Author's Note: So, four days to uplod. Sorryyyy. But anyways, I hope you guys all like this chapter! 

          “Oh my God, that was so fun!” I say enthusiastically as I run out of the water holding my board.

          “I told you you wouldn’t die.” Ryder replies from behind me.

          “I can’t go through the big ones, though.” I pout as Ryder leads me over to the shack.

Ryder chuckles under his breath, “But you just started. You have to crawl before you can walk.”

          “This is true.” I agree. I pull my phone out of the bag and check the time; “It’s already 4:00.”

          “Well if someone wouldn’t have wanted to stay in the water so long, it would be earlier.”

          “But that was so fun!” I defend, “Like it was just exhilarating.” I look down at my surfboard, “So do we get to keep these?”

Ryder nods, “Yup, we do.”

          “I wish I could frame it.”

          “You’re something else McKenna Bryant, you know that?”

          “So I’ve been told.” I retort. “Alrighty, I’m gonna go put my clothes back on.” I say, taking my clothes I wore here out of the bag.

          “Yeah, me too.” He says, collecting his.

Ryder and I go our separate ways, him to the boys’ bathroom and me to the girls. I quickly tear the wetsuit off of my body, and pull on my clothes, which are surprisingly warm. I put on my shoes, and walk out of the bathroom stall. Pulling the elastic out of my hair, I run my fingers through my wet hair. I take the wetsuit and put it in my arms, and then walk out of the bathroom.

I go back out to the shack, and give the man my wetsuit. I feel Ryder walk up behind me and wrap his arms around me. I tilt my head back and Ryder kisses me on the lips. “You’re totally gonna have to bring me back. This is like gonna be a regular thing.” I warn him.

          “If that’s what you want, then sure.” Ryder says, smiling lightly. “So are you ready to go?”

          “No,” I admit. “But since we can’t stay here all night, then I guess so.”

And with that, Ryder and I set off towards his car, dragging our surfboards behind us. Ryder pops his trunk and we put them in there. I throw my bag in there, and grab my phone and Ryder’s out, then he closes it. I walk over to the passenger side, and pull the door open. I get in, and pull my seatbelt over me. I look down at my fingers and wrinkle my nose.

          “My fingers are all pruny.” I tell him.

          “Remember when I suggested that we get out after like forty five minutes? You said no. It’s your entire fault.”

I roll my eyes, and rub my hands together. “You’re so dramatic.”

          “I know right, could have been an actor.” Ryder replies jokingly.

          “Yeah, totally.” I agree as Ryder pulls out of the lot. “You know what I think?”

          “What do you think?”

          “I think you guys should move here to Moon Bay and then we’d never have to travel such a long time to get here.”

          “That’s a smart idea, but my parents are attached to that house. ‘Memories’ they claim.”

          “Ahh, but of course.”

          “So are you hungry?” Ryder wonders.

          “Kinda. But I want ice cream.”

Ryder scoffs, “I’m not surprised.” He says.

Ryder pulls through the driveway of the Cold Stone Creamery and gets me ice cream. “Don’t you want some for yourself?”

          “Nah, I’m good.”

          “Alrighty then.” I reply, as Ryder pulls a five dollar bill from the cup holder and gives it to the lady through the window. She gives him change and a receipt, and then the ice cream.

          “Here you go.” Ryder says quietly handing me the ice cream.

          “Ahh, thank you.” I reply, taking it and licking the ice cream.

          “Sure,” he tells me, and then leaves the vicinity heading towards the freeway to Vernon.

----------------------

          “Hey hottie, wake up.” A voice says, shaking my shoulder.

I smile slightly, “You did not just call me ‘hottie’.” I mutter, not opening my eyes.

          “I sure did, because you are. Now come on, get up.”

I groan, “I don’t feel like moving.”

          “I’m not picking you up; I will leave you here all night in this car.” Ryder threatens.

I force my eyes open, “You’re so mean. Maybe you should get sick again and then you’ll be nice.”

          “You said it yourself; I’m nice to my girlfriend, and when I’m sick. If you weren’t my girlfriend, I wouldn’t have woken you up.”

          “Sadly enough, I do believe you.” I say, sighing and sitting up in the car. I look outside and see that we’re right outside the O’Connor’s home. I shake my hand, which is numb because it’s asleep. I open the door and get out, and discover that my legs are also asleep. Ahh I hate that, it feels all weird. Like I’m walking on jelly or something.

I get out of the car, and Ryder closes the door behind me. “What time is it?” I ask him.

Ryder pulls his phone from his pocket, and looks at the display. “It’s 10:24.”

          “I totally forgot to call in to work today.”

          “Do you go tomorrow?” He asks, unlocking the door.

I nod, as we go in. “Yeah.”

          “Well then you better get some sleep if you have to go at 10.”

I yawn, shaking my head. “I need to shower, I smell like water.”

          “Yeah, okay. Well I’m gonna be in my room, glorifying my water like smell.”

