"I don't want this night to end, but I better be getting back. I'm expecting a call from a friend around 8," Karis sighed, looking at the fire flicker.
"Don't leave now." JC wrapped his arms tightly around her. "Please."
Karis smiled and faced him, "I don't want to, but I should." She kissed his nose lightly. JC sighed and nodded in understanding.
"What about later on? Can we do something?" he asked.
"I would like that. I'm gonna take a nap, though, first. Won't be up for much if I don't sleep at all," Karis laughed softly as she stood up and pulled JC with her and into a tight embrace. "Thank you for last night," she said softly into his chest.
JC tilted her head up to meet his eyes, "Thank you," he said, pressing his lips to her softly and passionately.
Karis smiled and pulled away, "I'll see you tonight then, come by around five?" she said.
"I'll be there," he nodded.
Karis smiled and walked toward the door, "I'll get all my things later on; you don't mind if I borrow the shirt, do you?"
"Nope, you can keep it if you want," JC laughed.
Karis smiled and kissed him one last time, then headed down the beach to her own house. JC watched from the porch until she was out of sight, smiling to himself. After she was gone he went inside and to his room. He immediately collapsed on the bed and fell asleep.
When JC finally woke up again it was three in the afternoon. He smiled to himself, thinking of last night and the night to come. Finally, it felt like the void he had seemed to have was filling in and he knew it was because of Karis. He looked through the selection of cloths he had and chose a pair of khaki pants with a light green cotton button up shirt to go with them. Once he had his outfit he hopped in the shower quickly. He messed with his hair for almost a half an hour, the most in his entire life, before finally deciding it was good enough. He was completely finished by 4:30, and wondered what to do until he had to meet Karis.
He got an idea and walked out his back door to the woods that were behind the cabin. He walked to where he had been before and began picking a bundle of wild flowers. He finished by 4:45 and decided to head to Karis'.
"Come on in!" she yelled after he had knocked on the door. JC walked inside the house. "I'm almost ready, just give me a few minutes. Where are we going anyway?"
"I don't know. I thought we'd walk around town and see what there is to do, then make a final decision," JC answered.
"That's a good idea. I love that about you JC; you don't care if you don't have a plan, you just go with the flow," Karis smiled out the door. JC laughed to himself. Karis came out a few minutes later. JC watched as she walked down the hall, taking in the sight of her. She was wearing a pale orange sun dress that came just above knees with a pair of white shoes. Her hair hung loose around her shoulders.
"You look great," JC breathed, standing up. He watched as Karis' face turned slightly red.
"Thanks, you look pretty good yourself," she smiled.
"I picked these for you," JC said, handing her the flowers and suddenly feeling like a schoolboy with a crush.
"Awe, thank you," Karis grinned, taking the flowers and kissing his cheek lightly. She went into the kitchen and found a cup to fill with water and put the flowers in. "Ready?" she asked, looking at him once she had finished.
"Yeah, let's go," JC smiled softly, extending his hand toward her. Karis slipped her hand inside of his, and they left headed back toward town.
"So, what can we do?" JC said as they walked around.
"How about that?" Karis suggested, pointing across the street.
"The fun park?" JC asked.
"Yeah, come on, it looks like fun," Karis grinned, pulling his hand across the street. JC laughed as he allowed himself to be pulled. "Two for the go-carts please," Karis told the guy selling tickets.
"I can pay," JC offered.
"Nope, this is my treat," Karis insisted, handing the man her money. "Now come on, you couldn't beat me at Monopoly; we gotta see if you can on these."
"Oh, I can, and I will," JC laughed as they handed the guy their tickets and each found a cart. On their second lap around JC watched, laughing as some little kid hit Karis' cart and spun her around. He sped around her, waving as she gave him an evil look and waited for the attendant to come help her.
"Oh, look who won," JC boasted as they got off the carts.
"Oh, look who doesn't care," Karis shot back. JC laughed and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.
"Let's settle the score one last time," he said into her ear.
"And how are we doing to do that?" she asked, smiling as his breath tickled her neck.
"Easy, miniature golf. Winner takes all," JC said, spinning her around to face him.
Karis grinned, "You're on, and prepare to lose," she said, kissing him quickly before running toward the ticket seller again.
"Please, go first," JC insisted once they were on the first green.
"Thanks," Karis smiled as she set her ball down. She brought her club back and hit the ball sending it just inches from the hole. "Beat that!"
JC set his ball down and took a swing. His ball hit Karis' and sent hers flying into the hole. "Awe, thanks, baby," she laughed. JC shot her a look and went to tap his ball into the hole.
"Technically, that's only one stroke cause I never hit it a second time," Karis said, giving herself a one and JC a two.
"Just letting ya be ahead for one hole. Don't worry, it's not going to last," JC smiled and got his ball to take to the next hole.
"Whatever," Karis mumbled, following him.
"Oh, I won, I won," JC chanted, doing a victory dance at the end of the 18th hole.
"Shut up," Karis grumbled as she returned her putter to the booth.
"Sore loser," JC grinned, jogging to catch up with her as she walked down the street back into town.
"No, you're just a bad winner," Karis countered.
"Oh, I am not. Can I buy the loser dinner?" he asked, reaching out to grab her hand.
Karis turned around to look at him, "Well . . . I suppose."
JC smiled triumphantly, "Awesome, and I know just the place," he said, pulling her hand in the direction he was walking.