Sam gave her a smile as he stepped into the water as well, almost surprised at the fact that the water was quite warm. He glanced down at the small waves that washed in towards their feet, then took another step in, glancing at Holly and smiling as he did so, "Well, what do you think, miss Holly?"
"It's a lot cooler than I expected," Holly admitted, looking at him with very obvious delight. She hadn't been to the seaside, at least, not this close, since she had been a very small girl. It was wonderful, and she loved it. The sand was soft beneath her toes, and as she waded in a little deeper, careful not to get her dress wet, she wondered what it would be like to swim it again.
He chuckled and made sure his pants were rolled up as high as they could go before stepping in deeper, a visible smile on his face, "I suppose it is." Sam watched as she waded deeper, motioning to her dress with a playful smile, "Now I know what we can do for our next date, we could come back and swim…without having on nice clothes that we have to worry about getting wet." If Holly wasn't there, he knew he would go swimming in his actual clothes, but he figured she would like to be included, and she couldn't exactly do that in her gown.
Holly's face turned red at the words next date. Had he really enjoyed being with someone as awkward as her? The very thought filled her with an indescribable pleasure. "That-that sounds really nice," she said, stumbling over her words, trying and not succeeding to hide how flustered she was. "I'd like that."
"Perfect," He replied, aware of just how red her face was. A playful smile appeared at the idea that he was actually flustering her, and he wondered if she knew just how nervous he got when he spoke to her most times. Sam knew he was getting more comfortable around her just because of how much easier it seemed to talk to her. And that was a big achievement. There weren't many people that he was comfortable around. "Sadly, it will have to wait until I've met with all the other ladies, but I'm looking forward to it already."
"Me too," Holly said softly, her voice barely loud enough to be heard over the sound of crashing waves. "I'm looking forward to it, too." She looked down into the clear water, and giggled suddenly when she saw tiny fish, smaller than her pinky finger, swimming around her feet. She moved, and they darted away almost faster than her eyes could follow.
Sam laughed lightly as he saw the little fish swimming around her feet, almost not seeing the ones darting around his own legs. They were tiny and made him smile as he watched them swim away, scared of the sudden movement of his leg. “These aren’t nearly as big as dolphins…but they have to be just as entertaining.” He studied the tiny creatures before looking up at her with a grin.
"Almost," Holly replied with a nod, watching the fish instead of looking at the man next to her, of whom she was, at the moment, hyperaware of. "Although, swimming with dolphins, I hear, is really entertaining." She gathered the courage to look up at him, and found that he was already looking at her with a smile. She went pink, and added, "Apparently they're very playful creatures… but they don't exactly move this fast."
"Are you suggesting another date idea?" He asked, cracking a bigger smile as he looked to her, almost surprised that he wasn't blushing furiously, "First a date on the beach, next swimming with dolphins, soon you'll be asking to see my family's summer home that overlooks the ocean from the bluffs." Glancing away, he looked back to the remaining fish that confidently explored the area around their legs. As he thought over the idea further, it didn't sound like a horrible idea, and he was more than happy to swim with dolphins, even if it meant he had to arrange a boat and bring all of the girls with on some sort of short cruise.
"Oh no, I'm not!" Holly said hurriedly, blushing crimson. "That's not what I mean, no." She felt a little burst of excitement and shame at the way she had phrased her words. She stumbled slightly, and then when she righted herself, turned her attention back to the fish, in hopes that maybe her embarrassment would pass. She was so dumb. Why did she think that she could say something like that to him? Now he probably thought that she was a clingy priss.
Sam laughed, shaking his head as he genuinely laughed, "I'm just joking, don't worry. It's too early in the year to see our summer home. Though maybe I can make the arrangement to see dolphins work." He winked with his words and chuckled, eyes widening instantly in worry when she stumbled. Sam reached out his arms to catch her, but she righted herself before that happened and he was left with his arms out for a moment. Quickly, he pulled them back to his sides, blushing as he looked to the scattered fish by their feet. He did like the idea of bringing Holly out to see the summer home, if the Selection lasted that long that was. At this rate, he was mainly interested in Holly, but then again, he had yet to even talk to more girls than her and Lacey.
Holly's face was completely red from blushing. She probably looked like a tomato. Maybe she should just accept the fact that she was an innocent little lamb. A little giggle escaped her at the thought, and she covered her mouth before it got too loud, her face reddening even more. What was wrong with her? She was glad, at least, that the prince didn't seem angry with her words.
He smiled as he looked to her, mustering up the courage to offer out a hand. "Up for a walk up the beach? Before we have to get going?" Sam asked, hoping he didn't sound to nervous. The color in his cheeks showed his nervousness well enough anyway. Ending the date with Holly was the last thing he wanted to do, but eventually, they would be needed back at the palace, and he didn't want anyone to freak out if they were out much longer. There was plenty of time for another date anyway, he just had to figure out when, after talking to all the other girls that was.
"Y-yeah, sure," Holly responded, taking his hand without a second thought, before realizing that she was holding the prince's hand. She tried not to think about the warmth of his palm, or how much bigger his fingers were than hers…
She felt disappointed that the date would have to end so soon, but it had been fun - even if she hadn't stopped blushing the entire time. She searched her brain for something to say before coming up with, "Thank you for today. It was really nice."
