As the weather app promised, Saturday was bright and sunny and we got to the beach reasonably early for a bunch of students. I couldn't exactly be sure but we may have actually set up our stuff before eleven o'clock, which was pretty impressive. 

I was used to early mornings but my tolerance for them had decreased since being here, and I didn't think everyone else shared my experience. For the first hour we all just kind of lounged around, bathing in the gentle caress of golden sunshine as the warmth began to wake us up. 

As the beach began to get busier we started to move around more. The Pacific Ocean coast was a beautiful crystal blue and the water looked absolutely gorgeous, so naturally I was the first to go in. It was a little cool but I got used to the temperature quickly and just enjoyed the delicate sand under my feet, and the lightness of floating around in the sea. The waves were calm with no breeze and I felt serene. 

The peace didn't last long. Soon everyone followed and there were splashes, head dunking and diving. After a while I got out to dry off and Drake challenged me to a game of bat and ball. 

I beat him easily, and after a few games he got bored of losing and gave up. I couldn't help but laugh at the sour face he gave me. "How come you're so good?" 

"Maybe you're just bad," I shrugged and he gave me another dirty look. "Jokes. I like racket sports so I used to play a lot of tennis back home." 

His expression brightened. "Cool, tennis is dope. We could play at the courts they have down at-" His voice trailed off suddenly as something by the sea caught his attention. I followed his gaze and smirked as I saw what had distracted him. Molly was laughing loudly as Adam grabbed her and tried to dunk her head into the water, and it seemed like the physical contact wasn't pleasing to Drake, who was frowning with a clenched jaw. 

I bumped his shoulder with mine. "Why don't you just ask her out?" 

"What?" His attention firmly went back to me as he tried to hide his shock. "What are you talking about?" 

"You know what I'm talking about." 

He stared at me for another moment as if he still couldn't believe his ears. "How did you guess? Did she say something to you?" 

I smiled smugly and shook my head. 

"Well you are one brainy dude Jack, I'll give you that." He sighed and shot a despondent look towards the sea. "Not that it matters: she doesn't really seem interested." 

I frowned. I might've been wrong but Molly always seemed to be all over Drake when we drank together. "I think she is and even if she isn't, what's the big deal? There are plenty of other fish in the sea so it's not like you've got anything to lose." 

"But it might make things awkward if she says no." 

"Only for a few weeks, at the most." 

He sighed and paused for a moment, contemplating my advice. "I'll think about it." 

"Seems reasonable, just don't let her slip away from ya," I said with a wink and he grimaced. "Anyway, I'm gonna go look for some lunch. See you in a bit." 

I trudged up the beach and away from the group who were mostly too busy messing around in the sea to notice. For some reason I was starving despite the fact it was early, and I had a hankering for chips. Lucky for me the chip stand was on the pavilion at the top of the beach, so I didn't have to walk far. 

I took out my wallet as I reached the counter. "Hey, can I get a medium portion of chips please."

He looked blankly at me for a moment, as if I'd just asked him to work out a complex maths equation. 

"He means fries," a feminine voice came from behind me, and I turned around to be graced by the sight of Victoria Grange. She looked gorgeous in a thin blue summer dress, which I could see was draped over a revealing yellow bikini that showed off her mesmerising body. I managed to tear my eyes away and looked up to her face, where her pouty lips were giving me a sexy smirk as she caught me checking her out. 

"Nice to see you, Vic," I said with no shame: she knew the effect she had on guys so I wasn't embarrassed. I turned back to the counter. "Two portions of medium fries, please." 

"It's a bit early for fries, don't you think?" 

"Never," I grinned at her before I paid and took our chips, handing one of them to Vic. Boldly I wrapped an arm around her and guided her towards a nearby bench. I didn't let go of her as we sat down. It might have been too much contact but she felt good to touch, and she didn't seem to mind yet. 

"So who are you meeting at the beach today?" I started as I popped a few chips into my mouth. Even though there was a stunning girl next to me, I was still gonna eat. Food always came first.

