Disclaimer: I don't own Until Dawn. Until Dawn and its characters are the property of SuperMassive Games and Sony Computer Entertainment, and are not my intellectual property. There is no financial gain made from this work nor will any be sought. This is for entertainment purposes only.

First, thanks again to holeybubushka for beta reading this chapter, going over the overall outline and pushing me to keep this idea from falling into the discarded pile.

If you liked this work, you might want to check out my main work "Oh Beth" via my profile. Basically, it's my long winded opus about what might have happened in Until Dawn if Beth survived the prologue and came back the next year with the other eight survivors.

Of course, please favorite, follow, or leave a comment if you liked this story. Thanks in advance. :)

Chapter 1

After pulling her Subaru Forester into one of the last open spots in the marina's parking lot, Beth Washington groaned as she turned off her vehicle's engine. If she could extinguish the constant feeling of queasiness in her gut, her day would be going much more smoothly.

The natural nerves when going on one's first "real" date was bad enough. Factoring in being with the girl she had a crush on all throughout high school further heightened Beth's nerves. She exhaled again and thought about how absurd being nervous to spend an afternoon alone with Sam was. After all, they had spent plenty of time alone in the six years Sam had been best friends with Beth's twin sister. But not since the Winter Formal a couple of weeks ago.

That evening Sam had looked resplendent in a strapless crimson dress with her copper blonde hair demurely pinned back. Beth grinned as she remembered she didn't look bad herself in a high-neck gown, with silver beaded accents popping off dark purple silk. Even if most of her friends were mock surprised Beth owned a dress period, let alone one as classy as her choice for the evening.

Despite the torrent of gentle teasing, Beth had rolled the dice and told Sam how she had felt about her. Well, more blurted it out when Sam caught Beth gawking at her and made a joking comment. Only to find what Jess, Chris, and even Hannah had insisted was true. In hindsight, Sam having the same feelings towards Beth was obvious to everyone except her. But it took an awkward confession in the middle of a cafetorium to confirm their mutual attraction. After some dueling self-deprecatory remarks, the two had shared the final dance of the evening. When they locked lips as the last bars of a dull pop song played, it felt like a movie moment where the main couple gets together, with the final credits rolling over a sappy love ballad.

"Beth?" a woman's voice, similar but gentler compared to her own, tried to pierce her self-reflection.

Of course, unlike a progressive high school romantic comedy, real life didn't end when the two girls got together. And while she and Sam had exchanged numerous text messages and held hurried in-between class conversations since the Winter Formal, today was their first date. Their first real date.

Not as two friends making small talk while waiting for other people to make things less awkward. But as girlfriend and, well, another girlfriend. Beth chuckled at how gay her mom sounded when talking about spending time with her girlfriends in college. The wonders of constantly evolving word usage.

"Beth! Are you okay? You just started laughing. For no reason." the soft voice, with anxiety and a little irritation starting to bleed through, inquired again.

This time a man's voice blithely answered. "I can relate. Although of all the people I would have suspected of Bogarting my weed, Beth is near the bottom of the list. Well, Bogart on purpose at least."

And of course, for their first date, Sam had to choose something with the potential to kill them both. Beth had done adventurous things with Sam before. For example, she had been rock climbing with her numerous times. An experience which itself was less death-defying than being buckled up in the backseat whenever Josh was driving. Still, Beth had never been kayaking in the ocean before, and the thought of disappearing without a trace lingered in her mind. Of course, she knew her nerves had far more to do with whom she was going kayaking.

"BETH! WILL YOU SNAP OUT OF IT!" the woman shouted, having lost all patience with Beth's running internal monologue.

"Damn it, Hannah, did you have to yell right in my fucking ear?!" Beth groused before turning towards her identical twin sister who was sitting in the Forester's passenger seat. Well, her identical twin sister genetically. Appearance wise, Beth and Hannah followed the well-trod path of two identical twins who try to look as different as possible while still retaining just enough similarities to throw people off.