          “You do that then.” I say. I go into my room, and take out a pair of pajamas.

I go to the bathroom, quickly taking a shower. I’m like dead tired, even though I slept for like six hours in the car.   I get out of the shower and hurry to get dressed and brush my teeth. I go back in my room, tossing the clothes in the hamper. The clock reads 10:41 and I decide that I really should go to bed now. I mean, I don’t wanna be falling asleep at work. And plus, Matt will probably be at the beach tomorrow, and I’m gonna have to explain the whole ‘I-have-a-boyfriend-thing’. I go into Ryder’s room, and see that the light is already off along with the television. I use my sensory feel to get around the room without falling down.

          “You better not be asleep already.” I call out to Ryder.

          “I’m not asleep.” He assures me.

          “Why’s it all dark?”

          “Because I intend to go to sleep ya know.” He tells me.

          “Right, of course.”

I walk over to the right side of the bed, which is where I usually where I sleep when I come in here. I get under the covers, pulling them over me. I lie on my side, facing Ryder. Well I can’t see him since it’s so dark, but I can tell he’s there. I scoot closer to Ryder and he reaches out his arm, lacing his fingers through mine.

          “So you had fun today then?” He wonders.

          “Yeah, I did. It was really fun.” I tell him truthfully.

          “I’m gonna be really sad when you go back to Dallas.” Ryder admits.

          “Me too, but that’s not for like another eight weeks from now.”

          “Sixty days exactly.”

          “An insane amount of time for us. Now let’s stop talking about me going home. It’s getting me depressed.”

          “Well then what should we talk about?” Ryder wonders.

          “We shouldn’t talk at all.”

Ryder chuckles under his breath, “Then what should we do?”

          “This.” I say, blindly leaning forward, and pressing my lips to his.

Ryder immediately kisses me back, and scoots closer to me. He runs his tongue over my lower lip, and I open my mouth slightly. His tongue touches mine, and I get goosebumps all over my arms and legs. Ryder maneuvers without breaking the kiss, and hoovers over me in the bed. He holds himself up with one arm, and the other stays confined at my waist. The kiss quickly becomes an intense make out, and Ryder tugs at the hem of my shirt trying to pull it over my head. Sure we’ve only been dating for a day, but I’ve known him since I was a kid. Like since I was born and he was two. And plus, it isn’t like we’re gonna have sex or anything. Not yet anyways. And anyway, I’m not stupid; I put on a bra when I got out of the shower for this reason. Ryder pulls my shirt over my head, tossing it to the floor. He moves his lips to my neck, softly kissing me.

          “I love you so much.” Ryder mutters.

          “I love you too.” I tell him.

----------------------

The next morning, I wake up at the sound of my phone alarm blaring in my ear. I don’t even remember having my cell phone last night. I open my eyes, and turn the alarm off. I look at the time and see that it’s 9:00. Ryder groans beside me, and says, “So loud.”

          “I don’t even feel like going to work.” I say.

          “You have to.”

          “Are you going to your job?”  I ask him.

          “No.”

          “You never go to work.” I say, getting out of the bed.

          “I do go to work, just not often.”

          “Yeah, okay. Well I’m gonna go get dressed.”

          “You do that.” He says, pulling the covers over his head.

I go into my room, and pull my uniform out of the closet. I quickly get dressed, and yawn. Still, I’m tired because I only managed to get about five hours or so of sleep. Though I should have gotten like eleven, because I went to bed at ten something, I didn’t. Ryder and I talked for a while, well we kissed for a while, that’s how I should rephrase it. We didn’t actually do anything last night, other than remove articles of clothing. Shirts only of course.

After I’m dressed, I go to the bathroom and brush my teeth. I go back into Ryder’s room and see that he’s still asleep. It’s only 9:10 now. “Ryder wake up.” I say, shaking his arm.

          “I’m up.”

          “Get out of the bed.” I tell him.

          “Five minutes.”

          “I told you we shouldn’t have made out all last night.”

          “But it was fun.”

I chuckle, “Well yeah it was, but we still need sleep. Okay so get up.”

Ryder groans and sits up in his bed. “Okay fine.”

          “I’ll be downstairs; you do whatever it is you do when you wake up.”

He nods, getting out of the bed. I head down the stairs, and Ryder leaves his room; I presume going to the bathroom. I go into the kitchen, and see that Asher’s sitting on the cabinet holding the box of cereal in one hand and the jug of milk in the other. I watch in complete and utter dissatisfaction as he reaches into the cereal box, and scoops of cereal, putting it in his mouth. Then he takes the cap of the milk off and drinks it.

          “That’s so weird Asher.” I tell him, pulling open the refrigerator.

          “No, it isn’t. I’m totally like recycling.”

          “Yeah?” I ask, pulling out a hot pocket. “How so?”

          “Well I’m saving a bowl and a spoon. This is me being eco-friendly.”

          “That’s ridiculous.” I tell him. I put the hot pocket in the microwave and start it.

