Uneasy [Lucy]

[John Kaleb Hall]

'First Beach? What the....how did I end up way over here?' Kaleb sighed and pulled into the mostly empty parking lot. It was about time for breakfast as far as the rest of the world was concerned, and there were only a few early birds out and about on the beach so far. 'So, this is it huh? The beach...' Kaleb had not been able to sleep the night before, he had only dozed in and out of dreams that all revolved around one person. After realizing that his tossing and turning was doing nothing to get her out of his head he decided to get up and do his chores early. Well, earlier than early in this instance. Usually he started his day at about 6 or 7 am. Today he started it at 4:30, and finished up about 6:15 but that was only because he took his time and went extra slow.

After that he decided that he would drive around a bit to clear his head. He started out from his driveway and took a right, after that he didn't really pay that much attention to where he went and was in a daze until he saw the sign that said "First Beach." The whole way there he just sang along, with the windows down and music blaring, to a mixed country cd that he had put together. It held all the songs a country boy could live by and he belted out every word. It seemed that everywhere in Washington he went, they seemed to be lacking the good old country radio stations, so he settled for making his own.

'I've never been to the beach before...Why end up here? O well, she sure is beautiful...er, it sure is beautiful....Damn." Tired of sitting in his truck he got out and slammed the door shut, his music still playing in the background. As he paced around his truck he tried to clear his head....around and around he went, all the while fiddling with his cowboy hat in his hands. Eventually he went and let down the tailgate and pulled his phone out of his pocket with the hand that was not still gripping his hat. A few moments later he plopped down onto the tailgate and stared at his phone. As he stared his ears began to tune into the song that was playing in his truck; he heard "If tomorrow never comes, will she know how much I loved her, did I try in every way to show her every day, that she's my only one?" Kaleb rolled his eyes and thought 'So, yeah, I've been real productive today...and driving and listening to sappy country songs has worked like a real charm to keep you from thinking of her...you're procrastinating, dummy."

The clock on his phone read 9:23a.m. and he was shocked to learn that he had been out driving in his truck for so long. He took a deep breath and said out loud to himself "If tomorrow never comes...did I at least, try?" He knew he was probably being way over dramatic right now, but he brushed it off and flipped open his phone and said to himself... 'Message, new text message, To:, contacts, L-U-, accept, down, "Hey, It's me, just wondered if you would be interested in meeting me down at some place called First Beach? Hadn't seen you in a while. -Kaleb' After reading and re-reading his message Kaleb finally took a deep breath and just hit send; he was hoping that he wasn't waking Lucy up, and also that she wouldn't think that he was weird for asking her to meet him here.

[Lucy Daniels]

Lucy had been awake for about twenty minutes when she heard her phone buzz on her night stand. She was half way through brushing her teeth as she left her bathroom to see who had texted her. Lucy was almost certain that it wasn’t Kenzie or Katelyn because neither of her friends were exactly what you would call a morning person. Lucy continued to brush her teeth as she flipped open her phone to see that she had been right, and that Kaleb had been the one to text her. Immediately she ran back to her bathroom and washed her mouth out. Lucy flopped onto her bed and texted a response to Kaleb, “Hey long time no see! Sure I’d love to meet ya there, I just need to get dressed. See ya in a few” -Luce Lucy ran to her closet and began pulling outfit after outfit and tossing it into the pile quickly mounting on her bed.

“Gah! This is so dumb, Lucy get a freaking grip! This is Kaleb we are talking about here. Point and case.” Lucy flopped face first onto the pile of cloths that were on her bed becoming side tracked while she thought of Kaleb. He was right in his text message that they hadn’t seen each other in awhile. Lucy finally settled on a pair of jean shorts, a black t-shirt, and she pulled on a pair of flip flops. Before she left Lucy found herself grabbing an extra shirt just in case they went and played in the water. Lucy sauntered down the stairs and past her living room were her parents were watching the morning news calling, “Hey I’m going down to La Push to hang out with a friend I have my phone with me!” “Alright sweety have a nice time, and be careful.” Replied Lucy’s mother as Lucy closed the door behind her.

