Back on the quiet side of this huge beach and more expensive side. Into Sunset Beach and Treasure Island but the sand looked much cleaner and the water clearer. More palm trees and seagulls around the area.

The breeze was so rewarding that I didn't want to leave. The environment was relaxing with the sun shining out on us. Well, it was relaxing until "Back again with the bullshit, I see? Don't y'all own the other side of the beach?"

Here Darian goes again causing problems with people we don't know. Tuning it out was my best bet because I've already gone through some motions this morning with my father. No more issues on my behalf. Protecting my peace at all costs.

"Chill out, Dari. I invited them on this side with us because I wanted to get to know them more. Plus, they probably own this part of the beach too. You never know." I could hear Cassidy admit in her flirty voice.

That was it. Time for the headphones. Listening to SZA, I tuned out my friends while reading my book that I ordered from Amazon recently. It wasn't a long book, more like a choreopoem but it was intriguing.

For Colored Girls... really depicted what it was like to be black and female through vivid speech and tragedy. Multiple colored women who suffer through a sexist and racist society. Oh, how I wonder why being black and female is a problem in not just the early 70s. It's still an issue in today's society.

What do black women do to everybody else besides protect their own peace? If no one is bothering you, why worry about what that person is doing, right? It's none of your concern. Why do people care about what a black woman does?

"Reading again, I see? That's a good book you're reading there."

How? How in the world can I hear this guy's voice outside my loud ass friends? He isn't even that close to me but I can still hear him. At least I tried to get a little bit of peace. How does he know about this book though?

"Back to kick some more sand in my face? I got sunglasses on this time so you can't get away with that again," I teased as I looked up at that bright smile, I pictured this morning. As white and clean like fresh paint on a wall.

Before he sat down, my eyes were stuck on him peeling off his button-up floral shirt, exposing that washboard chest of his. Those abs stacked on top of each other like books on a bookshelf. A few tattoos decorated his chest as his legs and thighs tightened up. Muscles ripped and almost made me catch a case. Talk about a whole package. Wasn't it not polite to stare?

"No sand for you today but you have a friend in me." He spoke as he smiled lightly at me. That was pretty fast. Barely remember my name and you claiming me as a friend.

"You might use that term loosely but that term means more to me than just knowing somebody," I noted as he made himself comfortable in the sand by me.

"What term?"

"The term 'friend'. Everybody must be your friend since you're so quick to call me that. You shouldn't call everybody your friend like that." I encouraged as my eyes went back to the book in my hand.

"I never called you 'friend'. I said that you have one in me but, if that's a problem, I'll take my invitation back. Just because I don't have many friends doesn't mean I can't be one to everyone else. You must not trust everyone to be your friend and I can't blame you there. Not everyone is trustworthy," he explained as he looked out into the water.

I caught a quick glimpse of his eyes as they followed the motion of the ocean. He's interrupting my relaxation moment on this vacation but something told me not to tell him that. I went back to reading my book and focused on the sound of the waves crashing before us.

The unique sound put my mind at ease while reading a poem from the book. That was until a particular voice put my mind in even more motion. "If I'm correct, there was a moment in the story where the ladies in colored clothes described their experiences with men. As if they were narcissists, am I right?"

How the hell did he know about all of that? This guy didn't come off as the type to read, especially literature like this. How'd he know about my book?

"The lady in blue says something to the effect of 'pressing charges would be as hard as keeping your legs closed while five guys run a train on you'. Eluding that the system was made for the man and that nobody would believe her had she reported the abuse. Basically, it was like a joke to everyone else."

Well, he has read this book before. Good to know that somebody else has read this before but... "What's a guy like yourself picking up a book meant for mostly women?"

He gave me this confused look, like he didn't know what I was talking about. Was I lying about that or something? Could he hear what I said?

"I highly disagree with you on that point. If anything, I believe that Shange targeted men with her words to educate them on how women are treated, especially colored women. I also didn't know that certain books were only meant to be read by certain people. If it were only meant for black women to read, the message wouldn't be so loud to where everybody could hear."

No, judging by who he associates himself with, I wouldn't have believed he read any books. Much less books about women. Never judge a book by its cover, I guess.

Rolling my eyes and shaking my head at his sarcasm, I continued reading and realized I was on page 57. Want to know how I remembered what page I was on?

" 'I couldn't stand it, I couldn't stand bein' sorry and colored at the same time. It's so redundant in the modern world.' Page 57, am I wrong?"

My eyes shot up to his as he lightly grinned at me and chuckled. How many times has he read this book because this was my first time reading it. He's up here quoting it like he's read it over and over again. Show-off.

Nodding at his knowledge of the quote, our eyes made contact as he continued with "You want to know something? You shouldn't have to apologize for being something you're born as. You shouldn't have to apologize because of something you can't control....at any time or any place."

Oh, was he saying all the right things at the right times or what? I know I wanted to take that risk and just say we were friends but was it worth being his friend? Or would I just be a charm on his bracelet of 'friends'? Something was telling me not to trust him still. I still didn't know his name.

Sitting there dumbfounded, I watched him as he shook his head and introduced himself. "The name's Tripp. And you are...?"

A little scared, to be honest but why can't I just be friends with a guy, right? Isn't that possible? Just hanging out with him and having a great friendship? Yeah, that's possible and that's where it's going to stay.

"I'm Journee. I kind of already knew your name but-"

"I didn't know yours. I'm not going to worry about how you figured out mine. Just glad you did. Your name suits you though and it's very beautiful." What a flirt. He should really stop while he's ahead.

"Right but so many people have that name. It's so common so it's not anything special."

He turns back to me and says "You keep telling yourself that. Everyone's journey isn't the same. They're all unique and special. I just so happen to be intrigued with yours. See how special it is?"

"You barely know anything about my life and journey though so that doesn't make any sense," I scrunch my eyebrows together in confusion and closed my book since he took my attention away from it.

"I can't wonder about what your life is like? You judge people hard, don't you?"

Yeah, let's say that.

****

Hey, everybody!

I am bored out of my mind. I will not lie to you. I'm bored and sad so if you see me updating a lot more than usual, that's why.

How do you feel about the chapter?

Did some of the things they were talking about make sense to you?

What do you think about their friendship so far?

Thanks for reading my story! I appreciate it dearly!

See ya around the Wattpadisphere!