Coffee Shop Romance

Chapter 21

The next morning we just had cereal for breakfast. We headed to the beach early, to beat the heat and the crowds....though when we got there I could't help but think that there'd never be a crowd. The beach was a small cove, hidden from the road, with black swirling into the white creating beautiful patterns. The wind pulled at my light blue sarong, and it whipped at my legs as I carried the cooler with sandwhichs. Elijah and the others had lugged their surfboards to the edge of the water. Orlando pulled up shortly later, and another car appeared as well.

"Guy!" Billy called up to the car. "Glad you could make it man!" The man at the car waved and pulled his own board off the roof.

"Hey all!" The Hobbits ran up to him and each gave him a huge hug.

Dom leapt on his back and rubbed his fist into his head, "Where the hell have you been man?"

"Couldn't get away earlier." He spotted me and smiled, "See 'Lij's got himself a girl finally."

I laughed, "Why does everyone keep saying that to me? Does he just hide in his flat when he's not with you fools?"

"Yeah pretty much." Dom answered.

"So how did you get sucked into this group?" I asked him.

"Helped the boys out of a tight spot. It ended with us tumbling out of a restroom window and down a tree." He laughed, "How about you?"

"Long story." I laughed, "I'll have to tell it when I'm less tired." He nodded and grabbed his board and followed the rest of the guys to the waves. I sat down on my lounge chair and attempted to tan. My skin was so olive, that it takes a lot to get it to darken more. I was praying that I'd finally get a beautiful brown this year. I was on my back with my eyes closed when suddenly I felt a shadow fall across me. I opened one eye to find Billy standing over me, one hand casting a shadow on my tummy. "What are you doing Bills?"

"Trying to make an imprint of me hand on yer stomach...so that there'll jus' be a wee pale spot in the middle." He grinned.

"Oh is that all?"

"Aye."

I propped myself up on my elbows and grinned. "Billy?" I smiled sweetly.

"Yes lass?"

"Sod off." I laughed and pulled my sunglasses back down as he chuckled and walked back to the water. I lifted the back of the chair slightly so I could watch the boys show off. It was obvious that they weren't that serious about surfing as a sport, more like a fun activity they can do together. They all seemed evenly matched, though out of all of them Billy seemed to stay standing the most. Dom, Elijah, and Guy spent most of their time trying to knock each other off their boards. The afternoon passed slowly, I spent most of my time in my chair...until Orlando decided I was far too dry for his tastes.

I'd seen them huddled together at the edge of the water, talking and everyonce in a while glancing my way. They played "Rock Paper Scissors", and Elijah came out on top. With a grin and a bow to the others he headed up my way at a dead run waving his hands in the air, "I'll save you! I'll Save you!" He wrapped on arm under my legs and the other at my back and lifted me out of my chair. "Don't manic miss...It'll be okay."

"What in the hell are you doing?" I laughed.

"Shhh....don't talk...you need to keep up your strength M'Lady." He made his quick way back to the water and walked until he was waist deep in the water. "Hold your breath." He whispered in my ear. I oblidged, and closed my eyes as he sank below the water with me still in his arms. When we popped back up we laughed and I tried to get out of his arms. I was not succeeding.

I poked him in the sides and yelled for the others, "Help help! The River Guardian has me! Somebody help me!"

"Oi! Though we killed you!" Billy exclaimed and swam out to us with Dom and Guy in tow. Dom had dove under the water, and had evidently grabbed Elijah's legs because I suddenly saw him pulled under, with me almost going with him were it not for Guy's firm grip on my shoulders. Together, he and Billy brought me back to shore while the Soldier of Rohan battled the fierce creature in the waves. In the end he drug 'Lij onto the shore, his hand grasped firmly around his left ankle.

"Damn, we have to get going if we are going to make it to the premiere."

I starred at Elijah. "What did you say?"

Elijah looked at me oddly, "I said 'Damn, I've got salt water in my ear'." He threw a handful of sand in Dom's direction.

"Oh.." I looked down at him and smiled.

I was about to say something else when I was suddenly tackled by Dom. "Give me all of your lollipops or I'll tickle you to death!" He grinned.

"Never!" I gasped and laughed as his fingers found my sides.

"Relent!" He laughed, and gasped when he flew away from me with a blur of motion. Billy helped me up and shielded me from Dom...who was now on all fours growling at us. I jumped onto Billys back and laughed as Dom swiped at my foot. Not being able to reach me, he went for Billy, knocking us over. I landed on my back with billy on my stomach.

"Hey now! I brought her! It's my turn now Bills!" Elijah laughed. He tackled Billy, knocking him off me and giving me the chance to try and rise. No such luck as Orlando saw me trying to escape back to the safety of Sean and Christine. I heard him call to Elijah, and felt his arms wrap around my waist and spin me around. "Having fun?" He whispered in my ear.

"Well...it's okay...I mean...its not everyday you get to flirt with a cute guy on the beach." I looke at him coyly.

"Cute? I'm just cute? What happened to hot and sexy?" He squeezed me and smiled.

I reached a hand up and poked his nose and winked, "Why Mr. Wood...I wasn't aware that we were talking about you! I was refering to the very striking Orlando Bloom. I struggled to get out of his arms as he suddenly got a mischievious gleam in his eye.

"Oh really?" He said.

We collapsed onto the sand, Elijah pinning me down with one hand while the other got me in the sides. I starred at him again....wow....deja vu...Then it hit me...I felt the tears in my eyes and suddenly Elijah's eyes widened, "Sarah?" His voice was so far away.

"It's happening again." I cried, "Just like before..." I wrapped my arms around his neck, "Please don't let it happen again." Dom and Billy, the only others to know the whole story, were at our sides in a flash.

Elijah pulled me up into a fierce hug. "I won't...I promise." He kissed the tip of my nose...a favorite spot of his apparently. "Want to get out of here?"

Dom rubbed my back, "It's okay if you do Luv." He looked at his watch, "It's almost time for us to get going anyway...we've got an early flight tomorrow."

We all said our good-byes to Guy and pilled into our cars. Elijah wrapped me into a protective hug the entire length of the trip back to the house. When we finally climbed out of the car I walked up to the porch steps and sat down wrapping my arms around my knees. I told them I wanted to be left alone for a sec, and they nodded before walking into the house. I knew Elijah was sitting at the living room window, watching me in case I needed him.