"Have any New Year's resolutions?" Shawn asked, stepping onto the sand.

Daisy shook her head.
"No, haven't thought about it. Resolutions are silly anyway. Just stupid goals people set for themselves which they never really follow through on."

Shawn chuckled, causing Daisy's smile to widen.
"True. Sad as that is, I have at least one goal for this year," he said.

"Oh?"

"Yeah, to finish my final school year without any melodrama."

"You are in your final year?"

Shawn caught the hint of surprise in her voice.
"Yep," he nodded. "You?"

Daisy frowned but nodded.
"I'm going to complete my final year here in Shelly Cove."

"You don't sound very enthusiastic about it," Shawn mused.

She stopped walking and her fingers around his hand jerked slightly.

"I- "she swallowed, "am not, I suppose. A new school, a new town, people I don't know."

"I get it. Especially for your last year," he agreed. "Being in a small town like this can be challenging, if not overly annoying. Everyone knows everyone and everyone's business. Secrets are hard to keep."

"They are?" Her fingers jerked again, and his hand tightened instinctively.

"But like every small town, some secrets still have people scratching their heads. Like the Shelly Cove lighthouse."

"Lighthouse?" Daisy's eyes widened, "there is a lighthouse?"

Shawn chuckled again and the tension in Daisy's spine eased.

"Yeah, it is abandoned now and is mostly just a tourist attraction. Great place to take photos."

"Oh."

"Come on," he tugged on her hand, and they started walking again.

They passed the huge bonfire someone had built and the few couples enjoying the atmosphere. Daisy's stomach turned when she inadvertently spotted a pair kissing. She quickened her pace, her hand slackening in Shawn's hold. Worrying thoughts started bubbling to the surface and once again she stopped.

"Don't you have a girlfriend? Or- "she bit her lip.

"No, I don't have a girlfriend or a boyfriend," Shawn answered.

"Oh."

Shawn raised an eyebrow, "you?"

"What? Me?" Daisy shook her head and almost laughed. "No, I have never even been in a relationship."
She frowned at her over-sharing, and her stomach knotted.

"There, look," Shawn said a few minutes later when they arrived at a colossal boulder that bordered the beach, pointing to a looming, dark structure in the distance.

Daisy squinted, peering into the darkness. And then, as if on cue, the moon broke free from behind a cloud and illuminated the lighthouse. Although a fair distance away, the aged structure was captured by the moon's eerie glow.

"She is beautiful," Daisy whispered, twisting her head to look at Shawn. Her breath caught in her throat when she found him looking at her. His expression was unreadable.

"Yeah, she is," Shawn agreed, clearing his throat and abruptly released her hand. He moved to lean against the boulder, folding his arms across his chest.

Daisy shifted awkwardly in the sand for a few seconds, her hand tingling from the loss of warmth. The anxiety was once again clawing its way into every muscle.

This had been another mistake.

She took a deep breath and reached up to release her hair from its constricting ponytail.

Shawn stared, mesmerized, watching the auburn waves tumble down over her face and shoulders. The moon's light caught flecks of flame between the strands, igniting more as she ran her fingers through. Habitually, he pushed his glasses up, his eyes moving down to note the color of her lips matched the pale blush on her cheeks.

"Have you lived in Shelly Cove all your life?" Daisy asked decidedly, massaging her itchy scalp. They were here now, and she did not want a brooding silence aggravating her aching muscles.

"Uh, yeah," Shawn nodded, averting his eyes guiltily. He had been focused on her lips longer than he should have. "Can't wait to get out though."

"You want to leave?" She turned to him.

"Oh, hell yes!" He responded too eagerly, and he groaned inwardly. Shawn saw her part her lips, a frown between her brows, but then she shook her head and dropped down onto the sand.

"So, no melodrama, huh?" She remarked, "How does one avoid melodrama in high school?"

Shawn shrugged, "keeping your head down? Not participating in any activities beyond what is required to complete the year successfully."

"So, in other words, no parties? No social outings? Like a duck and dive?"

"Something like that," Shawn acknowledged. "Duck and dive? Sounds like you have experience."

"Loads." Daisy's hands scooped up sand, rubbing the grainy texture into her palms. "I try to avoid people in general. I'm not the most sociable person."

"Is that why you were dancing with the curtains?" Shawn chuckled and she smiled.

He had an infectious chuckle.

"Oh, ha ha ha." Daisy rolled her eyes, "If only".

