Astrid's P.O.V.

I woke up to a sand-paper tongue stroking my cheek. I opened my eyes to see Mark's nose so close to my face it looked like a giant black ball. I pushed him away gently before sitting up to find myself back on the rock, clothes and hair dry even though it was no later than noon. Pain leaked across my head and I massaged my temple before standing up with a grunt. I heard a splash and looked to the water so see nothing. No waves, white-caps, not even a ripple. Memories flashed through my brain about the guy. His hands' touch still lingered on my cheeks and I felt like his gaze was still piercing my being, running me down like a criminal and he was the chief of the force. 

I'm snapped from my thoughts as Mark lets out a sharp, high-pitched bark. I look at him before picking up his leash and walking back up the beach. The sand felt warm on my feet and tiny shells tickled my toes as I lifted a leg. When we reached the beach house, I let the dog off the leash and he scampered up the way before jumping on a sunning chair. I walked inside and hung the leash before heading for the cabinet.

"Oh, there, you are. That's got to be your longest walk with Mark in history," Nana says as she walks in.

"Yeah, got held up," I say as I take out the Tylenol. 

"What's wrong that you need Tylenol?" Papa asks as he joins us.

"Just a head ache," I say before a small wave of dizziness washes over me. I swayed a bit before leaning on the table.

"Are you alright?" Papa asks as he rubs my back.

"Um. Yea," I sigh before taking two pills.

"Heather was over," Nana says as I put the bottle back in the cupboard.

"Oh, crabs," I grumble. I then head upstairs and go to my room before changing. I was about to take out my phone and text Heather but pause as a thud sounds. I look at my window to see sand splattered on the glass. I sigh before opening it and climbing down the tree. I meet Heather and Snotlout on the beach before throwing a punch to his jaw.

"What was that for?!" he whines.

"That window will break if you throw one more sand ball," I tell him and he rolls his eyes. "So what's up with you guys?" 

"We came to kidnap you. There's Night Surfing a couple minutes south. You in?" Heather asks.

"It's a few hours until sundown. Why'd you come so early?" I ask.

"Because you need a new suit and you take forever in the shops," Snotlout says, crossing his arms.

"I do not! To both of those, what's wrong with the one I've got?" I ask.

"It's a granny suit," Heather says and I sigh with a roll of my eyes.

"Well, I got no money," I say before Snotlout holds up a bundle of cash. "My grandparents would never go for it," I try again.

"They said they were fine with it when we were over a few hours ago," Snotlout says. I sigh. Time for the final stab; the D bomb; the 5 words that will surely end my life.

"I don't want to go." Heather stared at me blankly and Snotlout got ready to hold her back.

"Excuse me?" she says, her voice calm while her eyes were fired with anger. "Do you know who is starting it tonight? Eret Eretson. And you were invited specifically," she says.

"So?" I ask, crossing my arms.

"So?! He's only the best surfer on this coast!" she shouts.

"Okay. Most likely not if that dude Hadyen and I are king and queen of the waves," I say, "And besides, it's obvious to everyone that he's been trying to get me into his bed since the day we met."

"Ew. Okay, so just go and avoid Eret," Snotlout says.

"Fine," I groan and Heather bro-hugs Snotlout before I climb back to my room. "Nana, Papa, I'm going out with some friends!" I called as I grabbed my bag and phone.

"Do you need any money?" Papa called.

"No, thanks. That'll mean I need to get a new slutty suit," I said as I jumped down the stairs. Nana chuckles before I kiss their cheeks and walk out the door. Heather grabs my arm and pulls me to Snotlout's Jeep as said boy played with Mark.

"Snotlout, come on," she snapped and he got up before following us.

"I'm not getting a bikini," I say as he drove us down the beach.

"Why not?" Heather asks.

"Because I happen to think that my two piece is not a granny suit, just simply a little worse for the wear," I say. After a half hour, we get to the mall and they pull me to the swimsuit shop.