          “It isn’t.” He disagrees.

I shake my head, “Oh but it is. Anyways, how’s your girlfriend? Sierra, right?”

          “I don’t know. I guess she’s okay.” He says, shrugging.

          “Well that’s a nice attitude to have.” I say sarcastically, taking my hot pocket out, and biting into it, despite it steaming hot inning. Will walks into the kitchen talking on the phone loudly to someone. He waves in greeting to the two of us, still talking on the phone.

Next the door opens, and Ryder walks in dressed, rubbing his eyes. “Let’s roll.” I swear, he uses some of the weirdest sayings.

Twenty five minutes later, we arrive at the beach and Ryder stops in the parking lot. I’m about to open the door, but Ryder grabs my wrist loosely, effectively stopping me. “Wait.”

          “What?” I ask confused.

Ryder leans in, kissing me quickly on the lips before releasing my wrist. “I’ll see you later.” He says.

I smile at him, and grab my phone from the cup holder. “Okay.” With that, I get out of the car, and walk down the pier.

I go through the little gate to the booth, and sit down on the stool. I check my phone, and see that it’s now just 9:53. Seven minutes early. I yawn loudly, and run my fingers through my hair, getting the tangles out. Before I know it, an hour goes by and only a few people have come to claim prizes. The girl who had salmonella-Cassidy-is back now, working the food booth.

          “Long time, no speak.” A familiar voice says, blocking the sun from me.

I look up and see Matt and Shawn standing there before me. Oddly enough, this isn’t as awkward as I thought it would be. Well, not yet. The evening is young though. “Hey guys.” I reply.

          “How goes it?” Matt utters.

          “Goes it good.” I retort.

          “Nice.”

I clear my throat, and avert my attention down to my phone. Yes I still think Matt is hot, and he’s standing there all shirtless and what not along with Shawn. Not that there’s anything wrong with thinking someone’s hot when you’re in a committed relationship, but I’d rather not make him think I like him, since I’m dating Ryder now.

          “This is awkward.” Shawn announces.

          “What’s awkward?” Matt asks him.

          “This, ya know, I think I see a girl who needs hooking up with.” He says, quickly jogging of in the opposite direction.

          “So, I just think I should go ahead and tell you that I’m dating someone now.” I blurt out.

Matt raises his eyebrows, “Yeah?”

I nod, “Yeah.”

          “Do I know him?”

Again, I nod. “Yeah. It’s Ryder…O’Connor.” I add O’Connor just in case he knows more than one.

          “Ahh, that guy you came to the party with?”

          “Yeah, him.”

          “Oh. Well I had a feeling there was something there.”

          “So you aren’t mad?” I ask him, “I mean, because we can still be friends, but nothing romantic.”

          “Yeah, I think that’d be cool.” Matt says.

          “Great.” I retort.

          “So friends, how are you?”

          “I’m okay.” I tell him. “You?”

          “I’m good.”

          “Awesome.” Yeah, this is getting awkward. We’re being all formal.

Matt chuckles, taking a sip of his soda. “This is awkward.”

          “It is.”

          “Well how about this, I get a girlfriend, and then it won’t be so awkward.”

          “Alright, sure. We can even go on a double date.”

          “Exactly! That’s the spirit.” He announces, then his phone rings in the pocket of his board shorts. He pulls it out, and answers. I don’t listen to what he’s saying because…well it isn’t my business. Then he hands up and says, “Gotta go. That was my mom. Gotta babysit.”

          “You have a sibling?”

Matt nods, “Remember I told you way back when at the bonfire?”

          "Oh right. Leah, Lauren, and...Max, right?"

           "That's right."

           "Well I don't wanna hold you up. I'll see you later."

          “Alright, I’ll text you. Friend.”

I chuckle, “Okay, friend.” With that, Matt jogs away, heading up the pier and I guess to his car.

----------------------

A while later at around 12:30, my phone rings. I stop spinning around in the stool and turn back around. I pick it up, and raise my eyebrows in confusion at the number. I mean, I recognize it, I just don’t know why on Earth she’d be calling me.

          “Err, hey.” I say uneasily.

          “Umm McKenna, can I ask you for a favor?” Hailey wonders hesitantly.

          “Uh yeah sure.”

Her request confuses me, consider she doesn’t like me, but I listen still. “Well?” She asks.

          “Umm, well I don’t know. That’s pretty bad.”

          “Please?”

          “No offense, but don’t you have any friends that could help you with that?”

          “Well yeah, but I’m asking you. Please McKenna? I’ll be really nice to you if you help me, I swear.”

          “You do know that we could go to jail for that, right?”

          “Only if they catch us.”

I think about it for a moment, Ryder would hate it but I guess if it means reconciling with Hailey, it’s worth it. I sigh, and rub my forehead, “Sure.”

          “Thank you so much McKenna. I swear I’m never gonna say another mean thing to you ever again, we’ll be best friends!”

I chuckle uneasily, “Haha, yeah sure.”