"It won't fit, you gotta squeeze." I said groaning.

"It's no use, it won't fit no matter how tightly I try squeezing it." I give up and back away.

He looks funny the way he is right now. He looks like a little boy with his slightly smaller bike and helmet that won't fit him. And his arms crossed because he didn't want to do this.

"Sorry, not my fault your heads bigger than mine." I laugh and he takes the helmet off.

"I can't learn, I don't wanna fucking do this." He grouches like a little old man.

"Not with that attitude you can't . C'mon you gotta be positive, think of all the things you can do with a bike." I reason and let go of the seat where I was keeping him steady.

He loses balance and quickly but slowly falls to the ground. The bike falls on top of him and he looks more pissed. That was not my fault...

"And that, my friend is why you need a helmet." I chuckle nervously but he just glared at me.

"Now get up and let's try again." I clap my hands and take a deep breath.

"No, fuck this." He stands up and picks up the bike.

I want him to learn because it's a good experience and core memory when you first start learning how to ride a bike. I remember dad taught me when I was younger but I taught myself how to ride without the training wheels last year.

And he laughed at me every time before that.

But that's besides the point, I want Heath to experience the excitement of it all too. I've come to realize that he probably didn't get the chance to do many things most kids do as a child. And I want to help him learn to have fun in life.

So he will learn. Wether he likes it or not.

"Do you have to say that word in every sentence? Can't you be mad without all the swearing?" I put my hands on my hips like teachers do.

"No" He looks at my hips before letting go of the bike, but it just falls again because the stopper wasn't out.

"You gotta-" I reach for the bike but he sends me a look and I automatically know he's about to snap.

"I know what to do." He snaps and picks up the bike, kicking the stopper out.

"Okay, Jeez."I put my hands up in defense.

Someone's a sassy muffin.

"Look if I'm going to teach you, you have to listen to me and put your listening ears on. Because It won't work if you don't listen and pay attention to me." I started realizing how I sounded more and more like a teacher.

"Now get your voluptuous butt on the seat and I'll hold the back of your seat so you don't fall." I place myself in the position behind the seat and he looks hesitant but thankfully he doesn't complain and just gets on.

"Ok now put both feet on the paddles and

Start paddling . You gotta watch your balance though." I instruct him and he slowly puts his feet on the peddles.

My bike was a bit too small for him so it made it a bit harder for him since his legs were long. But , he should be fine. Hopefully.

He starts paddling and I'm right behind him, trying my best to keep hold on the seat.

"Don't let go." He says as he starts wobbling around.

"Don't worry cupcake, I won't." I smirk but honestly I just said that to reassure him, he was kinda heavy and my arms were getting tired.

The path way to the beach was a long walk

if you were walking but riding bikes would get us there faster. I'm assuming Lola was at the beach already because she left us here. Heath starts to pick up the pace and now I gotta run.

"Okay, I know you might find it a little difficult to keep your balance while peddling on your own-" I know from experience because it was hard for me to learn.

"You can let go now" He surprisingly says.

"Are you sure? It's okay if you're scared" There is no way he learned that fast, no way.

"Let go" He says again and I let go. He surprises me when he starts riding as if he didn't know how to five minutes ago.

How the heck did he learn that fast? It took me years...

"Good job! You're definitely doing it. Still a little wobbly but you did it." I shout when he starts riding away.

He wasn't wobbly at all, in fact he did it quite perfectly but I gotta keep the guy humble.

I walk to him when he makes a stop and give him a smile.

"You learned really fast! Im impressed. I'm so proud of you" I ruffle his hair, finally touching it and just like I imagined, it was so soft.

He gives me a look that he's never given me before, did I say something? Or is there just something on my face?

"Now c'mon take me to the beach." I get behind him and stand on the wheel as he rides to the beach.

When we eventually get to the beach most people were already there and swimming. I try to look for Lola but I couldn't find her with this big of a crowd.

"You can leave the bike there for now." I point to the little spot behind the bushes.

He gently and lightly puts the bike to lean against the bushes, just kidding he basically tossed the bike to the side. If he breaks it, he's buying me a new one.

"Let's go find Lola so we can go swimming." I take his head and lead him through the crowd.

"I-" I heard him say something but I couldn't hear through the amount of people talking all at once.

"I think I see her!" I see a head of blonde hair and I sneak up on her and she screams, when she turns around she looks at me weird.

Well that wasn't Lola.

"Embarrassing" I mumble and chuckle, still leading Heath through the crowd.

I can feel people staring at us but I knew they probably weren't staring at me but at Heath. Cause I mean look at him, I stare sometimes too.

"Okay, I see her and I really hope it's her." I said and as we get close I notice that it really is her.

"There you guys are. Finally I've been waiting for you." She says and I do feel a little guilty for leaving her alone.

"We're here now, let's go swimming" I let go of Heaths hand and Lola and I start to get ready for the water.