Lucy skipped all the way to her car and she could feel herself dancing in her seat as she pulled out of her driveway. Now that she was going to see Kaleb again Lucy was hard pressed to be in a bad mood about anything, even the fact that she hadn’t seen Kaleb in a long time. Her sensible mind wanted to take over as she wondered why Kaleb texted her this early in the morning, and why he wanted to hang out at La Push of all places. With a quick shake of her head those thoughts scattered and Lucy was back to enjoying her day dreaming about Kaleb. An antagonizing fifteen minutes later Lucy was in La Push and a few moments after that she was at the beach. Lucy parked so that there was still some distance between her car and Kaleb’s truck. As she got out of her car a frown creased her forehead as she noticed Kaleb. Lucy tried to ignore the fact Kaleb almost looked like someone had punched him in the gut.

Lucy allowed herself a small mental sigh as she did her best to wear a grin as she skipped over to where Kaleb had settled himself. Suddenly a real grin split her face as she got an idea. Lucy cleared her throat a little and did her best to copy Kaleb’s Southern drawl, “Well lookie here, seems ter be a stranded Cowboy.” Lucy laughed at how ridicules she sounded and hoped that Kaleb wouldn’t think of her like a complete moron. Going back to her original speaking Lucy smiled, "Hey Kaleb."

[John Kaleb Hall]

Sitting in a sudden sleepy stupor, he spazed quietly when his cell phone went off with Lucy's reply. He read the the message quickly and out loud “Hey long time no see! Sure I’d love to meet ya there, I just need to get dressed. See ya in a few” -Luce...Yesss." Kaleb got up and walked down to the sand, trying to clear his head he took a couple deep breaths. After taking in sights he smiled to himself, walked back to the tailgate and settled back into his previous, spacey, position to wait for Lucy. He began to loose himself in concentration about what his reason would be for asking Lucy to come out her at this time, and at such short notice.

Some 30 minutes later, give or take, Kaleb wasn't aware of time, Lucy pulled up and parked next to Kaleb's truck. She got out and smiled really big, which Kaleb undoubtedly noticed. Her contagious smile crept across Kaleb's face as he heard her say "Well lookie here, seems ter be a stranded Cowboy." In a mock southern drawl and "Hey Kaleb" In her normal bubbly voice. He laughed and quietly said "Hey, you! You're a sight for sore eyes." He took her by the hand, hopped down from the tailgate and asked "Wanna go for a walk? I kind of have a lot on my mind lately." It was at this point in time where he realized that he was more nervous than he had originally thought.

[Lucy Daniels]

Lucy felt her smile grow when she heard Kaleb’s laugh at her attempt at humor. She felt herself relax almost immediately at his laugh as Lucy figured that whatever was on his mind couldn’t be too bad. Lucy felt her head cock to the side slightly when Kaleb said, "Hey, you! You're a sight for sore eyes." Kaleb also took possession of her hand. ‘Huh I guess someone is feeling friendly.’ Kaleb then asked if Lucy wanted to go on a walk following that up with saying that he had a lot on his mind. Suddenly Lucy did not feel like smiling and her stomach dropped into her feet. ‘Lucy calm down you don’t know what he could be thinking. For all you know it could be good.’ Trying to force herself into a fake calm Lucy nodded in answer to Kaleb’s question. “Sure the beach is a perfect place to walk. So what’s on your mind Kaleb?” For some reason Lucy couldn’t bring herself to use her nickname for Kaleb in the case that it was something bad that he had been thinking about.

[John Kaleb Hall]

Poor Lucy looked like she had just seen a ghost. Right after he had said that he had a lot on his mind lately, he noticed that he must be freaking her out. He knew that he was acting way out of character because as far as he knew Lucy had only ever seen him being his happy-go-lucky self. But, needless to say, freaking her out was the last thing that he ever wanted to do. He put on a big, and sincere smile he quickly said "Nothing bad, promise, I've just had a lot of time to think lately and I guess this whole moving to Washington thing, is just now catching up with me, ya know? I mean, I've done a lot...a LOT of changing and I guess I'm just now realizing it."

He paused for a few moments, to reorganize his thoughts and then began again with a chuckle. "Ha…The other day I was thinkin' about this kid, back in Texas, he was quiet, a shadow of his best friend, and only ever really spoke when he had been spoken to first. When he wasn't following his best friend around, he was most of the time, by himself. He spent a lot of time outdoors, and it seemed like he could relate easier to animals than to humans. He had a fort that he spent tons of time in, all by his lonesome, making up games. And once he was older he would spend his time reading and writing out there after he was through getting dirty and doing chores. Wanna take a guess as to who this kid may be?" He took a deep breath and let out a sigh, then turned his head to face Lucy and cocked one eyebrow, expecting her to catch the drift.

