Lucas listened to her explanation intently, thinking on how similar - and yet different - it was to his own story. It seemed like nothing could get her down if she still managed to laugh after telling that story.

[b]"It's pretty similar to your story, actually,"[/b]] he replied. [b]"Only my parents were [i]under[/i]bearing. They never did anything, and before long I knew that I had to get it. So I got this lifeguard job and eventually saved enough money to get my own place. Conveniently enough, I found one right on the beach. It's been great ever since, if a little...uneventful. Even a lazy lifeguard like me gets restless eventually,"[/b] he said, looking back at her.

[b]"The beach never gets old, though. I do love it,"[/b] he added.

Pondering for a moment, he delivered his next question. [b]"So...you work at the coffee shop? I've never been there. What's it like?"[/b]