Ian Cros

Two Years After Breaking The Spell.

The sun glared toward my back, burning the first layer of skin while I played with the water along my surfboard. Warm Hawaiian air sang in the breeze before the purple sunset. A wave perfect for riding to the shore flowed in the distance as Kai saw it simultaneously.

"Dude, this one is mine!" I yelled at him as we both paddled.

"I don't give away waves, Ian," he replied as his dark black hair blew around with the wind. "Even for ones who are late."

I sunk my fists into the liquid, paddling after him. "Crap. What time is it?"

Kai laughed, slowing down and letting me take the wave. "I'll give you a win, but don't think next time I'll give you any favors!" he yelled as I connected with the wave.

The water took my board as I stood smoothly, waving at Kai. "I owe you one!"

Kai shook his head, springing water from his hair. "Just don't mess it up!" He motioned his hand in a Shaka sign. "Good luck."

The ocean splashed around as its water guided me toward the shoreline. I quickly sat on the board, slipping, and fell into the shallows. With my surfboard in hand, I treaded out of the water, up the path, and into the grassy park.

"Nice landing," a voice said as I noticed Brad at the water station.

I chuckled, setting the board to the side, and clicked on the water beside him. "I'm late," I said, rinsing the salt water from my hair and body.

"Of all days, dude," he replied. "Just take deep breaths."

I shook my head. "I know," I replied, grabbing my board and jogging toward my truck.

The boiling path burnt my bare feet while I rushed past the park of kids playing. Their laughter filled the air as the smell of salt water and tropical flowers bathed me with happiness. I smiled at the clear sky, biting my lower lip, ready for the evening.

The parking lot quickly packed with tourists as two girls in flower skirts walked toward me on the sidewalk. Their smiles met each other before beaming at me. One played with her curly hair while the other fixed the top of her bathing suit.

"Excuse me," the bathing suit girl said. "Could you help us find the beach?"

I pointed across the park at the noisy ocean. "If you see the ocean, the beach is normally nearby," I replied and smirked. "No guarantees."

They giggled at my joke as one held onto the other's arm. I cut through the parked cars, crossing the street to my truck. Tossing my surfboard on top, I grabbed the straps and tied the board to the roof.

"How's the water?" a man's voice asked as I tightened the last strap.

I looked behind me, seeing Perry. "Oh, not bad, but the sun is about to set. I wouldn't bother."

Perry leaned against my truck, playing with his shirt. His blonde hair matched the surfer look, but his skills only got him on the board for seconds. He joined Kai and me at The Surf Shack when we opened together, but mostly stayed behind the counter while Kai and I taught the tourists how to surf.

"You nervous?" he asked me, checking his watch. "Oh, you are late."

"Yes," I said, patting him on the back. "I'll see you bright and early tomorrow at The Shack."

I jumped in my truck before Perry could respond and pulled onto the streets of Kihei. The sun touched the horizon line, painting the sky above the calm waves. Live music drifted into my open window from the restaurants and food trucks.

After breaking the spell, I sent an anonymous note to the police department, which told them where the Cros secret house stayed in Canada. A week later, they arrested Robert Cros for his crimes and placed him in prison for life. My mother quickly joined the path with him for thirty years. To this day, I have not faced them and don't plan to, even with so many questions on why they planned Isabella's death, maybe to teach me a lesson, maybe because they are black-hearted like the witches had said. Even they disappeared once I broke their heartless bewitching.

Being frozen in time had me looking like my twenties when my licence told me way older. But luckily for me, my name and background remained clean when I opened The Surf Shack business. 

The wind blew into my hair, and I danced my arm out the window, speeding down the road. Birds flew in the dusk as the sun dipped lower than the ocean. I pulled my truck into the parking lot of the aquarium, slamming on the brakes in the spot closest to the entrance.

Jumping out, I grabbed my shirt from the passenger seat and slipped it on. I leaned into the truck, opening the glove department for the little velvet box.

With my heart colliding with my rib cage, I opened the box to see the tiny diamond surrounded by more. The ring sparkled in the truck light as my throat dried with nerves.

I half bent to my knee, practicing and feeling an ache. "Wrong," I said, trying to bend my leg again. "Will you—" My voice cracked before I screamed at the sky. "Stupid. Why does my voice sound so stupid?"

