you're a rebel in disguise,
is that the devil in your e y e s . . .

🌊🌊🌊

The following week couldn't have been more agonizingly slow. It's funny how when you're really excited for something, it takes so damn long to get to you. Then once it comes, it's gone in a flash.

After a painful, dragging Thursday spent at the diner all morning, then at the pier until 6 o'clock, I was done work until Tuesday. No early 6 AM shifts at The Sand Dollar, no endless lines for tickets – none of it. For a whole long weekend, I get to spend it with my guy.

The only early awakening I have ahead of me is for Owen and Brody to pick me up tomorrow morning. I'm already planning to sleep in the car, because we have about a three hour drive to Jersey. All I have to do is finish packing some last minute things tonight, and then I'll be ready to go.

According to the clock above me in my booth, I have three minutes left. The pier wasn't too alive today for some reason, which just means I sat in my stool for a majority of my shift, staring at whoever walked by me. I'd make up ridiculous scenarios about their lives to entertain myself and pass the time. I was concocting a tale about how the older man by the miniature roller coaster probably liked to collect stamps when someone popped up in front of my window.

I gasped at the green eyes and wicked smile staring back at me. Chills climbed my spine, as the rate of my heartbeat went out of control. Whether it was because I got scared, or who scared me, I think it was a mixture of both.

"Hi, Lena! What's up?" Sky's shrill voice had me clenching my teeth. If there wasn't a thick wad of Plexiglas between us, I'd have her by the throat.

Okay, maybe in my dreams. Where I'm a lot more confident and indestructible.

A million questions swam in my mind while I stared back at the deranged beauty. With my teeth clenched, I managed to spit out a response.

"I'm working."

"Duh. I can see that from your shirt," she chuckled with a roll of her eyes. My lips twitched like I wanted to laugh just to appease her, but why the hell would I do that? She took a lock of her messy brown hair in her thin fingers, twirling it around aimlessly. "Anyway, I came here because I really need to talk to you."

"M-my shift's almost over, I was just going to go home and-"

"Great! This is perfect," she exclaimed, her grin spreading across her face and only serving to scare me even more. How can someone be so pretty but so goddamn frightening?

Obviously she didn't understand that I was trying to leave and avoid her. I guess the girl is a little more dense than I thought. Or maybe she's just that smart to twist my words.

I tried to stammer out another excuse, but my blank brain couldn't come up with anything.

"Don't be intimidated. I'm totally normal, I promise. I just wanna talk, that's all," she spewed out her words so fast, it took me a moment to register what was happening. Before I could protest, she whirled around and disappeared, probably to wait for me to come out of my booth.

The irrational part of me thought that I could wait her out and stay here for as long as I could possibly stand it. Then I realized that when the next girl comes in for her shift, she'd probably be wondering why I was hiding out in a ticket booth, and I couldn't explain that situation. I'm hiding from my boyfriend's psychotic ex-girlfriend. That would go over so well.

Three minutes never went by so fast. Now I wished I had a few hours left of work so that Sky would leave. But of course, fate isn't on my side today.

Reluctantly, I took a deep breath before I opened the door to face my fear. The girl I barely know anything about, but need to stay away from. Although I can't help but be naturally curious as to what she wants to talk to me about.

Sky was standing only a few feet from the booth as I shut the door, an eerie chill washing over me as she scanned me up and down. She didn't say a word the entire time she followed me to Beverly's office, which only freaked me out even more.

"I'll just be a second," I muttered, my hand clenching the doorknob. My back was to her and I could practically feel her gaze burning a hole in my back. An exasperated sigh escaped my lips as I pushed open the door and shut it behind me, trudging over to the machine so I could clock out.

"What's got you all gloomy?" Beverly asked from her desk. I didn't even see her when I walked in.

"Nothing," I grumbled, typing my numbers in and successfully ending my shift. "Just seems like the one person I want to avoid can't stay away from me."

Beverly grimaced when I turned around, frowning a bit. "Sorry, kid."

"Whatever. I'll see you on Tuesday," I shook my head and gave her a halfhearted wave.