"Sorry, Beth." Hannah apologized in a softened tone. "But I was worried you were going to stare into outer space all day." Concern overtook contrition in Hannah's voice. "What's wrong? You didn't get into Josh's 'special stash' of baked goods by mistake, again, right?"

Beth smirked imperceptibly. "After last time, he knows better than to leave his brownies where anyone else can find them. By accident or otherwise. Right, big brother?"

She turned and glared at Josh, in the back seat, who nodded in agreement with a goofy grin on his face. "In my defense, sis, I didn't tell you to eat any of them, let alone four. Suppose the first one gave you the munchies and kickstarted a vicious cycle. Well, more of a giggling to yourself while watching the Dodgers game cycle."

Beth flared her nostrils. "Seriously? Who the hell just leaves pot brownies sitting out in the middle of the kitchen?"

Josh's eyes shimmered. "Well, me, obviously." After a brief chuckle, he continued. "Although the better question is who sees a plate of freshly made brownies and assumes they're for her?"

"Geez, I thought the baked goods sitting out on the kitchen counter were meant to be eaten. How unreasonable of me." After lightly rolling her eyes, Beth returned her gaze to her twin sister. "Anyways. I was thinking about everything over the last couple of weeks and..." Beth stopped herself before exhaling in frustration. "Who am I kidding? I'm nervous as hell about being with Sam."

Hannah smiled sweetly at her twin, "Come on, Beth. You don't have anything to worry about."

"Really?" Beth grasped at Hannah's offer of reassurance.

Hannah continued analyzing the situation. "Yeah, I mean, you've known Sam nearly as long as I have. And, not only have you not scared her off with, well, being you, you've got her to go out with you. Like on an actual date. With the possibility of a real relationship." Absentmindedly, Hannah took her analysis a step too far. "Granted, considering she almost dated Josh, her romance standards might be a tad low."

Beth snorted at her blunt appraisal while Josh bitingly countered. "Unlike Mr. Munroe, Hannah?" Seeing Hannah's posture tense, he quickly backtracked. "Sorry, Han, considering what happened, I should lay off..."

"It's okay" Hannah commented in a pouty tone which indicated it was anything but, while her downward stare bored a hole in the passenger seat footwell of the Subaru.

To diffuse the tension between himself and the more emotionally fragile of his little sisters, Josh shifted his focus towards the more robust one. "You know, Bethy, if you're having second thoughts about your date, I'm happy to serve as your substitute for the evening. Especially the late night portion, if you catch my drift."

As Josh over-exaggeratedly winked, Beth shook her head and sardonically muttered. "Thanks for your support. Both of you." Clearing her throat in an irritated manner, she continued "Why did you two come along if you're just going to make me more uneasy?" As Josh was about to comment, Beth shut him down. "And don't make a joke about falling asleep in the back seat of my car."

Hannah turned in her seat and gulped out a dejected sigh before responding "Well, after what happened a couple of weeks ago...Mike and Emily aren't talking to me. So, my plans to have a big get together at the Lodge have disintegrated." She paused, waiting for Beth to interject before continuing. "Since I no longer have anything else better to do, outside of outline my AP European History textbook, I figured I should do my best to make sure at least one of us is having a happy ending."

Beth gave Josh a sideways glare as he snickered at Hannah's inadvertent double entendre. After silencing her brother, she quipped to her twin. "Well, I'm glad I rate above reading about Otto von Bismarck and the Franco-Prussian war."

Hannah gently chuckled. "It was a tough decision."

"Seriously, though, I'm sure Mike will talk to you once everything has calmed down. After all, he did ask me how you were doing after English class last Tuesday."

"He did? What did you tell him?"

Beth arched her eyebrows. "Something like, 'You fucking embarrassed her in front of the entire fucking school! How the fuck do you think she's doing?! You fucking ass-hat!' And then I flipped him the bird."

Hannah's eyes widened at this recollection of her sister's vulgarity. "Jesus, Beth! You didn't do that, did you?" She shook her head. "I mean the whole situation is my fault. If I didn't confess my feelings in front of everyone, he wouldn't have had to do what he did."

