I couldn't believe he got side tracked by the beach. I don't know what gave him the nerve to take the of ramp. A part of me wondered if he new he would die later, for making such a vain decision.

Granted, I was the one who was staring at it like a hurt puppy. But that didn't mean I wanted him to drive us down there. Okay, backtrack, I did want him to, but I really, really, didn't need him too. At all. Uh uh.

When he finally had the van parked along the upper part of the beach, excitement had started to bubble in my stomach. I could hold back my giddiness at being this close to the ocean, even if I knew I shouldn't be here, " wait here. I'm gonna go get my bakini on under this."

His eyebrow instantly shot up, and I smacked him in the back of the head, " pervert."

" It's not perverted to admire something beautiful," He said innocently, with one of his world famous crooked smile. I rolled my eyes, and flipped him the bird, before turning and rushing to the bedroom. I had to dig for it, but finally I found my dark blue bakini. It was nothing fancy, but Nick wasn't worth the time. Pulling it on, I put my clothes on over it.

When I opened the door he was standing right in front of me, " jesus."

He sighed, and pinched the bridge of his nose, " Now, how many times to I have to remind you it's just me?"

" Do you really care."

" No." He said, simply, a smile playing his lips.

I moved past him, anxious to enjoy the small amount of time I had at the beach, " hurry up and get your suite on."

" I don't swim."

I froze, and spun on my heels, eyes wide in shock, " You're kidding me right? are you crazy? or do you not know how to swim? not even doggy paddle? you're kidding me?" I shook my head, " I'm so sorry."

It was his turn to roll his eyes, " I can swim Angel, I just don't like to. "

" oh." A part of me was curious to know why. The other part needed that beach. I grabbed his arm, trying hard not the feel the muscle presented to me by his tank top, " whatever, let's go. I have no time to wate."

I pulled him out of the van, and intook the smell of salty water. The clouds above us were a light grey, covering the sky in a beautiful blanket, something that provided just the right kind of coolness. A faint breeze lit my skin, sending goosebumps down my arms and legs. I could feel the sand squish beneath my feet, but it wasn't the wet sand, not yet. I needed to get to the water, to feel it devour my limbs and tangle seaweed around my ankled. I needed it.

We set up two chairs and a blanket. we didn't need an umbrella or sunglasses. I gave my thanks to the fine clouds above. I took off my converse, tossing them to the side before walking down to the water. It was cool, rising up to my ankles. When the tide receeded, it would pull the sand from underneath me, making the struggle to stand much more real. It brought a smile to my lips. I turned to look over my shoulder, to see if Nick was watching, or even interested in the water.

That wasn't the case.

He was stretched out on a towel, legs crossed at the ankled, fingers drumming against his stomach to an old rock song streaming through his head phones. while he watched the sky, I doubted he could even hear me. I smiled. There was some relief in not having him paying attention to what I was doing.

Biting my lower lip, I ventured deeper into the dark waters, not minding as my shirt and pants soaked. Soon, I was shoulder deep, wading in the waters. I was so wrapped up in the moment, I had no doubt that I was smiling like a two year old fool. At least Nick wasn't watching. I didn't need to embarass myself in front of him.

I quietly sang to myself, as I started to float on the water, " I will never let you fall, I'll stand up for you forever." The lyrics to Your Guardian Angel, by Red Jumpsuit Apparutus, tumbled from my lips with ease. I knew the words all to well. Honestly, I had no idea if I even sounded decent.

I quickly looked over at Nick, who had not moved an inch since last time I looked his way. Turning in the water, I dove under slightly, enjoying the warm feeling of being underneath the surface. It was like entering another world, foreign yet beautiful. When I came up, the air was ice against my skin, turning my lips blue. I dipped under once more.

A tide pulled me deeper, and that's when my arms and legs decided to stop working. I didn't under stand, My fingertips skimmed the surface, but then I couldn't move. I wasn't scared, not that I could tell, and I wasn't excited. God no. I did know I was sinking and my body decided that we weren't gonna work right now. I felt myself fall deeper, confused on how far I had faded into the ocean.