"Wish Brody good luck for me!" She called, and I smiled over my shoulder at that. It quickly disappeared when I went back out to the pier and was met with the wicked witch.

Looking her over, she was yet again dressed so perfectly, but there was a bit of carelessness shown too. A black, loose-fitting tank dress with her go-to ripped fishnets and tattered combat boots. It seemed like she could just throw anything together with her eyes closed and make it work. With toothpicks for legs and a torso even smaller than mine, if only she was six inches taller she could be a model.

Honestly, at first glance, she looks like a nice girl. Then she opens her mouth and you realize what you see isn't what you get.

Her lips curved in their typical, sinister fashion and she folded her thin arms across her chest. All I could muster was a blank stare, barely able to move a muscle. Maybe she's secretly Medusa and can turn people to stone when she looks them in the eye. It sure seems like it.

My brows furrowed when she breathed a short laugh and shook her head. "Brody must have a thing for girls with green eyes," she commented cordially, like we've always been chummy with one another. She's gotta reevaluate herself if she thinks that.

"Hm," I hummed. And that's about the literal only thing we have in common.

She jerked her head as a gesture for me to follow her, and with cautious footsteps and a generous distance between us, I did.

We left the pier and ventured onto the boardwalk where hundreds of people were milling around. I had no idea where she was planning on talking to me, but I'd prefer it be in front of people. That way, if she wanted to kill me, she couldn't.

The two of us drifted down the boards in an equal, awkward silence. Sky's arms were crossed over her chest and her head was down, staring at her boots that clomped against the old wood. Her dark and enigmatic ensemble contrasted greatly against my bright red WonderPier t-shirt, camel-colored shorts, and white high top Converse.

"Did Brody tell you that I came to Mason's last weekend?" She questioned, turning to look at me now. My strides slowed down and I almost came to a complete stop.

For the second time, my eyebrows drew together in confusion. "What?"

"Yeah, when he had the bonfire?" She stopped walking too and cocked her head to the side, trying to clarify the day for me. I couldn't believe the audacity she had to act like I was a complete imbecile. Yes, bitch, I remember.

"I-I know. I was there pretty much the whole time. Why didn't I see you?" I asked while my mind did the dirty work of trying to stir up any memory of her there that night. I was too busy singing Panic! at the Disco to notice. How typical of me – too busy performing my favorite songs to focus on my surroundings.

"Brody wouldn't let me in. He said it'd stir up some drama if I did, so Camille and I left," she sighed her explanation. Her gaze flitted away from me momentarily which gave me a second to collect my thoughts. Not a second long enough, though.

"W-why-"

"Because he obviously didn't want his ex-girlfriend and his current girlfriend at the same party," she scoffed the answer like I should've known it all along. Her light, mocking chuckle and shake of her head irritated me to where all I could do was grit my teeth. Of course, she didn't give me a chance to say anything because she kept on sputtering nonsense. "Damn, it's only been a month and you guys are already keeping secrets from each other. I was betting that you'd last awhile, too. Looks like you're already seeing Brody for who he really is."

"I was going to ask why you were there. Not why he didn't tell me," I said brusquely in defense of myself. Now it was my turn to cross my arms and give her a curt once-over.

Another short laugh of hers filled the air around us. She brushed aside my words and moved onto something else in a menacing tone. Something that made the hairs on my arms stand straight up.

"Did Brody tell you that I'm not 'all the way there'? That I'm a little crazy? That's something Brody would say," she put air quotes around his words, a self-satisfied look on her face.

I felt sick to my stomach in an instant. She's right, Brody did say all of that to me – but how did she know? Without an answer to my question, she continued on her tirade. "I know how easy it is to break girls like you. I used to be that. I was fragile, and alone, and vulnerable. Then Brody came along and things were different, as stupid as that sounds," she nearly muttered her words towards the end, softly shaking her head. Her eyes darted to the ground as a bitter smile crossed her face. I almost felt her pain in that look. Almost. "I don't want to see what happened to me, happen to you. He's a bad guy, Lena. He doesn't want anything to do with love, and you can't change a guy like him. You just can't. It hurts like hell to love him and before you know it..." she took a second to glance back up at me, solitude evident in her eyes, "He's gone. And there's nothing you can do about it."

