Grace and Jamie step on the sand and walk along the path to find a spot to settle at. Jamie is holding the beach umbrella in one arm and Grace’s bag in the other. Grace turns around to look at Jamie, who is clearly struggling.
Grace: Are you sure you don’t need any help?
Jamie: *struggling* Nope! I’m okay.
Grace and Jamie find a spot in which Jamie places Grace’s bag on the sand gently, but chucks everything else on the ground. He crouches down by putting his hands on his knees; attempts to catch his breath. Grace goes into the mini cooler and takes out a water bottle for Jamie. He looks up at Grace and kindly accepts the water bottle.
Jamie: Thank you.
Grace: Of course! You look like you’re about to die on the sand.
Jamie rolls his eyes.
Jamie: Ya, it was just heavy.
Grace: *laughs* I offered to help! You wanted to show off your *mimics superman pose* manly-man side!
Jamie laughs at Grace and shakes his head as he picks up the umbrella to set it up.
Jamie: A man, no matter how weak or tired he may be, should always take care of the heavy things for a woman present.
Grace is taken by surprise. She watches Jamie set up the umbrella.
Grace: You know some women would literally kick you in the balls for not letting them to do the work equally, right?
Jamie: Let’s not hope you’re one of those women; I would like to be laying in the sand peacefully, not painfully.
Grace giggles and sets up the blanket in the sand under the umbrella. She takes off her dress and reveals a navy blue bikini with white anchors on them. Jamie’s face flashes red as he sees her bare skin. He quickly puts his sunglasses on to hide his blushing face. He glances at Grace putting sunblock lotion on her skin.
Grace: You could put your shirt in my bag if you don’t sand getting into it.
Jamie looks down at his shirt.
Jamie: It’s a swim shirt.
Grace: Oh! I thought… you, uhm…
Grace gestures removing her shirt from over her head.
Grace: Take it off at the beach.
Jamie: *teases* Are you asking me to take off my shirt?
Grace’s face flashes red. She shakes her head nervously.
Grace: Only if you want to! I mean, I don’t know how comfortable you are wearing a shirt at the beach but if you want to wear it, you can I was just–
Jamie: *laughs* I wear it to protect my skin. I don’t get tanned skin when I come to the beach.
Grace: You don’t like the sun?
Jamie: It’s not common for Koreans to have tanned skin, but I can see that it’s different in America.
Grace: Oh! Yeah, the tanner you are, the more it looks like you’re living your summer dream here really. Would you ever try tanning?
Jamie ponders on the thought. He slowly takes off his shirt, which Grace finds herself staring. She clears her throat and looks ahead towards the water.
Jamie: Grace?
Grace turns her head to face Jamie without even dealing he is now shirtless, sporting a tiny 6-pack and toned arms.
Jamie: May I borrow your sunblock lotion?
Grace: Oh! Yeah, here…
She watches Jamie put the lotion on his skin. She reaches for the mini cooler and takes out a bottle of water. The two sit in silence, yet it is not awkward; just mutual.
After a while, Jamie looks over to Grace, who is sunbathing. Jamie clears his throat before saying anything.
Jamie: I can see why you came to California; it’s very peaceful.
Grace looks over at Jamie, who is now looking out to the water. Grace doesn’t answer right away. Jamie looks at Grace and catches her looking at him.
Grace: Yeah…
Grace’s smile starts to fade. Jamie notices.
Jamie: Do you not like it here?
Grace: No, no; I do. It’s just… different. My family and friends are back in New York so, things just feel different here.
Jamie nods his head, listening to Grace speak.
Jamie: I understand.
Grace: And now Skylar spends most of her time with Shawn, which is fine; I’m glad someone was actually able to entertain her for longer than a night.
Jamie: Shawn is quite the entertainer.
Grace giggles. Jamie smiles, happy to see her smiling again.
Grace: Thanks again for agreeing to come to the beach with me.
Jamie: Thank you again for inviting me.
Grace smiles at Jamie and then closes her eyes to sunbathe. Jamie gets up from under the umbrella and stands over Grace with his arm extended out to her.
Jamie: Come on.
Grace: *confused* What?
Jamie: Come to the water with me.
Grace: *skeptical* Jamie, the water is…
Jamie: Just water that will cool us off.
Grace leans back down and closes her eyes.
Grace: You go.
Jamie huffs.
Jamie: Come with me in the water.
Grace takes off her sunglasses to look at Jamie directly head-on.
Grace: I don’t want to go into the water. The saltwater and my hair do not mix.
Jamie: What’s the point of going to the beach if you aren’t going to swim?
Grace: Jamie.
Jamie: *mocks* Jamie.
Grace scrunches her eyebrows; lost for words.
Grace: You’re not getting me in that water.
Jamie: You’re getting in the water with me.
Grace: I would love to see you try.
Jamie looks around the beach and quickly lifts Grace off of the blanket without letting Grace react.
Grace: Jamie!
Jamie carries Grace and runs toward the water; she shouts and tries to get free from Jamie’s hold on her.
Grace: Jamie Kim I swear to God if you drop me in the water–
It was too late; Jamie was now in the water and he tosses Grace into the ocean. Grace screams as she falls into the water. She quickly resurfaces and wipes the water from her face. Jamie laughs out loud. As revenge, Grace splashes Jamie, which catches him off-guard. When she finds her opportunity, she runs toward Jamie and dunks his head into the water. He quickly pops back up, coughing.
Grace: You see how it feels?
Jamie doesn’t stop coughing, which immediately worries Grace.
Grace: Jamie?
She walks toward Jamie to check on him, in which he quickly stops coughing and lifts Grace’s body from the water. Grace screams, but Jamie tosses her into the water once again. This time, Grace comes back up laughing, splashing Jamie in the direction he stands. They both play fight in the ocean water, laughing and yelling like little kids.
Letters From Liz. 