[Lucy Daniels]

Lucy relaxed once again when Kaleb flashed a smile towards her. She must have been easier to read then she had meant to be, because Kaleb followed his smile up with an explanation that his thoughts weren’t bad. Kaleb mentioned that he had been thinking a lot with his excessive free time he also mentioned that he had changed a lot. Lucy thought about the pre-Forks Lucy and how much if at all whether or not she had changed. The only change Lucy could really see in herself was her confidence level; she could never imagine the Seattle Lucy going to the beach to meet a guy. Nor could Lucy imagine the older version of herself going out to the same guy’s farm to spend almost a whole day with him. With a reflective grin Lucy nodded at Kaleb, “I think I can kinda understand.” Kaleb was quiet for a few more moments before his short laugh broke the silence. Lucy listened to Kaleb as he talked about a kid from Texas and by the time he reached the end and asked if she wanted to guess who the kid could be Lucy knew it had been Kaleb.

It made her a little sad that Kaleb’s childhood sounded a little lonely but for the most part he seemed happy and Lucy figured that could be the silver lining. Pretending to think for a moment Lucy put her free hand on the side of her face and drummed her fingers on the side of her face. “Well let’s see your Great Uncle Bobo?” Offered Lucy as she pulled Kaleb towards the beach, “Your second cousin Marvin?” Lucy was purposefully being ridicules now to get a grin on Kaleb’s face. “Your great-great Uncle Willie twice removed on your long lost brother’s-cousin’s, on your mom’s side of the family?” She finally couldn’t keep it in and felt a laugh escape, and she looked up at Kaleb with a friendly grin, “Well for whatever its worth Kaleb, I like what you say is the new you.” ‘Oh what the hell Lucy worst comes to worst, come up with a patented Lucy escape plan.’ After a second of building herself up Lucy spoke again as they reached the sand, “And I probably would have liked the pre-Washington Kaleb just as much.”

[John Kaleb Hall]

Kaleb couldn't help it. He had been trying his best to keep a straight face as Lucy told him her answers to who she thought he could be talking about. He lost it as soon as she 'thoughtfully' said, “Well let’s see your Great Uncle Bobo?” after that his face lit up with laughter, stifling it only to hear the rest Lucy's hilarious answers and then let he it out again. Sobering up from his laughter he heard her say “Well for whatever its worth Kaleb, I like what you say is the new you.” And after a few seconds, “And I probably would have liked the pre-Washington Kaleb just as much.” Kaleb glanced down at Lucy and noticed that she was watching him as she comforted him. He smiled warmly at her and realized that at this point in time he was comforted and thankful that Lucy was such a friend to want to cheer him up. "Thanks, Luce, it means a lot…really."

"So, the other day I found myself eating at the diner and just kind of lost in my thoughts. I realized that my hiding behind my best friend Brady, was kind of the reason why I think I was always the shy one. He was the ring leader. But now that I've moved here, I find that I'm definitely more confident than I ever thought possible. Oh, and while I was there, I met this girl, her name isss…Vanessa. She's nice, and I don't know why but I invited her to sit down…I never wouldda done that in the past. It was true, he probably would have just taken his piece of his phone back and muttered a thanks. All of the sudden Kaleb felt like he was talking way too much. He got quiet and hoped that this whole conversation wasn't making Lucy uncomfortable. 'What are you doing Cowboy...why did you bring that up?'

[Lucy Daniels]

Lucy immediately relaxed when Kaleb started laughing. She saw that he seemed to be feeling better and she was proud of herself that she had made Kaleb feel better. Kaleb looked down at Lucy and she felt herself walk a little straighter when Kaleb thanked her. It was probably making her happier then it should to cheer Kaleb up so much, but Lucy rationalized it by thinking, ‘He is just a really good friend Luce, you would do the same thing for Kate or Kenzie.’ As an added after thought however, ‘Yeah but how many times a day do you day dream about them? GAH! I really need to stop talking to myself.’ Lucy squeezed Kaleb’s hand a little when he said that cheering him up meant a lot. She knew that she could easily get used to holding Kaleb’s hand. After a moment’s thought she realized that she had gotten used to it, so used to it that she in fact realized that it was weirder for her not to hold Kaleb’s hand.

