This past week at the beach has been a blast. My mother and dad were closer than ever and my little brother seemed to be less annoying. Shocker.

I was really looking forward to go back to town and meet up with my friends, and of course to see Matt. His family trip was over too, so I wasn't hesitating at all to reach out, physically, to him. I was really hoping he'd ask me out on a date, or just invite me over to his place for a movie night or even a small get together with my friends and his friends. My hopes, at this point, were higher than I imagined. Since we talked every day, non stop, I got to know him better and one thing was clear as water to me. He is definitely the idea I had since the beginning, it would probably change over time and that was something I was scared of. Because change creeps the hell out of me.

"How many hours are left?" Jamie asked, as he was playing with his Nintendo DS. The Mario Bros' theme song was ringing in my ears and it was getting more annoying by the minute.

"Two hours." I heard my mother said, he moaned in frustration, since he wanted to get home and play with our neighbor, Kyle. They had the same age and they seemed to have the same interests, it was good. I mean, since I don't get to play with Jamie because of college and stuff, he had a companion. And the other kid was in the same situation, except his brother worked full time and his parents barely make it home, so he is left with a nanny, but we all now it's not the same. Although they fight a lot, Jamie and Kyle were like brothers, they always found their way back to each other.

"I just really want to play with Kyle mommy." He complained, I just rolled my eyes. He was annoying as shit, but we had something in common right now...we wanted to see someone.

"Go to sleep Jamie." I demanded.

"I am not sleepy Lil." He pouted, like the spoiled little brat he was.

"Just sleep, I promise in no time we'll be back home."

"Okay." He gave up and closed his eyes, it took him minutes to fall asleep. Road trips are tiring and I get that. I was tired and sleepy too, but I couldn't sleep. I was too anxious because in a few hours I'll get to see Matt again and that beautiful smile of his. My earphones were plugged into my ears and Taylor Swift was being played. Her lyrics spoke to every teenage girl in love or with a broken heart and that's one of the reasons I was into her music style. She knew how to put emotions into words and as a writer, I know sometimes it gets hard to do so.

All I know since yesterday

Is everything has changed

I smiled at the lyrics being thrown into my ears. I instantly thought about him. Damn, he was in everything. I was probably crushing too hard and I know trouble was near now.

● ● ●

Two hours passed way too fast. So we got home, each one of us, holding our luggage. Except for Jamie, because he was spoiled, but then again, he was a little kid and he can't handle too much weight. My room was a mess, I totally forgot I left it like this before leaving to the beach and I seriously had no motivation whatsoever of cleaning the mess. It could wait. I searched for my cellphone at the end of my bag and my hand took it out, my eyes examined the amount of Twitter, Facebook and Instagram notifications I had and to my surprise, two texts from Matt and a missed call, still from him. I could feel my lips stretching out into a wide smile, feeling my cheeks almost covering my sight.

Hey, so you don't answer your phone and I was wondering if you want to go out to a friend's party tonight? (Please say yes?)

Twenty minutes later...

Okay, so please reach out when you see this. I know you are back in town, since you mentioned it, like two or three days ago, just in case you think I'm stalking you or something. Because I'm not. Okay so please notify me or something.

A chuckle escaped my mouth, as I re-read the two texts over and over again. Maybe he really was into me, but I was waiting for him to give me the greenlight. I looked at my fingers as they were playing on the phone's screen, as I was contemplating the words to write to him. I really wanted to go, but was it a good idea? Maybe he could say I was going on too easy and then his interest will be none. But then again, I thought to myself, do it Lily, do it. Don't be a chicken.

Hey Matt, sorry I replied a tad late. I just arrived and I am tired as hell. But I'd love to go to your friend's party.

I sent it. Trembling because everything related to him made me nervous in a whole new level. I paced back and forth in my room, waiting for his reply as my phone was between my hands, under my chin. My eyes on the floor my feet were stepping on.

I'll pick you up in an hour! Just don't forget to send me your location! :)

I sent him the location and rushed to the shower. The warm water running down my bare body as I thought about possible ways this whole thing could go. I'll meet his friends and I'll talk to him about my hopes and dreams and he'll do the same. Then we'll both realize we are great for each other. No, scratch that, too fairytale like. But we'll definitely talk about our aspirations for the future and stuff like that. The deep stuff, the stuff that mesmerizes you because the way he thinks is everything you want to hear from a guy. I was in the shower for twenty minutes, and then I wrapped a towel across my body. I walked to my room and opened my drawers. Looking for something to wear was a hard task since I wanted something fierce and very conservative, at the same time. But then I thought that I should just wear whatever makes me feel comfortable because I wanted my outfit to reflect who I was and if he was going to like me, it was going to be for who I am. Nothing less and nothing more. I went for leggings and a magenta colored blouse and some black ballerinas. My hair was down and my face had a considerable amount of make up. Right when I was finishing my look I heard the doorbell, my parents were on the living room, watching tv and Jamie was playing at Kyle's place, therefore he was nowhere to be seen.

