(alaina's outfit for the first part of the chapter)

As they arrived at the beach Saturday morning, Alaina pulled out two surfboards from the trunk of her purple colored jeep. She had gotten her jeep for her sixteenth birthday and she treated it as if it was her baby. She had kept the jeep in pristine condition and she was very proud of it. It was her favorite color too. Nico looked at the boards with a mix of excitement and nervousness. He could hardly contain his excitement. The idea of surfing with Alaina, the girl he had fallen for, was beyond exciting.

"This is a great day for surfing!" Alaina exclaims as she handed him a board. "The waves are perfect. You'll have no problem learning."

Nico smiles, his heart skipping a beat. Alaina looked so beautiful today, with her long blonde hair in a ponytail and her blue eyes sparkling. She wore a black wetsuit that hugged her curves in all the right places, and Nico couldn't tear his gaze away from her. She looked like she belonged in the water, like she was born to ride the waves.

"Yeah, it looks amazing." He replies, trying to keep his cool despite the butterflies in his stomach. "I can't wait to get out there." He couldn't believe how lucky he was to have Alaina in his life, supporting him and encouraging him every step of the way. He was determined to make the most of this opportunity, to show her how much she meant to him.

Alaina beams at him, her smile lighting up her face. "You're going to do great, Nic. I'll be right there with you every step of the way." She couldn't help but let her stare linger on him. Could you blame her? Her best friend was hot. He was wearing a dark blue rash guard over his muscular torso, the fabric clinging to his skin as he moved. His messy brown hair was tousled from the wind, giving him a rugged charm that Alaina found irresistible.  Her face grew warm after realizing she had been staring at him longer than necessary. 

"Sorry, got lost in thought there for a moment," Alaina says sheepishly, shaking her head slightly and snapping out of her reverie. "Let's hit the waves!" 

Together, they carried the surfboards down to the water, the sand warm beneath their feet. Nico couldn't help but feel a surge of adrenaline as they approached the waves, the sound of the crashing surf filling his ears. Alaina gave him a quick tutorial on how to paddle out, how to catch a wave, and how to stand up on the board. He listened intently, soaking up every word she said.

"Alright, you ready?" Alaina asked, giving him a reassuring smile. She was practically beaming with excitement. She couldn't help it. Teaching others to surf was her favorite thing in the world. And the fact that she got to teach her best friend made it even more exciting.

Nico nods, a small grin forming on his lips. "As ready as I'll ever be." He replied, hoping he didn't sound as nervous as he felt. He trusted Alaina, and knew she would do her best to keep him safe. But still, he couldn't help but feel a little anxious.

"Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you." Alaina reassures him, seeming to sense his anxiety. "I'll be right by your side the whole time."

With that, they paddled out into the water, Alaina keeping a close eye on Nico. She showed him the correct way to paddle, and how to position his body when a wave was coming. She told him to stay relaxed, and that the most important thing was to have fun. Nico did his best to follow her instructions, his heart pounding in his chest. He wanted to impress Alaina, but more than that, he wanted to enjoy the experience.

Finally, a big wave started to form and Alaina grins, her eyes lighting up. "Okay, Nic, here comes a wave! Get ready to paddle!" Alaina called out, her voice filled with excitement.

Nico's heart raced as he followed Alaina's instructions, paddling hard to catch the wave. He could feel the wave propelling him forward, the rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins. With Alaina's encouragement, he pushed himself up onto the board, his muscles straining as he tried to maintain his balance. For a moment, time seemed to stand still as Nico rode the wave, the thrill of the experience washing over him. He could hear Alaina cheering him on from behind, her voice urging him to keep going. And then, with a surge of triumph, he felt himself standing upright on the board, riding the wave like a pro.

Alaina's whoops of excitement filled the air as Nico rode the wave all the way to shore, a wide grin plastered on his face. He couldn't believe he had actually done it, and he felt a surge of pride swell within him. As he stepped off the board and onto the sand, Alaina rushed over to him, wrapping him in a tight hug.

"You did it, Nic!" She exclaims, her eyes shining with pride. "I knew you could do it!"

Nico couldn't help but feel a swell of happiness at Alaina's words. He had never felt more alive than he did in that moment, and he knew that he owed it all to Alaina. She had believed in him when he didn't believe in himself, and she had given him the confidence to try something new.

"Thanks, sunshine. I couldn't have done it without you." He replies with a grin. "Can we do that again?" He asked hopefully.

Alaina giggles, grinning back at him. "We can do it as many times as you want, Nic. I'm glad you're having fun."

