six

Opal's point of view

I lay on the bed. It's like I am floating on a cloud. Grayson is showing interest in me. It is startling, but on the other hand, magical. Maybe I fit in somewhere. Though I am socially awkward, perhaps I should just go for it!

I jump from the bed, hearing a knock on my door. "Richard is here," I hear my mom call from the other side of the door.

I walk toward the door. I am sure he wants to talk about Grayson. I smile. My hands grip the door handle, pushing it open.

"Thanks, mom, come on, Richard," I say, pulling him into the room. I slam the door behind me.

"So why Grayson?" he asks.

"He sticks up from me in class and then on the bus," I say, feeling myself smile.

"Wow, that's big," he says with a grin.

I nod. "I doubt he likes me."

Richard rolls his eyes. "You are an awesome girl," he tells me.

"Thanks."

"So do you want to go to the beach?" he asks.

"You know it." Richard and I spend a lot of time at the beach. I love the beach.

Richard steps out of my room while I change into my swimming suit. I open the door and step outside.

"Sweet," he says, offering me a smile.

We walk towards the kitchen. My mom is at the sink washing dishes.

"Mom, we are going to the beach," I say.

She turns around. "Okay, don't stay out too late," she tells me.

Soon Richard and I walk side by side. The hot sun beats down on us. My house was right up the road from the beach, so it wasn't a long walk. I wasn't shocked to see many people at the beach.

As we go up to an available spot, the hot sand burns my feet. Richard wraps sweat from his forehead. I chuckle. " It's so hot."

"The water will feel nice," he says, running and jumping in. I smile.

"Come on, slowpoke," he calls.

My feet slap against the sand as I race to jump in. The water feels incredibly comforting. Richard splashes me, and I laugh, slapping him back with water.

I feel the pressure of the water waves, and soon I fall into the water. In moments, I feel a strong arm on me.

"Careful," Richard laughs, helping me to my feet.

We are face to face, and I am looking at him. I do think Richard is handsome in a friendly way. He reaches toward my face and moves the hair behind my ear. I smile at his touch.

"My favorite feature about you is your eyes," he tells me.

"You don't think they're freakish?" I ask.

He laughs. "Not in the least," he responds.

I am so thankful that I have Richard in my life. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have one person who didn't think I was a freak. Richard pulls out a camera from his pocket.

"Won't water destroy that?" I ask.

" It's a waterproof camera," he tells me.

"How fancy." I laugh.

"Let's take a picture together," he says.

"I'm not sure about that. You know I hate pictures."

"Just one," says Richard, making a pouty face at me.

I roll my eyes. "Find drama, King."

Richard puts his arm around me and pulls me close, and takes a picture.

"Beautiful," he says.

Wait, what? "Me or the scenery?"

"Both," says Richard with a grin.

I smile too. Richard is acting so strange.

We spent a few hours at the beach. Soon as I find myself sitting at my desk on my social media account, reading the comments on Richard and my picture. And I am shocked to see Grayson comment, "what a beautiful girl." In one day, I was called beautiful by two different guys. What a mess!