Fairytale Green

‘For the past two hours I have been trying to mix acquaintance and enemy and lover to make a new name for you, but nothing is really working.’ I told him as we made our way onto the beach.

‘You will just have to call me your boyfriend then.’

I taunted him with a sweet smile ‘Who says that I am your girlfriend?’

His hands snaked around my waist as he gruffly spoke ‘I doubt you will let me marry you so it will have to do. For now.’

Decided to play along with him, I laughed ‘Marry me? I must have made quite the impression last night.’

Stone grumbled something under his breath that was inaudible to me.

When he asked what I wanted to do that day, I told him that I had built up a fondness for the beach. I did not elaborate that it was because of him. That is when he suggested that he would teach me how to surf.

I thought surfing looked cool, but I was not naive in the way that I thought I was going to be any good at it.

Stone kept walking ahead as I held back and watched him. More especially his back. From a couple of yards away, you could still tell what was tattooed on his back for all to see.

It still sent my heart racing at the view of the gorgon’s head. That was despite spending at least an hour studying each line the previous night in bed. At which at the same time, he watched me watching him with an amused smile.

I also spent a good two hours apologising to him for the marks on his back due to my nails. I felt so bad that I almost cried but he reassured me with a grin that he was going to wear the scratch marks like a badge of honour.

The medusa head disappeared as the large man turned around. He had the same contest and entertained expression that he had hours ago.

I jogged to catch up with him and when I did, he linked his free hand that was not holding the surfboard with mine.

‘Do you like your mark on me, Medusa?’ He asked.

I assumed he meant the tattoo and not my claw marks. I was going to have to convince him to get his whole back tatted.

Nudging him with my hip in response, I did not let go of his hand as I replied, ‘You know that you are kind of a romantic, Lurch.’

He sent me a glare ‘No. I am not.’

‘Should I expect you to recite sonnets to me soon?’ I teased.

Stone smirked ‘It is a shame that your love poem is in my other set of shorts.’

I smiled suggestively ‘It would not hurt for me to check the ones you have on now.’

His head lowered slightly, and I thought he was about to pull me closer when a voice called his name from near the water.

Reed was also carrying a surfboard as he ran in our direction. The tattooist’s hair looked more copper in the sun and his round glasses were gone.

He reached us and it was apparent that he was serious. His demeanour was nothing like what I saw of him at the parlour.

His presence also made the smile on Stone’s face drop.

Then I realised that the night I got my tattoo was not the last time they had spoken. Reed was who he was speaking to on the phone when I was eavesdropping in the Armstrong’s bathroom.

Whatever issue they had then they still had now. The tension in the air was thick and I could feel Stone next to me start to tense.

The red-headed male ignored Stone completely as he smiled warmly at me ‘Hey Ella.’

‘Hi.’ I replied before trying to fill in the awkward silence ‘How have you been?’

‘I have been great. Just really busy at the tattoo shop.’ He answered but I could tell that the reason for him running over here was not to make small conversation with me

‘You are very talented. I am always admiring your handiwork on my leg.’ I said as I motioned to the ink on my thigh.

‘Your dragon might have been my best freehand work. That or Stone’s tattoo.’ He then added while looking at the giant ‘I can see that you have shown her it.’

Stone did not speak. He gave a glare of warning to the guy opposite us.

‘I bet you thought he was crazy when you seen it.’ Reed laughed.

‘Yeah, crazy is an understatement.’ I responded, ‘It was just last night he showed it to me.’

‘So, you two are together now?’ The tattooist smiled and he looked hopeful.

The silent one of us finally decided to speak up ‘Yes.’

All went silent again and I could feel Stone’s hand twitch in mine. That is why I let go of him and pulled back slightly.

‘I am going to leave you both to it.’ I voiced as I looked between the two of them ‘It seems like you two have something to work out.’

‘Ella—’ Stone began.

I cut him off ‘It is fine. I will just walk ahead, and you can catch up.’

He nodded once and I waved goodbye to Reed before I walked away from them, wondering what could have them so mad at each other.

My steps were a lot slower than normal because I tried to catch part of their conversation.

Their voices were fast and quiet. I could differentiate between the two of them because Stone’s voice was a lot deeper, and his answers were only a couple of syllables.

That seemed to be annoying Reed because he started talking louder.