As I searched her eyes for some kind of lie, some kind of reason to disregard everything she's said to me in the past ten minutes, I realized something.

There is nothing I could say to change the fact that Brody dated Sky. He once loved her. He once treated her the way he treats me now. But the breakup might as well be a mystery to me. I have no idea what their history is like. Yes, I want to know, but then again I think it's best if I stick with not knowing anything at all. Ignorance is bliss after all, right?

I have a hell of a lot I want to say to her, but my parents raised me better than to stoop to such a low level. Name calling, cursing, and insults would get me nowhere with Sky. She's smarter than that, which is the scary part. To get a girl like her to leave you alone is gonna take a lot more than calling her a "psychotic bitch". It's gotta be something she won't expect.

I squared my shoulder and looked her dead in the eyes, sucking in a breath that filled my lungs before I handed her a platter of the cold, hard truth.

"Thank you," I croaked. Sky stared at me like I suddenly grew three more heads. Her lips slightly parted, green eyes widened skeptically. With the exact reaction I was waiting for, I went on. "What do you want me to say, Sky? Want me to believe you? Want me to say, 'you know what, you're right. Let me break up with Brody'? Well the truth is, I don't know what to believe. But I guess I'll find that out for myself."

Her dubious expression remained for a couple more seconds, like she was trying to solve the hidden meaning behind my words – but there was none. A pitiful smile touched her lips, then she nodded her head firmly to signal that she got me.

"I'll see you around. Good luck with Brody," she told me, mocking sincerity. But of course she didn't leave without throwing a catty remark over her shoulder. That's her signature move, after all. "Just be prepared, because I would know about him and the heartbreaks more than anyone."

Arms crossed tightly, she spun on her heels and strutted down the boardwalk, the sound of her boots echoing on the wood even after I couldn't see her anymore. My body remained tense, stuck to the ground without any intention of moving. I didn't know what to do. Even though there were people all around me, minding their business, going on about their lives, I'd never felt more stranded. Like someone picked me up and placed me in new, unfamiliar territory.

I was frustrated. Scared, anxious, a little nauseous. You name it, I felt it then. I had to grasp onto the railing at the edge of the boardwalk to catch myself when it all became too much. People were staring, and I didn't care. The world around me started spinning, making me lose my breath and balance. Then I started running.

A few people got shoved by me, a useless apology spat out, but I never stopped. I ran to my car, shoved the key in the ignition and drove to my house. I almost ran a few red lights and definitely almost hit some kids on the way, but I didn't stop until I was in my driveway. I didn't stop until I was in the one place that could make me feel safe.

Climbing over the hill to the beach in front of my house, I collapsed when I was close enough to the water. My knees hit the warm sand, the wind ripped through my hair and I felt tears silently dribble down my cheeks.

I cried. I cried like a baby and I have no idea why, but it's all I could do. Every emotion I was feeling built up inside me and exploded into tears falling down my face. I really didn't want to cry, but here I was, sobbing on the beach, unable to stop.

I buried my head in my hands and sat there for sometime. It could have been a couple minutes, it could have been an hour. It was as long as I needed to be alone until I texted Brody, telling him to meet me here.

The sea breeze dried my wet face as I stared out into the ocean and felt an instant calm come over me. I watched intently as the waves rolled up, then back, up again, then back again. The bubbles that were left on the wet sand burst into nothing, and the relaxing sound of the waves crashing sent me to another place. My mind went into an absolute state of ease and I smiled to myself, realizing that no matter how I felt, the ocean was still the same.

The waves would still crash, and the water would still sway, regardless of my emotions. Then my smile grew a little bigger, knowing that this is where I belong. Being here with the ocean almost right at my feet makes me feel miles away from everything else in the world. And that's the kind of feeling I live for.

"Lena?"

