The Journey of a Thousand Miles

The jeep pulled into the driveway of a small cottage-esque beach house. The sun had set and everyone was in a sore and rotten mood. Jace had driven them through Maryland and North Carolina and he was tired. Cordelia had a horrible pain in her neck because of falling asleep in a peculiar position. Ryan’s legs needed to be stretched out. The only one in a happy mood was Amber, the one who had slept through much of the drive.

“Guys, this place is gorgeous. I used to come here every summer when I was little.” Amber said.
Everyone nodded their heads as she looked through her purse for the keys. There are three bedrooms so everyone can have their pick. Ryan and I will be sharing a room. Cordelia and Jace, be civil.”

The two she spoke of were far too tired to care about who landed which room. Cordelia walked in and went up the stairs and opened the first door she could find and put her stuff down. Jace followed suit and picked the room left and yawned.

“Guys, everyone come downstairs.” Amber’s voice rang through the entire house.

Cordelia grimaced and Jace frowned as the two of them headed down the stairs.

“So, what do you guys think?”

“It’s beautiful, Amber. The bed in my room is beautiful.” Cordelia said.

“No way, Cor. My room’s bed is also gorgeous.” Jace added.

“Don’t be so lazy. Let’s go onto the beach. Someone’s having a bonfire two houses down. It’s a party.”

“Amber, I really want to just sleep.”

“Lia, no. It’s time to party. Find a bikini and let’s go. Same goes for you guys too.”

Everyone huffed and puffed back to their rooms and got dressed. Cordelia quickly put on a navy blue bikini with shorts and a flannel over it. She went down the stairs to find Jace standing in a hoodie and shorts. As she hit the bottom step, Jace turned around and looked at her through lidded eyes.

“I’m leaving as soon as Amber becomes too busy with Ryan to notice anyone else.” Jace said.

“That’s a very good idea.” Cordelia answered with a smile.

“Ok, everyone. My friend Lucas rented out the place that’s having a bonfire tonight. I texted him that I was here and he said we should come around. So, time to head over.”

“Amber, you’re being far too chipper. It’s taking everything in me to not punch you in the face.” Cordelia said as they all left through the backdoor of the house and walked onto the beach.

“I’m going to choose to ignore you.” Amber said.

The four of them walked over to the houses to be met by a tall blonde boy with a huge smile plastered across his face.

“Amber!” Giving her a hug.

“Lucas! I haven’t seen you in forever!” Amber said as she gave him a wide smile.

“Well, I’ve missed you. Now, who are your friends?” Lucas asked keeping his eyes on Cordelia.

“This is my boyfriend, Ryan and his best friend, Jace. And this is my best friend Cordelia.”

“Nice to meet you all. Welcome and have a grand time.” His eyes still fixed on Cordelia.
Cordelia frowned at his stare. He made her uncomfortable.

“Ryan, I have to show you something. Have fun, you two.” Amber said before running off with Ryan in tow.

“Cordelia, would you like to take a walk?” Lucas asked.

“I was actually going to walk down with Jace.” Cordelia said before grabbing Jace’s hand.

“What?” Jace asked with a confused expression.

“Come on, sweetheart. It was nice meeting you, Lucas.”

Cordelia went off with her hand in Jace’s and as soon as they were far away from Lucas she let him go.

“Thank you. He was a complete creep.”

“I don’t know. I always thought girls liked it when people stared at them and only them throughout an entire conversation with a perverted smile on their face.”

“Oh, plenty of girls love that. It just doesn’t suit my fancy.”

“Of course not. You’d rather not get any attention.”

“Precisely.”

The pair continued walking along the shoreline, their feet getting wet as the waves hit them.

“It’s beautiful out here.” Cordelia said as she looked at the stars above.

“Mhmm,” Jace nodded as he looked at Cordelia.

“You don’t see this many stars in Brooklyn.”

“Of course you don’t. The smog and buildings and lights kind of dim them out.”

“This place is a lot better. The stars are bright and the air smells like saltwater.”

“Everything has its perks.” Jace said.

They continued to walk and actually converse rather than insult one another.

“I think there’s something wrong with the air here.” Cordelia said.

Jace sniffed the air before saying “It smells like saltwater. You already said that.”

“No, I mean, look at us. We haven’t insulted each other once.”

“We could if you wanted.” Jace answered.

“I like it better like this. Let’s not argue.”

“Me too.”

The two of them found themselves sitting on a dock, staring at the ocean. Cordelia had her head in Jace’s lap and his hoodie covered her. Jace sat straight, running his hand through Cordelia’s hair.

“Are you ready for fall?”

“Not really, Cor. I kind of don’t want to go to college.”

“Why not?”

“I’m scared of getting older.”

“You’re not getting old, Jace.”

“But we are. We’re going to college. We won’t have to worry about AP classes and homework assignments that we half-ass the period before. We’re growing up and I don’t like it. I don’t want to live on my own and I don’t want to make new friends and start anew. I want to go back to the days when we pushed each other off the jungle gym and when all we cared about was who ran faster in a game of tag.”

“Oh Jace, it’ll be fine. Those memories are our childhood and our past. We’re only going to head into the future to collect more memories that we can reminisce over fondly later on. All our lives we look back at our past and wish it were like that once again. We have to learn to accept what we have and be thankful for it. You’re going to go to college and love every second of it. You’ll meet new people. You’ll like some and hate some. Hopefully, not as much as you hate me. You’ll take classes that you’ll love and hate. You’re going to do so much and you have to be ready for it all. You’re going to be a successful guy, Jace Michaels.”

“Cor, I don’t hate you.” Jace said with a small smile.

“I don’t hate you, either.”

“Good to know.”

The moon shined and the stars twinkled and the ocean roared but the two were too lost in each other’s presence to notice anything else.