The moment Alex sees you on the docks, he nearly gets hit in the face with the volleyball. He drops it and runs over to you, abandoning the game Haley, Sam, and he were playing. Everyone thinks he's dating Haley, but he's not. Not even interested. He's only focused on you.

You eat lunch by the docks every day, smoke one cigarette, and write in your journal as the sun sets on your skin. You're a mundane, ritualistic farmer who finds the little things, like the ocean, sun, or crops, worth living for. Normally, he'd say that's lame or something, but you taught him to love it. He loves a lot of things he didn't before. His journal, for example, is the thing he writes in every day now. He knows the boys in town would mock his ass if they caught him writing down affirmations, but he does it in secret. Writes about his workout and his recipes, about phrases you said he likes, like 'you are more than your body', something he doesn't quite understand but enjoys nonetheless.

He writes about new opinions he's slowly developed since he met you. How you teach him not to flirt or catcall, even though sometimes it happens anyway. How much he likes you. Really likes you, not just the mild attraction he used to have with other people. He can't even feel that anymore, he's only focused on you.

"Hey! How are you?" he asked, plopping down next to you. If he were a dog, his tail would be wagging like crazy.