Beth grinned at this admission before making a tongue in cheek one of her own. "I know. If it were solely his fault, I wouldn't have just cussed him out. I would have either slugged him or kicked him in the nuts. Or kicked him in the balls then slugged him. Then, and only then, would I have cussed him out."

"And I would have cut the brake lines on his car." Josh chimed in from the backseat.

"Am I the only person in this car who isn't a psychopath?!" After this admonishment, Hannah broke a slight smile. "Thanks. Even though I would rather neither of you ended up serving time in the state pen."

"Pfft, you only spend time in prison if you get caught." Josh quipped before making a request. "So Beth, why don't you ask why I came along?"

"Okay...why did you come along?"

"Because Hannah is blackmailing me" Josh replied casually.

"Blackmail is the best joke reason you could come up with?" Beth disdainfully dismissed her brother's explanation before turning back towards her Subaru's steering wheel.

Hannah gingerly cleared her throat. "Well...he's not lying." As Beth looked over towards her sister with a stupefied look, Josh smirked with satisfaction, leaving Hannah to explain. "I told him I would tell Mom he flunked out of college if he didn't spend time with me this afternoon while you and Sam have your date."

"Just for the record, I didn't flunk out. Both the fine institution of learning known as the University of Southern California and myself mutually decided it would be in my best interest to conduct a semester of independent study." Josh finished his explanation with a mock dramatic flourish.

Beth stifled a short laugh. "So independent study is college speak for sitting around in the basement, smoking weed, and watching Sponge Bob?"

Her brother huffed in faux indignation. "I'll have you know; I'm sitting around and smoking weed in the basement while watching Adventure Time, thank you very much. Sitting around and watching Sponge Bob? What year is it? 2005?"

Beth and Hannah looked at each other and simultaneously rolled their eyes. Doing so with the ease of those who had many opportunities to practice. Josh made a show of shivering. "Dammit, I don't care how different you two look, the twins on the same wavelength stuff creeps me out."

Hannah looked at her watch. "Beth, shouldn't we get going? You're supposed to meet with Sam at three, and it's already 2:50."

Beth frowned and started mumbling. Officially to herself, but unofficially to anyone who was in earshot. "Okay, Beth, you can do this. It's not a big deal; It's just a date with Sam. No pressure. Just the girl you've had a crush on since the 7th grade. Not a big deal at all. Nope." She looked over at her twin sister who with a supportive, if apprehensive, expression, smiled back at Beth.

"All right, Han, let's get this show on the road." At this statement, Hannah unbuckled her seat belt, and nodded to Beth, as both girls opened their car doors.

Unfortunately for Beth, it was at this moment; she discovered she had, in fact, not unbuckled her seat belt. The durable, light gray, nylon strap pulled taut as her momentum started to flip her over. The motion left her hanging half out of the Subaru and nearly upside down. Blood began to rush to her head due to embarrassment as well as the force of gravity. She then unleashed a powerful, angry torrent of vulgarity. "FUCK IT! GODDAMNED MOTHERFUCKER! I'M MOTHERFUCKING STUCK! HANNAH! JOSH! GET THIS MOTHERFUCKING THING OFF OF ME."

Hannah smacked her forehead in exasperation at her sister's absent-minded clumsiness, rubbing her temples to reduce the worry now coursing through her psyche. Despite these feelings, she started to grin and gently chuckle at the ridiculous sight her twin sister was providing.

Josh, on the other hand, guffawed. "Click it or Ticket, Bethy." While focusing his camera phone on the sight of his strong-willed sister hanging upside down helplessly, he proceeded to twist the proverbial knife. "Look on the bright side, though. You might be a viral celebrity before the night is over."

"YOU FUCKHEAD! IF YOU DON"T STOP, YOU'RE GOING TO NEED A FUCKING PROCTOLOGIST TO FIND YOUR MOTHERFUCKING PHONE!" Josh ignored this empty threat, and continued recording as Beth made a quieter appeal to her twin. "Hannah! Can you please give me a hand? Or at least use it to smack Josh."

Hannah turned towards Josh and gave him a look which was half pleading and half scolding. "Josh, please help me with Beth. She's flailing around enough; she might hurt herself."