Lucy smiled to herself as Kaleb started talking about his friend Brady. She giggled a little and gently bumped into Kaleb as they walked on the beach, “Yeah but I bet you were the best shadow in all of Texas.” A subject change came at that point that made Lucy feel a little antsy for comfort. Kaleb started talking about another girl that he had met at the diner not long ago. Suddenly Lucy felt ridicules for being so goofy over Kaleb while she tried to argue with herself that it was not a big deal. While she was fighting with herself, Lucy was also trying to focus on whatever Kaleb was now saying about Vanessa.

It was a little too much for her at that point and Lucy started to loosen her hand from Kaleb’s. Lucy tried her best to paste on a smile, “Well that’s good you aren’t Mr. Shy Cowboy anymore. Um look I just realized that I should probably get home soon.” Lucy started retreating from Kaleb with what she knew probably looked like a panicked smile, “I guess I’ll see you later Kaleb.” At that point Lucy turned around and wanted to run but she wanted to have some shred of dignity which caused her slow paced walk back down the beach.

[John Kaleb Hall]

Kaleb loved the feel of Lucy's hand tightening around his as she squeezed it in reply to his thanks. But then after he spilled the beans about inviting Vanessa to sit with him, he realized that something wasn't quite right. He searched and found Lucy's face, apparently torn about something, and then he realized that they were no longer holding hands. She had let go of his hand and was politely saying something about his not being shy anymore; he didn't exactly hear what she had said before the part about her "needing to be going home" because he was already mentally kicking himself. 'Damnit!'

"Well, I guess I'll see you later Kaleb." She ended, quite abruptly, and walked off as Kaleb's thoughts once again kicked him in the head, 'Shit, this is not how I planned this."

"Lucy" He yelled. "That's not gonna fly this time. Consider your escape route...cut off. Please don't leave just yet." Eyes pleading, he jogged a bit to catch up with her and he continued talking.

"Lucy, I'm sorry if mentioning Vanessa upset you, but that's not why I brought her up. I was only highlighting the fact that I've been doing things that I never would have done before. Iiiiii....I, I've been lauhging a lot more, I've been rushing through my chores, I've been singing songs on the radio that haunt me....all because of you. Lucy, I want to be with you...all the time, you, you're all the difference in me." Out of breath from his confession, Kaleb hoped that this uneasy feeling would leave him. And sure enough it did. With all of his feelings now outrageously out in the open, feeling more vulnerable than ever before, he somehow felt relieved.

[Lucy Daniels]

Lucy had a slightly annoying tune from Finding Nemo as she thought, ‘Just keep walking, just keep walking, just keep walking, walking, walking…’ She would have laughed at herself for being so ridicules but it was not exactly a laughable moment. Lucy was too busy beating herself up about Kaleb and how much she actually like him. ‘And what sort of baby walks away from a guy just for talking about another girl?’ Lucy growled to herself and mentally told herself to shut up as she fought to keep an even pace down the beach. ‘Smooth freaking move Lucy. “Oh I need to go home.” Now he is going to think of you like an idiot and never talk to you again.’ Lucy argued with herself.

Suddenly someone yelling her name cut into her thoughts but knowing it was Kaleb, Lucy tried to ignore him. The way she figured all she needed to do was get to her car. Before Lucy could get any closer to the escape of her car, she was cut off. Kaleb was suddenly a roadblock and Lucy knew that she wasn’t going to easily get around him. A subconscious part of Lucy was amazed that he actually followed her and was trying to talk to her. ‘Lucy you will have to look at him.’ Lucy looked up at Kaleb just as he was apologizing for mentioning Vanessa, but Lucy open her mouth to say that he had no reason to apologize for her own stupidity.

Instead of being able to utter a word Lucy felt her jaw drop to the sandy beach the more that Kaleb spoke. Lucy felt like a gaping fish as she continued to try and form the words flying around in her mind. “What was that again?” Lucy realized that she sounded like a moron and she waved her hands in the air, “Wait a second.” Lucy put her hands on either side of her face and looked up at Kaleb, “Sorry I am being really stupid right now.” Lucy put her hands down and realized the reason her hands should have been on the side of her face was to keep it together. A smile was splitting her face as Lucy turned to so that she could actually face him.

