Palm Trees and White Lilies (Part One)

The sound of the waves crashing on the beach and gently ebbing away is synced with my breath. From time to time, the cold water caresses my toes and makes me realize the authenticity of my location. The sun rays on my pale skin are heating my body temperature and appear like a flash of lightning in front of my inner eye. My hair dances with the refreshing ocean breeze, which makes the supreme layer of sand creep over its foundation. As I slowly open my eyes I am immediately amazed by the picture of the sun reflecting in the royal blue water appearing like shattered glass. The cry of freedom screeched by a seagull throws my thoughts overboard and I wake from my hypnosis.

I turn around and search for Andrew, but cannot spot him. Our bags are still leaning against the huge palm tree at the beginning of the beach, so I suppose he is still strapping the surfboards on top of his car.The beach is still packed with many people, who are enjoying the sun, playing volleyball, and getting even more of a tan.I am facing the ocean again as I capture a helpless tiger beetle lying on its back. Gently I pick it up into the palm of my hand and turn it back around. In a split second, it flies away but only makes it a few meters before it eventually falls back onto the sand as I hear a car door slam shut in the near distance. A few seconds later, I see Andrew walking towards me on the little rocky path between the green bushes.

Andrew is a typical laid-back guy, just like everyone else I have been getting to know around here. He is wearing a red t-shirt with a Grizzly Bear printed on the front and a pair of flowered swim shorts. He looks like he just fled a Vans photo shoot. His rather round face is framed by his auburn hair, which he takes care of very well. He minds his appearance quite a bit, making him seem superficial at first, which he is not at all, once you get to know him. As soon as you notice him, there is no way you can overlook his handsome smile that is supported by his ocean blue eyes ready to eat you up and never spit you out again. He is rather short compared to others but broad-shouldered, giving him the typical look of a football player in a high school movie. Still, something about him is very mysterious and profound, but I have not gotten to the bottom of it yet.“Are you ready to head back, Lucy?” he asks as he reaches me sitting on the sand right in front of the water. “Ready as can be.” I say with a smile on my face. He helps me to get up and responds with a genuine smile.

Back in Andrew’s red car, the new pop song called Heroes is playing in the background while we are driving up Chapala Street. The houses are arranged along the road in an unfamiliar chessboard layout which implies a sense of endlessness. The roads ahead and beneath this one are stacked with palm trees leading the path to Upper State. Their peaceful and majestic demeanor calms me.The speed of the car brings in a chilly breeze through the rolled-down windows and I instinctively stretch my arm out to let my hand surf in the air. Andrew quickly gifts me a glance and I catch the corner of his mouth twitching upwards. I cannot help grinning at him, following his eyes back to the road.