At this supplication, Josh sighed and put away his phone. "Okay. I'll go on the driver's side, and when I count to three, you pull, and I'll push."

Beth tensed at this suggestion. "What am I? A fucking Piano?"

Josh chortled. "Believe me, having heard you 'sing,' the last thing you could be confused for is a musical instrument." As Beth made a gesture indicating Josh was number one; he moved out of the backseat of the Subaru and into position. "Okay, Han. One. Two. THREE." As both siblings strained awkwardly, Beth regained her balance and settled back into the driver's seat.

Remembering to unbuckle her seatbelt this time around, she exited her Subaru and dusted off her pale light gray t-shirt and jean shorts. "Well, at least things can't get worse." While reaching into her center console for her sunglasses and favorite Dodgers' baseball cap, she had a moment of cognizance. "Fuck, I just jinxed myself, didn't I?"

Hannah patted her sister on the shoulder. "Beth, stop being nervous, you're going to be fine. After all, you've gotten out of cars thousands of times, so you were due to screw it up once."

After Hannah's comment, Beth threw up her hands in surrender, turned and started her walk towards the marina. Hannah soon pulled next to her while Josh walked a step behind. After strolling through the parking lot and along the boardwalk, the three siblings saw the kayak rental shop. While approaching, Beth spotted a woman with copper blonde hair in a loosely tied bun talking with the kayak rental owner.

"Oh jeez, there she is. And look at her. Oh man." Beth whispered while nearly swooning at the sight of her longtime crush.

While Beth intellectually knew Sam was a fit, athletic woman, the reality was now clearly visible. A truth heightened by Sam's choice of outfit for the occasion. Her sporty red one piece bathing suit was conservative compared to a bikini, at least regarding the amount of skin covered. After all, it was just a basic racer-back tank swimsuit. The sort one would wear while swimming laps for exercise.

However, it looked as though an artist had painted it on to Sam's taut and tanned body. With the tight lycra clinging to her form, highlighting her pert breasts and tight buttocks. The effect was furthered by the fact she had been swimming before the Washingtons arrived, making the suit stick even tighter to her while drops of water snaked their way down her sexy figure. A pure example of...

"Hey Beth, is what you're thinking as debauched as what I'm thinking?"

Beth answered Josh's sotto voce question by slowly nodding her head with a lascivious grin on her lips. Sighing, she remarked on the scene in front of her. "Man, I'm glad I'm not a guy."

"Why? I mean Sam is bisexual so you would have just as good of a chance if you were a..." Hannah cut herself off as she had an instant of disturbing revelation. "Eww, Beth. More information than I need or will ever need."

Feeling the need to one up his sister in the oversharing department, Josh interjected. "I'm just happy I'm standing behind the two of you right now. If you know what I'm saying."

While both Beth and Josh snickered, Hannah quickly grew irate. "Josh, I'm going to need you to stay at least five feet behind us."

"Han, I'm flattered but it's not quite that big."

"Shut up, Josh." Hannah snapped with her temper at what passed for a full boil. "I understand Beth and Sam are dating, and Josh wants to screw anything with a pulse. But Sam is still my best friend, and I do not want to hear either of you making lewd comments about her. I don't care what you do with her or even what you do to yourself thinking about her. But I do not want to have to think about it or hear it." Josh raised his hand. "And I damn well don't want to see it." Josh put his hand down. "Am I clear?!" Hannah exhaled after her diatribe left her mentally exhausted.

Before either Josh or Beth could respond, Sam noticed the three siblings and waved to them. Slowly Beth walked over, trying to suppress the urge to hyperventilate. After gulping, she feigned serenity. "Hey, Sam."

Sam grinned at her. "Hey, Beth." At this moment, she noticed Josh and Hannah coming up behind Beth. "Hey Han, Josh. Surprised to see you guys here."

Before Josh could make an off color comment, Hannah quickly interjected. "Well, I've meant to peruse some of the new stores in the Marina and Josh wanted to do some brother sister bonding, so we decided to bum a ride over here off Beth."