I couldn't wrap my my mind around why nothing could work. Then the fear grew, spreading from my head to my heart, all the way down to my toes. I was afraid, because I had gotten caught in a current. And I couldn't remember what they said about swimming out, or weaving through the waves. I was stuck underwater, without any idea on what to do. And Nick wasn't paying attention.

I never thought I'd thank god for Nicholas's existed. Never.

But just this once, I thanked him.

A set of five fingers grabbed my shirt, and pulled me into a pair of two well-toned arms. Those two arms drug my to the surface. When our heads broke the water, I was a sputtering fool, gasping for breath that I had missed during my time under the surface. With an unhappy look on his face, Nick kept one arm around me and started at a diagnal out of the riptide. I could feel him moving against me, each stretch of his lips and body comforting. I was okay.

I noticed the batman beanie and the boots by his towel, his phone and earbuds thrown a bit to the side of it.

He grabbed the towel and wrapped it tightly around my shoulders, " what the fuck Angel!"

Towel around my shoulders, he pulled me into a hug. I was shivering hard against him. Before he had me locked to his frame, I noticed the worried look adorning his face. His whole body was tense with what felt like fear. Fear of what? The words ran out of my mouth in a stuttery mess, " I-i'm sorry. I just, just, c-couldn't move, and i-i didn't know w-what to do when i g-got caught a-and..."

" You scared me to death." He mumbled. I could feel his quick heartbeat against my ear. He pulled back, calming himself with a deep breath, pinched the bridge of his nose. He was soaked, from his batman tank top to bottoms of his tan jeans. His hair was plastered to his forhead, some slicked back, which I find it sad to admit looked handsome on him.

I huffed, " hardly, you're acting crazy, I almost drowned, and I almost feel bad for making you save my ass. at the same time, I feel sickly good about it."

he shook his head, " just stop Angel. Just... Go to the van and get changed. You're freezing."

I watched him for a minute, then turned and moved to the van. I hopped into the van and changed into a new pair of shorts and a plain white t-shirt. When I walked out, he walked in with his shirt in his hand, and his boot in the other. He set them by the door and went to change. My eyes found his abs, and I couldn't help but admire just slightly. When he shut the door, I muttered to myself, " a girl can get used to Nick shirtless.... especially if his mouth is taped shut." I smiled to myself, while drying my hair. That was a nice thought. silent, shirtless Nick. Maybe just cover his face so I wouldn't know it was him, even if he had a good looking face. Or maybe I could just have Ryan Gosling. I would certainly be okay with that too.

When he came out he was in a grey Beatles shirt and a new pair of black jeans. He left the van and grabbed his phone, beanie, and towel. Sliding the beanie on his head and tossing the towel into the laundry, he put on a crooked smile, " Now we find our way back to the main road."

I looked in the glove box for a map, " Bingo."

" Do you know where we're actually going?" He asked, while cleaning out his ears with a q-tip.

I nodded, " yep. California, city of angels."

He smirked, " I can get us there."

" You've been there before."

He nodded, " yeah, awhile ago with my parents."

" how was it?"

" It sucked. but that's a different story." He thew away the Q-tips and put on his boots, lacing them halfway before jumping back into the drivers seat, " and we're off once again!"

I nodded, and ran to grab a book from my bag. Laying on the couch, I got lost in the pages of a story I didn't remember the name of.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

" Dinner Nicholas. I need more food. And I need you to make it this time."

He found a place we could park, and sighed, " yes sir."

" excuse me?" I arched a brow at him.

He stood straight, " ma'am... sorry sorry, ma'am."

I gave a short nod, " that's what I thought."

He moved to the kitchen and prepared mac and cheese. I was delighted, my eyes gleaming with a new found happiness, " I feel like i'm seven all over again. In a good way."

He smiled, " i love mac and cheese." He prepared our plates, and I graciously took it from him.

I shoveled it in by the mouthfull, having some confidence in his cooking since his wonderfull breakfast. The Mac and Cheese was amazing, just as I had predicted. I shoved my plate out for a second serving.

