Chapter 18
Riana watched through the small bus window at the tiny little houses that covered the rough terrain of North Carolina. She could tell by looking at the little kids that dove into their pools that today was going to be hot. She groaned and stretched her long legs out in front of her, getting the kinks out of her knees from sitting in the seat for too long. She glanced over at Leah and AJ, who were sprawled out in their seats, asleep. Brian too, gently napped, leaning his head upon the cool windowframe. Kevin and Howie sat in front of them, talking about their day planned at the beach in North Carolina. Riana couldn't sleep. She was too squished to sleep. She rolled her eyes as she looked at Nick next to her, who was sound asleep. His head rested on her shoulder, and his arms were wrapped tightly around her waist. She sighed, and ran her fingers through his silky mane that flowed on the top of his head. He woke up at her touch and looked at her through a pair of sleepy eyes. He shook his head and sat up, stretching his big body across Riana's.
"Oomph," Riana squeezed out of her lips as Nick hovered over her. She laughed and planted a kiss on his lips.
"Hey baby," Nick said, pulling her to him so she was situated comfortably in his lap. He put a hand on the small of her back and kissed down her neck as Riana squealed in delight.
"Nick, stop! There are people on this bus!" Riana hissed, trying to cover up her laughter.
"No one is paying attention," he murmured as he scooted over into Riana's window seat. "There, now no one can see us," he said, continuing his path down Riana's neck to her shoulder bone. Riana sighed in contempt and wrapped her arms around Nick's neck. Nick's lips made a trail back up to her face, and their lips met in a steamy kiss.
"Guys, cut it out!" Kevin called over his shoulder from the seat in front of them. Nick jokingly flipped him off and went back to kissing Riana when a giant pothole emerged out of nowhere.
"Sorry about that," the driver drawled. "Well, now that you are all awake, I might as well tell you all about this tour.........."
"Oh no," Nick said, pulling Riana to him once again.
"Nick, we have to listen to this."
"No, we don't. Kevin will tell us all about it," Nick said, and silenced her with a kiss.
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"Here we are," Kevin said, putting down his beach chairs into the hot sand. He surveyed the area and decided that this was a good place to sit.
"Race you to the water!" Nick yelled. He threw off his shirt and sprinted towards the clear blue, mystifying water. He dove beneath it, appearing a few seconds later with a smile on his face. "It's so warm!" He called to them. They all laughed and soon AJ and Leah joined Nick in the fun.
"You gonna go in?" Brian asked as he helped Kevin and Howie plant the umbrella into the ground.
"Oh yeah!" Riana said. She threw her shirt to the side and stripped out of her shorts. She put them in a pile on her beach chair and slowly walked down to the water.
"Riana!" Nick said, walking out of the water to greet his girlfriend. He stopped back and admired her beauty. The light blue bikini she was wearing really did make Nick's draw drop to the sandy ground. The bikini held her curves perfectly, so Nick had to advert his eyes quickly so she wouldn't catch him peaking.
"I saw that Carter," she said to him. She waved a hand in front of his eyes, snapping his eyes off of her.
"Well, you look sexy," Nick said, pulling her aside and giving her a long, full kiss on the lips.
"Come on! They're doing chicken fights!" Riana said, pulling him into the ocean with her.
"At last," Nick said to himself. "Finally someone who appreciates the ocean as much as I do."
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Nick peered at everyone through his sunglasses as they sat eating the barbecue that Kevin had cooked. They all chatted together quietly, letting out happy, carefree laughs. Nick laughed at something Brian had said and took a glimpse at Riana, who was sitting beside him on his beach towel. Her hair was swept up into a messy bun, the wind blowing the silky material slightly across her face. Nick suppressed the urge to tuck the strands behind her small, petite ears. Everything about her seemed to fascinate him. How she brightened a room when she walked in. When she smiled you could take a glimpse at the bliss of pure happiness. When someone would look into the depths of her blue eyes, the feeling would just take you to an unknown place. Nick was always in that unknown place when he was with Riana, and he never wanted to leave.
Nick unconsciously wrapped an arm around her bare waist and planted a kiss on her forehead. She turned to look at him and smiled. Her eyes crinkled with laughter and Nick felt himself falling, once again, into that unknown place.
Riana swallowed the last of her hamburger before standing up and stretching. She grabbed Nick's hand in her own and pulled her up to him.
"You want to come with me for a walk?" Riana asked. Her soft, sweet voice made Nick's decision for him. He nodded and brushed the sand off of his hands.
"Where you guys going?" Leah asked.
