Sunday afternoon, late June

        After labouring my way through the list of Poppy's house chores and after vacuuming up a blankets worth of knotted yarns and threads, I found myself out in the garage, frantically trying to change the deflated back tire on my bicycle and failing miserably.

A new one had arrived over the weekend, and I hadn't given it much thought, until Noah had messaged about taking a bicycle ride down to Hillside. After many failed attempts to take off the old one, and replace it, my hands coated in oil and dirt, I decided it was best to call Noah and beg him for help instead. 

True to his word, he'd cycled round early and bought the tools and knowledge I lacked to fix it, with a smile on his face the whole time as I stood and asked dumb questions, in an attempt to show that I wasn't completely useless but really I was. Otherwise, I could have fixed the damn thing myself.

When his own hands were slick with grease, dark smudges across his forehead where he'd wiped his brow and oil all over his nice, red flannel shirt, Noah had proudly announced my bike was fit to ride again, and how we should get going before the afternoon was over.

I'd tried to casually inquire about what we were going to do in Hillside, once we'd taken the long route there but he just smiled and put his finger to the tip of his nose, because apparently it was a secret.

"You think you'll be okay?" he'd asked before we set off, the sun in our eyes and wind on our backs, as I circled the driveway, trying out the new tire.

"I'll be fine." I'd replied confidently, although I had an uneasy feeling in my stomach, because I still wasn't comfortable riding the kid's old bike but I wanted to go with Noah on his top-secret adventure. My lack of balance wasn't about to get in the way of that.

As we peddled side by side down Ocean Drive, and onto the main stretch with Hillside far off in the distance, I was careful to keep my hands firmly on the breaks, just in case.

Noah of course was encouraging, turning back over his shoulder so often I worried that it would be him who might fall when I begun to slip behind, warily dodging groups of tourists and other bicyclists as we hit the boardwalk.

It was odd to be on the same path where I'd only weeks ago managed to bruise and batter myself and how begrudgingly I'd taken the trip to Hillside, not expecting anything to come from it – not least Noah.

Now I was back on it, with someone to look out for me as I weaved over the sand and breathed in the salty air. Watching Noah effortlessly, kick back on his peddles and lean away from the handlebars, his satchel swung over his back and his hair carried upwards by the wind was enthralling, and I couldn't take my eyes off him even when I was supposed to be concentrating.

Something Noah clearly noticed, as he called back for me to keep my eyes on the path, when I almost rode over a large rock, to the edge of the sand.

I wanted to tell him why I'd been distracted but couldn't, obviously.

So I kept my eyes firmly focussed until we hit a new path, one I hadn't been on before – since I never made it to Hillside the last time. As we coasted along, I saw rows of pastel coloured beach houses give way to a long stretch of shops, cafes and a breath taking endless beach, that extended further than any of Pesmo's.

"Welcome to Hillside." Noah announced as we slowed down, eventually walking the rest of the way because the boardwalk was too busy.

Following his lead, I chained my bike against his next to an impossibly tall palm tree, and walked beside him to the sandy wooden steps, that snaked downwards the vast beach, already over crowded with families, sun seekers and surfers.

Taking the handrail, and giving way to a young couple carrying large waxed boards, Noah told me that he hadn't anticipated it to be quite so busy.

"I suppose this is what happens once the weather picks up." he sighed, helping me jump off the large end step, the soles of my feet hitting the hot sand. "Might have been an oversight to think we'd have the place to ourselves."

"I don't think I've been around so many people, not since I moved here." I mused, watching the kids run to and from the sea and guys in tight wet suits emerging from it. There was a buzz in the air, and it made my head spin; it was how I imagined Sunday's were meant to be spent, carefree and lazy.

"Should I have bought a towel?" I asked, worried that I hadn't packed for the occasion very well, a small bottle of sun lotion and my shades the only things sat in the bottom of my backpack.

"Nope, we can sit on the beach in Pesmo any day of the week, I wanted to show you something different, hopefully." Noah said softly, tugging at his windswept hair and rolling up his sleeves.

"Is it still a secret, where we're going?" I asked quietly.

"It's a secret place, I've just got to hope no one else has the same idea as me otherwise it won't be as special." Noah teased, peaking my interest and setting my mind racing with possibilities. Not that it should matter, because being out of the house and with Noah was all I'd wanted anyway, wherever he was taking me was just an added bonus.

"Okay." I smiled back, pretending to seal my lips, because all that mattered was the present, and it sure felt great.

I was happy to follow and be swept along by the sand and sea air, with Noah close by my side.