Turning toward my truck door, I bent one knee, jabbing it on a rock. I stumbled to my side and adjusted my rear on the concrete. The street light shined on the silver wheel, and I raised a brow, lifting the box toward the tire.

"Will—" A bug flew into my mouth, causing me to jump from the ground and cough until the ladybeetle darted out.

I inhaled, relaxing my shoulders as a chicken pecked its way toward me. Her red feathers puffed out, clucking at the other chickens across the parking lot.

Bending at the knee, I opened the box toward the chicken. "Will you marry me?"

The bird jumped away in a panic, half flying, half running. It squawked, causing the others to bawk like crazy. I placed my hand in my hair, brushing it back as I straightened with anxiety.

"This is going splendidly," I said, pocketing the box in my bathing suit.

The light at the aquarium entrance flashed, catching my attention. I shut my truck, jogging to the front door, and felt tense, on the verge of puking.

As the door slowly opened, her tiny hand seized my focus first as my gaze drifted up her arm to her smiling expression. Lake's round, coffee-filled eyes and simper washed away all my doubts. Water drops dripped from her hairline, gliding down her perfect cheeks.

"You are late," she said, grabbing my hand and pulling me inside.

"I know," I replied, jogging through the aquarium, gripping the box in my pocket.

Lake brought me to the back room as the sensor lights above flickered on. Her braided hair trailed down her back as the wet suit tightened around her hips. She leaned against her locker while she removed the tight outfit to see her bathing suit under.

"I'm late, but you aren't ready," I said, crossing my arms.

She giggled at the ground, jumping out of the feet of the suit. "Yeah, well, I have been here since the morning, and everything has been going wrong." Her soft expression tightened, but soon relaxed into a smile when her eyes met mine.

I chuckled, shaking my head as I watched her grab a pair of jean shorts and a bright blue top. She covered her bathing suit before smiling at me with a nod.

"Okay, let's do this," she said, looping her arm with mine and leading the way to our tradition we started a year ago for every Friday.

We jogged toward the open ocean exhibit, the tunnel within the aquarium where the ocean fish could swim around us. She slowed to a skip in her step and turned to walk backward as we entered the enormous tunnel. A manta ray swam above her as she reached her palms up, unable to touch the glass. The blacktip reef shark drifted in the opposite direction as they passed one another.

I smiled at Lake, lifting my palms and barely brushing my fingers on the glass as my face drifted only inches from hers. Connecting my hands with hers, I interlocked our fingers and brought them to our hips.

"Smells amazing," I whispered, keeping my gaze on hers.

Lake bounced her eyes around. "The guy dropped the sliders off maybe—"

I pressed my lips to Lake's, not letting her finish her sentence. My fingers tightened around hers while our mouths opened and formed perfectly together. Her warmth and love lightened up my heart, bringing a steady beat.

Lake pulled away, giggling. She turned, gesturing to the tiny table with two chairs and styrofoam containers. I paused while she picked her spot, palming the box in my pocket.

"I am starving," she said, glancing at me and opening her food.

Joining her, I opened my food, slowly eating with every bite adding to my nerves. They say the easiest answer in your life was saying yes to a proposal. Her reply would be an automatic response if she truly loved me.

"So, why did you have a hard day?" I asked her before drinking water.

She swallowed her bite. "All the cleaning gear acted up today, so tasks took longer."

"That must have been frustrating," I replied, watching her angle her head awkwardly to see the shark above us.

"Oh, yes." She bit her bottom lip, not looking away from the inside ocean above us.

Lake's expression lightened while the blue tint reflected on her face, painting the water. The sandbar shark caught her attention away from the ray, but her eyes bounced around the glass, taking in the sight she had seen thousands of times.

I tapped on the box, reaching into my pocket while she stayed distracted. Swallowing thickly, I slid from my seat and knelt on the floor. The velvet box shook in my hand while I opened it, showing the ring to the ocean animals. My elbow slammed into the table, shaking everything on it.

Lake glanced at the table before her round eyes widened toward me. Her jaw dropped slightly before forming a broad smile. She nodded before I could ask her while she cupped her palms on her cheeks. A pink tint painting them.

"Will you marry me?" I asked with a nervous smile, seeing the bright firefly beaming in her eyes.

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