We Were Both Young When I First Saw You

Man, what time is it? 9:15 A.M. Why am I waking up this early on a Saturday? *thinks* Oh yeah! Today is the day that me and the boys from Avenged Sevenfold are going to the beach! Yay! I got up and searched my room for the perfect outfit. Sure, I live in L.A. and it is sunny all the time, but since my family is so busy, we don't go to the beach that often.

I finally found "it", the perfect outfit, a pink bikini, pink belly ring, pink cover up dress and white flip flops.. Once I got dressed in my bikini, changed my belly ring (from white to pink) and put my cover dress over it, I grabbed my beach bag and loaded it with my towel and sunscreen. I put on my flip-flops and checked the time (10:10, ten minutes before the guys were going to be here).

I ran downstairs and walked toward the kitchen and saw my parents and Patrick (my driver, remember?) talking. I could only make out a few words they were saying, "Ashlyn", "safe" and "protect at all costs". I cannot understand why I need to be protected so severely, I mean, I will be with six guys all day long and no one (except for Courtney) knows of my crush on Matt and she would not tell anyone!

I walked into the kitchen and picked up a banana. Just as I was about to peel it, the doorbell rang. My dad called for me,

"Ashlyn, can you get that?"

"Sure Daddy,"

I said. I would have been more than happy to get it even if he didn't tell me too for 2 reasons.
1. I would get to see Matt again and
2. The kitchen is closer to the front door than the dining room.

I opened the door and saw Jimmy, Brian, Johnny, Zacky and Matt in their bathing suits, tank tops and flip flops. Jimmy said,

"Ashlyn! Good to see you!"

"Hey Jimmy, Brian, Johnny, Zacky and Matt! Good to see you guys too. You guys can come in, but my parents and Patrick are talking, so I am eating breakfast while I wait."

They followed me to the kitchen and I ate my banana, rather quickly. While I was on my way to the trashcan, Brian said,

"Ashlyn, you know we are going to the beach, so why are you wearing a dress?"

Before I could correct him, Zacky said,

"it's a cover up, duh!"

I had to laugh at that, because I rarely heard a guy say, "duh!". We all sat in silence after that but I took a small glance at Matt and (to my surprise) he looked back and smiled, and I couldn't help but blush (and start to feel kinda warm and cuddly on the inside). We kept playing the stare and smile/blush and look away game for five minutes, when my parents and Patrick came into the kitchen. My dad took one look at me then one look at the boys (I guess to see if we were "good" or not). Then he said

"Once we go over these three rules, you will be all set to go."

Ahh, rules. I am 17 years old but I guess when you are the only child of WB Records' CEO/President, you have to be protected all the time, no matter how old you are.

Rules for the Beach
1. Ashlyn is not to be left alone for any reason, unless she has to use the restroom, then Matt (Whom I have designated as the leader) will escort her to the restroom and wait till she is done and then escort her back to the beach
2. No drinking or smoking (I think this was for the boys and not for me) and
3. Make sure Ashlyn is home by 5:00 P.M.

Once we went over the rules and promised to follow them, we said good bye and were on our way. We were walking toward the garage when Jimmy suddenly yelled

"SHOTGUN!"

I was more than happy to let him ride shotgun too, since I have to ride it Monday-Friday. We got to the car (a 2004 Ford Expedition) and piled in. Since Jimmy and Patrick were in the front, Brian and Johnny wanted to sit in the back (the very back) and that left Matt and I in the front back fate at work again? I sure hope so..

It wasn't that awkward, since there was a sit in-between us, but it was still a pretty silent trip. We got to the beach in about 20 minutes and quickly found a spot to "settle down" for the afternoon. The boys quickly shed their tank tops and I couldn't help but look at Matt when he took his off, I was happy to have a front row seat to "the gun show!", haha.

Once they were done, I took my dress off and I swear I could hear Matt's jaw drop and again, I couldn't help but blush. I put my sunscreen on but couldn't reach my back.

Since Matt was my "body guard" for the day (and since I needed yet another reason to flirt), I asked him to put it on my back.

