Zara pulls up into an empty space, turning the car off as I sit up, wiping the sleep from my eyes.

"Sleep well?" Georgia grins at me and I groan, undoing my seat belt. I grab hold of my bag and open the door, stepping out into the hot breeze. "It's packed!" Georgia scowls as she looks over at the beach, every section taken up by crowds of people.

"What did you expect?" Zara opens the trunk of her car, pulling out three foldable chairs. I reach out and take them from her as Georgia puts her sunglasses on and pouts at us.

"One day I'll be rich enough to have a private beach." She responds and I smile.

"And I will be there every weekend." Zara retorts, snorting.

"Me too." I agree as Georgia waves her hand at us, turning away as she begins to walk towards the beach. Zara takes a chair from me to lighten the load, throwing her rucksack on her back before we follow Georgia.

"Where do you want to go?" Georgia calls over her shoulder and I look around, glaring at the crowds.

"Anywhere we can find a space."

We carry on, weaving through the crowds, desperately searching for some spare sand.

"I can't even see the ocean!" Zara calls out from behind.

"I'll get closer!" Georgia responds, throwing herself between the ranks of various people, sliding past them with ease. I wish I had her grace and etiquette. I'm struggling against the wall of people, shoving them out of the way and profusely apologizing as they glare down at me.

"Here!" Georgia calls and I crane my head, noticing a small area of untouched sand. Georgia plants her chair down and collapses onto it. I sigh with relief and place my own next to hers, Zara following swiftly behind.

"I needed this!" I smile, sloping down into the chair.

"Me too!" Zara smiles.

"This is what Summer is for!" Georgia giggles and Zara nods.

"If only we didn't have jobs!" Zara rolls her eyes and I nod in agreement.

"I wish."

"I bet Ashley doesn't work." Georgia snorts and I can't help the small smirk that appears on my face.

"Absolutely not." Zara agrees. "She spends her Summer at the salon or the mall."

"Or out getting the perfect tan." Georgia counters, shrugging as she takes a drink.

"As long as she isn't here, I'm happy." I pipe up, placing my sunglasses on as the sun breaks through the clouds.

"Summer is definitely my favourite time of year." Zara breathes out, shutting her eyes as she looks up at the sky.

"What about the snow in Winter?" Georgia counters. "All wrapped up in front of a fire."

"We never get snow here in California." Zara scoffs and Georgia shrugs.

"True." I can't help but agree.

"Trust me. When we go to the Alps in the holidays, it's amazing." Georgia tilts her hat away from her eyes, grinning at us.

I notice Zara's smile slip slightly as I take a drink. I know that Zara's family have never been able to afford a holiday anywhere, let alone Europe.

"Summer is good. But I do also love wrapping up in comfy clothes in the Winter." I pipe up, smiling as I try desperately to be the middle man, hoping that the conversation will move on.

"I agree." Zara nods, "There is so much pressure for a Summer body."

"Good thing I've got one then, ay girls!" Georgia winks at me and I can't help but let out a giggle.

"Georgia!"

"It's true!"

"You do look good." I agree, taking a drink of my lemonade.

"Thank you, thank you!"

"I wish I was as confident as you." Zara smiles as Georgia leans back in her chair, rearranging her purple bikini.

"You should be, your body is amazing Za!" I reach over, punching Zara lightly on the arm.

"I agree." Georgia nods, taking a final drink from her can before scrunching it up.

"Hey, how you doing?" A tall brunette boy walks past my chair, grinning down at Georgia. She smiles up at him and I sit back, taking sips from my drink silently. I notice Zara grimace as the boy kneels down slightly, crouching by Georgia.

"Hi."

"I'm Jack."

"Georgia." She smiles back at him, "These are my friends." She gestures to us and I nod at him in greeting. He briefly glances towards us, before looking back at Georgia.

"Couldn't help but notice you from over there."

"I don't blame you!" Georgia grins, flashing a knowing look towards us, "See?"

"Fancy a beer?" He asks her and she shrugs, a grin still wide on her face.

"Why not?"

"I'll go get you one." He nods, pushing himself up from the sand and rushing back past my chair.

"He's..."

"He's eager to get in your pants." I laugh, cutting Zara off.

"Well, he won't manage it." Georgia retorts and I chuckle.

"Here!" Jack runs past me, holding a can out for Georgia. She takes it, smiling widely up at him.

"Thanks! I'll share it with my friends later."

"Uh, okay." He answers, slightly baffled as she puts the can under her chair, "Are you here for the week?"

"Just for the day," she replies brushing her short blonde hair away from her face.

"Okay." He nods, "That's enough time to get to know each other."

"Uh huh." Georgia responds, her gaze drifting to behind him. Her interest in him is rapidly disappearing...

"Is the tide coming in?" Zara asks me, tearing my attention away from the awkward conversation developing between Georgia and the tall Jack.

"I don't know." I reply, trying to look out towards the sea but coming up short, my view obstructed by the crowds of teenagers.

"Are we far enough away, or will it creep up on us?"

"I think we'll know if it's coming Za. There are loads of people between us and the sea." I try to reassure her, patting her arm as I finish my can of lemonade.

"Didn't want to be cut off from the mainland..."

"Really don't think that's an issue here." I reply, raising an eyebrow at the idea.

"What are you on about?" Georgia calls out, her eyes desperate as Jack sits down next to her.

"I'll go and get us some drinks." I smile, getting up.

"Thanks Sav!" Zara smiles and I nod.

I slowly attempt to make my way through the crowd, pushing against the herds as carefully as I can.

What a nightmare.

I like going to the beach. In fact, I love going to the beach. But this? Who the hell would enjoy this? You can't even see the sea!  The best part about visiting the beach is the sea. Walking through the sea, feeling the sand between your toes.

