Romantic Interlude

The lights at the boardwalk beamed off in the distance.  Tiffany could smell the electricity in the air; it was a crisp sweet smell that radiated through her .  A cool breeze whipped by with a procession of leaves that made her grab at her jacket and pull it taunt. Tiffany stood at the wooden railing as her hand raked over the tiny splinters that tried to poke into her flesh and she watched as the waves crashed onto the beach below her and shook the wooden planks beneath her feet.

He's late, she thought.

She had been waiting here for over half an hour and still Scott had not shown.  Tiffany  was used to him being late, but never that late.

The boardwalk was bustling. Other couples walked by. Children were running around with balloons and stuffed animals that they had won.  Tiffany kept her view centered straight out, ignoring everyone as they passed.

"Boo."  Scott wrapped his arms around Tiffany from behind.

Every hair on Tiffany's body stood up on end. She turned in his arms to face him.

Her right arm slapped at his left shoulder. "You scared me."

"I'm sorry, baby." Scott leaned into give Tiffany a chaste kiss and tasted her berry lip gloss.  As they parted he licked his lips to still feel the sensation of her.

Tiffany tucked a few stray hairs behind her ear and stared at him for a few seconds.

"Where were you?"  she asked.  "I have been waiting here for a while now."

He cupped her chin and pulled Tiffany's head to his and kissed her again, softly.

"I am so sorry that I made you wait.  Come on.  I want to show you something."  He took her hand in his and led her down to the beach.

"What is all this?"  Tiffany questioned as they came up to a secluded area with a small bonfire and a flannel blanket positioned neatly on the sand next to a white picnic basket.

He continued towards the site with her in tow.  He placed her down on the ground just as the fireworks from the pier were beginning. Both of them laid back and listened to the sounds of gun powder and explosives.  Sprays of red, blue and white covered the night sky above the couple.

Scott moved closer to Tiffany.  He felt that he could not get close enough despite the fact that they were pressed up to each other. Scott rolled her on him and ran his hand up her back.  Her hands raked through his hair as both of them started to breath heavily.

Their lips met again, but at more a feverish rate.  Eyes closed-only hers opening them intermittently to catch sight of him. Scott caught her peeking and they stopped kissing.  He put his forehead to hers and stared deep in her eyes that were as blue as the ocean on an stormy day.

"Do you have any idea?"  he said so low, he had no idea if she heard him.

"What?"

"How much I care about you?" He pulled back to get a read on her.

Tiffany's eyes squinted in the moonlight as she searched his face for some realization. 
"No."

"I love you." The words came out rushed.  So fast Tiffany almost misunderstood. She closed her eyes, relishing the significance of those three little words.

"What?"  She heard him, but wanted to hear him say it again.

He sat both of them up and took her left hand in his.  "I said 'I love you'." He smiled and waited for her reaction. 

She was internally doing the happy dance.  He-Scott Willamson-the boy that she had been in love with since before she had braces, finally said those words that she could only dream about.  He loved her.

Tiffany tackled him like a quarterback to the blanket and began peppering his face and neck with kisses. Scott pulled her to his chest and held her close.  "Well?"

"Well what?"  She smiled into his chest. Completely knowing what he wanted to hear.

"Okay." His voice was deflated.

She laughed to herself and then looked up at him. "I love you too, Scott." She laid her head back down on his chest and listened to his heart that at that moment only wanted her.