They spent the rest of the afternoon surfing together, laughing and joking as they caught wave after wave. It was one of the most enjoyable experiences of Nico's life, and he knew that he would cherish the memories of this day for the rest of his life. He was beyond grateful to have Alaina in his life, and he vowed to never take her for granted.

When the sun began to set, they finally headed back to shore, exhausted but elated. They laid out the blanket, the same one from the night they had a picnic, and sat down, watching the sunset.

"That was the best day I've had in a long time." Nico says with a sigh, a content smile on his lips. "Thanks for showing me how to surf, Alaina. And thanks for being such a great teacher."

Alaina smiles softly, a light blush creeping across her cheeks. "You're welcome, Nic. Thanks for being a great student." She said playfully, nudging him with her elbow. She snuggles closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder. "I'm just glad I got to share this experience with you. It meant a lot to me."

Nico wraps his arm around her, pulling her close. "I'm glad too, Alaina. Today was amazing, and I wouldn't have wanted to spend it with anyone else." He said softly, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

They sat in comfortable silence, watching as the sky turned various shades of pink and orange as the sun dipped below the horizon. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore was soothing, and the cool breeze brushed against their skin. It was a perfect moment, and Nico wished it could last forever. As darkness fell and the stars began to appear in the sky, they reluctantly packed up their things and headed back to the car. They were both exhausted from a day of surfing, but they were also filled with a sense of contentment and happiness.

As they drove home, Alaina couldn't stop smiling. She felt like she was on top of the world, and she knew that she never wanted this feeling to end. She glanced over at Nico, who was humming along to the radio with a goofy grin on his face, and felt her heart swell with affection. She couldn't imagine her life without him, and she knew that she would do anything to make him happy. Nico, too, was lost in his thoughts as he drove. He couldn't stop thinking about Alaina, about how much she meant to him and how grateful he was to have her in his life. He knew that he was falling for her, and he couldn't deny it any longer. He wanted to be with her, to make her happy, and to build a future together.

As they arrived back at Alaina's house, they exchanged a lingering look before Nico shut off the engine. They sat in silence for a moment, neither wanting to say goodbye. Finally, Nico reached over and took Alaina's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"Thank you for today, Alaina. It was one of the best days of my life." He said softly, his voice filled with sincerity.

Alaina smiles, her heart fluttering at the warmth in his eyes. "Thank you for being a part of it, Nic. I had so much fun with you." She replied, her voice equally soft.

They sat there for a moment longer, their hands intertwined, neither wanting to let go. But eventually, they knew they had to say goodnight. With one final squeeze of their hands, Nico leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to Alaina's cheek.

"Goodnight, Ali. Sweet dreams." He whispered, his breath warm against her skin.

"Goodnight, Nic. Sweet dreams." She whispered back, her heart pounding in her chest.

With one last lingering look, they reluctantly let go of each other's hands and Nico watched as Alaina disappeared into her house. He sat there for a moment longer, his heart full of hope and anticipation for what the future might hold. As he drove home, a smile spread across his face. He knew one thing for certain: he was falling for Alaina, and he wouldn't trade that feeling for anything in the world. And he had a feeling that she felt the same way too.

****

(alaina's outfit for the last part of the chapter) 

Something else that Alaina had always admired Nico was his musical talent. He could play the acoustic guitar with such ease and could make any song sound beautiful. She was so jealous that she couldn't do the same. Whenever he would play the guitar and sing, her heart would skip a beat. He was so talented and had such a lovely voice. She could listen to him play and sing for hours.

She always wanted to learn how to play acoustic guitar, but she had been too nervous and shy to ask him to teach her. Until one day, she decided that it was now or never. They were hanging out at his house in his room, talking and listening to music. He had his acoustic guitar out and was mindlessly playing and singing along.

"Nic?" She asked softly, a hint of nervousness in her voice.

"Yeah, Ali?" He said, putting the guitar down and giving her his full attention. He noticed right away she was nervous which made him a bit concern. He could tell she was nervous because she was fidgeting with one of the rings she wore and her blue eyes wouldn't meet his.

"Would you-would you teach me how to play the guitar?" She asked, her cheeks turning a bright shade of pink.

"You wanna learn?" Nico said, his eyes lighting up. "I would love to teach you."

Her eyes lit up and a huge smile appeared on her face. "Really? You'll teach me?" She said excitedly. "I've been wanting to learn for a while now, but I've just been too nervous and shy to ask."

Nico grins, his heart skipping a beat at her enthusiasm. "Of course, Ali. Anything for you." He replies, his voice full of affection. He could see her cheeks turning a darker shade of pink and a small smile appeared on her lips. "Would you wanna learn now?" He questioned, trying not to sound too hopeful.

