Chapter 3 Belle’s POV

When I came back from my morning run the next day, they were already up and around the kitchen table.

I grabbed water and went out.

Mom called me for breakfast but I declined.

It was a normality for them, all smiles and lovey dovey the next morning.

I honestly couldn’t look them in the face right now.

Hunger eventually pushed me into the kitchen an hour after I heard them leave.

Having the house all to myself was always the best part, never failed to shut the voices in my head.

I made myself some coffee and pancakes, but as soon as I tasted the food,my appetite went right out the window.

Then I strolled to the window when I heard the waves from where I was sitting.

The beautiful ocean stared back at me, its waves rose and fell so beautifully without any hindrances. 

Pure definition of fly high.

Swim time.

The idea popped into my head and I was headed straight for my room the next minute.

I put on my swimsuit. The sun was blazing outside, so sunscreen was definitely a necessity.

It was surprisingly quiet for Saturday afternoon. 

Definitely perfect timing.

I wasted no time at all and plunged straight into the deep blue sea.

The soothing feel of the water washed away all the tension I had been carrying for days.

After I swam for almost an hour, I flopped down onto a lounge chair. Exhausted.

The rumbling of my stomach reminded me that coffee was the only thing I had earlier.

And then it caught my eye.

The ugly tattoo on my ankle.

Seemed it got uglier when water touched it, looking exactly like a gnarled witch with an open mouth.

I ran my forefinger at the edges of it as mixed emotions threatened to envelop me.

Flashes of the artist those blue eyes staring me down in bed came to mind and I waved it off.

That was not possible in any sense.

“Since when did I start having thoughts as dirty as that” I chuckled to myself.

“Maybe since you felt my energy around you from a distance.” 

I felt my mind jump, I hadn’t noticed anyone else on the beach.

I spun around, and my breath caught in my throat.

Same eyes.

Same hair color.

Everything was the same…well, except for the crooked nose of course.

And yes, the height difference…so much different, it was the only thing that convinced me it wasn’t that punk.

“I’m Jade, it’s nice to meet you” He stretched out a hand for a handshake.

His phone started ringing and that’s when I came back from the dreamland I had been in.

I noticed his hand was still stretched out and he hadn’t made a move to pick up his ringing phone.

To stop things from being more awkward than they already were, I shook his hand and he smiled at me.

God, please no.

“So you are? He asked.

“I’m Bella, it’s nice to meet you too”

"Bella” he repeated and I thought my hormones had gone crazy for a second, the way that name rolled on his tongue.

“Jade” I said, following his humor.

Two could play a game.

The smile came back. This time, it made my lips twitch involuntarily. 

“I don’t mean to sound like a serial killer, but I'd been watching you swim" Jade said and raised his eyebrows in a really childish way that made me laugh.

And that was probably my answer, because nothing came from my mouth after that.

“Come on,there’s something I wanna show you.”

He led the way, and I followed after I wrapped my bikini with a scarf.

We walked a little distance before he turned to me.

“I want you to close your eyes,” he said.

I did it almost immediately, a small part of my conscious mind gave me warning signs that I waved off.

“Tadaa…you can open your eyes now.”

I opened my eyes to one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen.

A meadow.

The place was calm and almost unreal…flowers, trees.

Everything was scattered in a beautiful way around, like it was something out of a dream.

But what pulled me in the most was the swing.

At that point, I was not even conscious of the fact that I was just in a bikini.

Before I could think, my legs were already moving. I walked straight to the swing and literally jumped on it.

Jade followed slowly and stood behind me, then started pushing the swing. 

Slowly at first, and then the speed increased in bits.

“Are you enjoying yourself?” He asked.

I wasted no time nodding.

Except for the swimming I had done a few minutes ago, I’d never felt this happy in a long time.

With every swing, a cool fresh breeze hit my face.

A fullness that threatened to break through my chest built up for each swing I took, overwhelming me in the best way.

I had always thought this side of the world was just about the water.

Turned out I was wrong.

For a tiny second, I wished I had met this stranger sooner.

“How did you know about this place?” I asked him.

“Shhhhhh…just enjoy yourself,” he said softly. “We can talk later.”

Throwing back my head, I allowed myself to enjoy the moment as much as I could.

We stayed like that for over thirty minutes, him behind me, pushing.

And me, just lost in the moment.

His phone rang again and this time, he actually picked it up.

The swing slowed to a stop.

“Shit,” I heard him mutter “I’ll be on my way”

“Hope nothing happened?” I asked, sensing the way he went stiff after the call.

“No, nothing to be worried about” He answered and smiled at me. 

Whoever this man was.

Five smiles in three minutes, and my stomach flipped each time.

The walk back was so peaceful, we spoke about each of our hobbies and other stuff that didn’t really count. 

It felt so easy.

Then I stepped on something.

A broken bottle.

Pain pierced through my foot and I lost balance, falling.

“What’s wrong?” He asked and was down on one knee immediately I pointed to my foot.

“I’m so sorry, damn all these people that bring bottles to the beach only to leave them broken everywhere” 

“It’s okay,” I said. “It’s not that deep” 

“Let me see it” He said and touched my skin where I was injured.

For some reason, I trembled.

He noticed. Because when I looked up,I saw him staring at me.

I could see right through him, and for a second, I felt like he could see me too.

He coughed softly and broke eye contact. 

I watched him blow down on my little cut and it made me laugh.

“Is this yours?” A deep voice sounded behind us.

One I knew too well.

We turned our heads at the same time, and that’s when I saw it.

I hadn’t been mistaken.

Suddenly, I felt so stuffed that the open space around me did nothing to ease the tightness I could feel in my chest.