As we walk to the water, Leo says, “You were getting good at popping up. Even experienced surfers still have to practice it. You want to get to the stage where you don’t need to think about your movement. You want your body to flow so you can focus on the wave.”
“I feel like there’s another one of those surfing life lessons in there somewhere.”
“Definitely, whatever you want to be good at…you have to do it enough where it flows naturally.”
“That’s applicable to writing too.” Sometimes I forget that writing takes practice. Not just reading or editing, but actual fiction writing. Yes I worked on my manuscript for three years, but maybe that’s part of the problem. I’ve been so focused on just one story, on making this one book work…that I haven’t challenged myself to try anything else. Maybe I should try writing a whole new book.
Leo’s voice breaks into my thoughts. “Speaking of…what is your book about?”
I kick the warm water as it moves over my feet. I’ve never told anyone about the characters. My characters. They feel personal, like they’re part of me. Maybe that’s another issue…I’m too close to them. I want to protect them from the harsh judgment of readers. But, isn’t that the point? It’s weird how I can want people to read my book and be terrified of them reading it at the same time.
Although my heart pounds as I contemplate summarizing my manuscript, I feel excited to tell Leo. “It’s kind of like a modernMulanmeetsEmperor’s New Groove, but for young adults.”
Leo cocks his head and squints slightly.
I laugh nervously. “That probably sounds weird…Let me try again. So, my main character’s name is Adelena. She’s an average girl working on her family farm. She’s too poor to go to college…but she has dreams of bigger things. When a new president is elected, he begins taking sweeping measures to ensure his own power. He’s becoming a dictator. It’s threatening the livelihood of her family and her entire city. She’s small in stature and soft spoken, but she feels like she can covertly make her way into the president’s circle. She ends up infiltrating and funneling information back to her people. Eventually she leaves her position at the capitol and leads a revolt.”
I feel a tug on my hand. I turn and see Leo with a curious smirk on his face.
“Chloe, you have to keep going with your story.”
“Yeah?”
“You’re so passionate about it. You light up when you talk about it.”
My teeth sink into my cheek. “Thanks. That’s nice of you to say…”
“I’m not just saying it.” Leo is staring me square in the eye. The wind gusts, and my hair flies across my face. He tucks it behind my ear.
I look down at the water streaming around my ankles. He must follow my eyes, because his hand reaches next to my foot. He pulls up a circular object.
“Oh my gosh, you found a sand dollar?” I know what it is from seeing them in shops, but I’ve never encountered a real one in the ocean. “It’s perfect.” He places it in my hand, and I can’t help but beam. “It’s like finding treasure.”
As he straightens, our eyes meet. “I know what you mean.” His smooth hand lifts my chin. Breath catches in my chest.
In the next moment, Leo leans forward and gently presses his lips to mine. The pressure is tender and sweet. I lean forward on my tip toes, not wanting the moment to end.
Slipping his fingers behind my head, he deepens the kiss. My hand finds his chest.
“Chloe,” I hear him whisper against my mouth.
“Mhmm?” I keep my eyes closed, savoring the contact.
He retreats, forcing me back to reality. “I just want you to know, I don’t normally do this…I actually haven’t felt excited about anyone since…”
“Elena?” I finish for him.
He nods as he slides his hands around my waist.
“As you probably guessed, I have never done anything like this.” I motion in a circle between us. I feel like a teenager at summer camp meeting Leo and falling head over heels for him in the first week. I thought that was just a naive young adult thing, but I’m so glad I’m finding out it’s not.
Grabbing my hand, Leo interlaces his fingers in mine. “Thank you.”
“For what?” All Leo has done since I met him was help me. I’ve done nothing.
“For being yourself, for reminding me that feeling this way about someone is possible.”
I swing our hands out to the side. “I’m really glad that lizard attacked me.”
