The next morning, I wake up just as the sky begins lightening. It has to be way too early to get up! I'm about to go back to sleep when I roll over and blink a few times. Realizing where I am, I startle myself awake. I throw on my new pale pink and chocolate brown bikini. I love the colors with my pale skin and chestnut brown hair. It's also the first summer I actually have enough in my bathing suit to fill out a bikini and I want to show it off, even it's just for me. I don't think I'm "the shit" or anything, but I'm comfortable with myself. I guess you could say I have my good days and bad days. I throw an old pair of jean shorts over the top of my suit, slip my feet into my black and white flip flops and rush out to the kitchen to leave Gram a note letting her know where I am, so she doesn't worry.

I place a rubber band around my wrist to throw my hair up later and slip out the back door down to the lake where my green kayak sits waiting. I pick my life jacket up out of the center of the kayak and hear light splashing, signaling someone might be paddling close by. I quietly step towards the shore and freeze with my mouth hanging open. Through the trees I see the most beautiful boy I've ever seen and he's no scrawny fifteen-year-old! He already seems to have a nice golden tan. His light brown hair has sun-kissed blonde highlights hanging messily, but perfect just above his eyebrows. Sunlight begins peeking up on the other side of the lake and seems to be reflecting off him, making him appear to be shimmering. He's so close to the shore I can actually see his muscles rippling from his movements, with his arms bare and then hiding under a light blue t-shirt.

I concentrate on closing my mouth and squinting to see if I can tell what color his eyes might be when he stops and places his paddle on top of his blue kayak and starts looking around the lake. That's when it happens. I guess I've been unconsciously inching closer to the lake, and I step too close to a wet rock. I awkwardly slip and lean forward trying to catch my balance. Letting out a helpless squeal, I lean too far and fall right into the lake with a splash.

I hear a loud chuckle erupting from what I can only assume is the beautiful boy in the boat. I look up and glare at him, red as a cherry tomato, with my face feeling like it's on fire! He smiles, taking my breath away and gestures to my life jacket. "You know, even if you can't swim, the water is only about a foot and a half deep there," he advises.

I just continue to glare at him as he inches closer. He easily jumps out of his kayak holding out his hand to help me up, still smiling. "It's okay. I won't push you back in," he teases. I reluctantly reach for his offered hand. He pulls me up a little too hard and I bump into his chest. I feel his muscles tense as I use my free hand in attempt to brace myself from impact. "Sorry about that," he mumbles, smirking at me, not appearing sorry at all. I feel tingles shoot from our connected fingers all the way down to my toes.

"Blue," I mumble, staring into his eyes. I panic seeing the strange look he gives me. "I mean thanks," I quickly amend. I pull my hand away, taking a step back, and almost lose my balance again, but he grabs my elbow, steadying me. "I was just about to head out in my kayak."

"Don't you need a kayak for that?" he questions, smiling wryly. I glare at him again and gesture to my kayak back on the bank behind the trees as I gather my now somewhat wet hair up into a ponytail. He guides his kayak towards the shore and jumps out of the water to grab mine before I'm even done with my hair.

"I can do that," I call out.

"I'm sure you can," he concedes, his smirk still on his gorgeous face. I just stare at him as he slides my kayak effortlessly into the water over the rocks.

"We have a ramp right there, so you don't have to pull it over the rocks," I inform him, pointing towards the ramp.

"Yeah, but you're already in the water over here," he observes, glancing at the ramp and back over to me allowing his eyes to quickly sweep down my body. "How about some company? I can show you around the lake," he suggests, smiling even broader.

I can't stop my laugh from escaping. "I know my way around pretty well, thanks."

"Well, then, can you show me around a little more? I've only been here for a short time, and I would love to know some of the secret spots around here," he proposes, raising his eyebrows in question.

I roll my eyes and grin. "Ok. I just like to take it slow in the mornings though, if that's okay with you. I usually go along the shore and kind of check everything out. I was going to watch the sunrise, but guess I'm too late for that now," I acknowledge. I crinkle my nose and look out at the already rising sun across the lake.

"Is that why you jumped right into the lake without your kayak?" he teases, smirking. I roll my eyes again, not bothering to respond. "I'm Christian, by the way," he introduces himself, reaching his hand towards me with a full-watt smile. I dig my toes into the muddy bottom and take a deep breath to keep myself from falling over as I slowly reach for his hand. "And you are?" he prompts.

"Sorry," I mumble, shaking my head at my awkwardness. "I'm Bree. I guess I wasn't expecting to see anyone this morning. I'm still waking up," I claim, hoping he'll buy my lame excuse.

