AN: This is my first R5 fanfic, so please, no flames. That is all ;-).

Chapter 1: Surf's Up!

"Guys, we're here!" Rydel shrieked as the car pulled up to their beach house.

The day was just like the perfect summer day. The sun was shining, the waves were crashing rhythmically against the shore, the water, a perfect shade of blue.

"Let's hit the waves!" Ross and Rocky exclaimed, jumping out of the car before it stopped.

"Dude, wait up!" Ryland and Riker said together. They glanced at one another before shrugging. "SURF'S UP!" Riker yelled, as the guys laughed. They started running towards the water before Ratliff yelled, "HEY!"

"What?" Ross glanced back, looking annoyed.

"Um, a little help here?" Ratliff said, motioning over at the trunk, which was full of their things.

"Uh, yeah, Delly can help you," Ross said, before taking off his shirt and racing towards the water.

"GUYS!" Rydel shouted angrily, as Rocky and Riker looked back at her, already halfway towards the water.

"Now what?" Ross grumbled.

"Don't you think you need to get your surfboards? And put your wetsuits on?" Rydel smirked as Rocky, Riker, and Ratliff laughed at Ross.

"So not funny, guys," Ross fumed as he grabbed his things out of the car.

"You guys too," Rydel gave her brothers a knowing look, and Rocky and Riker fell silent. They all took their things out and went into their house.

A short time later…

"SURF'S UP!" Ross yelled excitedly, ignoring the glances from those sunbathing outside. He raced towards the water, pulling his yellow surfboard with him. Riker was close behind him, carrying his blue surfboard, which had a silver streak across it.

"Dude, wait up!" Ryland said, with a red surfboard in hand.

"Yeah, dude. Wait up!" Rocky shouted, running after them with his green surfboard. He stopped, then looked back. "Aren't you coming?"

"Right behind you!" Ratliff said, almost running Rocky over. "Last one in the water has to…"

But Rocky had already raced past him and dived into the water.

"Ha ha ha!" Ross, Ryland, and Riker laughed, as Ratliff glared at Rocky, who was smirking.

"Sorry, dude," Rocky laughed as Ratliff splashed some water at him.

"WATER FIGHT!" Ross yelled, and the five guys laughed and splashed for a while, before swimming around and enjoying their afternoon.

A few hours later…

"Dudes, maybe we should get back," Ratliff suggested. "You know, we could help Rydel with everything. Maybe set up?"

"What are you saying?" Riker said, not catching on.

"Ratliff and Rydel, sitting in a…OW!" Ross began, stopping only when Ratliff smacked him. "Hey! What was that for?"

"What?" Ratliff pretended that nothing had happened.

"Dude, you so like her," Rocky said, nudging Ratliff.

"No way," Ratliff said, crossing his arms and looking serious. "I swear, I really like Kelly."

"Yeah, but your 'girlfriend's' not here. Delly is," Rocky said, winking at Ratliff.

"Wait, you like Delly?" Ryland said, not realizing what was going on.

"No, I don't like her!" Ratliff insisted. "I mean, I like her, like a friend. But that's all, I promise!"

"Are you sure, dude?" Ross asked doubtfully.

"YES!" Ratliff shouted. "I don't like Rydel that way. I like her, but only as a friend. OK?"

"If you say so," Rocky said, holding his hands up in surrender.

"Yeah, whatever, dude," Ross agreed.

"Yeah, you're not dating our sister. Ever!" Riker tried to sound stern, but it still came out pretty weak.

"I wouldn't dream of it," Ratliff replied. "I was just thinking, we're all out here, having fun, and she's in there, working all this time…"

"Go get her, tiger," Rocky smirked, as Ratliff punched him playfully.

"Shut up, Rocky," Ratliff said defensively.

"What if I don't?" Rocky challenged.

Ratliff glared at him, then saw Riker's expression.

"Guys, stop," Riker said sternly, and everyone listened. He glanced first at Rocky, who stayed silent, then at Ratliff, who nodded, gulped, then started swimming toward the shore.

"Um, yeah, we'd better go too," Ross said, as his stomach growled.

"Someone's a little hungry," Riker smiled, teasing him, just as his stomach growled also. Riker blushed, then said, "Yeah, maybe we'd better go back." They swam toward the shore in silence, then walked back to their house.

"Wow, Delly, smells great in here!" Ross said, as they came in.

"Really? Oh, and by the way, thanks for your help," Rydel said sarcastically, rolling her eyes. She spotted Ratliff trying to steal a dinner roll. "If any of you touch that, I'll make sure you regret it for the rest of your life." She picked up a butcher knife, waved it at them, and smirked as Ratliff and the guys looked scared.

"Can we help set up?" Rocky was the first to find his voice, which came out more as a high-pitched whisper. He coughed, then it went back to normal. "I mean…"

"Yeah, over there. Also get cups, the drinks, plates, napkins…" Rydel instructed, and the guys did as they were told.

After everything was set up, they ate until Ross got bored and went over to his guitar. Ratliff went over to his drumset, Riker got his bass out, Rocky picked up his guitar, and Rydel walked over to her keyboards. After they finished setting up and plugging in their instruments, they started playing some of their old songs.

"You know, we really should record some of these," Riker suggested.

"Yeah, maybe put some on a demo, and send it out. See if there's any interest," Rocky added.

"Who wouldn't be interested? Look at us now!" Ross said confidently. "We're awesome, and it's time to show the world how awesome we are!"

"Yeah, a few years ago, we were so not ready, but now…" Ratliff trailed off. They looked at Rydel, and after a moment, she smiled back at them.

"Let's do it!" Rydel shouted, and the guys cheered with her.

"Guys, listen. I have some really cool ideas," Riker suggested, and they started playing around with chords and melodies.

Some time later, Ratliff, Ross, and Ryland got bored, and insisted on playing video games. Rydel decided to make a tutu, and Riker and Rocky were still trying to put the finishing touches on one of their songs.

"This is going to be epic," Rocky smiled triumphantly at his older brother.

"We're so gonna kill it," Riker agreed. "I think I need a break though. Maybe some fresh air."

"Want me to come with you?" Rocky asked.

"No, it's fine. I'll be back soon. If anything happens, I'll be right outside. You know where to find me," Riker promised.

Rocky nodded, then watched and laughed as his brothers fought over the game.

Outside, Riker shivered as the wind blew even harder than it had earlier. He regretted not putting on a jacket before coming outside. He ignored the chill of the wind against him, and walked towards the water, loving the sound of the waves crashing against the shore. He loved seeing the moonlight's reflection off the water. But most of all, he loved the feeling of being alone with his thoughts, until he thought he saw a dark figure in the water.

"Who's there?" Riker's senses were immediately on alert. He looked around, and saw no one else there. He stepped tentatively towards what he thought was a dark figure, and saw that there was someone definitely in the water. "Who are you?"

But the figure didn't respond. Instead, the figure did something that Riker never expected. The figure disappeared under the force of the waves.

AN: Please review?