Benji pulled into a secluded area and turned the engine off. He turned to face Rylann and couldn't help but smile a little. She sat there, with an expressionless look on her face, wearing the blindfold that Benji had forced her to wear. He opened his door and quickly walked to the passenger side. She turned in his direction, smiling. He laughed at the sight. She had no idea where she was or what was going on, and yet she managed to keep her bright smile.
"Well…are you going to make me stay like this forever, or can I finally take this thing off?" She asked, with a hint of sarcasm, still smiling wide.
"Not just yet. Swing your feet toward me like you're getting out." He directed. She did as she was told, unsure of what he was doing. He knelt down and began untying the straps on her high heels. He slid the heel gently from her small foot and placed in on the ground beside him. As he continued with the other, Rylann finally inquired about what was going on.
"Benj…where are we, and why do I have to be barefoot?" She asked, still unable to see anything.
"You'll find out soon enough. Now c'mon, gimme your hand." She shook her head and stuck her hand in the direction of his voice. He took hold of it and pulled her up. She shivered slightly at the cold contact of cement and the breeze against her bareback. He bent down and picked the shoes up with his free hand, and closed the door.
"Ok…let's go. Just hold my hand and I will guide you…" he whispered.
"You better not let me fall, or I will kick your ass!" She laughed as she gripped his hand tighter. The two walked; Rylann closely paying attention to the ground beneath her and Benji smiling as they neared their destination. Benji stopped walking and Rylann was quick to stop herself as well.
"We're here…" he whispered.
"I wouldn't know since I can't see anything…"she laughed.
"Ok…" he stood behind her, untying the blindfold. He let it slide into his hands before placing them on Rylann's shoulders. "What do you think?" he whispered into her neck. Rylann's gaze focused directly ahead of them, her eyes lit up.
"Benj, it's beautiful…" she smiled, still fixated by the site.
"Do you remember a few months back, you called me complaining you couldn't sleep?" she nodded as he continued. "And we were talking and you said you always wanted to fall asleep on the beach, to the sound of waves crashing…" Her smiled widened as she remembered the conversation. "And I promised to bring you to the beach so we could fall asleep listening to the waves, well…here we are." He smiled. She turned to face him, looking deeply into his eyes.
"I can't believe you remember that, let alone did all this…" she beamed.
"I remember every minute I have ever spent with you…I remember you also saying that there was no way you were going to ever get to sleep that night, and then I offered to sing to you. Half-way through `Change', I heard the rhythmic sounds of your breath as you slept…that's a moment I will never ever forget." He took her into his arms tightly.
"Why are you so damn perfect?" She smiled.
"Well, Joel got the good looks, so I guess it was only fair to give me the romantic genes…" He laughed.
"I think you definitely got the good looks, babe!" She grinned. "So, do you mean we are gonna sleep here? We don't have anything with us… and I'm sorry, but I am freezing!" She shivered again.
"Well now I guess that is a problem…" he said sarcastically. "Do you really think I would plan all this, bring you here, and forget how to keep you warm?" He smiled. "C'mon, let's go get the stuff from the car…" He took her hand and walked her back toward the vehicle. Rylann smiled as she looked down at her hand tightly engulfed in Benji's.
"How did I end up so lucky with someone like you?" She asked out loud, but mostly to herself.
"I ask myself that question everyday…" he smiled at her as he released her hand and wrapped his arms around her tightly. He kissed her forehead as they neared the car and parted. Benji opened the trunk, revealing several large blankets, two pillows, and warm clothing for both of them. Rylann smiled as she quickly grabbed one of the over-sized hoodies and a pair of pajama pants.
She turned her back to Benji and turned her head, "Can you unzip me?…" she asked softly.
"My pleasure!" He kidded. She sighed with a smile as his warm hands took the zipper to her dress from her lower back down to where the top of her panties showed. He leaned into her ear and whispered, "You know, there is a myth that when a woman wears black panties it means she's getting lucky…"
"I wore them because they were the only ones clean, so it must be a myth!" She laughed. She brushed the straps of her dress off her shoulders and pulled the hoodie over her head. She allowed the dress to continue to fall to the ground before stepping into the pants.
"There…all warm!" She smiled.
"We could have just as easily taken care of that by proving the myth true…" He laughed. "Let's go…"
Rylann spread one of the large blankets across the sand near the water, and then taking another blanket and adding it too. She tossed the pillows near the edge of the blankets, as she looked over her shoulder and saw Benji standing by the ocean. She set the remaining things down and walked toward him. As she neared, she noticed the way his eyes glistened with the moonlight's reflection off the water. She walked over to his wrapping her arms around him tightly.
"Wanna go in?" She grinned…
"Really?!? I thought you were cold…?" He turned to face her.
"Eh, I am sure you can figure out SOME WAY to warm me when we get out!" She laughed.
"WOO HOO!" He said excitedly, while already stripping. He disposed of his clothes and ran into the chilly ocean. Rylann cautiously shed her clothing and waded into the water to Benji's awaiting arms. The two floated together in the black ocean for several silent minutes.
"Thank you for everything Benj…I love you." She whispered into his arms.
"Thank you for loving me… and I love you too, always have, always will." Her kissed her tenderly, before slowly swimming to shore…