Chapter 7: The Beach

I wasn't sure why Chrissie had dragged me with her to the beach. All I knew was that I really wanted to go home. Girls in their teeny-weeny bikinis lay with their backs on the warm sand. Unlike these girls my skin had something against tanning, it only turned red and started to peel. Tanning lotion didn't help in the least bit. I was doomed to a life of paleness forever.

"Is that Caspian Gray?" Chrissie energetically shook my arm and pointed in the direction of a monstrous wave. Her light brown hair bounced up and down as she jumped excitedly.

I cupped my hand over my eyes to get a better look. Caspian was balanced perfectly on a bright green surfboard. His wet hair fell into his eyes, as he whooped with joy. I was right: he was a surfer-dude. "No," I lied.

"Looks like him," Chrissie argued, as Caspian emerged from the water. He was like a cuter version of Poseidon. His body was absolutely perfect. He was ripped, for lack of a better word. His shoulders were broad and long lines of abs coated his chest and stomach. Caspian ran a hand through his hair, like he was the main actor in an episode of 'Bay Watch'.

'Let's go." I pulled Chrissie away from Caspian, despite her protests. The beach sand was hot and it scorched the bottom of my feet. The sand was a golden colour, the perfect hue between brown and yellow. The water rose upwards with large tides and washed dead pieces of seaweed onto the shore. The seaweed was laced with different shades of green, mostly emerald. The seagulls added their input to the sound of the wave crashing against each other, creating a tune, that was a fraction away from a racket. I used the beauty of the beach to distract me from the gorgeous boy who emerged from the ocean.

"He's waving to us," Chrissie stammered. Chrissie was one of the smartest people I knew, but many people couldn't see that because she was a tad bit boy crazy. Ok more than a tad bit. She was also a really good dancer. As some would say: a woman of many talents. Her perfectness often made me jealous. Right now, it looked like everyone in the world was perfect, except me.

"He's waving to someone else," I told her.

"Madelyn," Caspian greeted me. I tried to ignore all the bikini girls staring at me. I knew all too well that they had spent the last hour out here, trying to get his attention.

"Hi," Chrissie answered for me.

"Can we talk?" Caspian asked me. The water on his skin mixed with the sunlight to make small rainbows that reflected off him.

"Tell him no," I whispered to Chrissie.

"Why?" Chrissie enquired, confused.

"Because I vowed never to speak to him again." I didn't bother whispering this time.

Before I knew what was happening, my feet were off the ground and my head hit Caspian's shoulder. Blood rushed to my head, making me dizzy.

"What are you doing?" I screeched. Caspian had effortlessly slung me over his shoulder and his hands gripped my legs firmly to his chest. The only thing in my view was the gold beach sand.

"She's ok," Caspian said to all of the surrounding spectators, including Chrissie.

"Put me down," I protested, pounding his back. His only reaction was to laugh.

I looked to Chrissie for help, but she was rooted in her place.

"I'll return her to you when I'm done talking to her," Caspian told Chrissie.

Chrissie nodded her head and sat down. She winked at me, and began drawing patterns in the sand with her fingers. The wind whipped her long hair around her head. I knew it wouldn't be long before she leeched onto one of the many muscled dudes. Of course none of them were as hot as my captor.

Caspian walked away with me still slung over his shoulder. I considered biting him, but decided against it. He probably tasted like saltwater. I had swallowed enough seawater when I was little to know that it tasted disgusting. I tried to limit the parts of me that was touching Caspian's bare skin, but that was difficult because he was wearing nothing but a speedo.

"Please," I pleaded with Caspian.

"I know you're secretly enjoying the view," Caspian told me. "I know I am."

I gasped and started yelling out the most insulting names I could think of.: "Toad, Perv, Dog..." but he wasn't swayed in the least. I don't know how, but I could tell he was smirking.

I wasn't sure how long he carried me, but it felt like forever before he set my body down.

I made an attempt to make a run for it, but I was stopped by Caspian's arm around my waist. He yanked me back, so that my body collided into his chest. His abs were rock-hard.

He regarded me with amusement. The expression on his face made me feel like any defensive move I made would have him rolling on the floor with laughter.

"Face it, you can't run from me," Caspian laughed, his dimples making my insides melt. He turned me, so that I was facing him. I gulped loudly. "You can't throw a punch and you definitely can't resist me." His mouth lingered by y ear. I could feel his warm breath on the side of my face. It would be so easy to turn my head and press my mouth to his, to savour the feel of his lips on mine.

He smirked at me and ran his fingers through my long hair, as if he could read my thoughts.

"What did you want to talk about," I asked, freeing myself from his clutches as best I could.

"What I said earlier," Caspian replied, keeping one of his hands on the small of my back. I decided to keep my eyes on his face. That way I couldn't be distracted by his body.

"I forgive you," I spoke, sparing him the pain of voicing an actual apology. He was a Stinger so he probably wasn't used to apologising for anything, and since I was a nice person I let him off easy.

"There's something I have to tell you, about your brother," Caspian looked down, making it difficult for me to look at his face. It seemed like this was something he didn't want to tell me, but was telling me anyway to get it off his chest.

"Was he a Stinger?" I asked, thirsty for information that would help me solve this mystery.

"I don't think so, I mean he couldn't have been since he beat me up. A Stinger can't attack another Stinger."

I waited for him to continue.

"I did see your brother talking to Victoria Herim," Caspian confessed. "I don't know if he was becoming a Stinger, or doing business with the Stingers, or something along those lines."

Ok, so at least now I knew my brother was connected with the Stingers. I just had to figure out how and why.

"Is there any way I can talk to Victoria?" I asked, but I already knew the answer.

"No," Caspian replied firmly, without a moment's hesitation. "The Stingers aren't exactly friendly. I mean, you know what Greg is like. Victoria is a hundred times worse. She's the Queen Bee."

He gently stroked my cheek. His fingers were surprisingly warm, considering he was just in the water. "I don't want you getting involved with the Stingers."

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