slightlyaaron (slightlyaaron) wrote in onceuponadream, @ 2011-07-02 20:54:00 |
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Aaron was back home visiting his his parents. There wasn't nearly as much to do as there was in Atlanta. Though here, the beach wasn't far away. The beach wouldn't be that much fun by himself but lucky for him, Gracie had agreed to go with him. They'd been there for a little while, swimming and having a good time before taking a break. Aaron was in need of food. He spread out a blanket and plopped himself down in front of the cooler he'd packed. Water still dripping from his hair but the sun and heat had the rest if him practically dry already. "Hungry?" he asked, opening the cooler. "Yes! Starving!" Gracie answered him. The birds and the fish were very chatty in her head today and it took a lot of effort to shut out the majority if those voices. Between that and all the splashing around, she had definitely worked up an appetite. She grinned at Aaron as she squeezed the excess water out of her long, brown hair and double-checked to make sure her bathing suit was hadn't shifted too much while they were in the water. Her bikini wasn't nearly as skimpy as what some of the other girls on the beach were wearing, but Gracie was always self conscious about showing too much skin. She was satisfied after her inspection, but she still reached for the cover-up dress she had brought with her and pulled it over her head before turning her attention toward Aaron and the cooler. "I'm glad you thought about food," she commented. "I was way too focused on BEACH when you called!" Aaron chuckled. "Someone had to make sure we ate," he teased. It seemed easier to pack a ton of food rather than find something when they got there. Plus it was probably cheaper. And they had snacks and drinks for the ride there and back. "We have tons of delicious stuff on the menu today." He pulled out sandwiches, sodas, fruit. Aaron had chips and cookies packed also. He grabbed one of the sandwiches and unwrapped it, taking a huge bite. "So hungry," he mumbled through a bite of food when his stomach growled. He popped open a can of coke and took a large sip of soda. "It all looks really great! Thank you," Gracie said genuinely as she helped herself to a sandwich and a coke. Not surprisingly, a few of the birds landed near her, silently asking after the bread and she laughed. "A little," she agreed out loud, even though she didn't have to speak to talk to them. She smiled as she broke of some pieces of crust and tossed it to them. It was easy to forget herself around other people when he animal friends came to visit and she blushed slightly as she remembered Aaron was right there. "They looked hungry," she said, feeling horrible for the lie and silently begging God to forgive her. She hated lying, but she knew he'd think she was crazy if she told him animals talked to her inside her head. "You're welcome," he said, taking another big sip of soda. He was as thirsty as he was hungry. They'd been out in the water swimming and playing and splashing one another for awhile before tearing themselves out of the water. "A little?" Aaron asked, slightly confused for a second. When she clarified, it made more sense. Or at least her explanation did. He wasn't paying attention enough to really take notice. His stomach was demanding to be fed, loudly, and his thoughts returned to his lunch. He had finished his sandwich in no time. He opened up a bag a chips, digging in. Aaron could probably eat them and a lot more. He was a boy and seemed to have a bottomless appetite, especially after he had actually done something resembling exercise. "I missed the beach. We have to do this again before we head back to Atlanta," Aaron informed her, grinning. Gracie was glad that Aaron seemed to buy her explanation. He was a good friend, but she wasn’t about to tell her about this weird ability she’d always had. Jon was the only one she’d been brave enough to tell - even Mama and Daddy didn’t know. She was sure they’d think she was completely off her rocker if she tried to tell them. With the birds fed, she focused on her sandwich for a moment. Their chatter still sounded in her head, but she did her best to push it to the background so she could focus her attention on Aaron. As fascinating as the birds’ stories were, it would be rude to ignore her companion. “Definitely,” she agreed when he said they should do this again. Gracie would be in Blackshear until school started up in the fall, since she’d be living in the dorms, so there would be plenty of time to make return trips out here. Her Jeep hadn’t been in good enough shape to accompany her to Los Angeles, but it could definitely get her to the beach and she planned to take full advantage of that fact. “How long are you staying in town for?” she asked him, curious. With his brothers also in Atlanta and places of their own, she knew he wouldn’t likely be staying as long as she was, but she had to admit that she’d be sorry to see him leave. Most of her friends were away from home and it was nice to have someone to hang out with. "Three weeks. I wanted a nice extended vacation," Aaron answered with a smile. "It sucks more people don't come home more often," he said, since almost everyone he knew was staying in Atlanta. He was glad that Gracie was home too, though. It was great hanging out with family but at least he'd have someone to go out and do things with too. After they'd spent plenty more time playing in the water and splashing each other they were heading back. Though the night was still far too nice to go straight home. At least if you asked Aaron. He grinned giving her a sideways glance as he made a turn. It had been forever since Blackshear was home but he still knew it like the back of his hand. When Aaron stopped his truck they were outside a building. "A day at the beach has to end with ice cream." Gracie nodded her head at that. She knew what he meant. Most of her friends were up in Atlanta and Jon was all the way in New York. She loved being at home with her Mama and Daddy, but it did get a little lonely with so many of the people she wanted to spend time with still so far away. She was really glad Aaron was staying for awhile. It would be nice to have a friend to spend some time with. Gracie wasn’t nearly ready to leave the beach when they finally packed everything up, but she knew she needed to. It was going to take about an hour to drive home, after all, and the sun was already setting. She couldn’t stay away too much longer. She smiled, though, when he stopped at the Dairy Queen instead of taking her right home. It wasn’t exactly on the way home, but she didn’t mind. “I think that’s in a rulebook somewhere,” she agreed. Ice cream wouldn’t take too long, she decided. Not long enough that her parents would worry, anyway. |