He just stared at me, then shook his head and said

"sure!"

I laid down on my stomach onto my towel and then heard the sunscreen "fart" and I could not help but laugh. I am such a little kid, trapped in a 17 year old body.

Once he was done, even though I didn’t want it to end I asked the boys what they wanted to do. I said

"I am going into the water, you can join me if you want to.”

Matt, of course, followed me, but I was surprised to see that the others just waited.

Unfortunately, I was too wrapped up in my head to hear everyone else's footsteps. The next thing I knew Jimmy and Brian picked me up and dropped into the water. When I got to the surface, I laughed, which I think surprised the boys. Zacky looked at me and said

"You're not mad?"

"No, some of the guys in my class used to do that to me and plus, it helps you get used to the water quicker."

Brian said,

"Dude, she is so cool, she is like one of us now."

So we played in the water for a while, even playing chicken (I won against Johnny, since he was the smallest of the guys). We even pulled Patrick under the water once, it was awesome. Then I had an evil plan, I wanted to tackle Matt so hard that he fell underwater.

So, me, Brian, Jimmy, Zacky, Johnny and Patrick all ganged up on Matt and pushed. When he fell down, he grabbed my hand and pulled me under too (I was not expecting that!). When we both finally came to the surface, we saw we were all alone in this part of the beach. I asked him

"Why did you pull me with you?"

He looked around and said,

"Can we talk, privately?"

We walked back to where we had "settled down" and sat on our towels. He started,

"Ashlyn, I know we have only known each other for only a day (not even) but I cannot help but feel this intense feeling I have for you. I feel like we are meant to be together, like we have known each other our whole lives."

I couldn't help but ask this,

"What about Val, you two have known each other your whole lives, why me?"

He said,

"Val is only a friend and nothing more. I don't know why, but when I saw you last night, a voice told me that you would change my life, I hope it's right.”

I told him,

"well, the only thing we have to worry about now is my dad, aren't you scared of him?"

"Yes, I am scared shitless"

he said,

"but, if I want to be with you, I have to face my fears. But, let's give him time, I dont want to come off as a child molester or something. I will try and talk to him on Friday, while you are at ballet."

"Okay lovebirds-in-training,"

Jimmy said, coming towards us,

"time to go back into the water, no more lovey dovey for you two."

We talked and played and before we knew it, it was 4:30 and time to go home.
When we got back in the car, Matt grabbed my hand (not lacing fingers kind of hand hold, just normal) and we held hands until we pulled into my garage. Daddy greeted us and said,

"Well, I hope you had a good time."

"Oh, we did!"

said Brian, and Matt smacked him in the back of the head when Daddy wasn't looking. I said,

"we had a great time Daddy, but I wanted to talk to the boys privately before they left, it's something we discussed at the beach that is a surprise!"

"Okay Princess, just hurry because you still have to shower before dinner",

Daddy said and then left us. I quickly found 2 post it notes and 2 pens and told Matt to write down his phone number and I would do the same. I also told him that I would be the only calling him, since my house has caller ID and Daddy might wonder why he was calling.
I quickly wrote down my phone number [Ashlyn Diamond 818-555-1186

Then he gave me his number and I promised to not look at it until I was safe in my room. I said good bye and I would talk to them soon.

Then I ran to my room and locked the door so I could shower (and look at Matt's phone number). I unfolded the post it note and it said this
Matt Sanders (714)543-7312, p.s. you looked beautiful today.

I quickly hid the post-it note in my secret music box and took a shower. I ate my dinner and talked with Mama and Daddy about my dad(and excluded the Matt details). Then I went to my room to read my Bible, something I do almost every night.

I came across my favourite Bible verses. Psalm 20:4 "May He grant you according to your heart's desire and fulfill all your plans." and 1 Timothy 4:12 "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."

I said my prayers (and once again thanked God for sending Avenged Sevenfold into my life)
and since i had such a long day, changed into my pyjamas and went to bed. I couldn't wait for Matt to talk to Daddy (and hopefully Daddy will say yes!).