his eyes brightening. "Found it." *** She blinked, panic coming into her eyes. "What?"
Aisling tucked her hands in her pockets, beginning to look at other tide pools. Lucy knelt next to the starfish, looking excited. * * * He shook his head, pulling away, his brows furrowed. "I don't... I don't want it to be like this," he said, watching her with concern.
Dion looked at well, seeming genuinely excited. Jaz grinned, his head tilted. "I love it." *** She was quiet for a moment before standing slowly, running and hand through her hair nervously. "Right. Right, of course. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have assumed."
"I wish we could take them back with us," Aisling said wistfully. "It looks like you," Lucy teased playfully. * * * He looked distressed, sighing slightly. "Blaise..."
"Me too," he admitted. "Maybe if we find one that's all dried up we could keep it as a souvenir." Jaz huffed. "I take that as a compliment." *** She waved it off, going over towards the tide pools.
“Maybe,” she agreed thoughtfully, picking up a sand dollar and inspecting it before replacing it and grinning at Dion. “But you’d have to take turns sharing it with me.” “You guys have the same hair,” she replied primly. *** Ellis watched her go before standing up with a sigh. He dusted himself off and began to walk in the opposite direction. He had a lot to think about. After all, it was a hell of a kiss.
He pursed his lips. "Let's just create a secret hideout for our collections." Jaz gasped. "It doesn't have hair!"
"Oh, good idea," she said smoothly, looking over towards the cliffside. * * * She laughed deeply, shaking her head in amusement. "I rest my case."
She nodded in agreement, sitting on the edge of another tide pool. "We could." * * * She laughed slightly, splashing some water at him.
"Like discs and bird feathers and plants," he said, seeming happy to thing about it. *** He raised his hands to block before splashing her back.
She looked over at him with a small smile, raising an eyebrow. "I could identify the bird feathers for you." * * * She yelped, ducking from the water. "You... ass!"
"I'd like that," he said with a nod. "I know the common ones, I think. Seagull. Pigeon. Stuff like that." *** He laughed. "You started it!"
She looked up at the sky thoughtfully. "I don't imagine we'll find ones other than seagulls here." * * * She rolled her eyes, nudging him playfully. "This is heresy."
"No," he agreed, "not here, at least." *** He shook his hands the dry off, stepping out of the water. "It certainly is."
She began to head over to the cliffs, her hands in her pockets. * * * She followed him, stretching her arms. "I can't believe this."
She looked over her shoulder at him before pointing. "I'm going to look for bird's nests." * * * She laughed again before noticing Blaise. "Hey, is she okay?"