"Actually, I came alone." 

"Really? How come?" I couldn't hide my surprise. From the way she's talked about at uni it seems she's always with people, but maybe that wasn't the case. 

She rolled her eyes. "My friends were annoying me. They were bugging me about this lame party which we're supposed to set up but I just can't be asked. I've got better stuff to do." 

"So you just left?"

"Yeah." She smiled and I grinned back at her. "I love the beach so I came here instead." 

Wow. Her carefree attitude was so refreshing. I thought it was really cool how she didn't feel the need to impress anyone or keep people pleased at the expense of her own happiness: she just did what she wanted to. It was a lesson I needed to learn, and learn a long time ago. Maybe if I had I'd be on speaking terms with my family right now. 

"Who did you come here with?" 

I shrugged. "Just my uni mates that I was clubbing with at Flares. You could come hang out with us if you want." 

She considered it for a moment, and I got the opportunity to stare into those gorgeous deep ocean eyes uninterrupted. "That's sweet, but I think I'd rather be by myself." 

"Why don't you hang with me?" 

She paused again and I continued to stare at her. Those pauses were frustrating: I just wanted to know what she was thinking. 

"Okay." I smirked to hide my pleasant surprise. "You did buy me fries after all." She put a chip into her mouth, and the way she ate it made me lustful for some reason. 

"They're chips," I got out, distracted. 

"You're in America boy. You have to play by our rules." 

"Maybe I don't want to." I leaned in closer to her. "Some of your rules are stupid." 

She shrugged. "Looks like we'll have to deport you then." 

"If that happens who else are you gonna come to when the party planners attack?" She laughs softly. "So I'm guessing you're an all-American girl then?" 

She nodded. "I guess. I grew up in L.A." 

"Wow." I rolled my eyes. "I'm shocked." 

She smirked at me. "What are you trying to say?" 

"Nothing." 

"That I look like I could be a movie star?" Yes but I wasn't going to tell you that. 

"Hmm I wonder what he put on your chips. Your head seems to be inflating." 

She laughed again. I liked her laugh. It was soft and quiet and I felt like it wasn't a sound you would hear that often. 

The conversation flowed freely from there. We talked about random ass crap that we probably wouldn't even remember the next day, but it was really nice anyway. During the time we spent together she became more human to me and less of a fictitious idea of feminine perfection. And I just loved how carefree and bereft of responsibility she was as a person: she never mentioned her pesky friends once and it didn't seem to bother her at all that she'd ditched them. 

But I did care about ditching my friends. Even thought it had felt like no time at all the conversation had lasted for about two hours, and as I checked my watch I realised I needed to return to them. 

"Can I have your number?" I asked whilst getting ready to make her into a contact. 

She smirked. "I'm not sure. I don't know if I've forgiven you for ditching me at Flares yet."

"Oh I can find all sorts of ways to make it up to you." We were so close now that our faces were almost touching and because of our closeness, I was able to notice the very slight tinge of red that coloured her bronze cheeks. "Are you blushing?" 

Her eyes widened in alarm. "No!" 

I chuckled lowly. "That gorgeous face says otherwise. Don't worry, there's no need to be embarrassed." Boldly I took her plump bottom lip in between my teeth and sucked gently, teasing her without quite kissing her yet. "I'll keep your secret." 

I pulled away and she sat there for a moment, looking slightly bewildered at her flustered state. I guess she wasn't used to guys affecting her like that, and I mentally gave myself a pat on the back. If this kept up I definitely wouldn't be part of the fan club. 

"Why don't you write your number in mine?" 

I shook my head. "Nah. I want yours first."

She scowled at me. "You're pushing your luck." 

I grinned and gave her an innocent shrug. She sighed in annoyance but she couldn't keep up the front, as a smile broke through onto her gorgeous face. The expression made me want to kiss her properly but I knew I needed to restrain myself: my tactics had worked so far. 

She took my phone and typed her number into it, and I couldn't help but feel triumphant and victorious at the action. 

"I'll be seeing you soon, Vic."