Making Friends at the Beach

I was walking down the beach at night. I loved the beach at night. Everything looked more beautiful. My red hair blew in the salty winds as my feet sunk into the soft sand. I smiled and sang quietly along to the song blaring loudly from my headphones. The classic Three Days Grace. I stopped to roll up my jeans just in case I had any intention of getting in the water. I continued walking not thiking anyone would be out at this time of night.

My eyes were closed as I continued my quiet humming and occasional "Air drums". I wasn't paying any attention to where I was going. Suddenly my foot got caught on something and I fell. "Ow!" I said as my stomach landed on something. I looked. Are those legs? Why are there- I stopped mid thought and jumped up. "I'm so sorry." I said about 15 times before he spoke.

I smiled embarrassed. "Nice to meet you Vince." I smiled. "I'm Jen. Sorry, I wasn't paying attention. I get like that sometimes." I laughed lightly at myself. Gods I'm an idiot. I put my mess of hair up in a ponytail and smiled at him. "Um, so why you at the beach?" I asked not knowing what else to say.

"You lived on a boat? I've never even been on one." I smiled. I sat down in the sand. My jeans would get sandy but I didn't care. I turned off my music. "So what's it like? On a boat."

I smiled at him. "That sounds cool. I wish I could go on a boat. Me and my father lived in Manhattan all my life so I had so experience with the sea or boats or anything of that matter." I laughed lightly again.

"Sounds like fun!" I smiled. Vince was really cool. "Do you have a boat?" I asked curious. "Or did only your parent have one." Then it clicked. "I never asked. Who is your god parent? Mines Athena." I continued to smile at him.

I smiled. I was lost for conversation. I pushed my bangs out of my eyes. "So, what you want to talk about now?" I asked.

I smiled and thought. "Well, my dad is a manger for a store. Big one. We are really close, or were until he got remarried." I sighed at the memory. I was so mad at him when I was told. "The mother is nice but her son is annoying. I was angry because I didn't want to be replaced. that's why I started going year-round here. We are good now. I go with them for the holidays."

I smiled. "That sounds like fun." I noticed he was moving away. "Are you okay?" I asked him concerned. "Was it something I said?"

I put my hand on his shoulder in concern. "I'm sorry if you feel like I'm pushing you to reveal things." I sighed. "If I may ask what did she do? You do not have to answer if you don't want to." I made it clear that I didn't want to push him.

I sighed. "People like that are cruel. They think, 'Hey this is going to be so funny.' but really it's not." I looked at him. "I apologize for all the @#$% people have put you through. They had no right. You did nothing to them. I also apologize that you have to lock yourself up just because some jerks thought a joke was funny." I was starting to rant. I was getting angry. People should not have to go through that. And it makes it worse that the he took the 'Joke' so hard. I was getting upset and didn't like it. Instantly all my childhood memories of being bullied because I was a nerd, geek, dork, loser. Came back to me. Some guys thought it would be funny to play the Dating Game. They played rock paper scissors and the loser had to ask out who the winner pick. The winner picked me. When I was asked, naively I said yes. They laughed in my face. I punched him. Hard. I got in ISS and people began to leave me alone.

I smiled at him my anger leaving me as quick as it came. "You can't keep everything to yourself. When you do you build up so much you pop and end up spilling everything to the most least trust worthy person." I said knowing from experience.