"Thalia." I hear Heath say, I think this is the first time hearing him say my name. And I like how it sounds.

"What is it hunny?" I tease and he grabs my hand so he can talk to me somewhere more private.

"I can't swim." He admits and I look down at his clothes. So that's why he didn't bring swim trunks.

"Then I'll teach you, just like how I taught you how to ride a bike." I smile at him and he looks down at me.

"But maybe some other time, at like a pool or something because it'll be safer. Is it okay if you stay here while I go with Lola?" I don't want him to be uncomfortable all alone because he doesn't know anyone.

He nods and I'm grateful he said yes, I return back to Lola and take off the clothes I had on, revealing my white bikini I had on.

" You look hot." She says eyeing me.

"You do too, where's Mateo? He's missing out on all that." I look around.

"He's with friends. I'll get him later." She says and starts walking towards the water.

I follow along right behind her and the first thing I do is touch the water with my toes. It's not a surprise of how cold the water was but it wasn't that bad when you got in.

Lola and I eventually get in and start swimming. I hadn't been to the beach in a while so it felt nice to finally be here. I kept an eye out for Heath just in case, I had caught him talking to people, mostly girls but at least he was socializing.

"It's getting cold, let's go" Lola says now shivering from the water.

"Chicken." I mumble but she hears and sends me a playful glare.

We start to see a crowded group surrounding someone and I assumed it was just someone dancing or something, I don't even know. But the point is I didn't really care to find out.

"Thalia! I was looking for you" Mateo appears randomly looking worried.

"Here I am" I need my towel now, I'm cold.

"It's Heath. I think he got into an argument or something-" He starts saying and I start getting worried.

"Where is he?" I ask and walk around looking for him.

I walk through the people surrounding and finally see what got people so excited. Heath was on top of Henry punching him over and over again.

"You're fucking crazy!" Henry yells and tries to punch Heath but he dodged it.

"Shut the fuck up." He says before going in for another punch.

"The cops are coming!" Someone yells and I can hear the sirens from here.

This gets Heath to stand up and back away from a badly injured Henry on the ground.

"Heath!" I shout through the crowd of people but he can't hear me.

I approached him and take his hand, I surprise him because he quickly snatches it away. When he sees it was just me he relaxes and looks down at my exposed skin. He reaches down and dusts off some random towel before wrapping it around me.

"You're a bitch Thalia! You're the one who kept coming onto me." Henry gets up from the ground and wipes the blood off his mouth.

Heath is close to pouncing on Henry again but I put a hand out to stop him.

"Just leave him alone. Let's go." I said just wanting to leave already.

I walk away with Heath following behind.

"I know you liked it. I could see it in your face." I hear Henry say from here and anger boils through me.

Now, I wouldn't say I'm a violent person or anything. In fact I don't like violence at all but I do think there are exceptions to when someone should use physical violence. And now was one of those times.

I turn around and storm over to where Henry stood with a proud big smirk on his face. I slap him right across the cheek just like in the movies and by the looks of it he did not expect that at all.

"I rather kiss a rat than kiss you. Honestly kissing a rat is probably just the same as kissing you because they're both awful." I say while he groans, holding his cheek.

"And I always thought your smile was creepy as hell. Don't ever talk to me again." I finish off and turn around to walk back to Heath.

A smirk appears on Heaths face but it's gone when he sees how upset I was and I hold my hand.

"I know I looked all tough but honestly he has a hard face because my hand stings." I whine and shake my hand lightly.

"Im taking you home." He says and I wasn't about to give up that offer.

"My bike! Where is it?!" I said and run to the spot where we left it.

Of course, it's gone. Can this get any worse.

"Great. My hand stings and now my bikes gone! What else is going to go wrong?" I complain.

Heath sighs and takes my hand, inspecting it. He gently caresses it with his thumb as we walk to his car.

"It needs ice." Heath looks both ways before crossing the street and I can see his car in the distance.

I sigh and look down, I was still wrapped around in the towel and I realized I left my clothes on the beach somewhere. Great.

As we walk together on the side walk, I walk over the cracks and glanced to the left where Heath walked.

"You're walking on the steps. Remember?" I tug on his hand and he looks down.

"Step over them. It bothers me to even look at that." I whisper, I felt tired and all of that with Henry put me in a bad mood.

He bites his tongue as if to refrain from saying something but he does it anyway. Im fully content with how he walks now and I'm glad he's learning.

"Heath?" I ask, having a sudden idea.

"Hmm?" He hums and unlocks the doors to his car.

I wait to respond as I get into the car and settle in the seat. I play with my bracelet and wrap the towel around myself tighter, I was so cold.

"Can I stay with you tonight? Please." I didn't want to be home alone, I know my dad was there and all but I wanted to be around Heath for longer.

"Okay." He finally responded and I'm glad to finally have left the beach.

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A/N

This one felt so long and it took me a while to write but it's done 😫⭐️

7/15/22