Lucy was currently on cloud nine as she closed the distance between Kaleb and herself. Lucy slid her hands into Kaleb and somehow after his little confession she felt more at home holding his hands. With a smile still in place, “Well since I guess since you sorta fessed up to something I guess its mine turn.” Lucy thought for a moment about something that had been on her mind for a long time, pretty much since the day she had met Kaleb. “The Lucy that you know, and apparently like, isn’t exactly the same Lucy before she came to Forks. I mean pre Kaleb-Lucy would never have gone to a guy’s house to ride horses or have a picnic, she defiantly wouldn’t have hung out with a guy as much, or day dream about a certain cowboy, and she certainly would not be standing on a beach in Washington holding hands with the most amazing guy that she has ever met.” Lucy felt the impossible happen as her smile grew and she asked, “So how’s that for a confession?”

[John Kaleb Hall]

Kaleb was momentarily confused when Lucy said “What was that again?” He started to think that he may not have gotten his point across and was about to say something to clarify when Lucy started waving her hands in the air and said, "Wait a second….Sorry I am being really stupid right now." Vaguely audible he mumbled, "You are so...not stupid, but you ARE just so damn cute." He laughed and watched as he saw all of the wheels churning in Lucy's head, as she realized what had just happened.


After she seemed to regain her composure, a stunning smile lit her face, and Kaleb knew that he must have done something right. He took in every movement of Lucy as she sauntered up to him and comfortably took his hands this time. His confession was not unrequited, and was actually then followed up by a confession of her own. Kaleb's crooked smile took over as he did his best to be charming and said, "Better than mine I think." He pulled her closer and into a hug. Pulling back a slight bit, he took a few seconds to clear his head and then leaned in, hoping for that highly anticipated first kiss…..

[Lucy Daniels]

Lucy heard Kaleb mumble to himself and she cocked her head to the side as she heard, "You are so...not stupid, but you ARE just so damn cute." Lucy then heard Kaleb laughing at what must have been a very entertaining show on his end of things. She could feel herself melting into a puddle right there in the sand as Kaleb flashed a crooked smile down at Lucy. As Kaleb pulled back Lucy moved her hand out of his to slip her arms around his waist. Lucy bit her bottom lip as Kaleb seemed to take a few moments to collect himself for whatever reason. Her head had naturally tilted to the side as she studied Kaleb wondering what he was thinking. Lucy was about to ask him when Kaleb began to lean in. ‘OH MY GOSH!’ Zoomed in and out of Lucy’s head before she moved her arms to curl around Kaleb’s neck and she stood on her toes to shorten the distance between herself and Kaleb. Lucy actually felt her lips brush against Kaleb’s but her dream world came crashing down as her cell phone went off in her back pocket. “Son of a biscut eater.” Lucy muttered to herself. Her arms fell from around Kaleb’s neck and she leaned into his chest as she pulled the evil technology out of her back pocket.

‘Well someone had better be bleeding to death.’ “Hello?” “Hi sweetheart I was just wondering how much longer you would be out.” Lucy turned her face into Kaleb’s chest and smiled at how amazing he smelled and how comfortable she was putting her free arm around him. Lucy remembered then she was on the phone, “Oh sorry mom got kinda side tracked. Um no I don’t know how long I’ll be out.” “Alright but try to pick up some milk on your way home, we are starting to run low here.” “Sure mom, love you.” “Thanks sweetie, love you too.” Lucy slipped her phone back into her pocket and put her other arm around Kaleb’s waist hugging him close. She laughed a little into his chest, “Well you can thank my mom for the buzz kill; she wanted me to get milk on my way home.” Lucy turned her face into Kaleb’s chest and tried not to laugh out of sheer disappointment.