"Mom, dad," I caught their attention. "I'm going out with a friend, I'll be home early."

"Take care!" They said together, waving goodbye at me. I reached out for the door and when I opened it, he was there. His smile was gorgeous and I couldn't help but smile too. I could feel my cheeks turning red. Stop it Lily, stop it.

"You look nice!"

"Thanks," I stepped out of the house, gently shutting the door behind me. "We should get going." He nodded and then we walked silently to his car, he opened the door for me and waited for me to be seated, then he shut it and ran toward the driver's seat.

"My friend knows you are coming, he wants to meet you." His eyes were on the road the whole time. What did he mean? It looked like he wanted to introduce me to his friend, and that kind of shattered my heart. Just a little bit.

"Really?"

"Mhm." He nodded, smiling. We were in complete silence the entire ride and my thoughts were a storm right now. I really had my hopes high for something that wasn't happening for both ways. Why was I such stupid little naive girl? Either way, I wasn't giving up on the idea of liking him and maybe, possibly he liking me back. Who knows, maybe this is all part of a plan.

"Here we are." He stopped the car, I unbockled my seat belt and notice a bunch of people entering the house. I hated crowded places, not because I was a loner or something, but simply because my tolerance was none.

"Looks fun."

"Let's go." He opened the door again for me, total gentleman. We walked through the thick crowds of teenagers, as we noticed some were half naked and others were already drunk.

"Hey man! What's up?" He greeted a tall, dark haired boy. He was wearing a red polo shirt and he then looked at me. "She's Lily, remember I told you about her?" I reached out for Matt's eyes and they lit up. My insides tingled.

"She's prettier in person," His friend stated, I blushed. "I'm Victor, nice meeting you Lily, please make yourself at home."

"Thanks, nice meeting you." I said and then Matt noticed me with his head he wanted to go out that way, so I walked next to him and we reached for the back yard. We found a lonely bench and we sat there.

"So, how was your trip?" He asked and then he yawned, he looked tired and to be honest, I was making a whole lot of effort in keeping myself awake.

"It was fun," I looked down. "How about yours?" I asked, really wanting to know everything about it.

"It was amazing, I had such a great time."

"Your family is really close right?"

"Mhm," He nodded, looking at me. "We had a great time and it's really important to appreciate stuff like that. You never know when things will change, you know. Things are not constant, anything can change in a blink of an eye." Clearly, family was very important for him.

"I think the same," I cleared my throat. "That terrifies me a lot."

"Change?" I nodded, feeling a lump in my throat.

"It's just unfair how things change," I chuckled. "And it's the one thing that you see slowly happening and you don't want to open your eyes because if you do, you'll really see your world changing. But one day you wake up and it happens, like a billion bricks on your face and there's no going back. It's happening."

"Wow."

"What?"

"Nothing," I noticed he scratched his temple and I wanted to say something else, but I think it was enough. "That's what I think. Exactly."

"Good to know." I smiled at him and responded with another one. A strand of hair was tucked behind my ear as I tapped my fingers against each other, figuring out what to say to him. As usual, my talent for keeping up with conversations is none.

''Can I just say something?'' He asked, looking down at his feet.

''Sure.''

''You are not like most girls I know,'' He sighed. ''I hope you know that. You deserve good things coming your way and they will come to you, so promise me you won't lose that faith?''

''Even with a million reasons, I never doubt. I never lose that so called faith you are talking about. I believe I'm meant to live something great.'' I stated. He looked at me, his honey colored eyes were wide opened. I gave him a wry smile and looked away, feeling overwhelmed by his piercing look.

● ● ●

''It was nice," I unbuckled my seat belt as I noticed the light from the living room was still on. "Thanks for taking and bringing me back safe sound." My parents were still up waiting for me.

"It was a pleasure." He kissed my cheek and then I smiled at him, trying to hide my rosy cheeks from noticing.

"Good night Matt." I stepped out of the car and then I watched him drive down the driveway. It was a lovely night. More than what I thought it was going to be.