On a warm, Californian day like today, that's just what I need.

But I can't. I can't leave all of my belongings on the middle of this beach somewhere. Not only would I never find my stuff again and get lost, it would probably be stolen and I can't afford to lose my favourite dark denim shorts. They're just the right level of stretchiness for all occasions. You don't find that often with denim.

I cringe as I push past more people, eventually spotting the beach hut that's advertising refreshments.

There is absolutely no way that I'll be visiting this particular beach again.

I finally break free from the crowd, lunging for the bar and smiling at the guy serving.

"Three lemonades please." I smile and he nods, turning and pouring the drinks into plastic glasses. I hand over the money waiting until he places the drinks in front of me.

Right, how the hell do I approach this?

Looking around for a tray I come up short, cursing under my breath before I carefully arrange the glasses into a triangle and wrap my hands around them, lifting them up and holding them close to my chest. I take a scan around the area and notice an easier route through the sand, one less concentrated with people.

I take a deep breath and begin towards the crowd, successfully weaving in and out. People begin to move out of my way, some glaring at me, some smiling.

I watch my step, the sand sinking between my toes as I try to balance myself. I'm glad I put my sandals back on before I came this way, plastic glasses littering the ground. What is it with teenagers... they can't fight their way a hundred feet to a trash can!

I notice an area where people have thinned out even more,  an easy route through to my friends. Taking a few steps forward I notice that a volleyball game is being played and instantly stop, grimacing at the sight.  Maybe not then.

I walk back towards the crowd, walking alongside them in an attempt to walk around the game.

Nearly there...

Suddenly a huge weight smashes into my side and I fly over into the sand, the drink flying over me as I hit the ground. Someone lands on top of me and I groan at the contact.

"Shit!" I grumble, letting go of the glasses and letting them roll away.  I am soaking.

"Are you okay?" I feel the body lift off of me and grab the hand that's offered out. I stand up and wipe my hair out of my face before looking up. "You!" He exclaims.

Great. Brett Winters.

"I'm fine." I grumble, pushing past him as I begin to walk away. I am covered from head to toe in sand as it sticks to the sweat and drink on my skin. So attractive Sav.

"Are you sure?" He follows me and I roll my eyes.

"Yeah." I stop, turning round to look at him. His eyes are curious, slightly apologetic. "Don't worry about it."

"Come on." Brett smiles at me.

"What do you want?" I ask, crossing my arms over my chest and glaring up at him. I watch as his eyes drift downwards towards my chest and quickly uncross them and reach out to punch his arm.

"Nice to see you too." He smirks.

"If I said that it would be a lie." I shoot and his smirk widens.

"Whoa!"

"Goodbye Brett." I roll my eyes, taking a step to walk around him. He steps back in front of me, blocking my escape route.

"Why don't you join us?"

"I have my own friends..." I respond, taking another step.

"It'll be fun!" He copies my movements, stepping back.

"I don't want to." I smile up at him and he raises his eyebrows. I absolutely, 100%, without a doubt, do want to spend the day with him.

But I don't know why. And I absolutely shouldn't feel this way.

"Come on man!" Ellis yells and we both look over to see him gesturing to Brett as the others watch us.

"Duty calls." I sing, turning away and walking off.

"I owe you one for knocking you down!" He yells after me and I roll my eyes.

"No you don't!" I call back. The last thing I need is him thinking that I hold something over him.

I walk through the crowds and back towards Georgia and Zara, breathing a sigh of relief when I see them. Georgia is still chatting to Jack, Zara sat down beside them, her smile clearly fake.

"Hey." I groan, slumping down into the chair.

"What the hell happened to you?" Zara asks, her eyes wide.

"The drinks?" Georgia queries, obviously confused.

"I'm wearing them." I reply, leaning my face down onto my hand.

"You fell?" Zara smirks and I shoot her a scowl.

"I was pushed by Brett Winters," I reply lowly and Zara raises her eyebrows.

"They're here?" Georgia cranes her head, trying to look for them.

"Unfortunately." I mutter in response.

"He pushed you?" Zara glares off in the direction I'd come back from.

"It was an accident." I wave my hand, dismissing the idea. "I think."

"Last thing I need this Summer is to see Ashley." Georgia moans and Zara grimaces.

"I didn't see her."

"You're lucky." Georgia smirks. "I'm surprised she let Brett out of her sight."

"I don't think he gives her much of a choice." I point out and Zara nods.

"They can't be good together." Georgia shakes her head, grimacing as she stands up, grabbing the sun lotion from beside me.

"I don't know... two players, destroying lives one by one."

"Why can't they destroy each other and just stick to that?"

"Why can't pigs fly?" Zara snorts. I giggle, sitting back and running my hand through my shoulder length blonde hair as I let the sun hit my face.

"This sun is ridiculous!" I smile, the heat instantly causing sweat to develop on my forehead.

"If only we were closer to the sea." Zara groans, fanning her face with her hands.

"We should go to another beach next time."

"Layman's Cove is normally quieter." Georgia suggests.

"Good plan."

"So, are you girls going to come back to ours?" Jack pipes up.

"Hell no!" Georgia snaps and I can't help the smirk that appears on my lips. "I'm hanging out with my girls." She finishes, before slouching down onto the chair beside me.

Jack looks around, his expression confused before turning and sloping off to the next group of girls.

"You're cruel Georgia."

"I got a free beer." She shrugs.

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Wow! I can't believe you're still here and reading my book, thank you so much!

This story is pretty different - namely by the way it's split into three parts, spanning over different periods of Savannah's life! I really hope you enjoy it, whether you're a silent reader or an interactive one!

Comments, votes and even just the fact that you're reading this means the absolute world to me! 💙

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