[Chapter 2]
It was one of the rare days in Washington where the sun was a'shining and the clouds where no where in sight. It must have been a good 85 degrees and everyone was taking advantage of the heat.
"I know I put it in here," Ashtyn muttered as she crawled through the backseat of her with a desperate hope of finding her black, tied bikini.
"This it?" Seth had a huge smirk on his face. He stood outside of the white Jeep with a black, tied bikini top in hand. He studied the suit with a childish gleam in his eyes. "Paul must love it. It's so s-"
"Fuck you, Clearwater," Ashtyn snapped as she reached out and grabbed the top from him. Seth chuckled as he moved to the back of the Jeep and began rummaging in search for towels and maybe a chair. Ashtyn sat in the Jeep and quickly changed out of sight before climbing out.
"Paul's one lucky boy," Seth looked Ash up and down twice before grinning. She shook her head and let out a chuckle as they both walked down the beach. The sand was warm and a lot kinder than the pavement. Ashtyn let her toes sink into the warmth as they walked.
"Ashtyn!" Her eyes looked up to see Paul Lahote bounding towards her. He seemed taken back by how she looked. High waisted shorts, a black bikini top, and dark red sunglasses. She looked unbelievably beautiful. Russet skin that glistened under the sun. Amber eyes that sparkled a hello. Long black hair that was into a braid.
Paul's hands went to her waist and he twirled her in a circle. He chocolate-brown eyes danced with excitement once he set her back on her feet. Ashtyn kissed him softly on the lips and placed her hands on his shoulders. At 6 foot even she was no match for his 6'7" frame. But she had no problems with standing on her tip-toes to kiss her boyfriend.
"You look beautiful," Paul murmured as he pulled her into a hug once more.
Ashtyn kissed him a thank you and buried her head against his chest.
"Oh, gross. Get a room, love birds," Seth yelled as he walked by. He threw a blue and red beach towel at Ashtyn and it fell in between the two of them. She giggled and kissed him once more before skipping off closer to the water.
"Dammit Clearwater," Paul called out at the younger boy. He picked up the beach towel, wrapped it into a ball, and threw it at the 15 year old's head.
The dark blue water moved back and forth against sand. The sun sat high above them all; brighter than it had been all summer. Quil and Jacob ran back and forth along the sand as they threw a ratty old football. Objective of the game? Keep it out of Seth's reach. The younger boy trekked after them; missing the ball by just inches every time.
"You guys suck!" Paul called out from the beach blanket him and Ashtyn laid on. She chuckled against him warm arms that wrapped around her. "I can't believe you skipped classes. You never ditch."
"Want me to go back to school?" Ashtyn taunted with a smirk. She rested her head on his chest and laid close to him. Her eyes looked up at the sky and watched the shiloette of birds chase through it.
"Not at all," Paul murmured as he pulled her close and stroked her arm. "I love you."
"Paul," Ashtyn's voice was soft and warning. It wasn't that the feeling wasn't mutual it was that ever since her parents divorce she'd been cautious around the word love. Around the feeling love. Around love in general. She loved Paul. But love felt so dangerous. So scary. Endless possibilies, good and bad, that could arise.
"I know, love scares you," Paul sighed. He reached out his hand and drew a heart in the sky with his index finger. "I ju-"
"Paul!" Jacob's voice caused the other boy to jump up. His eyes widened as they followed Jacob's out reached hand. At the edge of the shore, where the trees met the sand. Three tall, lanky men stood about 75 feet from them. Seth, Quil, and Jacob bounded over and stood next to them. Paul helped Ashtyn up and placed a protective arm around her waist. His heartbeat sped up and muscles tensed as the boys all recognized the same horrifying detail.
All three of the men whom were walking at an exceptional sped towards the 5 of them, had crimson colored eyes.