"Yes!" She said, her voice filled with excitement. Her blue eyes sparkled and she practically jumped out of her seat.

He couldn't help but smile at her excitement and the fact that he would get to spend more time with her. "Alright, come over here and let's get started."

She scoots closer to him, now their shoulders were brushing against each other. He picked up his guitar and handed it to her. She carefully took it from him and held it like it was the most precious thing in the world. His heart warmed at the sight, and he couldn't help but feel even more drawn to her. He positioned the guitar correctly, her small frame fitting perfectly underneath his arms. He wrapped his arms around her, placing his hands on hers as he positioned her fingers correctly. Her heart skipped a beat as his hands gently guided her fingers, his touch sending shivers down her spine. She couldn't help but lean into him, her heart racing at their close proximity. She could feel the warmth of his body against hers, and she found herself getting lost in the moment.

"Okay, let's start with something simple." Nico said softly, his voice sending shivers down her spine. "This is a basic chord progression that's great for beginners."

He showed her how to place her fingers on the strings, guiding her through each chord until she got the hang of it. She struggled at first, her fingers fumbling over the strings, but with Nico's patient guidance, she slowly began to improve. They spent hours together, practicing and laughing and joking as they strummed away on the guitar. Alaina found herself falling even more in love with Nico with each passing moment, and she couldn't help but wonder if he felt the same way.

Eventually, they took a break and laid on his bed, their fingers still tingling from playing the guitar. He had his arms wrapped around her, and she was snuggled up against his chest, her head resting on his shoulder.

"So, do you think you'll continue to learn the guitar?" He asks, his voice full of curiosity. "Are you liking it? It can be hard at first, but I think you're doing really well."

"I definitely want to continue." She says, her heart skipping a beat. "I'm enjoying it a lot, especially because I'm with you."

His heart warms and he smiles, his grip around her tightening. "I'm glad you're enjoying it, Ali. You're a natural, you know."

Alaina blushes at his compliment, feeling her heart flutter at his words. She couldn't help but feel a surge of happiness knowing that he believed in her abilities. She looks up at him, her blue eyes meeting his warm gaze, and she couldn't help but smile. "Thanks, Nic. That means a lot coming from you." She replied softly, her voice filled with sincerity.

Nico's heart skipped a beat at the sincerity in her voice, and he finds himself lost in her gaze. He could feel the tension between them, the unspoken words hanging in the air. He wanted nothing more than to tell her how he felt, to pour his heart out to her and hope that she felt the same way. But he couldn't bring himself to do it, not yet. He was too afraid of ruining their friendship, of losing her forever.

Instead, he leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, his lips lingering against her skin for a moment longer than necessary. Alaina's breath caught in her throat at the feeling of his lips against her skin, her heart racing in her chest. She wanted nothing more than to turn her head and capture his lips with her own, to finally give in to the feelings that had been building between them for so long. But she couldn't bring herself to do it, not yet. She was too afraid of rejection, of ruining what they had.

So, she simply closed her eyes and savored the feeling of his lips against her skin, allowing her heart and her mind to imagine what could be if they both found the courage to take that next step.

****

(alaina's outfit for this part of the chapter)

A few days later, Alaina is driving towards Nico's house, the sun shining brightly overhead. She had brought one of her mom's guitar with her and it was resting in the back seat in its case. She couldn't help the grin on her face and how she was practically beaming with excitement. She couldn't wait to show him what she had learned since their last guitar lesson. She was using one of the guitars her mom had. Her mom had a couple guitars from her college days. She had always loved playing guitar and singing. She was very happy when Alaina admitted that she was interested in learning. She had given her one of the guitars and told her that she would be honored if Alaina learned to play.

Alaina smiled as she remembered the excitement in her mother's voice and the warmth of her hug. Her mom had always been supportive of her and her interests, and she was grateful for that. Alaina had never been very outgoing or confident in her abilities, but her mom always encouraged her to try new things and to never give up. The same with her dad. Her dad was always telling her that she could do anything she put her mind to, and he would be proud of her no matter what.

Alaina's smile widened as she approached Nico's house. She couldn't wait to show him her progress and hear his thoughts on her playing. She knew he would be supportive and encouraging, just like he always was. She knocked on the door before she walked inside after using her spare key. She and Nico had a spare key to each other's houses since they hung out so much. Despite the fact she didn't need to knock, she did. It was the polite thing to do and it's what she had always done.