The sunlight all around, blocking out any lingering darkness within me.

. . .

"Did you skip church to take me here?" I asked, as we walked bare foot by the shoreline, letting the cold waves lap over.

"Kind of." Noah mumbled, tying his shirt around his waist, the heat getting the better of us both as we continued to the undisclosed destination. "Gabe's out of town and the kids are at their grandparents this weekend. I didn't fancy going by myself or with Mrs Allen, besides the appeal of taking a trip here today was much greater." he confessed, shielding his eyes from the harsh sunlight.

"It's cool that they're so relaxed about you not going."

"Yeah, it's nice they treat me like an adult. I couldn't quite escape church when I lived with my father. We'd go each Sunday, religiously." Noah explained, laughing softly as he spoke the last word, the humour of it not lost on me.

As we continued to walk along the stretch of beach, large dark rocks loomed in the distance and I wondered if this was where Noah was leading me to.

Gently kicking at the incoming waves that curled over my toes, I asked him how the kids were, as a little girl with golden hair, dragged a rubber dingy past us. She reminded me of Lily.

"Well, Lily hasn't stopped taking about you." Noah quietly laughed.

"Really?"

"Yeah, she's been going on about you coming to the beach again so she can teach you how to cartwheel."

"It's kind of sweet, although I have no idea what I've done to deserve her affection." I mused, brushing back strands of hair that blew into my mouth as I spoke.

"You actually speak to her for one. Gracie just ignores her and doesn't have time for cartwheeling or hair braiding or anything that doesn't involve her phone."

"My sister never paid me any attention either when we were growing up – so I can relate." I told him.

A faint smile edged across his lips as Noah listened, picking at the shirt cuffs tied to his narrow waist, leaving me wondering if I'd be seeing more of him like the first time at the beach. 

"Lily's also determined to find you a boyfriend, or as she said a Prince Charming." hearing Noah giggle was something new and unexpected, another piece to add to the puzzle of things I found myself liking. "She's so weird, for a ten year old."

"Guess I need to give her some criteria to work with then, so she can match me up with the perfect man." I laughed back, as a large wave came crashing down, soaking our bare legs and almost washing me away.

"So..." Noah asked softly, gently knocking his shoulder against my own. "What is your definition of the 'perfect guy' just so I can let her know?"

Playfully pushing back, I sighed and sarcastically reeled off a list of traits that I actually loathed but said for the sake of the light hearted, jokey conversation I'd found myself engaged in. 

I jokingly told him as we walked that I liked tough bad boys with more brawn than brains and ones who called me babe and darling and who thought a women's place was in the kitchen to make them sandwiches and to hang off their every word.

Because us girls were such delicate flowers who needed looking after, I'd jested before he nodded and sarcastically matched my tone, to say of course you are.

"Honestly though, I can't say I've ever given it much thought. I don't believe in anything being perfect, not least people." I said candidly, catching his gaze as I avoided another huge wave and grabbed his arms for support.

Really, I'd wanted to say that most of my thoughts were about him, at least for the moment with the way his full lips moved as he smiled and how his light stubble made my fingertips itch, wanting to trace the lines of his angular jaw.

But now wasn't the right time for any such declartions, not that I thought there ever might be. I had to keep feelings and thoughts and fascinations to myself, which is why I almost snorted out loud when Noah said he liked the way I just said whatever I was thinking.

Like the waves lapping at my ankles, I let the irony wash over me. 

"You don't seem to filter stuff out, I like that. It's refreshing."

If only he knew my internalised filter was shockingly congested, filled with too many inappropriate and irrational thoughts. 

Shrugging, without protesting otherwise, I slowed down to watch a flock of gulls that circled overhead.

Noah joined me and we stood for a moment, letting our weight sink into the wet sand until our feet disappeared and the cold water washed up to our heels. Allowing the silence between us to sink into our bones and the warm breeze to brush against our cheeks.

Just for a moment.

Until Noah finally brushed his hand close to my own. Nodding ahead he whispered. "That's the place and you're the first person to see it with me."

Staring up at the rock formation that had been edging ever closer, like a mirage for us in the distance, I asked him what was so special about a bunch of dark, jagged rocks, because they looked just like the ones back in Pesmo, that Jacob had wanted to crab fish by. To my knowledge they were no different.

"You'll see." Noah teased, walking backwards across the sand, the wind blowing his magnificent light hair into his face, catching on his lips as he called for me to be patient, that shy smile calling out for me to follow.

I couldn't resist it, and I didn't want to as the strong salty breeze carried me towards him, to the place he'd wanted to show me all day.

Only me.

. . .