Come to think of it

Justin stands back and watches Beth reel the fish in, glad to see her coming just a little further out of her shell. Watching as she took the hook out and threw the fish back all on her own, he was a little surprised. Most women would balk at touching a slimy fish, let alone taking a hook out. She'd done it well enough, he almost wondered if she'd fished as a child perhaps - beginners didn't usually know how to hold a fish properly once it was caught.

Having Beth return to him, he nods. "Yep, same way. But..." He holds up the empty hook. "I think we need some more bait."

Grinning, he goes to his pack and retrieves the carton of worms. Pulling one out, it wriggles around his fingers as he puts it on the hook, slime going everywhere. "Alright, there we go. Now you can cast. Just flip the bale after it hits the water and you can just sit and relax until that bobber goes under. If that happens, just give a bit of a jerk and that'll set the hook so you can reel in another one."


Remembering the kiddie pool, Pete throws his head back and laughs more. "I can't believe we did that. Well, maybe I can, but good grief."

Shaking his head, Nikki's next comment makes him grin. "I guess being the oldest had its advantages. To me though, you two were always equals no matter what the other kids said. Even when we were older, it was just... natural to hang out, ya know? Didn't bother me none."

Sinking back in his seat a little more, Pete grows quiet for a few minutes until he suddenly sits up straight again and gets out of the car. "The beach is calling. You coming?"

Waiting for Nikki to join him, Pete wanders off the pavement, through the narrow strip of grass and into the sand. Even though he had tennis shoes on, it still felt good to walk in the softness.

Partially tucking his hands in his pockets, he ambles forward, kicking at the sand a little as he walks. It was strange... having so many different memories flooding his mind... walking here with Nikki... he almost wonders if he might wake up and find it had been a dream.

Stopping before he reaches wet sand, he just stands as a cool evening breeze finally delivers them from the heat. "I remember after I graduated, I thought I would be thrilled to have more free time to myself and I'd come down here and fool around. But I'd usually wind up going home because it wasn't much fun without anyone else around." He chuckles. "Come to think of it, I really don't come down here all that often now, unless I have time for my jetski."

Taking a deep breath, he lets it out slowly, suddenly not knowing what to say next.