"Bree, I like that," he mumbles. "Is that short for anything?"

"Briann," I confirm.

I realize I'm staring into his electrifying ice blue eyes again and still holding his large hand. I quickly drop my gaze and pull my hand away, turning to step into my kayak as a blush consumes me from head to toe. He watches me get in before climbing back in his own kayak. "So, where to Bree?" he prompts, still smiling.

I take a deep breath to calm my shaking hands, then another so, my voice hopefully won't come out shaky. "Where were you coming from?" He points behind us and I suggest, "Then, let's keep going this way."

I dip my paddle into the water and a chill goes through me, feeling my whole body shudder. "Are you okay?" he questions.

"Just cold," I retort.

He nods and smiles mischievously, his eyes sparkling. "Let me know if you need anything to warm up." Afraid to respond, not quite sure if his comment was all that innocent, I just nod my head, listening as his chuckle rumbles over the water. The sound has my nerves practically consuming my whole body.

After a few minutes, he breaks the silence. "So, how do you know the lake so well? I haven't seen you around here at all this past month."

I almost breathe a sigh of relief with the change of topic. "My grandma lives here," I inform him, pointing back to her house. "I've spent every summer with her since I was nine."

"I think I've seen your grandma. So, you're here for the whole summer?" he probes. I nod my head in confirmation. "Well, it looks like my summer just got a whole lot better," he happily admits, giving me another heart-melting smile.

I feel my whole body flush from head to toe. "What about you? Where are you from?" I question, trying to move the attention away from me.

He pauses like he's contemplating his answer before he responds. "All over really; most recently Maryland and now here before I leave for college. We move around a lot for my dad's job. Every couple years he seems to get a promotion that comes with a move."

"That must be hard," I state simply.

He shrugs. "You get used to it and now I'm off to college, so I guess after this summer it won't matter much anyway."

"Where are you going to college?" I inquire.

"University of Southern Maine, I like it up here." We paddle quietly for a few minutes. Then he asks, "What about you?" I must look confused because he smiles and prompts, "Future plans?"

I nod my head and inform him, "I have one more year left of high school and then I'd like to come back this way as well, University of Southern Maine is actually where I'd like to go, if I get in. I want to be close to my grandma and they have a ton of programs to choose from," I explain. To myself, I can't help but think it's also far away from my parents. It's not like they're ever around anyway.

"They'd be crazy not to accept you," he claims, quietly. I blush again in response and quickly look the other way. "So are there any secret coves or something like that around here?"

For the next hour we paddle around the lake, while I point out a couple hidden coves and another spot where a stream comes down into the lake during wet weather. We find the stream hardly running down the rocks today, barely a light trickle into the lake. I slowly start making my way back towards my grandmother's house with Christian close behind. When we get back, I fiddle with my life jacket and pull my kayak up onto the rocks trying to think of something to say. I'd really like to see him again. "Um, thanks for the company," I finally murmur, smiling shyly at him.

"Thanks for the tour," he responds. "Would you like to do it again tomorrow? Maybe we can bring some food and go out for a while longer?" he proposes.

"That sounds great," I concur, sounding a bit too excited. I force myself to take a deep breath and look back at him. "Same time?"

"Yeah, is six am too early? I've found it's my favorite time on the lake; it's so quiet."

"I agree. It's the best time to be out there." I smile and give him a little wave. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow. Bye, Christian."

"Goodbye, Bree. I'm looking forward to it." He grins and waves back. Then he drops his hand back on the paddle over his kayak. I'm almost at the house before I hear the light splashes in the water, indicating he's leaving. I feel myself blush, realizing he must've been watching me.

I walk into the kitchen still blushing and a small smile on my face. Grandma doesn't even glance up, as she acknowledges, "I see you met that nice looking young fellow I was telling you about."

My eyes widen in surprise. "How did you know?"

"Well, if that smile and blush didn't make it obvious enough," she teases, deepening the red in my cheeks, "I saw the two of you paddling up to the house. Did you go swimming already?" she inquires looking curiously at my now damp hair and clothes.

"Sort of. I slipped in," I admit, wrinkling my nose. She laughs and I can't help but join her. "Can I help with breakfast?" I offer.

"No, go clean up and then we'll eat while you tell me about the boy you just met."

"Ok, thanks Grandma." I rush to my room and jump in the shower looking forward to Grandma's strawberry waffles. Well, if I'm being honest, I'm looking forward to daydreaming about Christian and hopefully spending a lot of time with him! I smile to myself thinking, it's going to be a fantastic summer with him around.The first time they meet...Have you ever had that feeling of someone leaving you flustered and giddy at first sight?