"For a walk. We'll be back later," Riana said.
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Nick and Riana strolled along the sandy beach in complete silence. Their hands were clasped together tenderly as Nick softly rubbed his fingers against her knuckles. They didn't know how long they were walking or how far they were walking. They just walked. Time does fly by when you're having fun.
The sunset cast a orange-fire glow across the atmosphere. The crystal clear water was highlighted by the rays of the sun, spraying a dazzling effect over the couple.
No words needed to be spoken. Emotion was enough to express how they were feeling. Dating for almost a month tied them together with an invisible cord. No one saw it except for Nick and Riana.
"It sure is beautiful, isn't it?" Riana asked. She stopped them from walking and slid into Nick's arms. The warmth from the water lapped over their feet and the waves crashed against their legs.
"That's why I love the ocean so much. It makes....everything so beautiful," Nick said. He kissed her temple before resting his chin on her head.
"I have never really seen the ocean this close before." Riana said, turning so she could face him. She wrapped her arms around his neck when she felt Nick's arms tighten around her waist.
"Really? Why not?" Nick asked.
"Well, London is a city, and it's too far away. And I never have time going, I'm too busy with work."
"You told me you loved the ocean," Nick remembered.
"My sister wrote about the ocean in one of her books. She described it so....surreal. I never dreamed that what she said is true. I have never seen anything so remarkable in my life," Riana gushed. She gazed at the rushing water before walking over to shore and sitting down on the sand. She took a tiny shell and traced little circle patterns in the sand. Nick sat beside her and searched for another shell. Once he finally found one, he drew a heart into the sand. He smiled with satisfactory at his artwork as he nudged Riana with his elbow. She smiled when she saw the heart with their names inside.
"Do you know what tomorrow is?" Nick whispered. He tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear and kissed her sweetly on the lips.
"Of course I do," Riana replied.
"It's our one month anniversary, so tonight I am taking you out," Nick said.
"You don't have to do that, Nick. You take me out all the time and -"
"But you're worth it," Nick said. He smiled and kissed her lips hungrily, devouring her taste with his lips.
When they parted, Riana's heart raced with anxiety and passion. She looked down into Nick's hands and watched as he played with his shell. The smooth surface of the shell slipped between Nick's fingers. He looked at her before he threw the rock into the waves. They watched the rock skim across the water, skipping four times before finally sinking to the bottom, ending its' bumpy road. Bumpy road? Could that foreshadow events in the future? ____________________
Nick kissed Riana one last time before he watched her disappear into her room. He had found a small but fancy restaurant on the way home from the beach, so they had agreed on meeting in the lobby at 7:00. He didn't want to leave until 7:30, but he figured that Riana would be late, and would arrive at 7:30. Right on schedule.
He checked his watch and his eyes widened when he looked at the time. 6:30! He sprinted into his room, rushing to the shower.
Riana walked out of her bedroom completely finished by 7:00.
"Perfect timing," she said to herself. She checked her appearance one last time in the mirror before walking to the door. Her sunburned skin contrasted greatly with her white summer dress.
She opened the door and stopped when she saw a letter at her feet. 'Here, There and Everywhere' was written on the envelope.. She closed the door and opened it up. Inside, their was a poem written on a piece of white paper. The handwriting was done to perfection. The most beautiful thing about it was the rose petals that clung to the paper. It's beautiful smell made Riana smile. She sat down in the chair and read the poem.
To lead a better life
I need my love to be her
Here
Waiting each day of the year
Changing my life with a wave of her hand
Nobody can
Deny that there's something there
There
Running my hands through her hair
Both of us thinking how good it can be
Someone is speaking
But she doesn't know he's there
Oooh
I want her everywhere
And if she's beside me I know
I need never care
But to love her
Is to need her
Everywhere
Knowing that love is to share
Ohhh
I wander everywhere
And if she's beside me I know
I need never care
But to love her
Is to need her
Everywhere
Knowing that love is to share
Ohhh
I will be there.
And everywhere.
Here, There, and Everywhere
The letter was not signed. Riana was so ecstatic that she ran into the lobby with the poem in hand. Nick was so sweet! Writing her that poem for her made her feel so special.
Riana walked into the lobby and flung her arms around his neck, planting a deep kiss on his lips.
"Thank you. It was wonderful!" Riana gushed.
"What was wonderful?" Nick asked. Riana handed him the letter and watched as he read it. "I didn't write this, Riana." Nick said.
"What?"
"I didn't write that." He repeated.
"Hmm, that's strange. If you didn't, who did?" Riana questioned.
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