Nico was sitting on his bed, reading a book. He looked up when he heard the door open, his eyes lighting up when he saw Alaina standing there. He doesn't know how she always seemed to look so beautiful. For today she had her blonde hair down straight, she wore a colorful striped tank top, denim shorts and black converse. She also wore a grey cardigan with sunglasses. Her face lit up when she saw him.

"Hey, sunshine." Nico said as he got up from the bed and gave her a hug. "What's up?"

"Nothing much, just ready to play some music." She replied, a wide grin on her face.

Nico couldn't help but grin back at her. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and he loved seeing her so excited about something. His gaze went to the guitar she had. "Did you get your own guitar finally?" He asked.

"No, this is my mom's, but she said if I actually like playing and want to keep learning that I can keep this one." She replied with a bright smile.

"That's awesome, Ali!" Nico exclaims, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "I'm so glad you're enjoying it enough to want to keep going. Let's see what you've got!"

Alaina's heart swelled with happiness at Nico's enthusiasm. She couldn't wait to show him what she had learned. She took a seat on the bed and positioned the guitar on her lap, her fingers itching to strum the strings. Nico sat down next to her, his eyes fixed on the guitar.

"Alright, let's start with the chords we went over last time." Nico suggested, a supportive smile on his face.

Alaina nodded eagerly and began to play, her fingers moving confidently over the strings. She focused on each chord, trying to remember the correct finger placements and strumming patterns. Nico watched her intently, his heart swelling with pride at the sight of her playing the guitar. He could tell she had been practicing, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration for her dedication and determination.

As she finished playing, Alaina loos up at Nico, a nervous smile on her face. "So, what do you think?" She asked, her voice filled with anticipation.

Nico's smile widens as he looks at her. "You were amazing, Ali. Seriously, I'm so impressed!" He exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine admiration. "You've improved so much since our last lesson. I can tell you've been practicing."

Alaina's cheeks flushes with pride at Nico's praise. She had been practicing every day since their last lesson, determined to get better. She was thrilled to hear that her hard work had paid off. "Thanks, Nic. I've been trying really hard." She said, her voice filled with gratitude.

Nico reaches out and gently squeezes her hand, his eyes filled with warmth and affection. "Well, it's definitely paying off. You're a natural, Ali. I'm so proud of you."

Alaina's heart swells with happiness at Nico's words. She couldn't believe how lucky she was to have him in her life, supporting her and encouraging her every step of the way. She squeezed his hand back, a soft smile on her lips. "Thanks, Nic. I couldn't have done it without you."

They sat there for a moment longer, basking in the warmth of each other's presence. Alaina felt a surge of gratitude and affection for Nico, and she couldn't help but feel like the luckiest girl in the world to have him as her friend.

"Hey, do you want me to show you a new chord progression?" Nico asked suddenly, breaking the silence.

Alaina's eyes lit up with excitement at the prospect of learning something new. "Yes, please!" She exclaimed eagerly.

Nico grinned and picked up his guitar, positioning it on his lap. He showed her a new chord progression, guiding her through each chord until she got the hang of it. Alaina's fingers fumbled at first, but with Nico's patient guidance, she slowly began to improve. They spent the rest of the afternoon playing music together, laughing and joking as they strummed away on their guitars. Alaina felt a sense of joy and contentment wash over her as she played, and she knew that she would cherish these moments with Nico forever.

As the sun began to set, they reluctantly packed up their guitars and headed outside. Alaina glanced up at the sky, the vibrant colors of the sunset painting the horizon in shades of pink and orange. She couldn't help but feel grateful for moments like these, moments spent with Nico, doing what she loved most.

"Thanks for today, Nic. I had a lot of fun." Alaina said, a smile on her lips as she turned to look at him.

Nico returns her smile, his heart swelling with affection. "Anytime, Ali. I'm always here for you, you know that."

Alaina's smile widened at Nico's words. She felt a surge of warmth and gratitude wash over her, and she couldn't help but feel incredibly lucky to have him in her life. She reached out and squeezed his hand, her heart full of love and appreciation.

"Thanks, Nic. You're the best." She whispered, her voice filled with sincerity.

Nico's heart skipped a beat at Alaina's words. He couldn't help but feel a surge of happiness knowing that he had made her happy. He squeezed her hand back, his eyes shining with affection.

"You're pretty great yourself, Ali." He replied softly, his voice filled with warmth.

As they walked back to Alaina's house, hand in hand, Alaina couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over her. She knew that no matter what the future held, as long as she had Nico by her side, everything would be okay. And as they disappeared into the warm glow of the sunset, she couldn't help but feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

A/N i love alaina & nico so much