Author's note: In a quiet moment, Beth reminisces about her picnic on the beach with Mick. Rated PG.
My deep thanks to Lilly for her wonderful suggestions, which turned this from a boring writing exercise into an actual story. You rock, dude!
Picnic
I had a picnic on the beach with Mick today. I glanced up to see him strolling toward me, buttoning his shirt, and nearly fell over—he looked amazing! My friend, my temporarily human vampire, glorying in the sun. His hair blew across his forehead and he combed it back with his fingers as he settled onto the blanket beside me. He was squinting in the bright light. It made his eyes crinkle at the corners…and he was smiling in a way I’d never seen him smile.
He seemed so different—bigger, almost, and so much more relaxed. He commented on all the food and I got a little embarrassed, realizing that I’d brought enough to feed everybody on the beach. I just wanted to be sure I had something he liked.
We made small talk as I tried to figure him out. It was the weirdest, most stilted conversation we’ve ever had. Usually, we have such an ease to our conversations, but not today. I think I got more from his body language than I did from what he said…or actually, what he didn’t say.
Case in point: the simple act of picking up a strawberry and biting into it. Man. I almost needed a cold shower! I could tell it was an incredibly intense experience for him. I always thought of Mick as kind of Spartan, but watching him eat that strawberry made me realize what a sensualist he really is. A sensualist who’s been trapped in the body of a monk for I don’t know how many years. He glowed. He vibrated with zest, even when we talked about the difficult stuff.
Like when I asked him how long he’d stay human before he turned back. The instant I asked him, halfway through the question, even—I wished I hadn’t opened my mouth. His face was so sad as he talked about the uncertainty of not knowing how much time he had. But then he got a really determined look in his eye and said, “I’m making every day count.” I could tell he really was. He was going to live however many days he had to their fullest.
I realized right then that I had to clear the air, try to start fresh. I stumbled out an apology of sorts for the terrible things I’d said to Mick when he didn’t turn Josh. At least I was able to admit that Josh wouldn’t have wanted it. Mick didn’t even seem to care about the awful things I’d said. He went straight for the ring—mentioned that I’d been wearing it at Josh’s funeral.
I didn’t know what to say. Yeah, I was wearing Josh’s ring, but…
So I told him. I told him that even if Josh had asked me, I wouldn’t have been able to accept him.
Mick shook his head, looking a little uncertain. He asked me why not. Come on—doesn’t he know?! He has to! Everyone else does…sigh…
So I told him. “There’s someone else.” Mick looked into my eyes with such intensity that I dropped my gaze for a moment. Did he honestly think I was talking about anybody but him? Oh, god—I swear, sometimes he’s dense on purpose. Well, I’d started it, so I had to go on. I bulled my way through. I didn’t say “I’m falling in love with you, you idiot,” but I think I got my point across, even though I was talking about this “someone else” as if he wasn’t sitting right across from me. And then I took a deep breath and said something like, “And I think it’s time he figured out what he’s gonna do about it.”
He didn’t say anything, of course. He just looked down and to the side, the way he does when he doesn’t know what to say. I didn’t give him an inch, though. I smiled, but I didn’t say anything. The ball was in his court now.
He looked up and gave one of those half-smiles that melt my heart, and nodded as if to say, Point taken. And then he picked up another strawberry and bit into it, staring at me. Oh, my god. I wanted to be that strawberry.
My mind was jello. I’d said it—I’d told him. What was he gonna do? I took deep breaths and calmed myself down. Funny—I had to remind myself that he couldn’t hear my heart pounding anymore. I picked up the champagne bottle and said, “Let’s celebrate your humanity. However long it lasts.”
Mick smiled at me with the most open, warm look. “Thanks, Beth. Thanks for doing this, for meeting me. And for celebrating with me. I’ve really missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too.” My hands were shaking so much I could hardly unwrap the foil from the bottle, but I finally got the cork out and poured the gushing wine into flutes. I handed him one and touched the rim of my glass to his. “To humanity.”
“Humanity. I like the sound of that.” He took a deep sip and sighed. “God, I love tasting things. Everything is so wonderful.” He sat up a little and reached for a slice of cheese, bringing it to his nose and inhaling with gusto.
I laughed. “You’re so cute! You still do the sexy sniffing thing.”
Mick grinned at me. “Well, my human sense of smell may not tell me as much about the chemical components of the cheese, but it sure makes my mouth water.” He bit into the slice and shut his eyes, savoring it. His lashes made shadows on his cheeks, they were so long.
I grinned and sipped my champagne, enjoying his enjoyment. “I don’t think I will ever take food for granted again. You make every bite count, Mick.”
He swallowed and looked at me, suddenly serious again. “I’m making every second count, Beth.”
Tears came to my eyes. He wanted to spend these moments with me. I’m so glad I told him. I don’t know what’s going to come of this, but at least he knows how I feel.
I picked up another strawberry and handed it to him. Our fingers brushed and I felt a thrill run up the skin of my arm. It took my breath away. I sat there, staring at him with my mouth open and my hand still outstretched. He didn’t move. Neither of us was breathing.
Suddenly a seagull squawked and landed on the blanket, pecking at the loaf of bread I’d laid out.
“Get away, you pest!” I waved my hands at the bird, laughing, and when I looked back at Mick the moment had passed. He was making a sandwich.
That stupid bird. Well, we have time. We have a few months, anyway.
I watched Mick eating the sandwich, looking out to sea. He looked a little wistful, but happy, too. I don’t know—content, maybe.
I made a couple more sandwiches and put the bread away, to keep the birds from attacking it. Mick was watching some kids playing in the waves.
I reached into the basket for my phone. “Hey.”
“Hey what?” Mick looked at me, smiling.
“Can I take your picture? I’d like a memory of today.”
“Sure. It’s a good day.” He sat up and posed for me, and I snapped the picture.
I looked up from fiddling with my phone. “You want another sandwich?”
“Sure.”
I handed him one and grabbed the other one for me. I was still saving the picture to my phone.
I said, “I think I’m gonna make the new you into my wallpaper.”
Vampire Mick would have frowned at me, but Human Mick just nodded and laughed, and bit into his sandwich.
This is gonna be fun.
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