"I get it," he pushed himself away from the boulder, "really, I do. My mother is very protective and somewhat overbearing, and she has this very annoying tendency to push me into things I don't want to do."

"Is that why you want to leave?"

"One of the reasons," he nodded, "among many others."

"She probably just wants the best for you."

Shawn sat down next to Daisy. "Yeah, I know. "

"So, besides the lighthouse, are there other interesting places?"

Shawn smiled, "a few."

"Like?" Her brows lifted in anticipation, and she shifted to face him.

He pretended to think thoughtfully for a few seconds but then frowned when a thought suddenly occurred. "How long have you been in Shelly Cove exactly?"

Daisy hesitated a split second before replying, "A few months."

"Okay, so you know Fisherman's Wharf then."

"Uh, no," she shook her head.

"Pirate's Lagoon? That you should know about it."

Again, Daisy shook her head.

"Really?" He frowned, "Didn't Mrs. Shaw, well...uh, you are family right?"

Her shoulders sagged in defeat, and she bowed her head.
"Yes, she is my aunt" Daisy admitted.

"What you said earlier about not having been out much since moving here, you were being serious. You really haven't been anywhere."

Daisy's head dipped lower, and she started to fumble with the skirt of her dress.
"Stupid, right?"

For a few seconds, silence danced around them, before Shawn leaned forward and tapped her on the head.

"Well, there is Fisherman's Wharf, the local boardwalk with a collection of community shops," he said, and she looked up.
"It has a library if you are interested, and there is Tate's Diner, which has absolutely the best milkshakes! And of course, there is the Pirate's Lagoon, a beautiful beach tucked away just on the edge of Shelly Cove, reserved for the locals only, well, usually anyway."

10...9...8...

A crescendo of voices doing the New Year's countdown came down over the beach towards them.

7...6...5...

"It is time," he announced, jumping up.
"Come on," and he held out his hands for her.

4...3...2...

Without hesitation, Daisy took his hands, and he pulled her up.

1...

"Happy New Year, Daisy, and welcome to Shelly Cove."

"Happy New Year, Shawn."

It looked like Shawn wanted to say something more, but he just smiled and turned to watch the fireworks dancing over the town hall, still holding onto one hand. Daisy took a deep breath and lifted her face to the night sky.

***

After the final firework spark died, they slowly walked back to the hall. They kept pace with each other with a comfortable silence between them. They did not hold hands like before but every so often the back of their hands touched.

They reached the door and Shawn turned to her, frowning, his mind suddenly in turmoil that their time was over. Despite how they had met, the last half hour had been the best part of the whole night.

"I just wanted to say- "

The door unexpectedly swung open, cutting Shawn short. A frantic Miriam Shaw appeared and flung herself at Daisy.

"Daisy! For the love of God, where have you been?" Miriam pulled her niece into her arms, hugging her tightly.

"Sorry, Aunty M," Daisy apologized, giving Shawn a worried glance, "I was on the beach."

"On the beach? Alone? Why?"

"Hey, Mrs. Shaw? She was with me."

Miriam swung around, protectively standing in front of Daisy. Her eyes widened with recognition.
"Shawn?"

"Hi, Mrs. Shaw," he greeted. "I met Daisy inside and it was hot, and I thought a walk on the beach would cool us down."

The tension in Miriam's shoulders faded and she smiled.
"Oh, it is just-," she placed an arm around Daisy, "Daisy does not know Shelly Cove very well, and- "

"Yeah, she had mentioned that that is why I was wondering if I could show Daisy around?" Shawn's eyebrows arched, his glasses slipping an inch down his nose.

Miriam frowned. "I don't know, I- "she looked at Daisy, "I guess it would depend on if you would want that?"

"Me?" Daisy's eyes darted between Miriam and Shawn. She noticed the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth and couldn't resist a smile of her own.
"Yes, I would really like that."

"Are you sure?" Miriam whispered.

Her aunt's concerned undertone did not go amiss, but Daisy nodded confidently. "Yes, I'm sure."

After a moment's hesitation, Miriam relented. "It would be very nice of you, Shawn. Daisy has been here a while and hasn't seen much of Shelly Cove. And it would be great if she could explore with someone her age. I would greatly appreciate it."

"Monday?" Shawn asked and Daisy nodded. "Great! It was really nice meeting you, Daisy. Happy New Year, Mrs. Shaw."

"Happy New Year, Shawn, and thank you."

Shawn smiled and with a wave and a last look at Daisy disappeared back into the hall.

***