Two Steps Behind

CHAPTER 18

"Blythe, are your things complete already? Nothing had left?" Lexie inquired when I arrived at the living room with my suitcase. 

I was wearing a red sleeveless crop top long enough to cover my navel partnered with black ripped jeans with black leather belt and black rubber shoes. I also prepared my luxurious shades which my mom brought from new york last month and wore it over my head. 

"Yeah and I'm good to go!" I cheered before I dragged my suitcase on my side. 

She shrugged her shoulders then dialed something on her phone. "My things are in your car already, Blythe. I'll take Helena's call first," she said. I nodded and stepped my heel outside right away. 

Helena is her teenager sister who she supported her studies. She worked for her family and to send her siblings to school. Lexie has a little brother but she decided not to let him go with us since he was still a kid and besides we are all girls going there. She used all her savings and my gift to her for this trip though I also gave her cash to at least help her pay the bills. 

When I told her that Peachie and Khassie will go with us, she was seriously glad. She knew my friends and all that affiliates my life and when I told her that I invited the two, she immediately agreed with me. It has been a long time since the four of us had our girls day that excites her more. 

As planned, we all met in the airport with our own luggages. Peachie with her all white outfit from her cup down to her long sleeve white loose shirt and white ripped jeans with a white snickers and Khassie with her all black wear yet similar to Peachie's. I raised a brow at them.

"Why are you two wearing like that?" I inquired brought by curiosity. 

"It's pretty cool actually," Lexie commented then gave a big hug to them with a greeting. 

"I know but, you look so weird. Peachie in white and Khassie in black? You look like a summon from the eternal world!" I told them frankly which made them roll their eyes. 

"I'm wearing black but I'm not broken nor a demon," Khassie blurted.

"I'm not saying something," I replied offensively. 

"I'm just informing," she snapped again and we laughed. Khassie will always be Khassie Persian. 

After the long trip we headed straight to our destination which is a known beach resort here. Our jaw dropped the moment we stepped out foot outside the car that collected us in the port. The entrance was an attractive tropical style landscape with a big welcome carved print from wood on the side. The structure was a mix of native and contemporary styles with a touch of classic and their employees were dressed with their navy blue uniform. 

"Oh, it's a good weekend to spend," I commented, then took off my shades and shook my head to disarrange my hair. 

"Gonna hunt some hotties here," Khassie added. 

We shook our heads together then went straight to the reception area. As much as we wanted to stay in one room, we can't because they only could accommodate a maximum of two bedrooms in one room. So we ended up taking two rooms only. One for Peachie and Khassie and one for me, Lexie and Helena. Though, I told them to just get another room for them and I'll stay alone. So that Lexie and Helena would not share their bed but Lexie insisted not to. She doesn't want to leave me, she excused. 

When we finally got our room keys, they excitedly decided to check the room immediately. But, being me, who was amazed by the area, asked Lexie to arrange my things instead, which she agreed with. 

I just let my foot decide where to bring me. From their restaurant who watered my mouth, to the mini pool they have and then to the vast sparkling ocean in red and orange as the sun set slowly eating it. I smiled then sat myself on the white cold sand. When was the last time when I experienced this again? Three years or four? I'm not sure when exactly anymore. All I knew was that I was hurt the last time I went to a beach party where I was not even invited. 

With nostalgic feeling, I smiled bitterly. I am fine now. I am a strong independent woman already. I heaved a deep breath then looked at my shoes. "I think it would be great to take you off," I murmured then took it off and placed it on my side. Now, I can entirely feel the rough grains on my feet. I buried it with the cold sand which I collected from my hands. Very relaxing. If only I could feel this kind of feeling everyday, no emptiness, no pressure, away from people, away from chaotic world with my family. Maybe, I was the happiest person living on earth. 

Seeing the water pushed and pulled in the ground with the pebbles following it's wave makes me feel the urge to step on the sea water and dance with them. Though, I really can't dance. My feet are not cooperating with each other. I stood up while playing my feet on the sand and a minute after, I was hit into something hard. 

I groaned when I realised that I was bumped into a hard figure. He was wearing a gray shirt and a denim short with his attractive manly scent. I lifted my view and constructed a word to say on him. I didn't notice him coming earlier though. My eyes widened the moment I saw his familiar blue eyes and rugged face. My heart was racing so fast like attending a marathon as his blue orbs locked to mine. 

"B-Blythe?" he asked, unsure. 

