A short story
As a kid I went on family vacations to the beach. I’d watch the trees disappear in the car window and indulge in the scent of the sea. We had a house right on the shore. As soon as the car was in the driveway I was sprinting to the sand. But now I’m older and I see the beach one week in the summer. It’s my last summer before college.
“How long till we are at the beach?” April asks impatiently from the back seat.
“We’ve got 10 more minutes,” Cassie says, checking the GPS.
“I can’t believe it’s my last summer here.”
“I can’t believe you're taking us with you, Isaac. I mean you never shut up about this place.” Cassie’s right in that I never stop talking about my times at the beach but those memories are so precious to me. There was never a summer where I wasn't at the beach, building sandcastles and playing volleyball. As I look out the window, I can see the last tree disappear and see that we are a block away from the house now.
“I know I should be grateful,” April says, “-but will there be any cute boys at this beach?
Because, if not, you could have left me home.”
Me and Cassie both eye her from the front seat.
“April, I don’t have the answer to that,” I say, slightly annoyed.
As we pull into the driveway there is a tall boy in front of the door. He has soft brown eyes and sun kissed brown skin. I step out of the car once we park.
“Xavier, my friend away from friends!” I can see his smile pull into his cheeks as we make eye contact.
“Isaac,” Xavier screams, running to hug me. “It’s been too long.”
I’ve known Xavier forever. Even longer than I’ve known Cassie and April. I remember the first time I met him, a small boy with eyes as bright as the sun. I’m so sure 6-year-old me was not prepared. If I’m being honest, an 18-year-old me is not prepared. It’s his big smile, gets
me every time.
“Who knew Isaac had a hot friend,” April says. “Where have you been hiding him this whole time?”
“I only see him in the summer.” I can see the smile on his face become awkward.
“Xavier meet Cassie and April. Cassie and April meet my best friend and our tag along during this trip Xavier.”
“Hi.”
“Nice to meet you,” April says, looking him up and down with intrigue.
“Nice to meet you too.” Xavier turns to me. “You never told me about them.”
“Trust me, they are an experience rather than a story.”
“Shall we go inside?” I say, turning to the group. They all nod and I lead them inside. The house is painted blue and filled with framed family photos on the walls. I like to think it’s a typical beach house. As they are walking, Cassie and April are focused on the photos.
“Awe, look at baby Isaac,” Cassie says. “You were so tiny.”
“Your curls are all over the place in this one,” April says, pointing to one in which I had fallen on my face.
“This one looks new,” Xavier points out. It’s new to the wall but it’s a photo of us at 10 holding hands and standing knee deep in the water.
“Oh yeah, my mom just found that photo on a disposable camera.” April turns her attention to the one we are both looking at.
“Awe, tiny Xavier and Isaac look like twins.” To April’s credit we were wearing the same swim trunks and had similar hairstyles. I’m more of a sunburnt brown compared to Xavier.
But that’s not really the point, the point is that it’s weird being called twins with a person who’s your friend, or a person who you like. It’s awkward.
“Not twins. Oh my God,” Xavier just laughs it off.
“Anyways, the guest room is upstairs and the bathroom is down the hallway, me and
Xavier will take the downstairs room,” I say, directing the girls upstairs.
Once the girls are upstairs, Xavier, still looking at the picture says, “-we do not look like twins.” He then looks at me to affirm what he just said.
“Yeah, definitely not twins,” I say, with a half smirk.
We all throw our bags in the rooms not bothering to unpack, instead choosing to get dressed for the beach. I’m the first one done so I decide to pack the bags with food and drinks.
Xavier finishes next and takes a seat on the counter across from me.
“So, what are they like and what do I need to know about April and Cassie,” Xavier asks.
“Cassie is sweet and more like a mom friend,” I say. “April on the other hand is a troublemaker and boy crazy. I’m sorry if she hits on you the entire time we’re here.” I stop packing to look at him.
“It’s no problem. I think I can handle that,” Xavier says with a smile. The thing is I don’t really like that he’s smiling. Instead of responding I start packing again a little sourer than before.
“Who’s ready for the beach,” April yells. She’s wearing one of those bathing suits you see in magazines. In all honesty she’s really pretty so I don't blame Xavier for liking her. She's tall, skinny, and has a bubbly personality. When I met April, she was short, wore braces, and was obsessed with every boy band at the time.
“I’m ready,” Xavier yells in response. He isn’t looking at her at all, his attention is still
focused on me. “Are you ready Isaac?”