The voice made me jump, breaking out of my peaceful trance. I knelt up and whipped my head around to see Brody standing only a few feet away from me. My reaction was to jump to my feet and gawk at him, too many thoughts in my head to comprehend them into coherent sentences. His face morphed with concern as he started to walk closer to me, but I slowly backed away. I couldn't have him near me, with his aura affecting my words and thought process. "What's wr-"

"You never told me that Sky came to Mason's last weekend," I blurted out, instantly regretting it. I didn't want to start this way, but it's too late now.

"Lena... I-I didn't want you to worry," he said, seeming out of breath as he ran his fingers through his hair.

"Well, now I am worried!" I shrieked hysterically.

I didn't want it to be like this with Brody. I never do, but with Sky's words hanging in my head, I couldn't help it. Jealousy and worry nipped at me until they swallowed me whole.

Brody looked like he was at a loss for words. His eyes were searching me, face scrunched in contemplation. I figured anything I said would just stir the pot even more, and that's the last thing I want.

He abruptly shook his head and finally said, "Did she talk to you?"

"Yes," I declared, my voice strong. He opened his mouth to say something else, but I spoke up first. Except it was a bit harder than I thought. "Brody, if you don't care about me then just... just go, because I'm not gonna waste my time-" I choked on the last word, holding back more tears as best I could. A few managed to slip out anyway, and I was quick to wipe them away.

I knew I couldn't finish that sentence. There was no way to.

Long gone was the brooding look on Brody's face. Now he looked straight-up offended. Maybe that wasn't the smartest thing to say.

He stalked closer to me and I felt compelled by his eyes, planting my feet where they were. "You think I don't care about you?" He hissed the words, raising an eyebrow in disbelief.

"W-well, I-I don't know what to believe! She was pretty convincing a-and I mean you didn't tell me about her coming to Mason's and I just..."

Thankfully, my incessant babbling was cut off by a short, sarcastic bark of laughter from Brody. He tugged at his hair in annoyance, shaking his head over and over with that scornful smile in place.

"See, this is exactly why I didn't want you guys to come in contact," he growled, the sound making my eyes widen. I'd never heard a tone like that from him before, but I knew Sky could do that. I gulped when he lifted his head to look at me. "She's manipulative, Lena, it's who she is. She fucks with people's minds," he paused for a second, like he was debating on saying something and then continued, "Shit, that's why our relationship ended. You can't believe anything she ever says about me. I know that's hard for you to understand, but you have to take my word for it."

A shaky sigh with quivering shoulders was all I could manage. My non-verbal response caused Brody to close the gap between us and hold my face in his hands, keeping his eyes hooked on mine. I felt that sense of calmness take over my mind again when I looked into his eyes, similar to how the ocean made me feel, and I never wanted to look away. Maybe it's because they're the same color, or because they have the same violent waves crashing through them constantly.

"Lena, you are the only girl I care about besides my mother. You, just you," he spoke in a tender voice as his eyes searched mine for an answer that I didn't have. "I don't know what I have to do to make you believe that."

"You don't have to do anything because I believe you," I rasped, my lips cracking into a sideways smile. His lips twitched into somewhat of a simper as well, his thumbs working to wipe away the few stray tears on my cheeks. After a minute or so, I broke our stare and grabbed him in a tight, reassuring hug.

"Don't you ever say that I don't care about you, okay? You hear me?" He demanded, so I nodded and he kissed my head. "I don't want to lose you. Not like this," he murmured into my hair, and I felt a swelling in my chest at the sound.

With my face pressed against his strong chest, I mumbled, "Me neither."

For however long it was, we stood there in our embrace. The setting sun slowly disappearing on the other side of town and the night soon upon us. Brody stroked my hair with one of his hands, almost lulling me to sleep right there in his arms. Now that I'd cried all my tears and felt enough emotions in one day to last a year, I could rest easy.

My mind was seconds from entering sleep when Brody shifted and picked up my face again with his hands. Calloused, but gentle as ever. The look in his eyes had my legs go weak, but he revived me when he captured my lips with his, totally dominating both the kiss, and my heart.

🌊🌊🌊

A/N - kind of