28

~Aria

I haven't seen Malik without so much stress in his shoulders. He looked young and carefree, showing his youth in a way that is contagious.

"Take your shoes off," Malik suggested, following his own words before he tore his shirt off.

Despite his scars, he doesn't seem to care about running around with no shirt on in public. Not that many people are on the beach anyway, which is strange, since this is such a lovely day. Watching the waves tentatively inch their way up the flat sand, I can't help but be tempted to follow Malik. So barely thinking, I kick off my shoes and throw them far enough behind me so the waves wouldn't reach them.

I watch Malik bravely back into the water. The way it hit the backs of his legs made me nervous, as if they might knock him over with a little more force.

"Come in, it's nice," Malik tells me with a playful smile.

A braver wave hit my feet, the whitewash covering my toes. It was a strange kind of cold that drenched my entire body in shivers. It's no