PROLOGUE

partners in crime.

          Rays of golden sunlight reflected on the rugged waters of The Marsh, wallowing all else in a sunny radiance and as that warmth heated her skin all thoughts previously occupying her mind seemed to disappear. Percy always felt most at ease as waves gently swayed the deck where she and Sadie lay, soaking in the afternoon sun. It was during little moments like these that Percy truly felt alive, she found herself wishing these could last a lifetime.

She rested her head on a shabby backpack as she brought the joint to her lips. The deep green backpack was one she'd been dragging around for years and only seemed to get more worn down over the years. Some of the zippers had been stuck for quite a while now and all the things Percy, Sadie and Brinley had written and drawn on it had faded slightly. Still, she wouldn't dream of ever getting rid of it.

Sadie gingerly flipped through a magazine studying it as it was the most fascinating thing she'd ever seen, putting it down every once in a while, to take a few gulps from her beer. The bright blue cap she wore shielded her eyes from the scorching sun. They'd been out there for hours, doing absolutely nothing. There wasn't a thing in the world Sadie Harris loved more.

"Ladies." Brinley hollered at the pair, a bright smile on her face and a six-pack of beers in her hands as she stood on the docks. The warm wind whirled through her dark curls, only slightly wavering her stance as she balanced the beers in her hands.

Percy lifted her arm to shield her eyes from the sun, a grin on her lips as she took in the sight of Brinley clumsily trying to step aboard The Ray. She stood as Brinley handed her the beers, Sadie held out her hand for Brinley.

"What you guys up to?" Brinley asked as she took hold of Sadie's hand, she halted slightly as she felt the blonde's gentle touch before she stepped onto the deck.

"Nothing really," Percy mumbled as she tossed Brinley a beer and handed Sadie the joint. Sadie tilted her head as she peered up at Percy, a grin forming on her sunkissed face as she took a drag from it.

"Nothing yet," Sadie added as she eyed Brinley teasingly.

Brinley's eyes fell on the backpack underneath Percy's head before returning to Sadie once more. She was mesmerizing, in every sense of the word. The way her blue eyes gleamed with mischief as she had followed Brinley's gaze, the way her skin glistened in the sunlight, the way she was looking at her now.

"Anything illegal planned for the night?" Brinley nodded towards Percy who did her best to hide her grin as she pulled down her sunglasses.

"You still have to ask?" Sadie teased. Percy laughed softly at her words as she pried the backpack from under her head, standing up to toss it towards Brinley and Sadie.

"Just business baby," Percy stated as she swung her legs over the boat's side, her feet just above the muddled waters as she watched a boat approach from the other side of the Marsh. A slight smile played on her lips as she recognized them.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'll just assume you're a criminal from now on." Brinley taunted throwing the backpack at Sadie's head, causing the blonde's cap to fall off as she too stumbled back a bit.

"Good, 'cause anything legal isn't worth my time anyway." Sadie retorted with a playful scowl. Percy rolled her eyes, grinning at the pair's banter going on behind her. Knowing them as well as she did, she knew this was going to take a while.

"You're no angel either." Sadie took another swig from her beer as she side-eyed Brinley.

"Wouldn't you love to know?" Brinley taunted nonchalantly, a slight stutter in her breath one she hoped neither of her friends would notice.

"I already do," Sadie stated smugly. 

Percy shivered slightly, turning around to face Sadie and Brinley again both with smug expressions written all over their faces. The sun had slowly begun to set as the winds picked up again, a rosy glow fell over the Marsh and its gloomy waters.

"You guys still up for some illegal shit?" She asked with a slight grin spreading across her freckled face at the obvious looks Sadie and Brinley threw her way. Percy raised her can of beer to them.

"To partners in crime."

Sadie laughed as she held onto the bottle tightly afraid to spill it all over the deck as she had so many times before as she rang her can against Percy and Brinley's. The joyous sound of their laughter resonated in the humid air. 

Their summer had only just begun, and what a summer it would be.