Butterflies

*Saphira's POV*

When I got inside the house, mom was laying across the couch watching TV. "Hey Saph, you look exited tonight."

"I've had a great day," I said trying to dim the tone of excitement in my voice.

"Was that Benjamin, I saw at the door?" Mom asked wryly looking at the TV again. "Yeah, Lynn got really sick, she has the stomach flu or something. Lynn's dad was going to take me home but then Ben said he would," I said nervously giving more information then was absolutely necessary.

"I'm gonna call Amanda and take a nice long bubble bath. Goodnight mom," I said wanting to escape. Mom looked at me like she wanted to say something, but then changed her mind. "Night saph."

I ran straight up to my room, jumped on my bed and picked up my phone that was on my bedside. I dialed Amanda's number which I knew by heart and the phone went over. I was in luck. Amanda was the one to pick up the phone.

Amanda told me she had a hard time at school without me there. I encouraged her to start talking to people, so she could actually make friends. Finally she agreed to give it a try. She told me about her day and then asked me about mine.

"How was your day at the beach, did you clear your head?" Amanda asked. "Something like that..." I slowly said. "What happened?" Amanda prompted. "Well, promise me you won't start screaming in my ears?" Was I really going to tell her this? "Is it that bad? Alright, I promise," she said. I sighed.

Okay here it goes. "I think I'm starting to fall in love. No, I know I am," I admitted. I bit my lip waiting for Amanda to respond.

I told her about spending the rest of the day at Lynn's house and that Benjamin drove me home, after Lynn got sick. And I told her about our conversation in the car…

I woke up feeling exhausted. I didn't sleep well. No, I didn't sleep at all! All night I'd been turning and twisting. I was analyzing our car conversation, looking at in from every angle and every perspective. I was now even more tired than I was before I went to bed. I'd been trying to think of things I could say to him, or what I shouldn't say at all.

My stomach twisted. I was excited. But maybe a bit too much… What if he didn't return my feelings? That was a stupid thought, why would he return my feelings? I was still in high school and he already went to college. What would he see in me? He could do so much better. That was for sure.

Time started slipping away and I still wasn't dressed. I was so nervous but what was I nervous about? The others would be there… It wasn't a date. I had to get a better grip on myself. I walked to my closet and started looking around to see if I could find something to wear. Would it be okay to ask Lynn some advice on my outfit for the day?

I picked up my cell phone and called Lynn. "Hey.." she said answering the phone with a shaky voice. "Hey Lynn, feeling a bit better?" I asked. "Not, so much," she answered. "I heard my brother is picking you up today…" she said sounding a bit smug. He told her?

"Yeah… well about that. I hoped you could help me in the dressing department. I'm absolutely clueless," I confessed. "Do you want to tell me what happened while he drove you home?" I gave it a quick thought. "Nope," I said.

Lynn snickered. "Alright, Put on the Deep blue Chiffon dress. It will look great with your eyes. Knock out the competition!" she said snickering again. I shook my head. What's with these girls?

I got dressed in hurry. I only had twenty minutes left. My hair was a mess and I didn't have time to straighten it out. So I put it up on a ponytail. I looked at myself in the mirror and sighed.

Then my doorbell rang. "Get a grip. Get a grip," I chanted to myself again. I opened up the door and there he was.

He was wearing a light blue blouse and grey shorts.

"Err… Hi," I managed to say. He tilted his head to the side, and smiled a mind blowing smile.

"Your beautiful," he said while leading the way to his car. He opened the passenger door for me and I got in.

We drove to the beach on the other side of Malibu in silence. Sometimes I glanced at him and he smirked back. When we got to the parking lot,  I didn't recognize any car there.

Benjamin took a backpack out of the car and swung it around his shoulder. Instead of a surfboard he carried a guitar case.

"You're not surfing today?" I asked him curiously.

"I told you I would keep you company, didn't I?!" he said grinning at me. I bit my lip.

He led the way down the beach and I followed. I kept looking around for one of our friends, but I saw none.

Benjamin took his backpack from his shoulder and grabbed a big plaid out of it and laid it down on the sand. He sat down and gestured for me to sit as well. I tried to read his expression. "Your awfully cheerful today," I said as I noticed the constant smile on his face.

"Don't you see, the sun is shining," he answered pointing his index finger towards the sun. I raised both my eyebrows and stared at him. Was he making a fool out of me? I felt irritated again. "The sun always shines in Malibu," I said wryly. He just chuckled.

"Where are the others?" I asked while looking around.

"I've brought you lunch," he said trying to distract me.

It worked, though. "Great, I haven't even had breakfast yet. I'm starving," I said while rubbing my belly.

He gave me his famous disapproving look.

"I know, please safe your lecture."

Benjamin gave me a very big sandwich and took one for himself. Then he handed me a bottle of soda.

"Do you mind being alone with me?" Benjamin asked while he was scrutinizing my face.

"No, not at all," I answered way too quickly to sound casual. All night I'd been thinking of all sorts of conversational topics, but now while I was here sitting with him, I was blank. Totally blank. Then I thought of something.

"I'm curious though," I started talking. "I know you enjoy horror movies," I said making a face. "Chicken." He said teasingly, reffering to the time we started watching a movie together and I ran out of their theatre room. I narrowed my eyes. "But actually Lynn told me about your fascination for Disney films.

"What do you like about them?" I asked biting my lip, while fidgeting with a strain of my hair. I was nervous. "Ah, I see. Lynn has been revealing all my secrets now, has she," he said with a teasing smile.

"What's your favorite?" I asked hoping I wasn't being obvious. "Well… ma belle Evangeline, it is 'The princess and the frog'," he said while laughing at an inside yoke I clearly missed.