EMPTY LOVE

XIX. Friends

Wait did he say friends?

"Friends?" I look up to him.

"Yes, I want you to meet them"

That's pretty fast-

"You sure? I feel like I'm so not prepared for that yet"

"They've been dying to meet you"

"Trust me on this one"

"Okay"

"By the way do you want to go to a party later?" he asks.

"Tell me about it first"

"It's at one of our friend's house and yes, there's going to be alcohol " he mentions.

"Uhm okay, I'm down"

"We can leave whenever you want to okay?"

"Okay."

"Ruel?" I ask.

"Yes?"

"I don't have a swimsuit, I didn't bring one" I mention.

"Oh, we can go to the store and get you one" he answers.

"Sounds good, I'll go get ready" I say leaving his side to get ready.

I decided to wear my oversized Shawn Mendes concert t-shirt and my battered shoes. I filled my bag with things I'd need for the beach.

I picked a black triangle bikini top with matching bottoms real quick before Ruel finally starts heading to the beach. It's a 30 minute drive which isn't bad at all.

"I'm kinda scared" I say.

"Don't be. You'll love them" he answers.

Eventually we arrive at the beach and my nerves start building up again.

Nothing to worry about Brandy

They'll like you

You'll like them

We see a group of people by the large rocks, I'm assuming it's them.

"RUEL!"

"FINALLY MADE IT!!"

We hear a bunch of his friends call him out.

They look really intimidating now that I'm standing in front of all of them.

Holy-

"Is this the lovely Brandy you've been telling us about?" one if the guys speaks up.

"It is" Ruel responds.

"This is Mary, Anabel, Sunday, Kate, Anneliese, Dane, Alex, Angus, Fred, and Bodhi" he finishes.

"Hey! I'm Brandy" I introduce myself.

I get a bunch of hi's and hey's from everyone.

"Hey Ruel wanna go surfing with us?" One of the guys asks.

"Sure!" he answers.

"I'll be back okay?" He says giving me a quick kiss before leaving to go with the guys.

That leaves me with the girls.

"Come join us Brandy" Anneliese says as I come sit with them on the huge beach blanket they have on the sand.

"Just help yourself to anything" Sunday smiles.

"So New York ?" Mary speaks up.

"Yeah"