Once again, I was asking for seconds and he was okay with his single servings. I frowned, unsatisfyed by the way I ate more manly than him, " Nick, you seriously need to have a second serving."

He shook his head, " Nah. I'm fine."

I huffed, " your loss."

That night, I changed first. He waited outside, doing lord knows what for the time I was in there. I kept my white t-shirt on, and put on a pair of black sweat-shorts. After I had tucked my bag back under the bed, I opened the door and let him in. While walking in, he already had his shirt stripped off and I decided this time I didn't get to look.

While he changed into his usual, a t-shirt with grey sweats, I brushed my teeth. Then he brushed his teeth and I brushed my hair. Everything we did was unusually silent that night. As he was spitting out his excess paste, I asked, " why were you so worried today?"

He swished some water in his mouth, then spit it out, " what do you mean?"

" I mean... You.. well, you freaked. Why?"

" Because you worried me, Angel." He answered, short and not so sweet.

I sighed, " yeah, but why were you worried? I don't get it."

" Why does it matter?" He asked, his tone not rude, but not exactly kind either.

" I'm just curious, Arson, jesus."

He stood there, watching me in the mirror, for quite some time. His jaw was shut tight, a muscle ticked in his cheek as he searched for what he should say next. Finally, he spoke, " because your grand mother needs you, and I know you want to get to her, and I'd feel pretty fucking bad if you died under my watch, before you even got to her. Is that a good enough answer for you?"

I looked down at the counter, mindlessly picking at my fingernail, " okay, okay. sorry I asked."

I turned and headed to the couch, curling into a ball and breaking out my book. Nick leaned against the wall, looking at something on his phone.

Someone died in my book. I thought it was odd.

Nick let out a laugh, " asshole."

" excuse me?" I turned to look at him.

" sorry." He said, " not you. I mean Jericho."

" what'd he do."

" It's nothing Angel, I'll tell you in the morning."

I drew my eyebrows together, not satisfied. But now wasn't the time to ask, I could tell by the way Nick was standing rigid. I could also see the hint of worry still speckling his eyes. I sighed, and stood.

I moved to stand right in front of him, " get off your phone."

He looked up at me briefly, and raised a brow. Then he went back to scrolling. I drew my brows together, grabbed it, and turned it off, " thank you."

He shook his head, " did that make you happy."

" yes."

He smiled faintly, " well, than I guess you can keep it for the night."

" what?"

He let out a small laugh through his nose, " you heard me."

" yeah I did, Now let's get to bed."

He sighed, another thing done through his nose, and rolled his right shoulder, " yeah, i'm tired."

" thank you captian obvious. i couldn't tell." I smiled.

He shook his head and chuckled. A good part of me felt bad for making him worry, mainly because I almost died in the process, and I felt like a wimp for having to have him save my sorry ass. But the other part of me felt triumphant that I made him swim. Can't lead a horse to water, they say. Well, recently did, thank you.

I moved past him, and led the way to the room. He followed suit. Then, I turned on his iPhone, silding the screen to the right to find he had a password, " what is it?"

" 1013."

" you trust me with your password?" I had doubted it was even his password to begin with. When I typed it in, to my surprise, the screen unlocked.

He fell onto the bed, and shrugged, " what's the worst you can do?"

" Find your secret porn stash?"

" You'll be amazed to know, that I may be the only guy who doesn't watch porn."

" why not?" I asked.

He smiled, " i'd much rather live it."

I punched him in the arm, but laughed anyway, " perv."

Going to his clock, I looked at his alarms, " you don't have any alarms later than eight am. Why."

" I prefer to wake up early." He replied. It was already close to midnight, so he probably wanted to sleep.

" when do you want to wake up."

" you can make a new alarm if you want. I don't even use those anymore."

" In that case." I said, turning off the phone, " We aren't going to start using them again."

" Sounds good."

I turned, and scooting closer to the edge of the bed, and turned off my lamp. i didn't want to cuddle.

I think he did the same.

I didn't notice because I was already half asleep.