Never Forget (Memories)

to wave as Jen opens the back door of the car for me, and Mum is gazing after me with her hand on the cheek I just kissed. I raise a hand in goodbye and get in.
    As we pull away, she waves goodbye and shuts the door.
    "So, that took a while." Jen raises her eyebrows questioningly.
    "Reminding me about under-age drinking," I grumble.
    "You aren't eighteen yet?" Carl turns from the front seat.
    "Nope. Two weeks." I sigh. "I'm an August baby."
    "No alcohol for the little under-age girl then!" He fist bumps Alec.
    "This 'little under-age girl' is a city girl who could probably drink your sorry ass under the table," I retort. Jen giggles next to me.
    "I'm not challenging a girl to a drinking contest," Carl scoffs.
    "What's the matter, scared?" I lean forward slightly.
    "Not at all. But you're the newbie round here, and I wouldn't want you showing yourself up."
    "Alec?" Jen asks. "Up for it?"
    "Na, same as Carl. Gotta give her a chance to get used to this little village," he replies.
    "Fine." She sits back and we share a glance.
    "Plus she's under-age, and I don't wanna get in trouble if she ruins her Jimmy Choos or something."
    "Two weeks!" I slap a hand against the back seat as he pulls up near the Bay. I can see smoke rising into the air and by the noise that drifts through the open car door as Carl climbs out, the party has already started.
    "I'll make you a deal," Alec says as he opens the door for me and helps me out. "When you turn eighteen, we'll have this drinking competition. Because then you're an adult and responsible for your own actions."
    I look up into his stormy eyes and he quirks a brow. My breath hitches and I nod.
    "You have yourself a deal." I reply, stepping away from him as he smiles, showing his dimple.
    My heart flutters slightly and I follow Jen down to the beach, wondering what on Earth I'm doing being so attracted to such a cocky guy.

    ~

    Alec slings his arm over my shoulders for the second time that day.
    "What are you doing?" I look up at him and realise it was a mistake. He's looking down at me and the light from the fire is dancing over his facial features.
    Making him even more attractive.
    I hold his gaze and nudge him when he doesn't answer.
    "Sorry." He shakes his head slightly and smiles at me. "You see that girl, over there?"
    "'Over there' isn't exactly informative."
    "Two o'clock, beach-blonde hair. More fake tan than the crew from TOWIE."
    "You watch The Only Way Is Essex?" I look at him in shock.
    "Let's not go there tonight. Do you see her?"
    "Hair bigger than her brains? Eyes that are looking at me like she wants to cut me in half?" I question, looking at the girl.
    "Er, yeah, her."
    "Then I see her. What about her?"
    "She's been after me for a while, and I'm fed up."
    "An ex?"
    "No, an unwelcome admirer."
    I nod slowly and glance up at him. "So you thought you'd use me so she'd leave you alone?"
    "Mmm," he replies, looking around.
    "It didn't work." I smirk as I see her approaching us.
    "What?!" he asks, panicked. He groans when he sees her. "Fuck it."
    "Language, Timothy," I tut, shaking my head.
    "Shush," he whispers and pulls me in closer to him.
    "What are you doing?" I hiss.
    "Making her leave me alone," he whispers into my ear.
    I'm horrified to find my heart is beating a little faster than it was a few minutes ago.
    This attraction is going beyond a joke, and I've only known the guy a day.

    ALEC

    She has this silky smooth hair that slides over my face when I press the side of my face against hers. I think it smells like strawberries. Strange, I imagined her as a mango type girl. Exotic, hard to get.
    One of her hands is sitting on my waist, steadying her, and I can feel every inch of skin where she's touching it. It's like I'm hyper-sensitive to her touch, attuned to her body. She's breathing onto my neck and I can't help but run the tip of my nose along the length of her ear, my lips grazing it gently after.
    She freezes and using all the damn willpower I have, I glance up to find Bianca has turned her back to us and is flirting shamelessly with some guy. Right. Like I'd be jealous of that.
    "She's gone. Thanks." I smile at her and she steps back like she can't bear to be near me.
    "You're welcome. I guess." She brings her cup to her lips and her brown eyes comb the beach, looking for Jen presumably.
    "Behind the trees, snogging Carl's face off, most likely." I answer her unspoken question and lean against the rock.
    "How did you know I was looking for Jen?" Her eyes