From about twenty metres away from them, I could hear Reed shouting clearly ‘Where the fuck were you?’

Stone’s reply was too low to be heard.

‘I get it.’ Reed said, ‘She is your priority and the only thing that matters to you but—’

Their voices faded as I walked on further along the beach. I started to get closer to the waves until I could no longer feel the grains of sand between my toes.

When I got as far as the sea up to my ankles, I sat down and rested back on my hands.

The scorching sun shone down on the waves and the water sparkled. The heat made me close my eyes and for the first time in a long time, I felt content. I could truly tell myself that I was happy and that I meant it.

My eyes opened when I felt someone sit down next to me.

Stone matched my position, and I could see his hand a millimetre from mine in the clear water. He was not looking at me though. He was staring out to the horizon with a clenched jaw.

I reached that millimetre and laid my hand on his.

‘Is everything okay?’ I asked.

He turned his head and finally met my eyes ‘Yeah. Reed was just pissed at Brennan for something.’

Frowning at my knees, I knew that was not the problem, but I was not going to push him for the truth. I just hoped that when he was ready to tell me then he would.

The giant hand squeezed mine and I could tell he was starting to calm down.

I attempted to change the subject ‘What are you thinking about?’

‘I am remembering how someone told me that we have discovered more of Mars and Venus than our own ocean.’ He said with obvious amusement at the memory.

‘This person sounds very intelligent.’

‘They are.’ He agreed before chuckling ‘They also said they wanted to study my tattoos like the guy in the Da Vinci Code does with symbols.’

‘I did not say that!’ I half muttered and half-shouted

The night of Chase’s party was blurry, but I did remember saying that. Even if I did not remember then I still would have known it was me. It sounded exactly like something I would say.

I stood up and glared down at him while trying to hide my reddened face ‘So are we going surfing or what?’

My boyfriend had the surfboard in one hand and the other wrapped around my waist as we walked deeper into the sea.

My boyfriend. The title sent a whirlpool of emotions swirling around me, yet the name did not seem efficient enough. It was not enough for what I felt for him.

Once the water was up to my waist, he held the board in place on the surface of the waves and told me to get on. I put my hands on the side of the board and pushed myself up so I could fling my leg over.

When I did, the board rocked with unbalance, and I went plummeting into the water.

I swam up to the surface and ignored the chuckling from the colossal sea monster holding the board in place.

With a quick glower his way, I grabbed the board and tried again. The next time I tried to grip onto the board with more body strength to pull myself on it.

I was on for a good half-second before I was emerged in the water again.

Even underwater, I could hear a deep chuckle which fuelled my determination even more.

The attempts went on for another ten minutes. None of which were successful. He tried to help me, but I pushed him away as I was so adamant about getting on the thing.

Just as I was about to begin attempt one hundred and one, Stone beat me to it.

With one hand on the board, he leapt onto the thing effortlessly and I tried not to gape at how easy he made it look.

He did not waste any time because picked me up by the hip and placed me on the board, so we were facing each other.

Stone had a cocky grin as he motioned to my solemn face ‘I did not think you were going to be this bad. You are really terrible, Medusa.’

I began to make up excuses ‘I did not get much sleep last night. Someone kept me up. I am tired.’

My argument was strong. I thought back to the eight different rounds and the countless times that I had felt like I had gone to another universe and back.

A grin grew on his face at my excuse. He raised an eyebrow at my remark.

I quickly dipped my hand in the water and splashed him with all my power. It still did not wipe the smirk off his face.

‘You just need more practise.’ He stated the obvious ‘As your teacher, I think I might need to see you every day for lessons.’

Rolling my eyes, I leaned closer ‘You would like that, wouldn’t you?’

‘I would.’ He confirmed roughly.

With much compliance, I let him bring my body to his. He tilted my chin up and began to lean closer.

My plan was ready to be carried out because as soon as his lip stroked mine and he was distracted, I tried to nudge him off the board.

He did not move, and I cursed his largeness.

His face was what I imagined a lion would look like as it chased a gazelle. He smiled sinisterly as he leaned to one side. He grabbed me as we both fell into the water.

Stone did not let go of me as we swam back up the surface.

I wrapped my arms around the back of his neck as his hands rested on my hips and then I kissed him for real.