“I still have to pack the towels and get the beach umbrella.”
“I can go pack the towels. Are they still in the same place?” I nod and Xavier hops off the counter to go grab them.
“I like him,” April says after he’s left the room. “Is he single?” I can’t stress how much I don’t want to answer. I don’t want to aid in whatever love story is about to play out in front of me. I contemplate lying and saying that he isn’t.
“I think so,” is what I choose to say. Cassie is the last to come down. She’s wearing a one piece and a dad hat that says ‘World’s Best’ with dad crossed out, which is probably the best way to describe her personality.
“April, please do not hit on Xavier the entire time we’re here,” Cassie says. “Issac won’t admit it but it makes everyone feel awkward.”
“But Cassie, he’s so hot. Did you see him?” On that comment Xavier walks into the room with towels packed neatly in the bag. By looking at his face I can’t tell if he heard the conversation.
“Is everything packed now?”
“Everything is packed,” I say, throwing the bags over my shoulder. I open the back door and start to step down, careful not to drop anything.
“Let’s race Cassie. Last one is a rotten egg,” April screams running by.
I set up towels on the beach while Cassie and April sprint to the water.
“They seem nice,” Xavier says standing next to me watching them.
“Yeah. They’re the best,” and they are. They know everything about me. Okay not everything. They didn’t know about Xavier.
“I’m glad you have such good friends. I get a little worried about you.”
“You worry about me?” I’m pretty sure I’m beaming. He cares about me, worries about me, maybe in the same way I worry about him.
“Of course, I do.” He’s blushing now. I finish setting up the towels and beach umbrella so that they don’t blow away.
“All done.” I brush the sand off my hands. But when my face meets Xavier’s he has this mischievous grin. I don’t get to ponder it as he picks me up and throws me over his shoulder
before running to the ocean.
At 10, we’d hold hands and drag each other into the cold water. Today he throws me in and it’s the same but different. I can still feel the warmth from his hands on my waist. When I come back up, the girls are splashing him.
“Isaac, help me,” he says between laughs. I splash him too. I also splash the girls and duck behind Xavier before they can splash me back. Xavier, turns around soaked from the splashing, but beaming anyway. He shines brighter than the sun.
“Want to build a sand castle?”
I smile, hoping he can’t see the blush in my cheeks. “I’d love to.”
It only takes a minute before April joins us, choosing to sit between me and Xavier.
“No offense to you two but where are all the boys?” She groans in annoyance.
“She doesn’t know.” Xavier looks at me, giving me a knowing look.
“Nope.”
“This is heartbreak beach. Boys don’t come here for the summer. Girls come here to get over their break ups and kick over sand castles.”
“Boo.” April stares at our sand castle and it’s one solid tower. She slowly leans forward and pokes it, tower crumbling on one side.
“Really, April,” I say, a little more annoyed than warranted. Instead of answering me she turns to face Xavier.
“Then why do you come here every year? I bet you love hitting on all the brokenhearted girls,” she says, leaning into his personal space.
“I come for Isaac, he's more fun,” Xavier says, turning from her to fix the sand castle. “He’s not that fun,” April says, siting back pouting from not getting her way and then turns to me and starts to bury my leg in the sand.
“April, would you quit it,” I say through gritted teeth. She doesn’t even look up.
“April, stop burying Isaac in the sand.” Cassie uses her mom voice. It always seems to impress me. I’ve known Cassie and April for years now but they never really changed, they just became my bratty younger sister and my mature older sister in their own special way. April sticks her tongue out and then gets chased by Cassie. They don’t go too far but it’s far enough that we can’t hear them.
“Do you like April,” Xavier asks, staring at me.
“What? No way. Her and Cassie are like sisters to me,” I say.
“Good,” he says with a smile.
“Good?” He holds my hand and it should feel natural by now but it’s different, more comforting. It’s like he’s trying to ease my worries, as if he knows that who I really like is him.
“Good.” He smiles at me. “I hate having competition.”
“Competition?” I look him in the eyes. “There would be no competition.” He’s beaming again and so am I. I look around to see if the girls are watching. Once I notice they aren’t, I lean down to kiss him. Just a peck because, right now, I’m too jittery to give him a real kiss. What a wonderful way to start off the summer. Just me, my boyfriend, and my two friends who were nice enough to let us have our moment.
© Tristen Williams 2021-2024 All rights reserved
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