"Ooh, How bout this one?!" Heather squeals as she holds up a neon pink bikini.

"How bout a little less barbie?" I ask, "I'm sick of Barbie. Every time I hear my theme song it's nothing but Barbie, Barbie, Barbie. Why can't they just give me a theme song that's cool like Hayden's?"

"Are you jealous of him?" Snotlout asks.

"Just his song," I say. We start to go for another rack but he gets distracted by a pair of girls. He walks over to them with a light-hearted chuckle and I can just pick up the beginning of their conversation.

"Hello, ladies. You from around here?" he asks smoothly.

"No," the blonde says.

"Where're you from?" he asks.

"Tallahassee," the brunette replies.

"Really? Guess where I'm from," Snotlout says.

"Where?" Brunette asks.

"Your dreams," his answer is met by a bunch of giggles. I stopped listening with an eye roll after that.

"He's shameless, isn't he," Heather mutters and I nod. 

I feel a tap on my shoulder and turn to see Snotlout holding up a blue bikini. The top looked like sea shells and the bottom looked kinda like a scale pattern. He bounces his eyebrows and I roll my eyes before snatching it and going to the changing area. I look at myself in the mirror when I'm changed and something gets thrown over the door before landing on my shoulder. It was a hip-hankie. I fold it diagonally before tying it around my waist. It looked like a mermaid tail. I sigh before walking out and having Snotlout wolf-whistle.

"Queen of the sea is now a mermaid," Heather says.

"And a sexy mermaid at that," Snotlout adds.

"Well, I'm not getting it," I say.

"What?!" Heather snaps.

"It shows my entire middle section," I say in exasperation.

"And it's going to be night. Hardly anyone's gonna see it," Snotlout argues, snapping his hand over Heather's mouth as she opens it to protest.

"If I agree to get it, can we get out of here?" I ask.

"Deal," Snotlout says and I nod before changing back to my jeans and tank top. I toss the suit to Snotlout and walk for the exit as he goes to pay for it with Heather. I walk into the main body of the roofless mall and find a bench. I slapped my thighs and clapped, trying to find a catchy rhythm, when someone tapped my shoulder. I turned to see the masked guy from the competition.

"Hey, mind if I join you, your majesty?" he asks.

"Uh, sure. Hayden right?" I ask.

"Yup," he grunts as he sits next to me.

"Why are you still wearing that mask?" I question.

"Because it's comfortable," he tells me.

"Are you wanted by the police? Am I endangering myself in talking to you?"

"No," he laughs, "So what are you doing here? You didn't really strike me as a mall girl when we first met."

"That's because I'm not. My friends brought me here because I apparently need a new suit for night surfing tonight," I say.

"Night surfing..." he repeats.

"Yea, ever been?" I ask.

"Well, yeah actually, I go often," he says.

"Really?"

"Yeah, it's pretty much the only time I can get away from my dad long enough. There's nothing like riding a tube in the moonlight," he says.

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but would you like to come?" I ask.

"I might stop by," he says.

"Miami Beach," I tell him and he nods. After a few minutes, someone sits on my other side and I groan.

"Howdy, princess," he says in a husky voice and I roll my eyes.

"It's Queen Astrid, to you, douche," I tell him and he wraps his arm around my shoulders.

"Aw, come on, come to your king," he says.

"My king is right here, Eret," I tell him, ripping free of his arm and nodding to Hayden.

"Yea..." Hayden says slowly, his voice sly, as he replaced Eret's arm with his.

"Don't go getting any ideas," I order him from the corner of my mouth. I sensed him roll his eyes as Eret stares at us.

"You're joking, right?" he chuckles tensely, "He gets dubbed King of the waves and you're suddenly a couple?" I roll my eyes with a scoff before standing up and walking to Snotlout and Heather as they walked out of the shop.

"Hide me, please," I say as we walk to the food court.

"Why?" Snotlout asks.

"Hayden, Eret, both here," I say and they rearrange themselves to guard me from the boys' eyes.