Greg woke up alone, trying to recall where he was. He spotted Ella's backpack in the corner of the tent and wondered where she had gone. He checked his watch; it was only 6.30am.
Ella meanwhile had woken at 6am, full of a nervous sort of energy that she knew she would have to run off. She had pulled on some clothes and her trainers, grabbed a bottle of water from the cool box and just took off through the trees. With her ear buds in, she turned up her music, running in time to the beat. The sun was properly up by the time the path she had been following opened out on to the cliff top. Ella came to a halt, breathless from the long run; resting her hands on her knees while she tried to catch her breath. She sat on the grass, drinking her water and watching the sunlight bounce off of the calm water.
Even after her run, her head was still a mess of jumbled thoughts. She wished it was just her and Greg here, so they could properly sit down and talk about what was happening. She wasn't ready for anyone to know anything yet; plus, what was there to know? Were they together now? What about when Greg flew out again to return to work? How long would it be before she saw him again? Ella's head hurt thinking about it. She just hoped Greg hadn't told the others anything yet.
Ella stood, stretching her calves out slightly, before starting her jog back to the campsite. Regardless of what was happening with Greg, she had another day of beach and sea ahead of her. Her stomach growled as she got closer to the site, breathing in the delicious smell of frying bacon. You could always count of Hannah to keep them well fed!
The others were sat around outside the tents when Ella made it back. "There's bacon in the pan for you," Hannah called through a mouthful of bread. Ella beamed at her, heading to the pan to make herself a bacon sandwich. She glanced over casually at Greg. He must have returned to his and Mitchel's tent at some point as he was wearing a fresh set of clothes.
After breakfast, they packed up some snacks and towels, ready to head to the beach. Ella had changed out of her running clothes and back into her bikini. As soon as they reached the beach, she was straight in the sea, swimming out into the cool water. She closed her eyes, treading water while the sun caressed her face. Ella glanced at the beach. She could see Gareth and Hannah cozied up together, she could only guess what they were doing! On the other side of the small beach, Mitchel and Greg sat together, the small haze of smoke above them telling Ella that Greg was 'trying to relax' again.
Ella swam back, making her way back to the rock she had dried off on yesterday, before Greg had showed up.
Greg never took his eyes off of Ella, the whole time she was in the water. All he could think about was last night; how it felt being with her. He had rolled a joint, hoping it would calm his racing thoughts. If Mitchel noticed him watching Ella, he didn't mention it. Mitchel was quite happy to take the joint Greg had rolled for him; sitting on the sand, listening to the music playing through a wireless speaker he had bought along.
Greg watched as Ella slid on to the rock, the water running down her body and pooling around her. He watched as she put her ear buds in and turned her music on. She was obviously hoping to spend some time soaking up the sun, enjoying her music. Greg felt the pull on his shorts as he started to get hard. It didn't help that Gareth and Hannah were making out not far from him. He looked back at Ella. He could see her chest rising and falling as she breathed steadily. All he could think of was how she had growled when he had bitten her nipple. His cock throbbed; he was grateful that Mitchel had laid down and couldn't see his raging hard on.
Most of the day passed with them relaxing on the sand and swimming in the warm ocean. They came together to eat just after midday, before Mitchel started opening beers for everyone. The warm sun and the beers made Ella feel hazy. She led back, resting her head on Mitchel's thigh and closing her eyes. She dozed for a bit against his leg, listening to the others talk. Suddenly the conversation turned to Greg's time away and his sex life. Ella stilled, hardly daring to breath.
"Nothing to tell really." Greg shrugged, "Work keeps me too busy for any of that." Gareth laughed, "I don't believe that you haven't fucked ANYONE in the last two years!"
"I couldn't go two days, let alone two years!" Added Hannah in disbelief. Ella opened her eyes, turning her head slightly to look at Greg's face. He glanced at her fleetingly before answering; "There's someone I'm close to. I didn't want to ruin my chances by fucking around."
Ella's mind was swimming. Had he really not been with another woman this whole time just for her? Ella knew he hadn't had anything serious, but assumed there had been the odd one-night stand. She looked at him again. He was starting to look uncomfortable. "I seem to have run out of beer," Ella called, to no one in particular; allowing the topic of conversation to change as Mitchel passed her another. Greg couldn't keep his eyes off her. Watching her silently as she drank from the bottle, before wedging it next to her in the sand. He wished she was lying on his lap, rather than Mitchel's. He wanted to touch her, run his fingers through her hair, anything.
Before long, everyone was hungry again; packing up their stuff to head back to the campsite. Greg hung back, waiting for Ella to collect her things from the rock by the sea. They hadn't really spoken all day. He wandered slowly down the beach towards her. "Did you mean what you said earlier?" Ella asked, not daring to turn around and look at him. She heard Greg sigh behind her. "I came close a couple of times, but I couldn't go through with it. Had to make up an excuse and leave." Ella turned to look at him, "But why?"
"It just wasn't you." Greg whispered. "So, does that mean... I mean... Did you?"
Ella startled, "No. I guess I just didn't connect with anyone." Greg nodded.
"All I've thought about today is you," Greg replied, "I don't want this to be a secret. Especially with our friends. I want to be able to talk to you, kiss you even, without worrying about the others seeing!"
"But what is 'this'?" Ella asked, gesturing between them. "I can't give myself to you. I can't let myself fall for you, when you're going to leave again. Being apart as friends was hard enough. I don't want to be apart from you if it's something more. We can't be in a relationship if we only see each other every couple of years." Ella finished picking up her stuff and went to walk past him. Greg could see the tears in her eyes as she went passed. He stood, unable to follow her when he didn't have the answers she needed. He took his glasses off and rubbed his face with his hands.