[John Kaleb Hall]

This was it, Kaleb could feel the anticipation between the two of them right as Lucy realized what he was doing. 'Here we go, this is it' Smooch?…..nope, phone. 'Really?" He laughed, their timing always seemed to be off... just the slightest bit. However, the humor in this part of his new relationship with Lucy was part of what he loved the most.
They balanced each other out and yet they both marched to the beat of their own drum. They loved being around each other but then inevitably something was always throwing off their timing. As far as Kaleb could remember he had scared Lucy in class, his stomach had rumbled, he had been caught with his mouth full, Lucy almost fell off of Luna, this wasn't the first time a moment had been altered by her mother calling, and many other amusing stories in between. Kaleb soaked it all in, only now beginning to see that he was truly living life to it's fullest.

Kaleb had loved the fact that Lucy had wrapped her arms around his waist, and that before they were startled by the phone call she had slid her arms around his neck. Listening into the phone call he realized it was probably one of her parents checking in, or something; and then after she hung up she told him that he had her mother to thank for the interruption and he playfully replied, "Oh, ok, geeeez…Thanks, Lucy's Mom."
As Lucy once again buried her face in Kaleb's chest, his arms naturally wrapped around her and squeezed her tight. Since his initial plans had changed, Kaleb began reformulating his next move. It was then that he realized how close to the water's edge they still were. 'Heh heh' He chuckled evilly to himself. He squeezed her one more time, finishing the hug and then spun her around to walk side by side with his arm around her shoulder. He began to scoot her closer to the edge of the water, being very careful and trying his best to be inconspicuous.

[Lucy Daniels]

Lucy was frustrated beyond belief that her mom had decided to call right then. ‘If it isn’t one thing its another.’ Lucy thought to herself. She also couldn’t help but remember that this wasn’t the first time her mother had interrupted. The first time at the diner however had been more of a rescue mission on her mother’s part without realizing it. Lucy laughed a little at that thought as she and Kaleb stood on the beach. She smiled into his chest and she couldn’t help but think repeatedly how much she loved standing right there. Lucy laughed again as she had explained that her mother had interrupted the moment and Kaleb jokingly said, "Oh, ok, geeeez…Thanks, Lucy's Mom.” She playfully poked him in the side, “Hey at least be glad she isn’t so strict that I couldn’t come out. Woulda put a serious cramp in your morning.” Lucy settled herself into Kaleb’s arms again falling head over heels for the feeling that she got from being so close to Kaleb. It amazed her how much she could like a guy especially since she had been one of the trio that was most against guys in general.

Lucy grinned as she thought, ‘Seems like Kate is the last one standing.’ Lucy wanted to laugh at how amazing everything was turning out as Kaleb squeezed her into a hug and holding her closer. With another light squeeze Lucy was released enough so that Kaleb could turn and the two made their way towards the waters edge, which as it were they were quite close to. Lucy figured that Kaleb wanted to maybe walk in the water’s edge which was fine with Lucy. She took her hand that wasn’t wrapped around Kaleb’s side and pulled off her flip flops and tossed them away so they couldn’t get carried off by the waves.

Lucy looked up at Kaleb with a smile completely wrapped up in everything that had just happened that morning. If she hadn’t known any better Lucy would be suspicious of the look on Kaleb’s face but she mentally waved it off with a grin and looked back to the water.

[John Kaleb Hall]

"Hey at least be glad she isn’t so strict that I couldn’t come out. Woulda put a serious cramp in your morning.” said Lucy. "Now, this is true…I wouldda pouted all day if I hadn't been able to see you." Kaleb replied with a pretend and over exaggerated frown.

As they neared the water Lucy paused and took off her flip-flops. 'Eh…that's a good idear.' Kaleb jokingly thought to himself. Smiling big he too kicked his flip-flops off and they landed next to Lucy's. "You wanna walk in the water eh?" Not stopping too long to wait for a reply Kaleb gently pulled her over into the ebb and flow of the tide along the shore. As they walked in the foam, the bottom of Kaleb's worn out jeans began to soak up water.

This gave him an idea for an excuse to carry out his plan. He paused and still holding Lucy's hand he said, "Hold up for a second, I wanna roll up my jeans, even if it does look goofy." However, instead of letting go of Lucy's hand as he bent over, he tightened his grip just a bit and he braced himself, he jumped into deeper water and of course, wound up pulling her out into the water after him. Kaleb began laughing, even though he couldn't see much because of the stinging salt water in his eyes; he was now sitting in waist deep water, still laughing, and hoping that his prank hadn't backfired.