Sam nodded. "Cool. Happy to see you guys as well. So, how is my lovely date doing this fine afternoon?"

Beth blushed at Sam's baseline level flirting antics. "I'm doing well." She coughed and then gestured to her outfit as well as Sam's bathing suit. "Although, I feel like I'm a little on the overdressed side."

Sam giggled at this comment, the sound of which set poor Beth aflutter. "Well, it's not like I drove on the I-5 in just a swimsuit. I got here early enough to put my clothes in a locker, while my wallet and phone are in my PFD's pocket.

Beth's entranced expression changed to one of mild confusion. "PFD? What the fuck is a PFD?"

Sam beamed at Beth while she wrinkled up her nose in amusement. "Miss, you're going to learn all sorts of acronyms when dating me. PFD stands for Personal Flotation Device. In layman's terms, a life jacket. I have mine from going kayaking with my mom, but the rental shop provides them if you don't have one. So you'll be able to focus on the sights and sounds of the ocean and not, like, drowning."

At this point, Josh interjected. "Heh, considering your recent track record with safety equipment, sis."

Both Sam and Beth looked at him, Sam with befuddlement and Beth with a mixture of embarrassment and rage. At this point, Sam leaned in towards her date and tongue in cheekily asserted. "You better make sure to wear it. I don't let my girlfriends drown on the first date. After the third one, okay, but not on the first one."

Beth started nodding but paused as a thought popped into her head. "Wait, just how many girls have you been kayaking with?"

Sam ignored her question with a casual shrug before continuing. "Anyways, while you're not overdressed, I do hope you brought a change of clothes. Unfortunately, our rental kayak is open top so I can guarantee we're both going to get wet. So, I figured it would just be easier to wear a bathing suit and not have to worry about leaving clothes to dry in the Prius while getting something to eat."

Josh's eyes had lit up at the mention of the word wet, and he had been waiting until Sam finished her sentence to give his salacious commentary. "Well, I can guarantee..." His statement was cut off by the sudden pain caused by Hannah's sharp right elbow crashing into his gut.

As Josh started to double over, Hannah looked forward a second too long before turning and starting to apologize profusely. "Josh? Oh my God, are you okay? I'm so sorry! You know, my tennis elbow acts up at the worst times, and I can't control the spasms."

While Josh contemplated how his lunch might look on the marina's boardwalk and Hannah fussed over his prone form, Sam decided to extend a gracious offer. "You know, if you guys wanted to make this shindig a group activity, I'm sure we could get another two person kayak. I mean after Josh has stopped barfing."

Beth felt both dazed and relieved by Sam making this offer. This excursion was supposed to be their first date. The date they would tell people about fifty years from now when they were an old married couple. Adding Josh and Hannah would ruin said experience while kicking the relationship can down the road. And yet, she couldn't deny that having her siblings with them would make things easier for her. Allowing a release valve for all the nervous pressure which had been steadily building up.

Josh winced while trying not to produce a technicolor yawn. "Sam, I would love to go with you guys." Beth didn't know whether to hug Josh or slug him, although the look she shot him indicated she was leaning towards the latter. Before she could do either, Josh continued. "But, I promised Hannah, I would do some brother-sister bonding today."

Hannah looked over towards Sam with a demurring expression. "Sorry, Sam, but you know I'm not one for water sports." At this comment, Josh started to chuckle despite his better judgment. "Why are you laughing, I didn't even say anything crude or lewd there, did I?"

"I'll explain later when Sam and Beth aren't around." Starting to recover from his injury, Josh stood back up. "Anyways, we should let you two lovebirds start on your voyage. Come on Han; I think you owe me a frozen yogurt after you caused me to un-digest my lunch."

Beth waved hesitantly as her siblings departed. She tried to reassure herself how she had nothing to worry about; she had been with Sam loads of times before and things hadn't changed that much between them. Just because of one kiss and the fact Sam was now her girlfriend, instead of just her friend. Those four little letters couldn't change so much. Right? Sighing, Beth muttered a line from one of her favorite movies. "Yeah, and maybe I'm a Chinese Jet Pilot."