His voice. The same tune that used to be the music on my ear. The voice that gave me chills and woke me up every morning when it's hard for me to get up and the voice that I never heard for a long time. But… I must be mistaken, he is not even sure of my name. Same with me as well. 

I cleared a throat and looked away. "Ah… excuse me? Do I know you? Sorry, but you must've been mistaken," I said before I swiftly turned my back. 

He was silent for a moment, lost in thought. So, I took the opportunity to rush my way back to our room. I should've not gone here! 

Our room was quite distant from the beach so I really had to run fast with my bare foot. The cold ground gave shivers to my body added by the cold breeze and blow of the wind. When I successfully arrived at the lobby, people were confused looking at me but I didn't care. The receptionist even asked me if I'm fine then again, I didn't give a single damn at them. All I know is I have to hide myself! 

"Hey, Blythe!" Lexie called. She's with Khassie, Peachie and Helena walking on the hallway. All looking at me questioningly. 

"Hide me!" I exclaimed while chasing my breath. 

I held Peachie's shoulder then hunched my back to gasp some air. She wrapped her arms around me and started tapping it. 

"Hey, are you alright?" she whispered worriedly. "You seemed terrified," she continued. 

"Have you seen a ghost?" Khassie inquired. I shifted my view at her who was standing next to Peachie. 

"I… I… I do," I replied, still catching my breath making them all scream.

"Where?" Khassie asked shakily. 

"T-there." I pointed my finger to nowhere. 

"Do we need to start worrying?" Helena said. 

"Yes," I answered. 

Lexie stepped her foot on my back with a chuckle. "What kind of Ghost was that? White lady? Black? Pink? The one looks bloody scary? Someone with a cut head? A child? What?" she asked. 

"Ghost from the past," I mumbled. 

Khassie gasped, "What's that? Time travelled ghost?" 

I was about to open my mouth when I heard a loud echo of my name which became my warning sign to hide my face by burying it on Peachie's chest and long brown wavy hair. That was a dumb move, seriously. I could've just hidden myself behind the walls, plants, trees or in the crowds. 

"Blythe!" 

"Lex, cover me!" I snapped then grabbed Helena and Lexie closer to us so that I could hide myself even more. 

"Thyrone?!" Peachie and Khassie asked in unison. 

"Oh, hi Peach. Hi Khass! You're also here? You're with Blythe? Where's she?" he shot question by question. 

"Tell him that I'm not here," I whispered. 

"She said that she's not here," Khassie deadpanned so I pinched her side. "Oh, I mean. She's here? When? She hasn't told us that she was on a vacation! That woman!" she spat making me in a silent giggle. 

"Are you on vacation also, Thy?" Peachie asked. 

"Ah yes, it's actually my last day here tomorrow and I just saw Blythe earlier." Good, I could still spend a day peacefully without him.

"Really? Where did she go?" 

"I don't know. She just ran away… Oh, are you hiding something there?" 

"No, no. It's…" 

"Caroline, my cousin Caroline was not feeling well and you know we're kinda assisting her," Lexie excused while brushing my hair. I hope he hadn't recognised my clothes. 

"Do you need a hand?" 

"No, we're good. We'll just bring her to our room. Thanks for the offer," she immediately responded. 

Lexie must know him by now. 

"Seriously, I would help," he insisted. 

Lexie faced her back and sighed. "Just go! She's my cousin not yours so go now man!" she yelled and we were covered by silence in shock. Why does she need to shout?! When she finally realised the situation, she cleared a throat. "Oh, sorry. I didn't mean that. I just slept in the wrong bed. You know, bad mood. Mood swings. Girls day," she was senseless. "That's nonsense but well, she's my cousin and these three girls are my new best friends. Nice meeting you!" she finally finished her words. 

"O-okay," he replied then I heard short footsteps. "Peach, please ring me on my old phone number if you'll see her. I just badly want to talk to her," he continued. 

"Sure!" 

"Thanks! I'll go now. I must have been in the wrong direction while following her." 

"He's gone already," Helena said then I pulled myself away from them with a sigh of relief. 

"What a handsome ghost, Blythe," Lexie commented. 

"So that was the ghost? If all ghost are as hottie as him, maybe I'll hang out with them every night." Helena chuckled and Lexie shot her stares. "I'm still young, I know. I was just kidding… but a bit serious." 

"You okay?" Peachie asked. 

"Yeah. I'll be back in our room first." I sighed. I thought I'm going to enjoy this vacation and… My poor shoes were left at the shore.