.
(Hi there)
"No problem…I had fun today, I was nervous that you wouldn't like it..to be honest," He admitted with a soft laugh, feeling his face flush when she took his hand. It felt so perfect to hold her hand, it seemed to fit nicely in his and gods he loved it. If he wasn't so completely awestruck by the fact that she was actually holding his hand, he would've been nervous, well, more than he was.
Easily, he started the walk along the beach, staying in the water with a gentle smile. He was purposely drawing out their walk, well aware of the royal guard stopped at their picnic blanket, calmly waiting for them. Making him wait a little longer wouldn't matter.
.
"I did," Holly said, with a little laugh that was more breath than sound. "I really had fun. I promise." She almost said, I hope all of your other dates go this well, but then realized that maybe that wasn't the best idea to say. Not only would she be embarrassing herself, she would be mentioning something that might dampen both of their moods.
As they neared the end of the beach, where cliff walls rose above them, glistening with spray, she tripped. Of course she did, it was bound to happen. (because we all need to have cheesy cliches in our roleplays XD)
(Cheesy cliches are the best XD)
Sam's smile grew and he looked at the ground, slightly embarrassed but overly proud as well. He had actually planned out a date that Holly had liked. Internally, he was cheering himself on, but on the outside, he forced himself to just keep his giddy smile on his face while they walked.
He didn't notice much as the cliff walls started to rise around them as the beach came to an end. Mostly, he was focused on the compliment he had been given. A moment later he finally looked up, opening his mouth to speak about the cliff walls when Holly tripped. He wasn't sure how he snapped into action so fast as she tripped, but he did, stepping and wrapping his arm around her to stop her fall. Sam froze as the second passed, but he didn't let her go, just stayed there, trying to decipher what had happened that had gotten him to be this close to Holly. He could only imagine kissing her, but he tried his best to force his thoughts anywhere than how pretty she looked in her dress, and how soft her lips would feel.
(When used the right way they really are.)
Holly just let out a tiny gasp, eyes closed tight, waiting for the impact of the water.
But it never came. She felt an arm grab her, stopping her fall, and suddenly, the sound of the ocean was drown out by the sound of breathing near her, and a smell that was both unfamiliar and familiar. She opened her eyes, and found Sam incredibly close to her, holding her to stop her from falling.
Her breathing stopped, and she stared up at him with large eyes, unable to believe what was happening. The sun was hitting his face just right, making him seem like some gorgeous, foreign statue.
Sam's eyes were just as wide, and he studied her face for longer than he even realized. With the sun shining down on them, it was casting Holly in a soft glow, making her look like a literal goddess as he held her.
Opening his mouth to speak, he paused, closing it again as he forgot what he was going to say. Nothing was important enough to ask he decided. Not as he was so lost in her eyes. The smell and sound of the ocean were barely background materials as he looked to her, sure that his racing heartbeat was all she could hear.
"Are you ok?" He asked, his voice soft, like he was worried he would break this moment with anything louder.
The intense look the prince was giving her made Holly want to look away. And yet… she couldn't. She held his stare, even as her cheeks turned red.
Hearing him speak gave her a little start. "Uh- um, yeah, I'm fine," she said, equally softly. She realized that she was way too close to Sam, and she stepped away from him, even as her body and heart screamed at her to stop. She instantly felt colder when she stepped away, but… well, he was a prince. She was a nobody. She didn't have the right to be that close to him, especially when this was only the beginning of the Selection.
He barely nodded, snapping out of whatever daze he had been in as he stepped away from her. It was by far the last thing he wanted to do at the moment, but kissing her, or staying like that both could've ended up more awkward. "It..uh… gets a little rockier up further, be careful not to trip," Sam finally said, offering her a small smile. The moment was far from gone, but he was already missing it, wondering why he had broken it with his words.
Something in his mind reminded him that it was still early in the selection, and that he shouldn't be head over heels for Holly already, but another part told him that it was ok to have a crush on her. He internally sided with the latter, though he was still unsure of how she felt about him.
"I'll remember that," Holly said softly. She cleared her throat, brushed her dress off slightly, and then realized that, in the action of tripping, she had accidentally dropped the part of her skirts that she was holding, causing them to get wet.
She sighed a breath through her nose. Good job, Holly, she scolded herself. She had ruined a very nice dress, all for something that probably didn't mean anything to the man beside her.
She cleared her throat again, trying to find something to clear the awkwardness. "Um… have you ever worn a dress before?" She finished lamely.
(Super sorry….I thought I had responded to this already…)
Sam was still lost in his thoughts as Holly spoke, though he quickly blinked away his thoughts and smiled sheepishly, copying her by clearing his throat. Though he did it mostly to avoid the question she asked. He wasn't exactally embarrassed to give her an answer, he was just….reluctant for more of his and Alex's shenanigans to be heard of.
"I…may have worn a dress before," He replied, looking away from her as a soft, embarrassed blush tinted his cheeks and nose. His hand came up to his hair and he ran his hand through it, hoping to look a little less flustered, "It was….interesting."
His small smile stayed on his face as he looked towards her, knowing that she would probably ask for the story and that he would tell it to her. Some small part of him told him to just tell her the story, hoping to make her laugh or smile again, but he didn't want to ruin their building relationship-ish if she didn't want to hear it.