[attr="class","uriah"]"you really like teasing me, huh?"

not that he particularly minds. if anything, he finds it oddly endearing.

the beach is nice, quiet, and it makes their walk all the more peaceful. he's thankful for it, too, as he remembers how she hates crowds.

"depends who i'm with, i guess. with my family, i usually just chill and tan but with my friends, we usually surf or play volleyball."

it's been a while since he's done either. looking over to her, he asks the same question:

"you?"

[attr="class","noodles"]@sol

[attr="class","uriah"]"i'm not whiny."

yes, he is.

uri turns back around for a quick moment if only to quickly gather up their plates before throwing them into the trash off to the side. he takes his bottle of water with him, too, and turns to sol with a smile.

and so they start their walk.

[attr="class","noodles"]@sol

[attr="class","uriah"]uri watches her, heart fluttering a little when she extends her hand over, naively expecting her to reach for his. the pinch wakes him right up as he pulls his hand away, flopping it around in the air as if it'd lessen the pain of her pinch.

"mean, but sure."

he pouts but stands all the same. he looks over at her, ready to start their walk.

[attr="class","noodles"]@sol

[attr="class","uriah"]uri laughs, shaking his head.

"all six minutes of it?"

it was definitely more than six minutes but he wasn't keeping track, too lost in the moment and the warmth that came from holding her hand.

her admittance is all he needs to extend a hand out towards her, still smirking.

"we can do it again, you know, if you want to."

[attr="class","noodles"]@sol

[attr="class","uriah"]regardless of her intentions, guilt washes over him for a few seconds because, again, he didn't consider how she might have preferred to be alone.

but it fades at her response almost too easily as he smirks, deciding to tease her by leaning a little closer and asking:

"yeah? was it the hand-holding?"

because that's one of his favorite moments.

[attr="class","noodles"]@sol

[attr="class","uriah"]huh. he never realized how she avoids them but now that she says it, it all starts to make sense. the gears in his head turn slowly.

"...you have a point."

maybe he isn't as observant as he thinks he is.

"he'd understand, i'm sure."

the bottles of beer remain on the table between them, getting warmer with every second. he doesn't reach for it, however, as he's enjoying the conversation between them.

"come on, sol! surely you enjoyed it too. it was just us; no crowds."

[attr="class","noodles"]@sol

[attr="class","uriah"]all it takes is five seconds to know better than to waste his time and energy, so in a way, isn't that a good thing? he certainly thinks so, even if he doesn't say so.

"not a fan of crowds?"

he looks over, inquiring.

"i think the highlight of my trip was getting locked in that room with you."

[attr="class","noodles"]@sol

[attr="class","uriah"]it takes uri a moment to realize what she's talking about but when he does, he finds it oddly sweet that she remembers. a warm smile tugs at his lips as he nods.

"yeah we just chilled for a bit and grabbed some food after. he was a bit upset about what happened but we're good."

and now here he is, spending time with miss hot captain

"what'd you get up to after i left?"

[attr="class","noodles"]@sol

[attr="class","uriah"]her smirk is met with a pout that's mostly feigned and exaggerated. he looks away to further sell it, but there's no denying the warmth he feels at her next few words.

it affirms what he already thought but could never quite tell for sure.

"cool. guess we're in no rush, then."

so he leans back into the chair, sighs, and peers out at the view, remembering the moment.

a few things linger on his mind, the most prominent one being what she just said.

uri, but uriah.

[attr="class","noodles"]@sol

[attr="class","uriah"]her answer is met with a simple nod as his gaze remains fixed on her.

after a moment, he chuckles.

"sounds complicated."

too complicated, even, but he shrugs.

"i enjoy spending time with you too, sol, and i'm glad you invited me here."

on a dinner that she owed him, but he digresses. it's the thought and the sentiment behind it that counts and it's what he chooses to focus on.

"i really like your company."

[attr="class","noodles"]@sol

[attr="class","uriah"]i enjoy spending time with you.

it makes him glad to hear that it isn't just one-sided. he smiles, more relieved than anything at her response. curiosity does rise, however, at her second comment.

only now does he reach for his water, twisting the cap open before taking a quick sip.

"yeah? like what?"

[attr="class","noodles"]@sol

[attr="class","uriah"]it's nicer because nothing feels forced nor does it ever feel uncomfortable. it feels natural, and he's grateful for that.

as vague as her answer may be, he assumes she means the taco stand. it must be difficult for her to find time between everything else she does, so he nods, trying his best to understand.

and then, he asks a question that's been on his mind:

"alright be honest, sol. were you looking forward to it?"

[attr="class","noodles"]@sol

[attr="class","uriah"]disappointing.

ouch. they ran out, okay? he would've definitely gotten the drink he had made up.

he looks up at her question.

"what, dinner?"

not bothering with a drink, he quickly bites down what remains of his taco and swallows it in no time.

"not really, but this is just as nice. even nicer, i'd argue, as we have a great view right here."

a great view to eventually watch the sunset, too, if they stay that long.

[attr="class","noodles"]@sol