Caught in Your Explosion

A one-shot for the Ultimate Storylist July Contest

I suppose it all began because of the atmosphere; but really, I blame it on the fireworks. Sitting with my elbows planted in the sand of the beach, I stared at the empty blue sea. My eyes stun, whether it was from the memory or the salty sea salt, I don’t think it really mattered. Emotions were rattled inside my chest waiting to explode and I refused to let the fuse that burned towards the raw innards of my being set them free.

The night sky had reflected into the vast rippling waves where the endless abyss laid not so long ago. Even though the sun now shown, I clearly remembered everything as it was. It was frozen in my mind as a Polaroid picture already fading at the edges. My neck itched where several dark bruises now covered my skin and I thought of the boy whom sat on the beach next to me only hours ago.

When I first saw him I didn’t realize he was looking right at me. I was caught in the moment of the lively explosions of color and the world around me was a blur of shadows reflected in the faint light of fireworks. My eyes merely gazed over him at first but when I caught the glimmer of his hazel eyes I took a double take of this lone figure. Our eyes locked and in my chest my heart was restless. With the crook of his finger he pulled me in and I all but leapt into his arms.

He whispered sweet love into my ears as my eyes still stared lovingly into the night sky. The explosion of color captivated me to no end. My small mouth hung limp as the glitter fell into the abyss. “Beautiful,” he whispered. I had assumed he was referring to the fireworks but when I looked back into those hazel eyes I realized I’d been mistaken. He brushed his thumb down my cheek to my moist lips. Leaning in I brushed my lips against his own. It was a rather simple kiss, there were no sparks or waves of lust. Simple was all I needed.

I opened my eyes to the bright sky above me brushing my sandy fingers over my lips. I may have not felt anything last night but in my memory it seemed all the more sweeter. He was a stranger, a face without a name, but his sweet soul captured my own. Raising up my arms in a scream of frustration I landed back in the sand with a thud. The gold colored specks flew up around me and I had to close my eyes before they added to my pain.

Last night the fireworks were all I could blame to my stupidity. I was so lost in the childish fascination that I had forgotten everything. Perhaps if I had just looked up and opened my eyes I would have asked his name. All I could remember was his hazel eyes which reflected the explosion of light in the night sky. There was one word to describe it: beautiful.

The tide would take me away soon. Staring up into the sun I wondered what happened to the boy. We had sat for hours on the dark beach just watching the fireworks. As the finale finally occurred, I realized I was alone. The sky was dark and there was no one else on the beach. I never moved from the spot. Now I was still here, just in a new position. I watched the white clouds pass the horizon overhead, the sky of blue brightening my day.

It was time to go. Standing on shaky legs I watched the waves tipped with white foam brush up against the golden sand washing away the footprints in the sand. Walking forward I stood ankle deep in the water letting the freezing temperature wake me. The wind caught my hair as it fluttered through the open sky and like the ocean I hoped it would take me away.

I smiled with the memory and let it slip from my eyes finally. Tears rolled down my sand covered cheeks and dropped into the ocean. I wished I could hear his voice again. The word beautiful hung in the air making me smile. Wiping away the tears I turned and walked away from the ocean towards my rusty old car.

Thinking doesn’t get one anywhere. I sat in my car behind the wheel and stared at my last glimpse of the ocean. Alone. I was alone in this car and I could only smile knowing that it was enough. I’d never know who he was but in the end that didn’t matter. We were only children caught up in the moment, a moment pushed together into memories which are strung together into a life.

The car roared at the turn of the key and my smile grew even bigger. I left the beach behind me and moved onto something new. Passing an old café I stopped at a stop sign peering through the dirty windows. Words were trapped in my throat as I caught a glance of those hazel eyes. I’d been content on leaving off everything on the tips of the ocean yet now that I saw him once more I was beside myself. It was the blaring horn of the car behind me that shook me from my frozen thoughts.

His eyes glanced through the window at my car but I didn’t give him a chance to realize that I was staring at him. Flooring the vehicle I zoomed through the intersection and turned into a florist’s parking lot. Shaking, I sat in my car letting my nerves calm themselves. I was content only minutes ago with letting this boy go, what was wrong with me? I was fooling myself when I knew that my heart was still restless for him.

Trying to settle my breathing I took several deep breaths. Pounding on my driver’s window made me scream and jump away from the door. Closing my eyes I placed a hand over my heart and hoped it wouldn’t jump out of my chest.

He was standing outside my door smiling. In his hands were two cups. I could only blush as I fumbled with the lever to roll the window down. He leaned into my window with ease and handed me one of the drinks. “Want to take a walk?” he asked simply.

Barely nodding I undid my seatbelt and threw open my car door. Leaving it in the parking lot I followed him closely. Sipping the coffee he had given me I wondered when one of us would say anything. I couldn’t let myself be blinded by fireworks again. They were going off all around me and my heart felt as though it would explode at any moment.

My face was hot and I turned to say something. He was staring at me again and I lost all words. Smiling, I took another drink and looked down at my feet. “Can I ask you something?” he spoke softly. I nodded and glanced at him quietly. “What’s your name? I wanted to ask you last night but I was just so caught up in the moment I didn’t think.”

I laughed turning to face him. Grabbing his hand I looked up into his hazel eyes. “Really? Because I was the same way! You must think I’m childish but I was so intent on watching the fireworks that I barely thought of you!” We both laughed merrily as we stood in the middle of the downtown sidewalk.

“Kate.”

“Jacob.”

We shook hands as if we were finally meeting one another for the first time. We found our way to a bench where we sat and talked all morning about ourselves. I was lost to this boy with the hazel eyes that captivated me to no end. We had no idea where we were headed but we let ourselves get swept up in a storm of a moment.

Leaning in, I kissed him and my heart exploded as his lips touched mine once more.